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The BGN News Archive
We did a three day stretch this week; Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Thursday was a show at O’Brien’s. There were about 30 people there and they were involved with Above the Mendoza. I love the name which expresses a concept to think about, and I quote: “The Mendoza Line is an expression in baseball in the United States, deriving from the name of shortstop Mario Mendoza, whose mediocre batting average is taken to define the threshold of incompetent hitting."
They are from Philadelphia and describe themselves as punk and post punk and I would throw in an emo element in the vocals. They exuded friendliness along with tons of energy onstage. You could see they were a close knit group with the amount of interaction they had on stage. They would just bounce with excess energy at points as they smiled and generally looked like they were loving every minute of playing and being on stage. Glamour Queen was a song that stood out. It sounds good in
their recorded version too. Bandcamp.
Next up Arlen (from Lowell) also describe themselves with post punk
along with marking Joy Division in the list. They had that moody darkness
in the music. They all were excellent players. The guitarist somehow
had a sharp yet airy sound. It was an effects laden tone that hung in
the air and gave every song the smoldering ambience that was their signature
sound. Week after week we’ve been catching mid-week shows at O’Brien’s. The person booking this place has good ears. Friday it was a must not miss gig at the Middle East up with Lyres. They've been consistently at the top of their game. The short story of the night is that they were great again.
The modifierS were openers. They've been around for a long
while. They put out a straight forward guitar blast. It’s all mid-tempo
and solid. They do a good job and you get sucked into the songs time
and time again. A good example is I Like Her Band...the chorus
will hook you. They talk about a waitress in Kenmore Square in the lyrics.
ReverbNation.
Jeff’s voice was soulful and strong with the occasional scream. There’s something about those screams that embody the id of rock. The organ was branding everything with the Lyre’s sound. Steve Aquino was in exceptional mode. The sound guy had every instrument clear and you could catch Steve’s chording. It’s just garage rock style…I say just! Sometimes simple is the hardest thing to play. He has the right tone and knows how and when to strum or chop the chords and where on the neck to play them. It was a lesson if anyone wanted to take it in.
The set continues with their hits and less familiar nuggets. Jeff was all business as they played I’m Your Guy, Help You Ann, Soapy and How Do You Know. This was one hour of uninterrupted playing. This is what we live for. It ended with I Really Want You Right Now.
The Charms were closers but we missed them.
Andy had his two small amps. One for his guitar and one for the microphone duct tapped to the guitar. On air (or in person) he’s mild mannered but the second he’s plugged in, he makes a growl like a beast rising from the primeval ooze and he’s off. A video of Andy in the studio. We naively thought that this being radio the Andy would sit and play....wrong! He stands up and sure enough he’s into his routine and roaming around. He does his quirky shuffle step and slowly but surely heads to Marie. Poor unsuspecting Marie. She got a dose of Andy luv.
Brian was behind the console and Miss Lyn was, not by chance, tucked into an inaccessible corner. Blowfish had a target on his forehead...as usual. It was mash time. Photos tell the story.
We learned little about Andy. We're planning to do an interview for the BGN to learn more. He’s bit of an enigma. The ACCFTR gang read the BGN concert report for the upcoming week as a feature on the show at 3:45pm. They do a great job on that. They asked us to do it this week. It was a fun time and we all had a blast!
But...that still wasn’t enough so we headed to Atwoods where Jittery Jack was having a record release party. For us this was a repeat of our Cranktones show last September. We even had the same meals; again great. Jittery Jack’s personality fills the room and Miss Amy plays the best rockabilly guitar ever. The crowd is friendly and the place was full. It’s a neighborhood bar with a big heart. January 21 they have the Cranktones again. If you're looking for a way to chase away the winter blues…this is the place.
And in other news.....
Is there a new Store 54 in the works? There’s some rumors out there. UK paper The Sun takes a looks at some notable punkers then and now. They call if "Granarchy in the UK". HA! That's hilarious and fitting!!
Kurt Baker is currently touring Europe but, we hear, is returning
home for some shows..... home for Kurt would be Portland, ME. There's
gonna be a gig in March with his buds The Connection
and Kris Rogers; that’s nirvana for pop fans.
We're hoping there's also a Boston show involved.
Here's some good shows coming up .....
January 19 (Thursday) Hey its a Punk Rock Pizza Party at O'Brien's with Endless Mike and the Beagle Club, Retirement District, Saccharine and Puppy Problems...and there's Free pizza at the show! January 19 (Thursday) Aeronaut Brewery's
2nd Annual Beers for Books- join Room to Read and Aeronaut as
we help raise money for literacy and gender-equality in education in the developing
world. The event will feature a live jukebox! Here's how it works: 1) Request
a song: 1 song = $1 = 1 book January 20 (Friday) The 50th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party opening is at the Verb Hotel. Friday Jan 20 from 5 to 8. " Join the Music Museum Of New England for a commemoration of the Tea Party 50th anniversary on Friday, January 20, 5-8pm, at The Verb Hotel and Hojoko Japanese tavern, 1271 Boylston Street (opposite Fenway Park). Whether you went to any shows at the Tea Party, or wish you had, let's all get together to celebrate good music and good times, and to enjoy the rock memorabilia at The Verb."
January 21 (Saturday) Vibrate with the Cranktones at Atwood's Tavern (Cambridge St Cambridge) this is a 4-6PM show. And stay for dinner the food is awesome at Atwood's. We really enjoyed their last show there. January 21 (Saturday) HayBaby, Creaturos, MiniDresses and Jack as part of the ArtsEmerson Black Box series at Emerson/Paramount Center, Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre - 559 Washington St Boston (Link) January 21 (Saturday) Roy Sludge is doing an early show at Sally O'Brien's 6-8PM And further out...... January 24 (Tuesday) Adam Ant is at The Wilbur January 25 (Wednesday) A Wish For Fire, Bird Language and The Darker Hues are at O'Brien's January 26 (Thursday) Joanie Lindstrom's big bash has been postponed but she will do an extra long show on her 30th anniversary on WMBR. She will be on from 8am to 2 pm...and that's 88.1 FM. January 27 (Friday) Ska and Punk night at the Midway with Hobo Chili, Stray Bullets, Losers Circle, Crime Spree and Gant!
January 29 (Sunday) Black Beach, Hairspray Queen, Idiot Genes and Thee Cavemyn at O'Brien's January 29 (Sunday) There's a CREIGHTON ST. FIRE BENEFIT SHOW at the Midway ,The Hi-END will be playing Here's the FB page
February 4 (Saturday) Oh this is gonna be a GREAT show!!: OC45 (CD Release/Tour Kickoff), On The Cinder (NY), Fast Times and Back Door Key (it's also their EP Release) at The Midway (FB page here) February 9 (Thursday) we love this stuff its always fun!! Karaoke Underground at O'Brien's in Allston. The Karaoke Underground is for punk and indie rock fans who love to scream, yelp, croon, bark and sometimes even sing their favorites from artists like Black Flag, Modest Mouse, the Misfits, Cat Power, the Pixies, Dead Kennedys, Sleater-Kinney, Pavement, Joy Division, Fugazi, Guided By Voices and many more. It's video karaoke with onscreen lyrics, a stage, you -- and the chance to sing great songs you just can't find anywhere else. Full catalog of songs here.
February 10 (Friday) The Upper Crust, Watts and Petty Morals are at Great Scott February 11 (Saturday) Tavern at The End of The World Presents: Trusty Sidekick, Fireking, and The Trick Wallace Trio February 17 (Friday) Lux Lives East Coast is coming again -this event is in Salem at Koto, on the bill are Thee Fabulous Itchies, The Evil Streaks and The Nebulas. Here's the FB Page Lux Lives is a chance for Bands and DJ's and fans to come together to celebrate the life of Lux Interior. Since it's inception, Lux Lives East Coast has raised over $10,000.00 for Lux and Ivy's favorite charity Best Friends Animal Society. This is a GREAT event all around! February 18 (Saturday) DJ Easy Ed presents The Crank Tones plus Easy Ed's Record Hop! for an early show (4-8PM) at The Midway February 18 (Saturday) and for the evening show at The Midway we have Amos Fortune, Endation, Lotus Ignite and GrandEvolution February 25 (Friday) The Billy Connors Project is @ the Cantab with Corrola Deville and Jimmy Bez.
March 3 (Friday) Robyn Hitchcock at Once March 8 (Wednesday) The Sheckies, Mongorellis, The Prozacs, Meat Depressed at Koto in Salem March 9 (Thursday) A benefit for Outside the Lines (the special needs art studio) at Thunder Road. Barrence Whitfield & Dennis Brennan will be playing. March 10 (Friday) Agent Orange, The Queers, & Guttermouth at ONCE Ballroom FB page March 25 (Saturday) 45 Adapters (from NYC), Blood Stained Brindle, The Damn Garrison and Quiggs April 1 (Saturday) State of the Union, The New Frustrations, The Stigmatics and The Only Things doing a GREAT early show (4-8PM) at the MidwayApril 1 (Saturday) The Upper Crust, Sidewalk Driver and When Particles Collide as part of the ArtsEmerson Black Box series at Emerson/Paramount Center, Jackie Liebergott Black Box Theatre - 559 Washington St Boston (Link) May 29 (Monday) Teenage Bubblegums, Jagger Holly, Mongorellis, Jimmy Jacked at Opus Underground in Salem June 1 & 2 (Thurs & Fri) Reverand Horton Heat at Once in Somerville CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com - Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!
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Rick Harte says: The new 7 song Real Kids record is almost done.
It will be mastered at Sterling Sound on February 2nd. The Real Kids
show in Worcester was cancelled. Turns out John got bonked on the head
by a rouge car part and had a concussion. He's doing OK though.
January 17 (Tuesday) Salem Wolves and Miss
Amy Griffin (The Raging Teens, Jittery Jack) will be making magic at Atwood's
Tavern
January 20 (Friday) The Lights Out,
Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Zip Tie Handcuffs and The Sun Lions
at the ArtsEmerson Black Box series at Emerson/Paramount Center, Jackie Liebergott
Black Box Theatre - 559 Washington St Boston (
January 29 (Sunday) The reskedged Rockerzine
Trivia Night is happening ....Join Erin & Brett for some fun times at Zuzu...
6:30 - 9pm 
February 10 (Friday) BadassMotherfuzzers, Muck & the Mires,The Real
Kids, Richie Parsons at the Midway
February 28 (Tuesday) The Hi-End, Low Babies,
Four Point Restraints, and the Instamatics are at the Midway Feb
28 Here is 
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