The BGN News Archive

David Minehan in Stardarts at the Allen Devine Tribute Concert

The week began with the shocking news of David Bowie’s death. The multitude of tributes were amazing and coming from all sources. Even for Bowie fans the breadth and depth of emotion was surprising.
   Saturday had two tributes: The Lemmyfest at Once and a tribute to one of our local musicians who left us in September: Allen Devine.
   The night at the Lizard Lounge was entitled “A Celebration of the Life and Music of Allen Devine” and it lived up to that description. The sold out show proved Allen was rich in friends and surrounded by serious musicians. There were laudatory words from all the acts including David Minehan’s heartfelt salute and John Powhida’s irreverent humor laden stories.

David Minehan in Stardarts

   Allen was a member of Stardarts the often forgotten interlude of David Minehan’s career. Those that know, treasure the album. I don’t think they did many live gigs. This was a rare chance to see them.
   The switch was the Minehan didn't play lead guitar. He sang and played rhythm guitar. The treat was hearing the crack backup band support him and give him space to concentrate on the singing. On lead was John Brookhouse of The Dirty Truckers and Worshiper. He plugged in a series of juicy leads. He had a sharp tone, the ability to play anything he wants and an unerring taste for what will best suit the song – hey, much like Allen. I have to think that there are many Minehan fans that would have loved to have seen this.
    Kevin Griffen got the whole set on video….Catch Money to Burn… and then their closer Slow Down, the old Larry Williams song…

Caged Heat

   Chilli Kurtz and Caged Heat is well thought of and I can see why. It’s a little hard to connect the powerful harmonica playing with the lithe woman playing it. What lung power. I was reminded from the beginning of James Cotton and sure enough she ended with Cotton’s tour de force The Creeper. As we are punk oriented we don’t get to hear this gut bucket style of blues and it was fun. She has a great voice for those kinds of songs too.
   Allen had a wide range as a guitar player and that set brought it home.

Bastards of Fine Arts

    The Bastards of Fine Arts were different again with a more straight rock orientation. Then John Powhida added his tasty pop style.

John Powhida

   The intimate Lizard Lounge added to the warm feeling of the night. The Lounge has a folk or jazz club feeling to it. It’s all about listening to the acts. It worked for this tribute to Allen. Here is Allen’s website the gives an idea of the range of things his talent lead him to.

   Friday Arthur Freedman caught the Robin Lane and the Chartbusters show at the soon to be closing Johnny D's in Somerville. The band has flown the threat that it might be the last show but you never know.

Robin Lane and the Chartbusters Photo: Arthur Freedman

Billy Loosigian and Scott Baerenwald Photo: Arthur Freedman

Robin Lane and Asa Brebner Photos: Arthur Freedman

Here's some good shows coming up this week.....

January 22 (Friday) The Dot Rats are at The Midway along with See This World, Neighborhood Shit and Mongorellis

January 22 (Friday) Goddamn Draculas, Red Sky Mary and Watts are at Johnny D's

January 23 (Saturday) Brian Young's A Crash Course for The Ravers with feature Nancy Neon and Friends. 91.5 1-4PM

January 23 (Saturday) Vapors of Morphine and Mr Airplane Man at Atwoods

January 23 (Saturday) The Devil's Twins, Marianne Toilet and the Runs, Diablogato and Damnation are at The Spotlight Tavern in Beverly

And out in the future we have.....

January 29 (Friday) Conmen, Shepherdess, Casanovas In Heat and Nomad Stones at O'Brien's

January 29 (Friday) The Dictators - NATUR - Neutral Nation are at The Parlor Newport, Newport RI (FB page for more info)

January 29 (Friday) Phil Collins Beat, Thee Itchies and others are at Dusk in Provi, RI. (FB Event page)

January 30 (Saturday) Punk Rock Aerobics at The Sinclair - classes start at NOON! (FB page)

January 30 (Saturday) The Dictators - Lenny Lashley's Gang of One - Nick and the Adversaries - Neutral Nation are at Great Scotts

January 30 (Saturday) Lyres, The Paul Collins Beat and the modifierS are at The Middle East Up. BUY TIX here

January 30 (Saturday) Reddy Teddy is playing at a 10 Jam for Ink Jam Tattoo in Arlington . 6-10 PM at the Knights of Columbus, Arlington MA. Check out the FB page for more info.

January 30 (Saturday) Angela Sawyer (of Weirdo Records) & Gabe Stoddard present their Open Mic Night

January 31 (Sunday) Charlie Don’t Surf, The Damn Garrison, Evan Weckbacher, & some very special surprise guests at The Midway this is a 4PM show

February 4 (Thursday) Highway Chapel is at Hennessey's Hooley House 25 Union St (by Haymarket) Boston.

February 5 (Friday) The Shiny Beasts and The Knock Ups are at Jeanie Johnston Pub in JP. each band is doing two sets, alternating sets.

February 5 (Friday) The Silks, The Dirty Truckers and The Furs are at The Midway

February 6 (Saturday) Roy Sludge with Duke Levine & Johnny Sciascia at Atwoods this is a 4PM show

February 6 (Saturday) Magic Shoppe (celebrating their EP Release) Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Bong Wish and S.S. Cretins at Great Scott

February 6 (Saturday) Koto in Salem goes MOD with The Forz, Tiger Bomb and The Evil Streaks

February 7 (Sunday) The Manglers, The Grommets, Jason Bennett & The Resistance are at The Midway for a 4PM show

February 8 (Monday) Punk Rockin' And Pastie Poppin' Burlesque at The Midway!!

February 12 (Friday) Chetstock #1 2016 will be at Once Lounge @ Cuisine En Locale!! They will also be filming a documentary with lots of interviews and great Chet's stories. This is a memorial event to support Pine Street Inn in honor of Chet. And check out the killer line-up of bands: Moose and the Mudbugs, Liz Borden Group, Pajama Slave Dancers, Dogmatics, Bim Skala Bim, Dogzilla Reunion (with special appearance by AEF) and Chet's All Stars - more info soon check the FB page for updates.

February 13 (Saturday) The Quiggs will be on Brian Young's A Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO 95.1, 1-4PM.

February 13 (Saturday) Lux Lives! A celebration of all things Lux and The Cramps is back this year at Dusk in Provi, RI featuring The Buzzards (members of thee Itchies and The Worried), Rumble Party and Thee Icepicks also music by DJs Ty Jesso and Kogar the Swinging Ape -(FB page)

February 17 (Wednesday) Poison Idea, Child Bite, The FUs, LIVVER and Profit Margin at Once Lounge (FB event page)

February 18 (Thursday) Keytar Bear is at The Midway...a bear's gotta play but it's cold outside!! He's on before Queereoke.

February 19 (Friday) Taxicab Cowboy , The Galvanics, The Brigands and Phil Yates & The Affiliates at PA's Lounge

February 19 (Friday) wow this should be interesting Russian Punk bands Naive and Matrixx are at the Middle East down. More info on the FB event page

February 20 (Saturday) Diablogata and Gold Blood & Associates along with DJ Valdez the Sinner will be shaking it up at Store 54.

February 20 (Saturday) The Hummingbiord Syndicate (Jon Macey's band) will be on A Crash Course for the Raves on WMFO 91.5 FM 1-4PM.

February 20 (Saturday) Quiggs, Howie & The Scrapes, Electric Octopus, and The Black Cheers are at The Foundation Room at the House of Blues (FB page for this excellent gig!)

February 20 (Saturday) M.O.T.O. , Stop Calling Me Frank, Sprained Ankles and The Johns are at The Midway

February 26 (Friday) Township is having their Vinyl Release Party, also on the bill When Particles Collide - at Great Scott

February 26 (Friday) Jittery Jack & Miss Amy along with Cactus Attack and The Alrighters are at O'Brien's

March 19 (Saturday) The Devil's Twin and Diablogato are at O'Brien's

March 19 (Saturday) Lux Lives! A celebration of all things Lux and The Cramps is back this year at The Bayside Bowl in Portland, ME featuring
The Gamma Goochies, Thee Ice Picks and Video Nasties - also music by DJs Ty Jesso and Kogar the Swinging Ape -(FB page)

March 25 (Friday) OK whoa....this is gonna be a wild night...go if you dare...S&M punk band GASH is at PA's Lounge...also on the bill is DISIPLINE: Boston queer BDSM Punk.

April 1 (Friday) "Drop Ya Mic and pick up yer paint brush" is a show of Musicians' art work at Once Lounge...check out the FB page..the list is looooonnnnggg. Providing music for the event will be The Old Edison, Tom Baker and the Snakes, Stars Like Ours and Ringtail. $9 cover with free apps, art at 6PM music about 8:30.

April 1 (Friday) Kenne Highland 60th birthday party at The Cantab Club Bohemia

April 2 (Friday) Kenne Highland 60th birthday party at the midway (this is his actual birthday!) An afternoon 4PM show -more info to come

April 2 (Friday) the night show at The Midway is Wussy and The Thalia Zedek band.

April 3- 22 (Friday) Rock n Roll Rumble at Once Lounge

April 5 (Tuesday) The Legendary Shack Shakers, The Pine Hill Haints and Diablogato are at Great Scott

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com - Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!

Minehan and Stardarts

SETH GOODMAN at Allen Devine Tribute

Peter Christofono, Karen DeBiassi and Pamela Ruby Russell