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The BGN News Archive
James Ryan of the Hoodoo BBQ died this week. Locals were devastated, but how do you explain the Hoodoo phenomenon to out of towners? It wasn’t just that the Hoodoo was a rib joint. It was one part of the James Ryan world that was integral to the Boston punk scene at the time. James ran the Hoodoo from the Rat’s kitchen. Being James the usual suspects (drummers, band members, scenesters and anyone that needed a job) joined the enterprise. Anyone that was even half cool and in the know would flock to the restaurant to eat and be part of it all. James tells his story here.
The Hoodoo was a business built around personalities, as was James' Sports Palace radio spot on WMBR. He would do sports reports that went on for ten minutes without ever mentioning sports. He would talk about headlines from supermarket tabloids and line up stories that ended in elaborate puns. He was in the Swinging Erudites and he would pop on stage at shows of people he knew, and he knew a lot, and do a song or two. After that phenomenon died down he did articles in the Noise. Lately he wrote Facebook posts, those rambling stories that piled puns upon puns until you eventually cracked up. He’s familiar to us a ‘type’ in the Boston scene, a personality that fits the times. The eccentricity finds a home with people who get the joke. James was that person for years and in his way defined the scene in the 80s. The outsider will never really understand, you had to live through the times to appreciate how a person like James Ryan flowered and made our lives richer and magical…for a time. It seems like a short time now.
Singer Dean Jackson passed this week and was much memorialized in social media. Dean was the singer for the touring Gang Green last year.
They remained a light through the decades. We’ve heard our share of MC5 cover songs through the years. Kramer collaborated with many groups through these later years. There are many records with his name on the credits. Like a lot of those sixties Detroit rockers he was a punk before there was punk movement. Article in Guitar World Article in Variety Brian Young started his A Crash Course for the Ravers show with some Wayne Kramer songs. He played Gang War the group with Kramer and Johnny Thunders. It was a live cut from the Channel show in June of 1980. Then “Ramblin Rose” and “Kick Out the Jams” from the MC5 To hear the show go to the WMFO schedule page. Hit the A Crash Course for the Raves show on Saturday at 1pm and then hit the ‘archive’ link.
And of course we lost our pal Matt Burns at the very beginning of this year. Matt Memorial news - Larry Newman (Satch Kerans, KH Airforce etc) is putting together two Matt Burns Memorials. One at The Worthen Attic on Sunday March 24th with Larry Newman, Frank Rowe, Spike, Captain Easychord, Captain and Schlemiel, Kenne Highland's Air Force, Classic Ruins, The Reverand Joseph Fagan and his Deacons.
When Covid hit there was concern that the club scene would suffer even worse than the general economy because it was based on people getting together. A few clubs did close Great Scott, (there are still hopes of a new location), was one of the notable ones. At this point a lot of breweries have cropped up and feature rock acts. Those places have more than taken up the loss of clubs and that’s not taking in to account new big clubs like Roadrunner. In Salem you could club hop from Koto’s to Opus across the street. Then Opus closed. Koto’s not only has kept open but now has added another club in Lowell!
And don't forget Thirsty First's Grand Reopening is this coming Saturday with Motel Black, C.E. Skidmore and Matt Charrette - doors at 6PM. FB page
Jonathan Richman has announced a 22 show tour for February and March: locally there is March 1 at The Academy of Music in Northampton, MA on and March 5 at the Spire Center Plymouth, MA. The full tour list VIDEOS......
A lot of groups are going back to the pre-punk seventies for inspiration. The Poison Boys from Chicago are one of them. This video is of the song “Knocked Down Again” you can hear the influence of the New York Dolls and Johnny Thunder, Stones, Groovies, Dead Boys, Hanoi Rocks etc. If you like this video, then the album Headed for Disaster is even better. That album collects some old singles from 2014 to 2018. If you like their style this could be your new favorite group.
Sundrifter has a video for the song “Limitless” from their forthcoming album An Earlier Time. Sundrifter’s style make reviewers reach for the rhetoric to describe their transporting sound. Epic Space Jam was a phrase used by the band as a working title for “Limitless” and that is a good stab at describing their sound. It’s mind expanding without the drugs and without being too psychedelic. The visuals use the spacy image from the album cover over studio shots done at Futura Studios in Roslindale, Ma, Earth. They got a good write up in The Obelisk website
This VIAL song/video of “Falling Short” was posted on Brooklyn Vegan and it’s a good one. They go on to compare it to 1990s skate rock. We just think it’s neat fast punk, good for anytime it may be released. It’s so full of energy, some phrases in the lyrics that hit every now and then and some fun audience video shots. VIAL are a Minneapolis trio. They got together using Tinder in 2019. The Vial website.
RIP Wayne Kramer. We couldn’t let the week go by without posting this amazing live clip from the MC5. Take a look at this from July 1970, it’s “Ramblin’ Rose”, “Kick Out the Jams” and “Looking at You.” So ahead of their time. PODCASTS......... The Elastic Glam Breakfast show this week has all songs produced by the great Tony Visconte. That covers perennial opener T. Rex with “Teenage Dream” then you get Tony produced cuts by Bowie, Thin Lizzy, Sparks, U2 and more, which makes for another good dose of glam, and you know you need it! There’s also a recording of Tony talking about recording a Bowie track.
Wachtelligence which is critic AJ Wachtell's podcast had Steve Berkowitz. Steve has a career like few others. Steve grew up in Brighton in Fidelis Way. He played music in the early sixties. He saw music at clubs like Where It's At and Club 47. Eventually he became manager for the Cars from 1978-1983. He ran Synchro Sound. We didn't know about his later blues career. Now he's in the Sony Music Legacy department overlooking reissues including the Beatles, Dylan and Miles Davis.
NEW MUSIC/CDs......
Art Devo 1973-1977 is a three album set of unreleased Devo songs. Described by Futurismo Records: “The compilation is made up of “almost completely unheard and unreleased material, this collection draws purely from that integral early history, garnered from unearthed basement recordings, original demo tapes, unfinished montages and rare live audio, all taken from the bands personal archive.” It looks amazing!! If you go to the Futurismo website you can see a lot of the vinyl sets of different colors are sold out already. The album is officially released on March 3. There's also a two CD set available We talked last week about the Devo documentary that was at Sundance. The band is playing Punk Rock Bowling in May. Looks like 2024 will be a time for a DEVO resurgence. We’ve been featuring the J Mascis videos from the early single releases of this album What We Do Now. The entire album has finally been released. We think the solo album with acoustic guitar but full drums and blistering electric leads is a great formula for Mascis. Then there is always that ragged voice that ads weight to the lyrics. What a body of work Mascis has.
The Promised End is a new group with members of Landmines, Tied To A Bear, SkyTigers and Choke Up. Their album For the Buried and the Broken is a nonstop blast of hardcore punk!! The drums are rolling thunder. The guitars are metal/hardcore, and as commanding as they are they never overrule the vocals. The lyrics are essential here and the vocals are not screamo. You can catch what they are singing. “Hard on For Hate” is a standout track. They have some sweet female background vocals tucked in there that are a surprise. They've got a sang "Every Breath You Fake” rather than “Every Breath You Take.” We have that on our Top Ten Songs The live show must be impressive!!
We’ve been waiting for this The Glimmer Stars album to come out. We loved those initial songs “Pictures of You” and the “Rollers Show.” The Rise of the Glimmer Stars is a compilation from material that they've released since 2005. We know them from being on Rum Bar Records recently, so it’s all new to us. Judging from this album alone you would think that they have never made a wrong move ever. The album presents them as if writing and performing these pop gems is all natural and effortless. If that’s not the case we still rather not know about it because this material has cast its spell on us! We love the singer’s voice, it takes us to a romantic place where we pine about their girl fixations like “Marcelle” and “Paulina” with them. The guitars don’t slash, they ring, chime and flutter with heavy tremolo. The drummer has a few Keith Moon like moves where the hits seem random and chaotic but always end right in place. There are 22 songs on this generous album. There’ are too many favorites to go on about. Well, here's just a few: “You and Me” is so romantic, same goes for “Time and Place”. “Sugar Blue” is where they rock out. We have “Sunday” on our Top Ten Songs We live for things like this. This goes on the top shelf.
Rob Moss and the Skin Tight Skins are releasing a song a month until their album comes out in September. “Hey You (We’re Sick of You)” nails the celebrity do-gooder. The song is short but the lyrics are very sharp. Every song has guest musicians. On this Paul Armstrong of 1.4.5. and Flashcubes plays guitar and Danny Frankel is on drums. Frankel was Lou Reed’s drummer for many years.
Sick Fizz is some crazy ass down and dirty garage rock. Australian, of course. Sick Fizz should have been named Sick Fuzz because they have that sound but maybe that name was taken. We like “Suss Motherfucker” and “Hip Babe” but we like the overall experience of the total album really. We will leave you with our very favorite, the very short but to the point “Shit Hot”.
The Sleeveens play just pre-punk English/Irish rock. We’re talking the early music of labels Chiswick, Stiff and New Rose. They picked a sympathetic and notable label themselves with Dirtnap. The do a cover of the Undertones “Get Over You” that makes you replay it a few times even though you’ve heard it so many times before anyway. Their most traditional song is one of their best, “Haunted Neighborhood.” The album will be released this Friday Feb 9, but you can hear one song “Aretha Franklin” now and that gives you a good idea of their sound. They're touring America in February but the closest they get to Boston is the Bowery Electric in New York City on Feb 20.
Here's some good shows coming up .....
February 7, 2023 (Wednesday) Jon Spencer, Tiger Bomb at Sun Tiki Studio, Portland, ME - FB page February 8, 2024 (Thursday) The Dreadnoughts, The Gobshites, Mickey Rickshaw at The Burren - 7-9PM show. February 9, 2024 (Friday) TELL (Album Release), D-tension and the Secrets, The Daylilies, Charming Arson at The Middle East Up February 9, 2024 (Friday) The Dreadnoughts, Mickey Rickshaw, The Pourmen at Stone Church, New Market, NH February 10, 2024 (Saturday) Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, Ex-Hyena, Looking Glass War at Faces Malden February 10, 2024 (Saturday) Corin Ashley and American Ocelot at The Haven in JP February 10, 2024 (Saturday) Lemmy Fest at Sonia!! February 10, 2024 (Saturday) The Grand RE-Opening of Thirsty First in Lowell with music by Matt Charrette, Motel Black and More TBA FB page to check as we get closer to the actual date.
February 16, 2024 (Friday) Dave Herlihey and friends at The Burren February 16, 2024 (Friday) Ruffian Dick, Duck Island Lowell, Lovewell for a FREE Show at Thirsty First February 16, 2024 (Friday) Wargraves, Brix'n'Mortar, Silver Screams, TFR at Shaksheen Pub Manchester, NH FB page. February 17, 2024 (Saturday) State of the Union, Classic Ruins, Huck 2 at the Square Root presented by Bootleg Dan February 17, 2024 (Saturday) Payphones, Hell Bech, KCUF, Jeff Rowe at Faces Malden February 17, 2024 (Saturday) The Strangemen , Tsunami of Sound, Bikini Whale (B52s Tribute), The Angry Debutantes at The Midway February 23, 2024 (Friday) Bootleg Dan presents Glowbox, The Midnight Callers (NJ) at The C-Note, Hull February 24, 2024 (Saturday) Das Damen, Thalia Zedek Band, Sleepyhead, Clamb at O'Brien's
February 25, 2024 (Sunday) LøbøHømbre, Pint Killers, The Hagglers, Shuriken at The Midway for a 3PM matinee show February 25, 2024 (Sunday) Loretta, Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Lupo Citta, Freak at The Cambridge Community Center 6PM show! FB page March 1, 2024 (Friday) The opening of the new Koto LOWELL!! Rockin Bob Punk Band, TJ Welsh & The Wasted, COB. at the new Koto Lowell (76 Merrimack st, Lowell, MA,) FB page. March 2, 2024 (Saturday) Tj Welch & The Wasted, Hold Fast,| The McGunks,| State Of The Union for a 3PM Matinee at The Midway March 2, 2024 (Saturday) Negative FX, Wrecking Crew. Wound Man, Savage Heads, Please Die, Eye Witness at The Middle East Down - all ages 1PM matinee show March 3, 2024 (Saturday) Protex, Crimps, Mystery Girl at Deep Cuts- Music at 7PM $20 March 8, 2024 (Friday) Color Killer and Dirty Walter and the Smelltones at Koto - ALL AGES and FREE March 15, 2024 (Friday) The Dogmatics: A Dogumentary showing and The Dogmatics playing live at The Regent Theater (Tickets!)
March 16, 2024 (Saturday) Kids Like You and Me presents: Johnnie & The Foodmasters Party! Boston's wildest, weirdest oldies cover band is throwing a party at The Lilypad. Special guests - Electric Street Queens and Jarsch - 7-10PM FB page March 16, 2024 (Saturday) Junkyard's 35th Anniversary Tour also on the bill Casket Rats at Koto Lowell (76 Merrimack St) March 16, 2024 (Saturday) 13th Annual Joe Zippo Fund & Scholarship show with Mephiskapheles, Mamadou, The Riki Rocksteady All-Stars (appearing as a trio this show) with DJ sets by Breaux Silcio of Residency Records. At Salem Old Town Hall -7-11PM FB page March 20, 2024 (Wednesday) Chinese Telephones, Constant Insult, Cigarette Camp & Blame It On Whitman at Faces Malden March 21, 2024 (Thursday) Bootleg Dan presents Marc Valentine, Girl with a Hawk, The Stigmatics at The Music Room in Yarmouth March 22, 2024 (Friday) Bootleg Dan presents Marc Valentine, The Chelsea Curve, Little Billy Lost, Special Guest DJ Sherman at The Burren March 23, 2024 (Saturday) Teen Mortgage, Death Lens, Zip-Tie Handcuffs at Deep Cuts Medford
March 29, 2024 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan presents Satch Kerans Band with Hasbro and Fandango (both from NYC) at The Square Root April 6, 2024 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan BD Blast!! with Densityblackcat (NYC), The False Positives, Hi-End, Stop Calling Frank, DJ Sherman spinning at The Warehouse XI in Union Square Somerville (right by the Jungle) April 6, 2024 (Saturday) Huck 2 and Island of Alaska at The Jungle Somerville. April 13, 2024 (Saturday) Children of the Flaming Wheel, Electric Street Queens, Orange Whip, Christian Kids -8PM at The Midway FB page April 15, 2024 (Monday) Rockin Bob Punk Band, Some Kind of Nightmare, Super Beef at Koto Salem.
April 27, 2024 (Saturday) The Crank-Tones at The Midway for a 3PM Matinee May 4, 2024 (Saturday) The Lights Out, Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, Brain K & The Parkway at Faces Malden May 11, 2024 (Saturday) Johnny Plankton & TSMS, Hands Of Spite, FastTracks, Richard Mirsky & A.M.P at The Midway for a 3PM matinee May 16, 2024 (Thursday) The Dead Boys, Nervous Eaters, The Plimsouls at Sonia this is a 7PM show. May 18, 2024 (Saturday) DnA's Evolution, Trading Tombstones. The Spackles, The Mighty Suicide Squirrels at The Midway for a 3 PM matinee May 18, 2024 (Saturday) Joan Jett covers night with Andrea Gillis & Friends, CE Skidmore & Friends, Brooke Feinberg & Friends At faces malden June 1, 2024 (Saturday) The Wynotts, The Black Cheers, Spillers at New World Tavern Plymouth. CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your anything else you've got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.
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This was when Kenmore Sq. was a hangout…don’t get us started!
Then
Wayne Kramer of the MC5 died later
in the week. What a massive influence he and the MC5 had! The raw onslaught
of the music along with the uncompromising political message of the
group was too much for mainstream people in the sixties.
The opening night, Friday, March 1st, has Rockin’ Bob Punk Band,
J Welsh & The Wasted, COB. opening. According
to 
February 7, 2024 (Wednesday) Pledge
Pins, Nice Guys, Andy California at The Silhouette
February 10, 2024 (Saturday) The
Dreadnoughts, Mickey Rickshaw, The McGunks at Askew in Provi, RI
February 24, 2024 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan presents Jennifer
Tefft and the Strange, The False Positives, Happy Little Clouds, Video
Release at The Square Root
March 16, 2024 (Saturday) Ravagers,
The Black Cheers, Loretta at O'Brien's
March 24, 2024 (Sunday) Matt Burns
Memorial Show at Worthen Attic, Lowell, MA- Larry Newman, Frank
Rowe, Spike, Captain Easychord, Captain and Schlemiel, Kenne Highland's Air
Force, Classic Ruins, The Reverand Joseph Fagan and his Deacons
April 19, 2024 (Friday) Quattracenta,
Thalia Zedek Band, Rip Room - at The Midway - 9:30 show.
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