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The BGN News Archive
The Dirty Truckers have released a “best of” album (with 22 cuts!) on Rum Bar records; they did a show at O’Briens to celebrate that. Right now it seems to be Rum Bar’s world and they let us live in it. They've been a horn of plenty these last two months. Label leader Lou Mansdorf has a business paradigm that is working gangbusters. He picks a band, they give him recorded material and he packages and publicizes it. Seems simple.
Another thing seemed obvious being at the O’Brien’s Friday show: Rum Bar is the center of a sub scene. Rum Bar has fostered a network of people through their strong identification with their bands and the shows they've put on in support of them. The large turnout at Justine and the Unclean’s show at Once a while back was a high profile example of the Rum Bar fan base. There is a group of people now as identifiable as the Abbey scene people who have remained close knit, years after the clubs closing. It’s nice to see.
The Dirty Truckers are illustrative of how the Rum Bar stable of bands work. If you follow the musician’s family trees in the group you get to Tom Baker and the Snakes, Justine and the Unclean, Gymnasium, Watts, Worshipper and then The Neighborhoods and more! The Dirty Truckers have one of our favorite vocalists, Tom Baker. He writes some of the songs also. On Friday his voice was on full display. He had a gritty tone married with a yearning romanticism. Time and time again he would hit a chorus with a repeated phase and milk it for all it was worth. John Brookhouse who got a lot of attention in Worshipper also plays in Tom Baker and the Snakes. There he plays with Charles Hanson, in The Dirty Truckers you get to hear him alone, and that gives you an even clearer idea of his prowess. He has a muscular tone and can play with a hard rock edge or he can get sweet. On “Boston Wrangler”, the new single released by Rum Bar, he uses a slide. When they played it on Friday the slide work mirrored Baker’s vocal work in tone. You could hear clearer where he used the slide to slowly ascend five steps and then decend the same five steps. Once you locked into that you listened for it and it felt like it picked you up and let you down easy.
Drummer John Lynch is in a few groups including the Neighborhoods but for our money his work is best represented in the Truckers. He plays strong with not much adornment and it fits the Truckers music to a T. Another highlight was the Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait” (second video above) where they speed it up a notch and hit the main riff harder. The Truckers are always compared to the Rolling Stones but their influences go way beyond that as the Replacements cover suggests. Here’s their Bandcamp page where you can hear some of the songs we mention. The next day, on Saturday, it was to the Midway with even more Rum Bar action. We told you, it’s their world! We will gladly submit to Jay Allen and Muck and the Mires.
Jay Allen and the Archcriminals have a new album coming out shortly. Judging from what we heard Saturday the songs are in a more serious vein than in the past. Jay has digested a lot of punk and when he plays you can hear that. That was the case at the Midway where the whole set was stamped with it’s punk credentials. The band started with “The First Time” by the Boys. The group could play a whole set of these choice punk covers but that maybe would be too easy and Jay’s material captures the same spirit anyway. “Chopped Liver”, “Bustin' My Balls”, “Twist My Nuts” were all played. The audience gave strong ovations. It felt good to be in a crowd that ‘got it’. Justine Covault sat in on one song. She played in Quest for Tuna with Jay in the 1980’s. He also played the new material that was serious and very stong. One song was called "Tiny Daggers" and that's in the first video below. We are looking forward to hearing all the new material on Jay's next release.
You know in Raiders of the Lost Ark when that boulder is bearing down on Indiana Jones? That’s what it’s like when Muck and the Mires start playing – you better get off your ass and move or you are going to be rolled over by the rock (n’ roll). We seemed not to see them set up (they do it fast), we just heard the band hitting the first note at full volume and speed, and they were off. We never did catch our breath, as they never stopped. You think we would be used to this by now? Every time we catch Muck and the Mires we think that the current show was the best ever. This time several people thought the same of this set. We don’t know, they all are at this level!! These guys were crazy good. Linda and Evan were just grinning the whole time as was the whole audience. You want to hear the power of music? Get to a Muck and the Mires gig. If you don’t come out feeling happy, optimistic and one with the world there’s no hope for you. After a whole set of the world's catchiest songs “Saturday Let Me Down Again” has stuck in our heads – it’s there now. What sort of powerful ear worm mojo does that song have? Will wonders never cease? John Keegan found L.A. Guns at a club in Medford!?
And another reason to be cheerful, part two, Adam Sherman of the Billy Connor’s Project said they were in the studio ( Woolly Mammoth) and recorded a few songs. One being “Knock Down Day” which we are nuts about. And Adam said they nailed it too. Looking forward to that!! Here's a good article from Please Kill Me about Mark E. Smith. And be forewarned...this summer is the 25th Anniversary of GG Allin's death and the Murder Junkies are doing a GG Allin Death Tour!! Here's some good shows coming up .....
March 2 (Friday) The Gala US, The Found Objects, Eagle In The Attic, The Knock Ups at Koto in Salem March 3 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers featuring The Pint Killers 1-4PM 91.5 WMFO March 3 (Saturday) Silver Screams, Duck & Cover, Too Many Voices, EVERT ..this is a .4-8PM show at The Midway. Evert is a new band with Joe Packard, Matt Burns and Jim Alger...can't wait to see them!! Evert FB page. Gig FB page. March 3 (Saturday) The Von Traps, The Brave Noise, RooFTops at O'Brien's Pub March 3 (Saturday) Peter Perrett (of The Only Ones) at The Brighton Music Hall FB page for tix etc THIS SHOW HAS BEEN CANCELLED
March 4 (Sunday) All ages matinee with Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One, Genuine Rust, The Abductors, Restraining Order at the Thirsty First: Tavern & Grill, 280 Central St, Lowell, only $5!! FB page for info And further out we have....... March 6 (Tuesday) Crimespree, Marko and The Bruisers, The Sewer Buddies, Go Figure at O'Brien's March 6 (Tuesday) Rock and Roll Trivia with Erin & Brett moves to The Sinclair (in the restaurant) 8 PM - 11 PM FB page March 7 (Wednesday) Ghostwriter, Coffin Salesman, Olde Boy at OBrien's March 7 (Wednesday) 138, Cost, System Blister, Punk Band at Opus/Salem March 8 (Thursday) Richie Parsons at The Midway 8-9:30 March 8 (Thursday) Sternman (formally Rawstrum) which Yo Ticonderoga, Cardinal and Rival Cinema at PA's Lounge Facebook post. March 9 (Friday) Nick & The Adversaries, Continental (ex-Dropkick Murphys/The Outlets), The Hi-End, The Gala at The Midway
March 10 (Saturday) The F.U.'s, The Lost Riots, The Humanoids, Punk Band at The Midway for the afternoon show ( 4pm - 8pm) and just stay at hte Midway coz..... March 10 (Saturday) Fat Togue Music presents! .Black Helicopter, Mantooth, Blackletter, The Womps-at The Midway March 10 (Saturday) Carissa Johnson Talk Talk Talk Album Release at Great Scott also on the bill: The Organ Beats, Lady Pills, and Watts! March 10 (Saturday) A garage rock'n'roll extravaganza with The Monsieurs, Johnny & The Food Masters, Atlantic Thrills, Clever Girls, Strange Fuzz and a bunch more band- starts at 6PM- at the News Cafe Pawtucket RI...here's the FB page. March 11 (Sunday) Continental, The Damaged , The Capps at The 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA
March 13 (Tuesday) Loser's Circle, Squallie Greenthumb, You Scoundrel, Live Nude Girls at O'Brien's March 13 (Tuesday) A special solo acoustic night with Trick Wallace, Chris Wagner, Anthony Kaczynski, and Corin Ashley at The Midway March 14 (Wednesday) Clan Of Xymox and Stoneburner at Once March 14 (Wednesday) Dropkick Murphys, Agnostic Front & Bim Skala Bim at The State Theatre, Portland, Maine FB PAGE! SOLD OUT BTW March 16 (Friday) Bonecrusher, The Welch Boys, The Blue Bloods, The Ice Cold Killers at The Midway March 16 (Friday) Bonecrusher, The Welch Boys, The Blue Bloods, The Ice Cold Killers at The Midway March 16 (Friday) Richie Ramones, Marko and the Bruisers, Musclecah,The Pathetics at Ralph's Diner in Wistah March 17 (Saturday) St Patrick's Day RocknRoll show with Beantown Boozehounds, State of the Union, Natty D's, The Imposers and Worm at Thirsty First: Tavern & Grill Lowell, MA FB page for more i nfo
March 22 (Thursday) Black Beach, Bike Thieves, Nest at O'Brien's March 22 (Thursday) Crowfeeder, SkyTigers, Table Trash, the Sewer Buddies at UnchARTed, Lowell, MA FB page March 22 (Thursday) Bystander, Oh The Humanity, Sternman, The Color Me at OPUS in Salem. Facebook page. March 23 (Friday) BirdGangs, The Bruvs, The Quins, Something Sneaky at O'Brien's March 23 (Friday) Barrence Whitfield & the Savages with Mr. Airplane Man at the Middle East!! FB page and tix link here. March 23 (Friday) Demon's Alley, The Hi-End, Greg Allen, Otter River at Ralph's in Worcester. March 24 (Saturday) Nervous Eaters, The Connection, Classic Ruins at O'Brien's March 24 (Saturday) See This World's CD Release Party for Sign of the Times at the Launch Pad at Norwood Space Center, also on the bill Neighborhood Shit and The Pint Killers.It's a 6-11PM show- FB page March 24 (Saturday) Michael Kane & The Morning Afters, Reverend Dan, Pull it Together at The 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA March 25 (Sunday) Rebuilder, The Penske Files, Dan Web & The Spiders, Buy My Book at O'Brien's
March 30 (Friday) Flathead Rodeo, Creepin' Cadavers, Diablogato at The 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA FB page March 31 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers is featuring The Jonee Earthquake Band....1-4PM WMFO 91.5 March 31 (Saturday) The Von Traps, Silver Screams, The Revilers and Automatic is featuring Koto in Salem. Facebook event. April 7 (Saturday) CatalinaShortwave, TheThighScrapers, Helen, TheNoShows, CornerSoul at Club Bohemia/The Cantab. Hosted by Catalina Shortwave and Helen April 17 (Tuesday) 1476, Crimespree, Crowfeeder, John Trudeau at Koto in Salem April 17 (Tuesday) My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult: 30th Anniversary Show at the Brighton Music Hall April 21 (Saturday) The McGunks, Jason Bennett and the Resistance, The Dimwits, Loser's Circle an early show 4-8:30 at The Midway April 21 (Saturday) The Bush Tetras (their FB page) are at the Middle East Up - early 6:30 show. They are touring to promote their new record! Get tix here. April 21 (Saturday) The Residents are at Brighton Music Hall.
April 22 (Sunday) The Bush Tetras are at Cafe Nine in New Haven CT April 25 (Wednesday) The Guilloteenagers, Houston & The Dirty Rats, Sewer Buddies, Blame It On Whitman at O'Brien's May 10 (Thursday) Mickey Rickshaw and Buster Shuffle at Thunder Road May 12 (Saturday) The Nervous Eaters with Justine and the Unclean, The Hi-End at The Midway 8pm show May 12 (Saturday) Crimespree, Pruf, Crossthreads at The 13th Floor Music Lounge in Florence, MA May 17 (Thursday) Tsunami Bomb, Diablogato at Once May 19 (Saturday) The Knock Ups, State of the Union, The New Frustrations, The Imposers at The Midway- early show 4-8Pm June 2 (Saturday) Sheer Terror, Nothing But Enemies, Brando, American War Machine at The Middle east - this is an early show 5:30-10:30
June 16 (Saturday) The Nervous Eaters, Justine and the Unclean, Stop Calling Me Frank are at Thunder Road June 16 (Saturday) GBH with Pinata Party are at The Middle East Down. June 20 (Wednesday) Reverend Horton Heat, Big Sandy, Lara Hope & The Ark-Tones at Alchemy Provi RI June 22 (Friday) Tied To A Bear, Duck &Cover, The Von Traps, Sonic Libido at Opus in Salem July 1 (Sunday) G.G. ALLIN 25th Death Anniversary show with The Murder Junkies, Smoking Triples, Jonee Earthquake, They Hate Us, Malcolm Tent at The Dutch Treat Franconia NH Here's the FB page July 11 (Wednesday) The Goddamn Gallows, The Koffin Kats, Viva Le Vox at Alchemy in Provi, RI July 12 (Thursday) Koffin Kats, The Goddamn Gallows, Viva Le Vox at The Middle East CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.
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And in other news.....
March 2 (Friday) Damon & Naomi,
Thalia Zedek and Kevin Robert Thomson at The Lily
Pad Inman Square 7-10PM
March 3 (Saturday) Wimpy Rutherford's
60th w/ The Guts reunion & Time Out Timmy
at Sue's Space in Rollinsford, NH.
March 9 (Friday) Club Linehan
a Go Go, Stigmatics, The Billy Connors Project and the Spearmint
Sea ….at the Club Bohemia at The Cantab.
March 12 (Monday) OTP, Michael
Kane &the Morning Afters, Headspace at Charlie's Kitchen
March 28 (Wednesday) The Strypes
are at Brighton Music Hall
April 22 (Sunday) Hardcore Stadium presents:
The Unseen, American War Machine, Moose Knuckle, The Von Traps
at the Middle East - this is an ALL AGES show - starts at 6PM
June 13 (Wednesday) doing their G.G.
ALLIN 25th Death Anniversary Tour the Murder Junkies are at Cafe Nine
in New Haven CT 
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