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The BGN News Archive

March 3, 2023


Cranky Franky outside the Atwoods Tavern

Atwood’s Tavern is closing after 16 years at the end of this month, March. That’s sad and a big blow to the Somerville/Cambridge community.

Atwood’s was good for the bar, the food ... and the music. Even though you had to get there early and get a good table to see the band, that was part of the experience. We had some memorable meals there too! ‘Cosy’ is the word everyone uses to describe it and we would too. Oh we saw Jittery Jack & Miss Amy there in 2017, The Cranktones in 2016, The Figgs in 2012, John Keegan covered a Bowie Tribute in 2016, and a solo Jon Langford (Mekons) gig in 2017.

As more small clubs close it seems more horrible, overpriced, elitist tier-scheme, big venues open. BUT ...

there is a new place in Roslindale; The Substation! So we sent Captain Easychord over there to check it out. He caught The Peasants there along with The Rockmores and Tim Mann Band. Click the photo link below to see the review.

The Peasants

The Roslindale UNPorchFest is happening there (along with the Square Root) next weekend.

 

Aural FixationCongratulations to Sue Safton for her 40th Anniversary of Aural Fixations on WMBR!!

The first song she played on the first show on March 3, 1983 was “Anarchy in the UK”. On this week's anniversary show she played other songs from that first show like: The Maps, Jam, Buzzcocks, The Avengers and the Cure. She also plays some favorites from the years gone by and even new ones to round things out.

The hear the Aural Fixation anniversary show go to the WMBR Archive page and hit the link on the Saturday 4pm show for March 4.

 

Clint ConeleyWe think it’s pretty well known that bassist Clint Conley of Mission on Burma is a senior producer on Chronicle. For those that don’t know, here’s a current story in the Fifty Plus Advocate website about Clint’s day job. Conley earned a graduate degree in broadcast journalism from Boston University and got his start at WCVB as an intern on Chronicle, For Conley, working on Chronicle, is a dream job. “I get to do things, go places, and meet people,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m madly in love with New England. I love doing things like exploring the deep woods in Maine. ‘Chronicle’ has been a great place to pursue all that. We tell positive, happy stories for the most part.”

 

Steve Mackey the bass player for Pulp died this week. Pulp is mostly an English phenomenon. “Common People” was their biggest hit. Story on Vanyaland

 

Punk Rock Bowling has announced the 2023 line up for the May 27 – 29 shows. They have a lot of heavy hitters: The Damned, Dropkick Murphys, Bad Religion, Rancid, Fear, Adolescents, Interrupters, GBH, L7 and our faves the Svetlanas. The full story in Brooklyn Vegan


VIDEOS......

Stormstress have a new video for the song “Buried You In The Snow.” The video is well done with rich colors. They do an excellent job with the black/white contrast. We think this group is doing everything right.

Big Star’s documentary Nothing Can Hurt Me is on Amazon now. You can rent it for cheap here.

The group was ripe for a documentary with the rabid cult base that has been there for decades. You get two people who had a hard time with life, Alex Chilton and Chris Bell. That gives the documentary some emotional heft. Bell died in a car accident when he was 27.

Punk influenced a lot of people and it affected Alex Chilton too. He saw the Cramps in NYC and that gave him ideas on how to go forward after Big Star.

The trailer is above.


RADIO.....

DogmaticsThe Dogmatics were guests on A Crash Course for the Ravers this past Saturday. They talked about Thayer Street. Expectations are high for the Dogmatics documentary (Dogumentary) which is being submitted to many film festivals.

The group did live versions of “Gimmie The Shakes,” “Thayer Street” “She’s the One” and “Sister Serrena”.

The acoustic versions sounded full and they used the mandolin for some of the leads. The vocals were nice and clear. One of the better live sessions we’ve heard in a long time. Everyone sounded like they were having fun too. And they finished it up with “Pipeline”. Brian played seven more songs off the albums. You get a lot of Dogmatics on this show.

To hear the show go to WMFO archive page and hit Saturday at 1pm then hit the archive button.
The Dogmatics have an edited version of their part of the CCFTR here on YouTube.


PODCASTS.........

First WavePeter Abzug does the First Wave show on WPVM FM in Ashville, NC. He concentrates on early punk and new wave. He was curious how the punk scene began in Boston so he contacted The BGN!!

Our interview will be out in a few weeks, but this week he played a few recommendations we had, The Dogmatics and the Chelsea Curve. In the show they are mixed with The Dictators, Clash, Talking Heads, Jam, Pete Shelley, Generation X and the Damned. Here's the play list.

You can hear the podcast show (No. 18) here WPVM FM

WchtellegenceOn Wachtelligence, A.J. Wachtel interviews had Steve Cataldo, David McLean and Adam Sherman of the Nervous Eaters.

A.J. went over the early Eaters’ punk career, and it’s a testament to Steve and how busy that time period was, that he has new stories still to tell. They then give a lot of time to the new album. Wachtel goes track by track and there is a lot to say.

It was instructive to hear David McLean talk about the difference playing with Willie Loco’s Boom Boom Band and the Nervous Eaters. Steve revealed that there will be some Adam Sherman songs on the next Nervous Eaters album!!


NEW MUSIC/CDs......

Moving Targets Sunshine Riot Heartbeeps

One of the chronically underrated bands, Moving Targets keeps putting out excellent new albums. The latest is In the Dust. We always think of the raging group sound with Moving Targets, on this album we can see how much of this is in the rhythm section. The drums and bass keep a thunderous low rumble that defines this work.

There are three instrumentals, not many groups do that these days. That emphasizes their playing again. One song is titled "E-Bow". An E-Bow is a guitar gadget that creates a sustained tone and you can hear that used to great effect on the beginning of “Ordinary Summer”.

This is an album to listen to all the way through. It’s very cohesive. You get drawn into the songs as you get familiar with them. First some lyrics stick out (with the help of some great vocal phrasing by Kenny Chambers) and then the whole song opens up.

“Make It Easy” has a classic feel to it. You feel like it must have been a classic Boston radio hit at some point.

“Station” has a light, skipping opening section that abruptly changes to a dark, stilted, repetitive section which is repeated twice. You don’t hear a construction like that often but it works and it is attention getting.

This is a major work for Moving Targets.

“So It Comes” is the latest song release by Sunshine Riot. There’s a lot of Nirvana influence in this. They bring it down in the middle and do a talk over, that’s very effective, it creates a great atmosphere. We listened to it multiple times, it gets better and better.

Slovenly Records has the good raw garage bands and that’s what France’s Heartbeeps are. In their write up on Bandcamp they name drop DMZ! We love that!!

And we can hear the DMZ here and there, like in the song “Trembling” which we have set up to listen below. The whole album is very much like this example.

We also like “Trust No One and Fuck Everybody”.

Johnny Thunders Juniper

Last week we talked about Johnny Thunders and the brand new CD box set From The Beginning To The End. That three CD set comes out April 7 (Order here from Cleopatra Records)

Now they've released the final album in that set; Finally Alone: The Sticks & Stones Tapes. These are demo tapes that Thunders gave his manager to settle some debts. They were Thunders final recordings.

The vocals aren’t as clear as you might want but they are not the worst either.

“Disappointed In You” has a Mink Deville style backing vocals. The opening “It’s so lucky to be alive/ I have so many friends who have lost their lives” stops you short.

“Jungle Love” has the “The Train Keep a Rollin’” octave riffs going on.

The straight ahead “Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory” is a fine version, after hearing that, the other version, with the Courettes‘ backing the track, seems extraneous. There are covers: ”Bring It On Home”, “Wild Horses”, “Dead Flowers” and “Another Girl, Another Planet.”

There’s no replacement for Johnny’s voice, his guitar or his songwriting – that’s why these recordings are so important and rewarding. The real Thunders fans will pick this up anyway and the good news is they will get a satisfying Johnny Thunders record.

Juniper was an internet phenom a year ago. She captured an innocent teen voice. The new album She Steels Candy shows some growth. The playing feels controlled and the guitars are clean or at least low volume. There’s no sense of danger or disorder, which is the good thing about this. It’s a throwback to another era which makes you look at what we have now and just wonder about the road rock has had.

“James” and “Dawn Some My Guy: are examples of Juniper captures the teen mind set. You feel like you’re in high school again. “Little Miss Stuck Up” is a find. It’s an obscure '60s song by David Gates that he recorded under the name Del Ashley. Another good pick is “See You Tonight” a song from Kiss’s Gene Simmons solo album. There are four Delbert McClinton songs. They have a country swing. That’s the biggest change here. This is another way to go for Juniper.

There are some celebrity guests: Amy Rigby (Juniper also does “Baby Doll” a Rigby song), Kurt Baker, and Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo). There a lot for the pop aficionado here.


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

Key of CausticMarch 6, 2023 (Monday) Key of Caustic, Degenerates of Punk, Burp at The Silhouette

March 7, 2023 (Tuesday) Punk Rock Aerobics at Faces, Malden - 6:30-7:30PM bring a mat!!

March 8, 2023 (Wednesday) The Tossers, The Gobshites, Rogue March - Middle East Up

March 10, 2023 (Friday) Freqs, Mollusk, Hotel Black, Knock Over City at The Jungle

March 10, 2023 (Friday) The Scratch, The Downhauls, Scumbari - Middle East Up

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) The Grommets, Harry and the Hot Flashes, The Manglers at The Midway for a 3PM Matinee

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Chris Wagner (Modern Day Idols) solo at Village Social Club in Brookline. 8-10pm

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Grayskull Booking & Hardcore Stadium present Slapshot, Crown of Thornz, Risk, Neighborhood Shit at The Middle East Down

Black Motel March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Enemies List Big Band, Luxury Deathtrap, The Addition, High and Dry at The Midway

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Linnea’s Garden, Soraia, Justine and The Unclean, The Idiot Kids at The Jungle

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Jim Healey, The Chelsea Curve, David Harrison & Uncle Jay at Fields West, Allston

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Pre-St-Patty's Day Bash with Worm, Pint Killers, C.O.B., Far Above the ground, The Woods, Dogs in The Woods at The C Note, Hull. 7:30PM. FB page.

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Sly Fang, Hammered Saint, The Jacklights at Koto in Salem

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Grave Tripper, Swarm Catcher, Arch Druid at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

March 16, 2023 (Friday) Hi-End, Girl With A Hawk, Cynz at The Square Root.

March 16, 2023 (Friday) Feep, Zigmont, Today Junior at Notch Brighton - FREE- 7PM - just bring some shelf staple foods to donate

March 17, 2023 (Saturday) St. Patrick's Day Punk Rock Market. There will be bands, food and vendors include Skindress Taxidermy! Vendors start at 6pm and bands at 7:30pm. It’s at the VFW Fidelity Post #1011, 20 Stevens St, Peabody, MA - Facebook event page

UnporchfestMarch 17, 2023 (Saturday) St. Pat's Shit Show with Vomit Dolls, Fish Face, Set The Bar Low, TFR, Throw - at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

March 17, 2023 (Saturday) Gretchen & The Banshees and Dunk Kennedys (Dead Kennedys tribute) at Exhibit A Brewery in Framingham. 7-9PM

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) Field Day Cold Expectations, the I Want Yous at The Square Root

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) Modern Day Idols, Speedfossil, If We Go At All at Central Tavern in Milford. 8pm-11:30PM

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) The F.U.’s, Cuidado, Duck & Cover, Black Helicopter at the Gerry No. 5 Veteran Fireman's Association, Marblehead - FB page.

March 18, 2023 (Saturday) Caustic Echoes, I The Conqueror and more at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

Mach BellMarch 18, 2023 (Saturday) The Mach Bell Experience, The Cynz, Tiger Bomb at Geno's in Portland ME.

March 19, 2023 (Sunday) Barroom Heroes, COB, Degenerates of Punk, Taken by Vultures, Already Dead - 3:00pm matinee at The Midway- FB page

March 19, 2023 (Sunday) Hammered Saint, Cynz, at The Worthen House Attic, Lowell

March 20, 2023 (Monday) Blame It On Whitman, Senseless Optimism, Dewley & Traders at The Silhouette

March 20, 2023 (Monday) Vanishing Point, Ruffian Dick, A River Of Trees, Captain Easychord at The Midway

March 23, 2023 (Friday) Sweetie, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Twelveyes at Notch Brighton - FREE!! just bring some shelf staple foods to donate

March 24, 2023 (Friday) Band Hangouts with Severed Boy, Knock Over City, BedTimeMagic, Casket Rats at Bone Up Brewing Company in Everett. FB Page.

March 24, 2023 (Friday) TREE @ Ralph's Rock Diner - FB page

March 24, 2023 (Friday) Modern Day Idols at Exhibit A Brewing In Framingham. 7-9pm

March 25, 2023 (Saturday) Condition Baker, Classic Ruins, The Grandstand Jockeys, Sand Machine at The Midway for a Matinee 3-7PM

Fields ShowMarch 25, 2023 (Saturday) Baabes, Linnea's Garden at Sally O'Brien's

March 25, 2023 (Saturday) The Freqs, Deprogrammer Cult, Rue, Ghost Planet at The Worthen Attic, Lowell

March 30, 2023 (Thursday) Modern Day Idols, Powderhouse at Notch Brighton 7-9:30PM - FREE just bring some shelf staple foods to donate

March 31, 2023 (Friday) The Church - The Hypnogogue Album Tour at The Sinclair FB page.

March 31, 2023 (Friday) Dead Low (Record Release), Klaxon (RI), Vicious Ritual (RI), Working Poor U.S.A. at Flashback Arcade+Bar, 294 main st, Hyannis, MA

March 31, 2023 (Friday) Blindspot, Mindset X at The Shackskeen Pub Manchester, NH

April 1, 2023 (Saturday) Holy S%&T I'm turning 60 - Jay Allen's Birthday Show with Justine and The Unclean, Tom Baker's Double Down, Muck and The Mires, Stop Calling Me Frank, The Shang-Hi-Los, The Spackles (Ex-A Bunch of Jerks), Jay Allen and The Archcriminals, Spiller, The Dogmatics, Quest for Tuna at French Club, Waltham, MA, 5pm to Midnight- FB page

April 1, 2023 (Saturday) Diablogato, Coffin Salesman, Casket Rats at Faces Brewing Malden FB page.

April 1, 2023 (Saturday) Children Of The Flaming Wheel, OOF(NYC), Germ House at Fields West Allston

Grommets April 4, 2023 (Tuesday) Minx, Electric Aces, Melted Chapstix, Pete Cassini at O'Brien's

April 5, 2023 (Wednesday) Matt Charette, Linnea's Garden, Lobohombres, Time & Place at The Silhouette

April 6, 2023 (Thursday) Jack McKelvie & The Countertops and Thalia Zedek at Notch Brighton

April 8, 2023 (Saturday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers have a First Saturday of Every Month 4-6PM residency at Plough & Stars

April 8, 2023 (Saturday) Hobo Wizard, EZ Cheef, Grave Tripper, Unharrowed at Shred City (52 Main St #3, Wilmington)

April 8, 2023 (Saturday) Screamin' Rebel Angels, Diablogato, Helen & The Trash Pandas at Askew, Providence, RI - FB page

April 10, 2023 (Monday) The Hi-End, The Haymakers, Jay Allen and the Arch Criminals at the Silhouette in Allston

April 13, 2023 (Thursday) Jack McKelvie & The Countertops and Dutch Tulips at Notch Brighton

April 14, 2023 (Friday) Hambone Skinny at The Square Root

Linnea's GardenApril 14, 2023 (Friday) Glowbox, Speedfossil, Girl with a Hawk - music starts at 8PM at Sally O'Brien's

April 15, 2023 (Saturday) Cold Expectations (Record Release Show), Hammered Saint, Butterknife at The Square Root

April 15, 2023 (Saturday) Harris, Sidewalk Driver, Stars Like Ours, Aaron and the Lord at The Crystal Ballroom - FB page.

April 20, 2023 (Thursday) Black Flag at the Middle East Down - 2 sets- Set 1 the band performs the album My War, Set 2 - Blag Flag classics. $30 TIX here FB page

April 20, 2023 (Thursday) Gang Green, The USM (a full member reunion), Far Above The Ground Grip Bite at Alchemy in Provi, RI. Doors at 7, Music at 8- FB page.

April 21, 2023 (TFriday) Trash Rabbit The R.B.N.X., Lurking Class (NY) The Only Things, Film & Gender at The Worthen Attic
8:00 PM • $10 • 21+

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Welch Boys, Loser's Circle, ChumHuffer, Cry Havoc, Scumbari at The Midway for a Matinee at 3PM

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) The Thigh Scrapers, Mad Painter, The Stigmatics, Johnny Plankton & the Sea Monkeys of Sole at The Jungle - a matinee show - 3:30 PM – 7:15 PM. FB page.

Rock show posterApril 22, 2023 (Saturday) White Dynomite, Casket Rats, The Long Wait at Garage B at The Speedway by Notch - 8:30 music - FB page.

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Lenny Lashley, Centrist Class Traitor, Already Dead, Time and Place at Fields West, Allston

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Answerman, The Grubs, The Love Shamans at Faces Brewing in Malden - FB page

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Villain of the War, SleepJumper, Today Junior, Jiddo at The Silhouette

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Plymouth Punk Rock Market - Spring 2023 edition! Mayflower Brewery Plymouth - FB page to keep up to date.

April 24, 2023 (Monday) Waiver Wire, Stay In Nothing(UK), Indoor Friends, The Dreamtoday at The Silhouette

April 28, 2023 (Friday) Emo Night Karaoke with live backing band & special guest Monica Whitlock at Middle East - Downstairs.

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) Brunt of It, Hans Gruber & The Die Hards, Nick & The Adversaries, Sgt Scag at The Midway - FB page

Gang GreenApril 29, 2023 (Saturday) Jeff Rowe, Matt Charette, Hall Monitor & Mike Moderski at Fields West, Allston

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) TOLAs, The Modern Day Idols, Glowbox at The Square Root

April 30, 2023 (Sunday) Scream Along With Billy - Lou Reed’s Berlin - Once at The Rockwell - 7PM. Tickets

April 30, 2023 (Sunday) Gorilla Biscuits, With Honor, Gel, Peace Test, Anklebiter, Bulletproof Backpack at The Met - Pawtucket, RI. All Ages - Early show 2PM- 10PM - FB page

May 1, 2023 (Monday) Mill Pond Falls, Norris The Terrible, Modern Day Idols, Jim Healey at The Silhouette

May 5, 2023 (Friday) Township and Stars Like Ours at The Burren - 7PM FB page.

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers have a First Saturday of Every Month 4-6PM residency at Plough & Stars

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Dark Spring Boston Festival at The Middle East Down - line up coming - FB page.

FEEPMay 6, 2023 (Saturday) Alexander, Tuxis Giant, Housefires & Al Z (Tatooine Punk Scene) at Fields West, Allston

May 10, 2023 (Wednesday) The White Bear Principle, FEEP, Nightvisions at The Silhouette

May 12, 2023 (Friday) MOD NITE with The Sharp Class (UK); Chelsea Curve, Tiger Bomb, Muck & The Mires, DJ Sherman at Geno's Portland, ME- FB page

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Muck and The Mires, The Chelsea Curve, Sharp Class, Tiger Bomb at The Jungle - FB page

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Kepi Ghoulie with his best lineups ever! Bface on bass and Atom Bomb on drums at Faces, Malden - TIX

May 19, 2023 (Saturday) The Downhauls EP Release! at The Lizard Lounge - more info to come on the FB page.

May 24, 2023 (Wednesday) Doom Lover, Thrust Club, Daphne Blue Underground, Really Great at The Silhouette

June 1, 2023 (Thursday) Gretchen Shea and The Middle Eight, Detroit Rebellion, Stubborn Hearts at Notch Brighton FREE but RSVP here and bring some shelf stable food to donate.

Rock Show Poster June 8, 2023 (Thursday) Tysk Tysk Task, PiNKLIDS, Trash Rabbit at Notch Brighton FREE but RSVP hereand bring some shelf stabe efood to donate.

June 11, 2023 (Sunday) The Thigh Scrapers, Classic Ruins, The Ballbusters, Loretta at The Midway for a 3PM Matinee show.

June 15, 2023 (Thursday) Chris Wagner (Modern Day Idols) solo show at the Natick Common, Natick. Set time: 5-7pm.

June 15, 2023 (Thursday) Modern Day Idols, Tad Overbaugh and the Late Arrivals, If We Go At All at The Central Tavern, Milford.

June 21, 2023 (Wednesday) Lupo Citta, Valley of Weights, Nat Freedberg at The Silhouette

June 26, 2023 (Monday) Gretchen Shea And The Middle Eight, Salem Wolves, Luxury Deathtrap at The Silhouette

June 26, 2023 (Monday) The Murder Junkies 30 Year GG Deathaversary Tour (Playing a full set of all old GG songs) with local lineup Psycho, Midnight Creeps, Scümbari - At Alchemy, Provi, RI Doors 7pm Music 7:30pm - FB page.

August 8, 2023 (Friday) Modern Day Idols at Exhibit A Brewing, Framingham. 7-9PM

In Between FestAugust 19 & 20, 2023 (Sat & Sun) In Between Days Festival - 2 Stages, 2 Days, 24 bands ... and Cool Vintage and Local Market Place, Vinyl Record Pop Up Shop, Food, Modest Mouse , Weakened Friends, Paper Tigers, Clarissa Johnson, Dutch Tulips and the South Shore’s own Gypsy Moths. You'll want to get your tickets now because they have a ‘tier’ system. They have some "tier" ticket scheme so the longer you wait the higher the ticket prices are. FB page

October 11, 2023 (Wednesday) The Mission UK & The Chameleons: Deja Vu Tour 2022 Rescheduled to 2023!!! also on the bill Theatre of Hate

November 3, 2023 (Friday) Modern Day Idols Single Release Party with Tad Overbaugh and the Late Arrivals at Square Root, Roslindale.

 

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.


 

Crash Course for the Ravers


 


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