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The BGN News Archive
If there is one city with more bands than Boston it’s got to be Austin. The Moving Panoramas from there were at the Middle East on Wednesday. They label themselves as "Dream Gaze" and that does describe them well. The guitar is patched into 8 well utilized pedals. The rhythm section is solid but low key. The bass however was always a presence with moving lines with a nice warm tone. The guitar was moody and muddy on purpose. It’s not all pedals though. The guitarist used several unusual voicings on the low strings to get her signature sound.
Everything coming off the stage was bathed in reverb, the voice most of all
but that dulled the voice. That’s part of what they want to do but when
the voice came through clearly as it did a couple times- it was a highlight.
Leslie Sisson has a clear but not thin voice and it's perfect for what
they're doing. Those moments were the ones that won me over. They enhanced the
ethereal qualities they're shooting for.
John Keegan was out on Wednesday too:PA's Lounge played host to an eclectic gaggle of guitars and etc on Wednesday, April 6. Nick Szydloski did the solo acoustic thing with wry observations and a funny take the piss out of poke at R&R during the cocktail hour. Negative One's Angela Sawyer took a sharp left turn into hardcore tempo and howl with thirteen litany of complaint, spleen cleansing ragers in 15 minutes.
Jiblantos did the genre flip and rollicked through a list of vaguely familiar deep cuts pushed on this night by Carol Gyurina's hot-hand violin. Steve Maggs sat in on a couple of tunes on a very spiffy homemade washboard that looked like a tux shirt. Margaret Garrett took a solo flight through her hoodoo voodoo vocal mix and raw, Junior Kimbrough swamp guitar.
John Funke and Henry M. from Triple Thick capped the night off as Ten Dollar Mistake. Funke used his encyclopedic knowledge of music to assemble a rockin' set of blues, garage and soul toe tappers. Not to mention a touch of T-Rextasy. They stuck to the fundamentals. Funke's voice and guitar and Henry's drums were rough, right and, yup, funke. They got people to shake both legs on a Wednesday night. (For more photos of the night see JOhn's page)
For Blowfish and John...It was back to the Middle East Up on Friday for some old school punk. Peter and the Test Tube Babies was the draw. They are from the 80's. Joanie Lindstrom was there for the first two sets and said Who Killed Spikey Jacket put on a good show. I caught Bad Engrish. They said on stage that they were almost kicked off the bill because they were branded racist because of the name. They pointed to the Asian bass player and pleaded innocent.
They were lots of fun. They were punk and Oi. It
was refreshing to hear the straight ahead punk again. Bad Engrish are
on tour with the Test Tube Babies and had more than a few humorous if
tawdry remarks aimed at them. Check out their Facebook
page.
The crowd had colorful Mohawks and ‘spikey jackets’, mostly young people who have embraced old school punk. Most of these people were not even born in 1980. That’s all good in my book. The club wasn't sold out but it was full-ish and when the Test Tube Babies came out it was at its maximum. Now that the MBTA stopped its late service I expect to see the crowd dwindle as the night goes on in the future.
Peter and the Test Tube Babies reminded me of a lot of other English bands we see – they seem to have an extra edge to their music; they seem to play just a little better, the instruments kick a bit more and the songs are more consistently good. This could be because we are getting the better and more veteran bands. In any case that’s the way it was this night.
The other thing is listening to them talk with the
English accent and mannerisms. Singer Peter Bywaters had lots
to say in the English way. “Why do you call the toilet the Rest
Room? Do you rest in there?” was the mildest comment. It was all
sex oriented as were the songs if they were not just swearing one way
or the other…it was funny....Song lyrics were punctuated with appropriate
hand gestures. Bywaters also had an impish smile on his face
most of the time, even when he had an audience member’s phone and
texted
their mother with a plea for dirty sex.
A night to prove that punk isn’t dead yet!!
One of scene’s annual touchstones has been the
Hardcore Cotillion and we've been to previous
ones. This year it was the sixth annual version at the Midway with
the FU’s, Iron Chin, The Mc Gunks and The Struggle.
The Cotillion is run by Kerrie (the mother of one of the guys in the
Barroom Heroes) who has done all the past ones, along with Bob Cenci.
She pointed out that it’s not all hardcore they just liked the
name. She takes the booking stress in stride and our luck is that she'll
keep this tradition going.
Iron Chin was new to us. The lead singer was
a Paul Bunyan sized (and styled) guy who was a very fluid bass player.
The guitarist had a Gretsch with the sound hole taped up to prevent
feedback. That’s an unusual guitar for the roaring rock that they
played. There was maybe a little Oi in there but they straddle a few
genres. The song Survivor was a highlight of the set. That song
in on their Reverb
Nation page.
How we got this far without seeing the McGunks, I don’t know.
They've played a lot and we’ve been at shows where they were on the bill
but somehow we never caught them. They come on with a take no prisoners attack.
Tempos are fast and instruments are blaring. They run one song to the next without
any space in between...for the entire set!! There’s nothing to do but relent
and give in to the sensory overload. The songs are all strong efforts with good
melodies and hooky sing-a-long choruses. Add to that all four members sing and
sing full out. It’s an engaging and enjoyable set on all levels. This is
a very talented group.
It was a suitable topper to the Cotillion. Or would that have been the crowning of the King and Queen. This year it was Slimedog (from Thrash ‘n’ Bang) and Jillian Higgins (Midway bartender). We had a nice time talking to Slimdog and Andy from Thrash’n’Bang talking web business and gossip. Here's some good shows coming up this week.....
April 15 (Friday) Tsunami of Sound, Moose & the Mud Bugs and Soulidarity are at Sally O'Brien's April 16 (Saturday) 11AM- 6PM Store 54 Store wide Clearance Sale!!! Bid a fond adieu to the lovely place today! Check out the FB page April 16 (Saturday) 2nd Annual Pop-Up Record Shop is being held at Brighton Music Hall: "Presented by PBR and Tito’s Handmade Vodka and with special support from Small Town Brewery, the Pop-Up Record Shop was started by Do617 to highlight independent New England record labels who deal primarily in vinyl. With many of the larger record stores around Boston focusing on larger exclusive releases this time of year, local record labels tend to get shut out of the process. We have invited some of New England’s best labels, small record stores, and vinyl distributors to display their wares in the center of one of Boston’s creative hubs. THIS EVENT IS FREE WITH YOUR RSVP!" RSVP here It's 10AM - 2PM all ages! April 15 & 16 (Fri & Sat) Rock'n'Roll Rumble Semi's at Once
April 17 (Sunday) Wide Eyed Noise Presents: Hardcore Matinee with Swamps, Before I had Wings, Insidious, Kimachi, Distressor -All Ages and 1PM doors folks April 17 (Sunday) The Freeze, The F.U.s, Silver Screams, Destroi!, Profit Margin are at Koto in Salem. (Here's the FB page) This is Night 1 of TWO nights of the Freeze. And further out past this week.... April 18 (Monday) The Freeze, Psycho, Antibodies, The Egos, and Psychic Weight at Koto. (FB page) April 21 (Thursday ) This should be FUN!: Wok And Roll Karaoke! at Koto in Salem April 22 (Friday) OBN IIIs, The Monsieurs, Far Corners & Devil Music are all at Out of the Blue Too Gallery in Central Square (ALL AGES!) FB Page
April 23 (Saturday) The Real Kids with Stop Calling Me Frank and The Knock Ups at the Midway April 24 (Sunday) There's the "Generic Punk Show" at the Spotlight Tavern in Beverly with Fishhead, Rockin' Bob Punk Band, Barroom Heroes, Sliver Screams, Mongorellis, Screw Cart, Profit Margins and The Off Whites. This is an afternoon s and all ages show- it starts at 3PM April 28 (Thursday) The Abbey Lounge Reunion!! at Sally O'Brien's Night 1 -Red Zone Cuba 7:40, Classic Ruins 8:20, Triple Thick 9:00, The Charms 9:40, The Decals 10:20, Heavy Stud 11:00, The Drags (NobleRot) 11:40, and The Rudds 12:20 (FB page) April 28 (Thursday) Kids Like You and Me are hosting a three day music fest this weekend too! Thursday starts at Cantab's Club Boho with Funeral Cone, Gravel, Andy California, Mike Mountain, and G. Gordon Gritty April 29 (Friday) The Abbey Lounge Reunion!! at Sally O'Brien's Night 2- Frigate 7:00, Jay Allen & Archcriminals 7:40, Malibu Lou 8:20, The Dirty Truckers 9:00, The Swinedells 9:40, The Acrobrats 10:20, Spitzz 11:00, The Tampoffs 11:40 and The Konks 12:20
April 30 (Saturday) The Abbey Lounge Reunion!! at Sally O'Brien's Night 3 - Schnockered 7:40, Asa Brebner 8:20, The Downbeat 5 9:00, Red Chord 9:40, Jordan Valentine 10:20, Coffin Lids 11:00, The Dents 11:40, Sugabomb 12:20 April 30 (Saturday) Kids Liek You and Me
Day 3 is an early show again lots o'bands - Guerilla Toss, URSULA, The Barbazons,
Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Kal Mark, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion!
and Electric Street Queens- this is an early show startingh at 3PM (Middle
East Up) April 30 (Saturday) The Upper Crust and Hayley Thompson-King are at Store 54 (FB page) April 30 (Saturday) Michael Graves, Diablogato, 138, The Martians and You Scoundrel are at Once April 30 (Saturday) The Upper Crust and Haley Thompson King are at Store 54 May 6 (Friday) Sunwatchers, Major Stars, Minibeast, and The Modern Voice at the Midway
May 7 (Saturday) At the Midway - both Day & Night Shows= ALL DAY!! Easy Ed’s Variety Hour 10th Anniversary Party!!! starring The Cranktones, Johnny Carlevale and His Band of All Stars (Special Reunion Show), The Barley Hoppers, The Bop Thrills, Easy Ed’s Record Hop and guest DJs and much much more!!! May 7 (Saturday) Stars Like Ours, Band Without Hands, Violent Mae and Cujo are at O'Brien's May 7 (Saturday) Jon Macey and his Hummingbird Syndicate will be doing an all acoustic music show at In A Pig's Eye in Salem. May 8 (Sunday) Dash Rip Rock in town from New Orleans at Store 54. Also on the bill The Titanics!! This is an early evening show- 7-9PM May 13 (Friday) Barry & the Remains, Lyres, Cal Cali Band and Muck & the Mires are at ONCE Ballroom -This show STARTS at 8PM The Remains are on at 9:30. May 14 (Saturday) We loved him...he was unforgettable so the show goes on...Joe Coughlin Memorial- Johnny & The Jumper Cables and MOTO and Alan Shienfeld doing Stump the Undertaker.
May 21 (Saturday) A Celebration of Life of Keith Brooks (friend and hardcore music lover) will be at The Midway - on the bill: The Struggle, Honest John, Words Of Truth, CHEECH, Straphangers, and DOT RATS -This show runs from 4PM to Midnight. May 21 (Saturday) Scissorfight, White Dynomite, Murcielago and Idiot Genes are at Great Scott May 21 (Saturday) The Founders, Lizzy Borden Band, Girl On Top, Z company are at PA's Lounge May 22 (Sunday) Kid Congo Powers and the Pink Monkey Birds with Tiger Bomb and The Tarantula Brothers are at The Space Gallery in Portland ME May 26 (Thursday) It's getting down to the final days - and final shows - at Store 54 and this is one of those- its also a GREAT one!....MiniBeast (featuring Peter Prescott) and the return of Akacod featuring Monique Ortiz, Larry Dersch and Dana Colley....Here's the FB page check for updates June 4 (Saturday) When Particles Collide are having their vinyl release party along with Aloud at Great Scott.
June 11 (Saturday) A day show 4-8PM with Fireking, Big Giant, The First Supper, and Universe Narrows at The Midway June 11 (Saturday) The Upper Crust, Thee Fabulous Itchies, The Hi-End and Shiny Beasts are at The Midway - there's a lot going on this night- and the show starts at 8PM -check out the FB page. July 22 (Friday) Fur Purse, Thalia Zedek, Weather Weapon, Phurnne, Death Cloud at the Midway October 15 (Saturday) The Upper Crust, Hickoids, The Grannies & Devil On Horseback at Once CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com - Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!
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April 15 (Friday) The Sam Black
Church doc Leave Behind a Groove in the Earth has its world
premier at The Brattle tonight, doors at 9:15PM. (
April 16 & 17 (Saturday & Sunday)
Store 54 Yard Sale and Clearance Sale
April 22 (Friday) Rock'n'Roll Rumble Final
Show at Once
April 29 (Friday) Kids Like you and Me
Night 2 is at The Middle East Up with The Monsieurs, The Prefab Messiahs,
Nice GUys , Littlefoot, Scully, Black Beach and Future Spa - lots
o'bands this show starts early at 6PM! (
May 7 (Saturday)
A Crash Course For The Ravers featuring The Cal Cali Band and
Barry & The Remains will be on the show as well!! That's WMFO 95.1
FM 1-4PM
May 21 (Saturday) Chetstock 2016 2.0...at
Once Lounge...this time we get Harlequin, Xanna Don't (with Peter
Phair, Kevin Patey, William M. Hoar III, and Jay Arcari) , The
Real Kids, Randy Black, Classic Ruins, The Hopelessly Obscure, Choir Boys
and Chelsea Clutch and Linda Viens
June 5 (Sunday) GREAT all Punk
show at The Midway with the Nervous Eaters, Fast Times, Interfectum,
and Jumper!...and they're keepin' it in the family with this
show...Eater Alan Hebditch's son Nick is in 
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