The BGN News Archive

Plaster Caster Cynthia Albritton

The Plaster Casters were a couple of Super Groupies from the '60's & '70's who used to take casts of rock stars genitalia, notably guys like Jimi Hendrix and Frank Zappa. One of the casters, Cynthia Albritton died this week at the age of 74 from a long illness.

Surprisingly they didn't stop in the early 70's!! .... it turns out Martin Atkins of PIL discloses that he had his package cast in 1996. Pete Shelley and Jello Biafra were also cast. The story in the Chicago Sun Times and there's another story in Block Club Chicago

Eddies Saloon is a locally made animated comedy by Michael Bryant and Alec Peters, featuring local Hardcore music in the sound track and storyline.

"Eddie's Saloon is an imaginary bar in Boston. The stories that make up the movie are mostly real and come from the period 1986-90. Regular drunks mix with punk rockers and metal heads and they party hearty. There's recreational everything. Lead characters Chris and Bobby decide to hold a competition for the biggest drunk and team in the bar. This sets off a week of memorable, hilarious events.”

On the soundtrack are 35 rare and un-released tracks from GangGreen, Iron Sausage, Jerry's Kids, Lemonheads, Stranglehold, The Oysters, Slapshot, Negative FX, Meliah Rage and more. Here’s the Indiegogo fund raising page their Facebook page and an intro vid with Michael Bryant.

"The Rev." Joe Fagan’s Highway Chapel have a GoFundMe page to raise funds for their next album. We learned on that page that Joe had open heart bypass surgery in July of 2021. Wow, that's the big kahuna of operations!!! If you want to help with the recording costs the GoFundMe page is here And we wish you a super speedy and full recovery Rev Joe!!!

There’s a two day fund raiser for the Ukraine at the Magic Room in Norwood on June 24 and 25. On the 24th is Tsunami of Sound, Cold Expectations and Holy Smoke. On the 25th is Gene Dante & the Future Starlets, Smitt E. Smitty & the Feztones, Baabes, Modern Day Idols and Lonely Leesa & the Lost Cowboys. For links scroll down to the Gig Listings

The Nervous Eaters have been added to that 42nd Anniversary Channel celebration on May 28 at Roadrunner. They will be in addition to the Del Fuegos reunion and the big band comprised of Jon Butcher Axis, Barrence Whitfield, Charlie Farren, Sal Baglio and Fred Pineau. Tickets are here

The We Are But Your Children (An Oral History of the Nightclub Manray) Book Reading/Signing at Hubba Hubba has been rescheduled for May 11th. Links etc below in the Gg Listings.

We SO want to get by Covid but stories still show up in news feeds and social media sites proving it’s still around. There are many stories of band members getting sick and tours being cancelled but no deaths, just illnesses. Here’s a story in Variety and Covid cancellations story in Pitchfork But Coachella is still going on

VIDEOS.....

Simon Ritt has just done a video covering Willie Loco’s song “Gin”. The video is framed with shots of Gloucester. I think we all have a soft spot for this ballad and the delicate guitar line that seems so perfect. Simon captures the fragility of the song.

Simon has a deep knowledge of Boston rock. He did that amazing cover of “Dirty Water” where he name checks Boston groups, clubs and people. Check that out if you haven’t seen it. That’s on our page with an interview with Simon

Here’s a find: an hour long YouTube video of Willie Loco Alexander and the Boom Boom Band at CBGB’s on 8/11/77!!!!

Here’s an hour long interview with John Lydon by the website Louder Than War. He’s even tempered until Pistol, the Sex Pistols TV based on Steve Jones' book show comes up. Currently he’s not entertaining any Sex Pistols reunion, but time and money has changed his mind before. He reveals near the end that Ginger Baker played on the PIL album.

RADIO......

Saturday on Crash Course for the Ravers Brian Young played three songs from The Saints in memory of Chris Bailey’s passing. He then played a five song set for Iggy to commemorate his recent birthday. There was another set for Johnny Thunders, then Cramps, Adverts, Mudhoney, Stranglers, Dr. Feelgood and Linnea’s Garden. Just a really good mix!!

You can catch the show on the WMFO website. Click Crash Course for the Ravers on the Schedule and then hit ‘archives’. There was a computer glitch, so the show starts about 15 minutes in.

PODCASTS.........

Blowing Smoke With Twisted Rico talks it up with the prolific Dan Kopko. It seems if Dan has a free minute he starts up another band!! He gets an A+ on ‘works well with others’.

Dan talks about growing up in Haverhill and playing guitar when he was six. We had no idea that Dan was in a group in 1986 called Maximum with John Blout and played some big shows. Dan makes the point that Watts has been together since 2005, they are a veteran group by that standard.

Dan reveals that much of the Shang Hi-Los recordings were done in his home studio.

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

Stormstress has their whole album Silver Lining out now. They play a melodic metal that can and should attract fans beyond the heavy metal genre.

We knew that “Fall With You” was a dynamite track from the early video. It still stands out on this collection.

The song after it, “Gold”, starts with an Indian sitar flavored intro. Some of that eastern influence carries into the song too. It’s a good example of how this group expands the metal genre. Even with that they get into a screamo mode around the two and half minute mark which makes it even more impressive. We have it on our Top Ten Songs

“Corpses Don’t Cry” is another example where the group shows where they can take metal to another place with lyrics and the quality of their singing.

All the artwork and publicity of Stormstress show that they know how to present themselves with quality workmanship. There’s no surprise that the same goes for recording. They must be very happy with the way this came out.

Baabes have been around for a few years and maybe are just getting the attention that seemed inevitable. Live they put on a crazy show. If you see them you come out a fan. Of course the pandemic shut down/slowed things down a bit, but they've been getting good gigs when they happen and more recently

With Baabes you get a lot of attitude, irreverence, and grungy garage stomping ... It feels like they're modern day juvenile delinquents. You don’t know exactly what they are up to but you figure it’s unsavory.

They translate all that into their new self-titled album. Musically they don’t fit into any easy category. What was the template for this?

The single line guitar lines in the bass go back to the fifties. There’s no power chords that would signal any influence beyond the seventies. The vocals are also distinctive. Sometimes there’s a rap lilt but other than that it’s really its own thing, a half singing, half yelling style.

This album already has two of what we would call hits, that would be the two previously released songs, “Bad Boy Worse Drugs” and “Too Cool For Pants.” “Shark City” was a standout track for us but really this album is a 10 cut seamless stomper.

And it just reeks of fun ... loads of rock and roll fun!! With Baabes it’s alright to stop thinking and just wallow in their tasteless vulgarity that some do-gooder will want to ban at some point. Till then, “they’ll just have to abide,” ..... as Baabes say.

We got the vinyl album. At the moment we can only give you the Bandcamp prerelease single to hear - "Too Cool For Pants" below.

Blood Stained Brindle has a new 9 track EP out. We saw them in 2017 and we tagged them as Oi but we wouldn’t peg this EP that way. We like their hard edge that they have all the way through.

A few song titles like “Money Out of Politics”, “Money Collecting Man” and “End the Fed” show they have strong opinions on fiscal policies. All the songs express strong opinions when you come down to it.

“Sargent Stubby” stands out. This is a song about a dog used during war time, and is also what the title of the band is about! We have “Sargent Stubby” on out Top Ten Songs.

We came across the new song by the group In Good Nature from Worcester. “When I’m Gone” is a good blast of emo. We listened to some other of their songs in Spotify and they are excellent. We will be on the lookout for their future work. And yes, we have it on out Top Ten Songs.

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

April 25, 2022 (Monday) Hawk & Heron, Today Junior, Moon Room at Charlie's Kitchen

April 27, 2022 (Wednesday) DJ Todd Bananas is spinning discs at Notch Brewery's Brighton Tap Room starting at 7PM. FB page.

April 27, 2022 (Wednesday) Pears, Skytigers, Oh The Humanity! at O'Brien's

April 27, 2022 (Wednesday) Once at the Rockwell presents The Veldt, Allison and Moon, Death Party

April 29, 2022 (Friday) Il Mostro, Hambone Skinny, Common Disaster, Thee Fightin Fish at The Cantab Underground FB page.

April 29, 2022 (Friday) Diablogato at Dusk in Provi.

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) Flipper, The F. U.'s, The Welch Boys at Middle East Up - this is an All Ages Early show - doors at Noon music at 12:30.

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) Early Rocknroll Hang with The Chelsea Curve, 123 Astronaut, and DJ Mike Gioscia at The Jungle. Early show 4-7PM. (followed by....)

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) If We Go At All, Modern Day Idols, Tad Overbaugh & The Late Arrivals, Glowbox at The Jungle

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) Michael Kane & The Morning Afters (Release Show) w/ Stray Bullets, Coffin Salesman, CE Skidmore - 3-7PM matinee at The Midway.

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) The Dogmatics, Muck and the Mires, Justine and The Unclean, Earthlings? at The Magic Room FB page

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) Burlesque n' Roll Part Deux... Eclectric Electric, Haunting Titans, Killer Kin, Diablogato, Anxious Wave, Microwaves and The Hammer Party! Local burlesque performances/dancing by Kristen Minsky, Shirley MacSlaine, Hades Ivory, Blitzen Vonshtupp, Maiden X and Boston's Jessicalee Skary...along with MC Crimson Al-Khemia providing direction and purpose on this glorious evening! There will also be fire-dancing by Amanda Salemi weather permitting! at Dusk in Provi, RI. Early show starting at 5:30PM!! FB page.

April 30, 2022 (Saturday) Richard Lloyd, The Sorry Boys, Andy Stone for a 5PM show at The Parlour in Provi RI FB page.

May 2, 2022 (Monday) Major Stars, Lupo Citta, Adult Learners at Charlie's Kitchen

May 4, 2022 (Wednesday) Zygote Theory, Vangelism, Rawstrum, hiFi at The Midway

May 5, 2022 (Thursday) Minx, Key of Caustic, The Melted Chapstix, Bill Dwyer Band - Middle East Up.

May 6, 2022 (Friday) Phantom Ocean, The Guilloteenagers, Minusworld, Battlemode at The Cantab Underground.

May 6, 2022 (Friday) The Cryptics, The Brunt Of It, The Martians, Color Killer at The Middle East Up. FB page.

May 6, 2022 (Friday) My Life as a Ramone-An Interactive Speaking show by Marky Ramone followed by a screening of Rock 'N' Roll High School. "This multimedia event includes vintage photos, video clips and previously unheard stories behind the music." at The Greenwich Odeum Tix and info here.

May 6, 2022 (Friday) Baabes, Kid Gulliver, Gnarnia, Miracle Blood at Thirsty First, Lowell, FB page.

May 6, 2022 (Friday) Mad Painter meets Gregg Perry & Strange Berries at The Common Street Spiritual Center in Natick - FB page for info.

May 7, 2022 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Jittery Jack Trio, Electric Button at The New World Tavern, Plymouth

May 8, 2022 (Sunday) Field Day featuring Landlady and Girl with a Hawk at The Rockwell Davis Sq Somerville FB page.

May 8, 2022 (Sunday) Nervous Eaters, The Stigmatics, Sourpunch at Dusk in Provi, RI.

May 9, 2022 (Monday) Weatherless, Between 3 and 4, Built As Drawings, Betties at Charlie's Kitchen

May 11, 2022 (Wednesday) We Are But Your Children (An Oral History of the Nightclub Manray) Book Reading/Signing at Hubba Hubba 7:30-9:30 FB page.

May 11, 2022 (Wednesday) The Nick Cave film This Much I Know to Be True at The Brattle Theater. Link to calendar and tickets.

May 12, 2022 (Thursday) Actor|Observer with Inspirit (former Vanna) and The World at The Sinclair

May 13, 2022 (Friday) Post Punk Tribute Night w/ The Temple of Mercy, Gretchen & The Banshees, Ghost Painted Sky (as the Cure ), DJ Sawtooth at The Middle East Up. TIX

May 14, 2022 (Saturday) Baabes, Mallcops, Mister Vertigo, The Jacklights at The Jungle

May 14, 2022 (Saturday) Thee Fighting Fish at The Square Root in Rozzie

May 15, 2022 (Sunday) Sunday Matinee with Kid Gulliver, Minibeast, Nightspell at Dusk in Providence 3-7PM FB page.

May 16, 2022 (Monday) Coffin Salesman, North Star the Wanderer, Bad Idea USA, Superdown at Charlie's Kitchen

May 18, 2022 (Wednesday) Lady Pills, Layzi, and Olivia Sisay at Once at The Rockwell

May 19, 2022 (Thursday) Sinnet, Today Junior, Airport at Notch Brewing in Brighton

May 20, 2022 (Friday) "Post Punk Night" at Sally O'Brien's Union Sq Somerville. with" 2 super groups: chuck ferreira & friends and duncan wilder johnson & friends -check the FB page.

May 20, 2022 (Friday) Mad Painter, Devious Intentions, Crash Cadet at the Jungle FB page

May 22, 2022 (Sunday) The Exploited, Cro-Mags, Total Chaos at The Middle East down. TIX

May 23, 2022 (Monday) Linnea's Garden, Skylar Symone & the Local Enigma, Unit One at Charlie's Kitchen

May 28, 2022 (Saturday) Chris 'Dimwit' Taylor Memorial Show with The McGunks, The Black Cheers, The Dimwits, DRAGO (1st show in 8 years!) and Duck & Cover at The Midway - FB page.

May 24, 2022 (Tuesday) Reverend Horton Heat, The Koffin Kats, Sasquatch & The Sickabillys at Alchemy in Providence, RI. FB page.

May 27, 2022 (Friday) Gretchen Shae & The Middle Eight, Damnation, Comet Pond, 13 Fridays at Ralph's Rock Diner

May 28, 2022 (Saturday) Razors in the Night & Tijuana Sweetheart Reunion Show at Sonia, also on the bill Nothing But Enemies. FB page

May 28, 2022 (Saturday) The Channel 42nd Anniversary celebration with The Del Fuegos, Nervous Eaters. Also on the bill are Jon Butcher Axis, Barrence Whitfield, Charlie Farren, Sal Baglio and Fred Pineau who will all be playing in a 'super group' of sorts.. TIX

May 29, 2022 (Sunday) Mike Oliver Memorial Show with Watts, Gozu, Hey Zeus, Worshipper, Ceshci Ramos at Sonia - 7PM TIX here. FB page.

June 9, 2022 (Thursday)WMBR's Late Risers Club Turns 45, Join fellow listeners with The Darts and Loretta at The Middle East Up.

June 11, 2022 (Saturday) U-EY at the BUOY, State of the Union, Mercury On Mars, MFB (punk from Athol, MA) at The Midway for a Matinee at 3PM. FB page.

June 11, 2022 (Saturday) The Only Things, The Agonizers, The Brand New Luddites at Thirsty First in Lowell

June 11, 2022 (Saturday) Murphy's Law, Lenny Lashley, Cinderblock at The Vault Music Hall & Pub in New Bedford. FB page.

June 15, 2022 (Wednesday) Jonathan Richman at 3S Artspace in Portsmouth NH. FB page for info.

June 18, 2022 (Saturday) 40 Years of The Queers Anniversary show also with The Dwarves, The Jasons, Stubborn Hearts at Sonia. TIX

June 18, 2022 (Saturday) THE ZULUS are back at The Paradise - tix here.

June 18, 2022 (Saturday) Randall Gibson Memorial at The French Club in Waltham. 2-9PM. FB page.

June 19, 2022 (Sunday) The Mahones, The Pourmen, The Gobshites at Askew in Provi, RI. FB page

June 24, 2022 (Friday) Concert for Ukraine with Cold Expectations, Tsunami of Sound, Holy Smoke and "Special Secret TBA" and DJ Kristen Eck at The Magic Room in Norwood ... TIX Magic Room FB page

June 25, 2022 (Saturday) Concert for Ukraine with Smitt E Smitty & The Feztones, Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Baabes, Modern Day Idols, Lonely Leesa & The Lost Cowboys and DJ Chachi Loprete...at The Magic Room in Norwood TIX Magic Room FB Page

June 25, 2022 (Saturday) Show in Honor of Jess Victor - White Dynomite, Muck and the Mires, Stop Calling Me Frank, Piranha Brothers, Screw Cart at The Middle East Up TIX and FB page.

July 1, 2022 (Friday) The Prozacs, The Lousekateers, Lürking Class (NY), The Agonizers, Marko Bruiser at Ralph's Rock Diner

July 2, 2022 (Saturday) Hixx, Celseigh, The Stigmatics, Marianne Toilet and the Runs at The Midway

August 27, 2022 (Saturday) The Worst, Typhoid Rosie, Marianne Toilet and The Runs, Breaking Up at The Middle East Up.

September 2, 2022 (Friday) The Woggles with Muck and Mires & The Chelsea Curve at The Porch in Medford

September 8, 2022 (Thursday) D.R.I at Alchemy in Provi, RI - FB page.

September 17, 2022 (Saturday) Punks For Pets with Joy Boys, Sleep Mode, Sourpunch, Musclecah, Ghost Grrrl, The Debutantes, The Something Somethin’s, The Stigmatics - at The News Cafe - early show starting at 1PM. Bring something for the doggos and kittehs check the Donation List on the FB page.

October 5, 2022 (Wednesday) Dr. John Cooper Clarke at City Winery

October 9, 2022 (Sunday) L7: Bricks Are Heavy 30th Anniversary at Big NIght Live FB page.

October 11, 2022 (Tuesday) Agent Orange and Gnarnia at Alchemy in Provi, RI FB page.

October 15, 2022 (Saturday) Third Annual Punktoberfest at Thirsty First in Lowell...check the FB page for updates, bands etc.

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your anything else ya got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.