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The BGN News Archive
May 4, 2015
As usual Blowfish has been religiously out and about finding live shows: I
didn’t catch the Partisans back in the day but they were 1978 Welsh
punk band (First record released in 1981) and they were playing the Middle
East last Sunday. It seemed similar to the Anti-Nowhere
and GBH
gigs recently and I was expecting it to be sold out but that was not the case.
It was only about half full when I got there.
Locals Opposition Rising had short hardcore tunes with simple singalong
choruses. I thought they did a good job. The lead singer however entreated the
audience to come forward; most didn’t (there was some moshing none the
less). He pleaded a few more time to no avail, then berated people for not coming
forward. It’s probably never a good idea to rank out the paying customers.
His in between song banter also included many gripes. It seemed to be his persona…grumpy
guy. Hey, if it wasn’t for the negative thing in 1977 we would still be
around the fire singing Kumbaya; I thought it was a hoot.
With that the club livened up and moshing began bigtime.
The Partisans were dishing out old time punk and it was so good to hear
it. Punk is the core of the BGN and we are not hearing it much anymore.
Partisans had the attitude, the sound, and the catchy songs.
They got a rabid crowd reaction in response. It was wild and hot up front. Punkers
were coming out drenched in sweat after a few songs.
As the gig was going on the left side of the club (as you face the stage) was closed off because of water dripping from the ceiling. Someone thought the TT’s bathroom was overhead and sure enough TT’s announced via Twitter that it was closing till Monday because of the issue. Thursday at The Milky Way had a show with a lineup that interested me with every group, but not other people, evidently, with hardly anyone there. Months ago I had listened to Nick and the Adversaries and thought it sounded like pop fun. Then the winter intervened and it took till now to see them. They were everything I hoped for and more. The first two songs reminded me of the Yachts, whom I love, with the muscular guitar and keyboard backdrop. The rest of the set reminded me of many Australian groups from the 80’s like The Hitmen, Mental as Anything, Split Ends and Hoodoo Gurus. Talking to Nick afterwards showed that he didn’t know some of those groups but however he got there he has a dream pop set. The last time I was so thrilled finding music like this was with the Connection.
Nick the singer/guitarist used to be in Lost City Angels. He looks like Owen Wilson and has that light manner also. The group delivered in every way and the drummer was outstanding with his excitement building rolls and accents. They are a great discovery and now need some good shows to raise their profile. Another group I've missed because of the winter was Night Slice. I don’t know whether they have improved in the intervening months or the excellent sound at the Milky Way helped me to hear them more clearly but they seemed better to me. Their whole shtick, the cheesy music with 50’s sci-fi lyrics, seemed to hit the mark and resonate. They have staked out this territory where they seem like a band singing horror movie themes (like Green Slime ) or like they are a band in a 50’s horror movie or maybe better yet the house band for Creature Double Feature. Like the B-52’s they are outliers. They are not like any other band around (outside of Darling Pet Munkee), you have to come with open ears and mindset to them.
After a set you marvel at what singer Bridie Wolejko’s voice has done. It’s clear and pitch perfect and draws you into the melodies that have a haunting resonance. I found out later she went to Berkeley for voice. The guitar player knows what he's doing and twice played long sinuous solos that had real magic in them, very memorable. The bass player sometime strums his bass creating a unique rumble. The drummer – he’s an electronic box. They are odd and they are fun; a nice addition to the scene.
The Knock Ups had a few snafus before they got up and running. That seemed to throw them a bit but by the time the set closed they'd gotten beyond it and the rough garage punk was cranking pretty good. At that point I wouldn’t have minded hearing a few more songs. They are messy and unruly and that’s what makes them good. It’s party time music. John Keegan saw them just a while ago in Salem.
He’s soon going to start another CD that continues the story of Tomorrow The World. The big night for the debut of that was at the Middle East during a snow storm and I and many others missed it. I wished that had been redone but John pointed out that getting those people together even once was a big chore. John’s stint in Boy’s Life left a lot of good memories on the Boston scene. John is looking to contribute some more good music and seeing him on this night made me hungry to hear it. And in other news - You already know how much we love Johnny Angel's book Looking for Lady Dee...we had to have a chat with Johnny about it. Read our Q & A with Johnny Angel also for your reading pleasure here's our 1979 Thrills Interview. And Johnny Rotten is out and about promoting his book Anger is an Energy so he's doing lots of interviews...here's one with Fox News Radio. And here's an interview from NPR. Always a fun idea...from AV Club here's a list of the 2014 qualifiers for worst band names. Two names on there are bands we've seen and liked: Crystal Methodist ( we went to see them because of the name) and X__X. Penis Fly Trap must have been on there in previous years. Here is a video by the band Western Education called I Can’t Heal. The main actor is Paul Lebel who used to be in Three Hands a stand out band in the 80’s who never got the attention commensurate with their talent – so says Blowie. He does I great job in this. After hearing it a few times we got hooked on the emotional song itself. So with that said.....here are some shows that are happening this week....
May 8 (Friday) Roy Sludge is doing a free show at Vincent's in Worcester...great music cool cocktails and famous meatball subs...what could be better??? (info here) May 9 (Saturday) JOEFEST III: The 3rd Annual Joe Coughlin Memorial Concert with M.O.T.O., Johny & The Jumper Cables - Stump The Undertaker and Lenny Lashley at The Midway May 9 (Saturday) Tsunami of Sound, My Own Worst Enemy and The Shambolics are at Sally O'Brien's (FB event page) May 10 (Sunday) The Monsieurs, Mother Tongue, A Band Called E and Bong Wish are at The Middle East UP(FB event page) May 10 (Sunday) Fast Times, Nobuddys, Jumper! and Go Long Kid are at The Midway and its only $5!! And coming up after this week we have....... May 14 (Thursday) John Cooper Clarke is performing at Berklee!! At the David Friend Recital Hall (921 Boylston Street) Click the link to read more about JCC and to buy tickets.
May 15 (Friday) an awesoem hardcore show at The Democracy Center, Mt. Auburn St Cambridge, with The Boston Strangler, The Flex (on tour from the UK), Red Death (DC Hardcore), Leather Daddy and Preskool Dropouts. FB Page May 15 (Friday) 10th Annual HoZavc Blackout Fest at the Empty Bottle in Chicago with The Real Kids, (they have this description listed: "Legendary 70s Boston Punk/Power Pop band featuring John Felice from the original lineup of the Modern Lovers" also on the bill are Cozy, Platinum Boys and Mama. May 15 (Friday) In Provi at Dusk - Thee Fabulous Itchies, The J Band (an X tribute band) and Greg Allen's Fringe Religion. (FB event page) May 16 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers WMFO 95.1 1-4PM has The Black Cheers!! cool! May 16 (Saturday) Hixx are at Club Bohemia at The Cantab May 16 (Saturday) The Evil Streaks, The Downbeat 5, The Reverb Syndicate (from Ottawa) and The Radiator Rattlers are at OBrien's
May 22 (Friday) The Brigands and The Black Souls are at the Tavern at the End of the World. FB event page May 23 (Saturday)
Memphis Rockabilly Band is at The Amvets in Randolph and it is a FREE
show from 8:30PM to Midnight May 23 (Saturday) There are TWO Disturbing the Peace shows at Middle East Up this day: Matinee Show (doors 1PM) : Chestnut's 40th Birthday Bash!!! with Stray Bullets, Slitstitch, A Minor Revolution, The Black Cheers, and Orphan Killbot. Then an early evening show (Doors at 7) with NOTOX, Yo!Scunt, Neighborhood Shit. May 24(Sunday) Cranktones are at Atwood's with DJ Easy Ed setting the tone. May 28 (Thursday) OK it's officially summer when Cal Cali gigs start popping up around town! The Cal Cali Band and Randy Black & the Heathcroppers are at Sally O'Brien’s in Union Sq Somerville.
May 30 (Saturday) Reddy Teddy are at the Rhumbline up in Gloucester. May 31 (Sunday) Roy Sludge Trio is at State Park in Kendall Sq- this is a evening show. June 4 (Thursday) Motobunny, The Charms, Watts and Greg Allen's Fringe Religion are at TT's. June 6 (Saturday) Fox Pass is at Club Bohemia at The Cantab. June 6 (Saturday)
Muck and The Mires, The Forz and The Woggles are at The
Middle East. Doors are at 7pm- its an early evening show - and its $10 at
the door! FB Event
page ...buy
tix here June 13 (Saturday) Taxi Driver, Honest John, The Pink Parts and SPO are at The Middle east Up and this is an early evening show starting at 6PM. $10. June 13 (Saturday) at The Midway - The Kurt Baker Band (from Barcelona - 1 of only 2 US appearances), Jay Allen and The Archcriminals, The Connection and Kris Rodgers and The Dirty Gems...wow now that's a great show!! (FB event page)
June 19 (Friday) Stars Like Ours (feat. Michelle Paulhus and Kristen Edmonston), The Black Souls (feat. the fabulous Kim Ackland!), The Charms, Petty Morals, The Evil Streaks and The Dents June 20 (Saturday) Cujo, Drab, Axemunkee, Andrea Gillis Band, The Downbeat 5 and The Other Girls June 20 (Saturday) Bob Colby teams eclectic multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter Audrey Ryan with Thick Wild (his favorite discovery of last year) at Store 54. June 20 (Saturday) Rockabilly original Sleepy La Beef played a few punk clubs back in the day. He’s turning 80 and having a birthday party gig at Johnny D’s , also on the bill are Roy Sludge, Andrea Gillis and Marc Panasky along with DJ Easy Ed spinning discs and setting the mood for the celebratory evening. Check it out and buy tix here. Music starts at 7:30 folks! July 11 (Saturday) Mudhoney along with White Dynomite will be at The Brighton Music Hall July 11 (Saturday) it's official The Gizmos (and a TON of other bands) are playing Mutant Fest II at the Blockhouse in Bloomington IN. FB event page
August 3 & 4 (Monday and Tuesday) Darkbuster returns!! at The Sinclair. Get your tix here but act fast friends!! August 3 (Monday) Tsunami of Sound and The Vista Cruisers are at Opus Underground, Salem. August 6-8 (Thursday - Saturday) Boston Fuzzstival 2015 is at The Middle East Down. The Fuzztival highlights "the best bands in the region that make psychedelic/fuzz/garage/surf rock" and its goal is "to build bridges within the local music community." Stay tuned for the lineup and more info keep checking their FB page! August 8 (Saturday) - Head over to Store 54 to help Bob Colby celebrate his birthday (two days early) with The Rationales and My Own Worst Enemy! August 22 (Saturday) Memphis Rockabilly Band is at the Marshfield Fair. check out the particulars here and of course The New England Shake-Up! September 25,26,27 2015! Keep yourself updated at their FB page CONTACT US AT…….misslynbgn @ yahoo.con Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!
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May 6 (Wednesday) here's
one to put in your calendars my friends: The Meatmen, Against the Grain
and The Humanoids at the Middle East upstairs....(UP???
They sold out the downstairs last time!!) anyway here's the 
May 15 (Friday) How awesome
is this? Punk Rock Karaoke Featuring: Greg Hetson (Bad Religion, Circle Jerks),
Stan Lee (The Dickies), Steve Soto (Agent Orange) Derek O'Brien (Social Distortion,
D.I., Agent Orange) and here's how they are working it: "we have sign
up sheet at the venue. Pick your song, we give you lyrics. When your song is
called, come up and join the band! We hand pick our favorites from 1983 back
to when dinosaurs pogoed along side with the punkers." so y9ou get to watch
the show AND get up on stage with these guys iof you want to!! (
May 16 (Saturday) it's
Musical Madness in the Merry Month of May as Tiger Bomb rip it up &
tear it to shreds and Bates Motel drives you psycho with excitement at
Bayside Bowl in Portland ME!! (
May 30 (Saturday)
A Crash Course for the Ravers WMFO 95.1 1-4PM has The Forz today
plus great music and stuff.
June 19 & 20 (Friday
& Saturday) it's the Girls in the Garage Music Fest
with you guessed it bands with females in them, all at the Lizard Lounge!!
For both nights doors are at 7, Music starts at 8PM 
July 18 (Saturday) Mission of Burma
opens for The Foo Fighters and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones at
Fenway Park
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