The BGN News Archive
May 15, 2017
Indonesian Junk
Photo: Blowfish |
Hate to be repetitive but we hit OBriens on
Monday. As it turned out we hit it three more times before the
week was out. Hey, they got the good shows!!
Monday had a Rum Bar Records related show with Indonesian
Junk and Jay Allen.
The whole night was a feel good time with not a lot of people
but people we knew; Joanie Lindstrom, Eric Law, Vinny Bratty,
Justine Couvault, Sara Billingsley, Tom Baker and Andrew Hegarty
Indonesian Junk
Photo: Blowfish |
Indonesian Junk from Milwaukee were all upbeat in the
music and stage patter. The songs are fast and rough rock. There
were hooks in the chord sequences done with a ragged guitar crunch.
The guitarist and bassist were all over the stage and played with
lose abandon. It could have fallen apart but the drummer was a
human metronome. He was steadier than a heartbeat and hitting
the drums with a force that had those two guitarists in a headlock.
His bass drum seemed HUGE. What was going on there?
The band members had big personalities and the stage banter
was directed at Lou Mansdorf and Tom Baker at times.
Just before the show they had formalized a contract with Rum Bar
and will have a CD with them again in the future.
Jay Allen and the Arch Criminals
Photo: Blowfish |
Then it was Jay Allen and the Arch Criminals turn at
bat. They being one of the first Rum Bar signings. Jay
is a local treasure. One of his strengths is his wide knowledge
of punk that is infused into his song writing and performances.
This night he bookended his set with covers, at the beginning
it was The First Time by the Boys and at the end Stay With Me
by the Dictators (in video above) . That alone is ice cream for
the punk soul. He played some of his off beat songs like Chopped
Liver (in video above) and Balls. He played two new ones which
hit their mark big time. Hes got a new album on the way
too. One more video from the night Jay Allen video.
It was two punk rocking sets but beyond that it was the high spirits
exhibited by the bands and shared by the small audience that made
this a special night.
Wednesday it was a chance to catch up with Zip Tie Handcuffs
who have been playing around but we have missed them.
The Mad Doctors
Photo: Blowfish |
The Mad Doctors from Brooklyn opened up. As they were
getting on stage, dressed in doctors smocks another doctor
was passing out sterile masks and gloves. People were wearing
the masks and blowing up the rubber gloves to make balloons.
On stage the group took off the smocks after two songs and that
was the end of any references to the medical profession. The idea
seemed to fall flat.
They put out a thick echo laden din. Its a sound favored
by many new groups and we like it well enough. The set had lots
of energy and the crowd of about 40 gave them close attention.
Zip Tie Handcuffs
Photo: Blowfish |
We were surprised to see that Zip Tie Handcuffs had a
new bass player. Just a trio with an exacting style we wondered
what the difference would be. There was some difference but not
enough to change the identifiable quirks that make them stand
out. The number one thing is those high vocals. Some songs have
more high pitched oohhs and ahhhs than
lyrics. The set list was familiar material, much from their last
album. You should give it a try if you havent yet:Headspace.
Theres so many melodic moments and hooks to catch that it
bears repeated listens.
They are super tight musical outfit. Everything is nailed in
place. They have the fun things they do, like stopping in the
middle of a song and miming that they are playing hard but its
completely silent, or throwing the guitars between each other
just
for show. They should be on every list of the citys best
rock bands.
And then theres The Scrapes. They never seemed
to get rolling and they never got the attention they deserved
but then they didnt seem to be gigging as much as they should.
Thursday at OBriens was their final show.
We heard them at Quincys
South Shore Music Hall, a well-appointed venue that never
had many shows in our genre. When they played
TTs Farewell shows they impressed a lot of people who
hadnt seen them before.
We were disappointed to see they were going acoustic for the
show. Albeit it was acoustic guitars with pickups put through
Marshal amps but still not the full out rock set we love. They
always did have the acoustic/Irish folk influence in their material
but it was pushing it through the punk meat grinder that made
the magic.
The Scrapes
Photo: Blowfish |
They have the well written songs that have lyrics with local
check points, like Brighton and Allston. Their lyrics are always
worth catching and that came to the fore in this set. There were
places in the songs where a line or couplet just jumped out. They
began with Pissing
Up a Rope . The penultimate song was the pointed Something
Else. I wish a could catch all the lyrics but at one point
it's something close to - you walk around like Picasso but
youre a frigging fiasco. Our favorite, which they
did, was Theres
a Hole in My Heart Where the Rat Used to Be. That song hits
us right there
you know what we mean? It's in the video above.
Its getting to the point where there could be a CD of all
Rat songs
someone get on that!
They are all excellent musicians that play effortlessly. It was
a strong showing for Chris the last minute fill in drummer who
had rehearsals that went up to the hour of the show.
The Scrapes
Photo: Blowfish |
Talking to Howie and Chris afterwards revealed
that Walter Gustafson (ex- Gang Green) the drummer left
for personal reasons and momentum went downhill from there. Howie
is going on to do solo things although he said he will probably
be calling on Scrapes bandmates to fill in.
Scrapes we hardly knew ye!!
Friday at OBriens was a punk bill headed by Rockin
Bob Punk Band.
We missed the openers Mongorellis who we sure chewed up
the stage. We were very sorry to miss The Morning Afters
that turns out to have Sheryl Crane (ex-Crybabies) in it.
Well catch them next time.
The club was on the empty side which was strange for a Friday
night. There was all sorts of competition around town. There was
The Meat Puppets and Mike Watts (doing lots of Minutemen
Songs we heard), at the full Brighton Music Hall, Face to Face
at Once and a Red Sox game to boot.
The Lost Riots
Photo: Blowfish |
But nothing seemed to matter when The Lost Riots from
New Haven exploded on stage. They play in an early punk style
with sing along choruses. The songs had hooks and lyrics with
phrases that stuck. One that got our attention had a beginning
that mimicked Teenage Wasteland by the Who at the beginning but
went its own way. Thats a new one and we were it'll
be recorded soon. This is exactly the stuff we live for so we
were eating it up.
They dedicated Were Getting Old to birthday boy Slimedog
who said this was one of the best sets hes seen this year.
Slimedog had to take a day off work to catch the set so maybe
they ought to have dedicated their song This Job Sucks to him.
Jeffrey the singer was knocking around the stage like
a pin ball. He didnt just leave the stage he bounded off
the stage in a Spiderman leap. You can see that in the video above.
All part of a super stage show. This group has it all going on.
We just have to have them play some more local gigs.
Rockin Bob Punk Band
Photo: Blowfish |
Weve seen Rockin Bob Punk Band a few times
before. Once at the defunct
Beachcomber in Quincy in 2015 and at
the Cantab. I remember a lot of the songs in this show from'
those shows which proves they are memorable. Gun Mounted Drone
(video above), Hey Scum Bag, I'm Offended (video above),
and Never Trust a Terrorist (ClICK
FOR VIDO HERE) are all like hits to me.
Live, its hard to beat Bobs guitar tone; the Les
Paul through the Marshall. Its classic. The drummer had
rock solid timing. To top off the night there was special
quest John Sox. They played three old punk favorites;
Neat Neat Neat by the Damned, All This and More
by The Dead Boys and Ive Got a Right by Iggy. You
couldnt get a better band to pump out these classics . Then
they went way way back and did up Louie Louie.
It might not have been a big crowd but everyone there got a night
to remember.
Finally on Saturday we got out of OBriens and went
to the JoeFest at the Midway. This was the fourth year
bands got together to celebrate the bigger than life Joe Coughlin
and his interesting taste in music.
Classic Ruins
Photo: Blowfish |
It was long time faves Classic Ruins who began. That
would be a long time fave of Joe, and everyone else in Boston
Rock. It was a sharp set for the Ruins. We love watching Dave
Kowalachek who seems to love playing and is grinning the whole
time. Its hard not to go to Carls bass lines and admire
the constant variety and invention in the playing. Then there's
Frank who was playing a mongrel Fender which put a sting into
those riffs that are ingrained in our psyche after all these years.
Joe Coughlin photo overlooks Jay Allen at the JoeFest
Photo: Blowfish |
Jay Allen and the Arch Criminals, who we saw at OBs
on Monday, are a perfect example of Joe Coughlins offbeat
taste. The sarcastic/ironic/funny lyrics capture the nutty characters
that would fascinate Joe. Much of the set repeated what we heard
on Monday but Jay has a large repertoire and many were different.
Jays new song Big Lie was still a stand out. The closer
was Toaster
Thrower by Underball a cult classic.
Blue Oyster Coughlin
Photo: Blowfish |
Then it was the band that came to organizer Jim Foley
in a dream Blue Oyster Coughlin. He had the vision
and then they made the band. We had our first look at Matt
Burns back on stage. He was playing as strong as he ever has.
He was wondering if he could do it himself just before - but no
problem as it turned out. After a long absence we had John
Hess back on stage. He seemed to be the focus. Then it was
Mike Quirk on bass who was the guy who actually got the
group together. They were better rehearsed than a lot of bands
we see. It was interesting to hear the twist and turns of the
BOC riffs and songs. Well done.
After five nights out we had to call it quits and missed MOTO
who was Joes big love. We miss you Joe Coughlin!!
RIP friend.
Joe Coughlin
Photo: Blowfish |
And in other news...
The Damned back on tour!! The Captain is sitting
on a punk rock throne i.e. toilet for the show at
Asbury Parks Stone Pony. This was his first show after the
spill. Brooklyn Vegan has a video that shows him moving
very slowly like he is really hurt from his fall in Toronto. Check
out the video here. They also mention: "The Damned have
signed with Search and Destroy who will release The Damneds
new album, which theyre recording this summer. It will be
their first album since 2008s So, Whos Paranoid?"
We can't wait to see them at the sold out May 24 Paradise Show!!
Joe Viglione is rereleasing the Summer Sessions
EP. That was the first EPs to come out of the Boston scene.
Its on CD
Baby.
Los Straightjackets have a whole CD of Nick Lowe songs.
Here's a video
of Whats So Funny About Peace Love and Understanding.
Here's some good shows coming up .....
May 16 (Wednesday) Bash
and Pop are at the Middle East down
May 17 (Tuesday) CJ
Ramone, Big Eyes, The Dazies at the Middle East Up
May 20 (Saturday) A Crash Course
for the Ravers will be featuring The Black Souls &
Classic Ruins! Check it out on 91.5
WMFO 1-4PM
May 20 (Saturday) - Jon
Cauztik (of Stray Bullets), Dann Russo, Jenn Lombari
(of Lucky United), Travis Woods and Ferris Mueller
celebrate Cheryl's 40th Birthday- this is a day show 1-4PM
May 20 (Saturday) Jenny
Dee & The Deelinquents, Muck and the Mires, Vicky and the
Vengents at The Middle East Up.
And further out....
May 22 (Monday) Whoopi
Sticks, Fire In The Radio (Philly) and Cook Bag at
O'Brien's
May 26 (Friday) The Billy
Connors Project, Reddy Teddy and State of the Union
are @ the Cantab
May 26 (Friday) Corin Ashley
and Modern Day Idols are at The Plough
May 27 (Saturday) A Crash Course
for the Ravers will be featuring the new Greg Allen's Fringe
Religion! Check it out on 91.5
WMFO 1-4PM
May 27 (Saturday) A Cal
Cali show: Lyres, The Black Souls, Classic Ruins
and CalCaliBand You can buy
tix here (Only ten bucks!!) FB
page
May 27 (Saturday) The Runouts,
The Martians, Blame Shifters, Nymphidels at The Midway this
is an afternoon show - 4-8PM
May 28 (Sunday) Yankee Power,
The Stigmatics and Violet Intent at The Midway for
an afternoon show 4-8PM
May 29 (Monday) Teenage Bubblegums
(Italian Pop Punk), Jagger Holly, Mongorellis, Jimmy Jacked
at Opus Underground in Salem (FB
page)
June 2 (Friday) awesome
punk show with Jerry's Kids, Stranglehold and Panzerbastard
at Once (Jack Grisham from TSOL will not
be here)
June 3 (Saturday) Chicago
Vin, who is actually here in Boston and was in Greg Allen's
Fringe Religion and is now solo is on A Crash Course For the Ravers
1-4PM 91.5FM WMFO
June 3 (Saturday) Parks,
Psychic Dog, Me In Capris and Surf Vietnam at The Midway
June 3 (Saturday) Birdsongs
of the Mesozoic are at Once
June 4 (Sunday) Mike's
Monster Guitars is having its 4th Birthday at the Midway!
It's a 2-8PM show and features M.O.T.O., The Worried, Hambone
Skinny, Axemunkee, Shiny Beasts, The Guilloteenagers, headband
and most likely others too! Last year's bash was a blast and we
hope they have another Guitar
Fashion Show! FB
page for the show
June 4 (Sunday) GIUDA (from
Rome Italy) and Unnatural Ax & The Hi End at
Once Tix
etc here
June 8 & 9 (Thursday & Friday)
Reverend Horton Heat along with Agent Orange,
and Flat Duo Jets at Once in Somerville
June 9 (Friday) are they
back from a tour or going on a tour?? OC45 are at The Midway
with Mickey Rickshaw and AMDX (American Discord)
...gotta go!!
June 10 (Saturday) Psycho,
Conclave, Whoopi Sticks, Gant, Spillers an afternoon 4-8PM
show at the Midway
June 10 (Saturday) The Real Kids
(back from touring Europe!) Muck and the Mires and
Greg Allen's Fringe Religion at The Spotlight Tavern in
Beverly- FB
page
June 11 (Sunday) A Sunday
Punk Matinee at the Midway with M.A.T.B. (frm Worcester),
Worm, The Hideout and No Good (frm Maine) 4-8PM
only $5!!and All Ages.
June 14 (Wednesday) Eve
Minor (from NYC), DnAs Evolution, The Stigmatics,
Doug Linse at The Midway
June 16 (Friday) Kids Like
You & Me' s Rama Lama Ding Dong 2017! Featuring.. The Monsieurs,
Creaturos, Littlefoot, Germhouse & more! at The Middle
East - check out
the FB page
June 17 (Saturday) A
Crash Course for the Ravers will be featuring Anthony Kaczynski!
Tony is the consummate musician, he should have some interesting
stories to tell and picks to play. Check it out on 951.5
WMFO 1-4PM
June 17 (Saturday) The
McGunks, Pint Killers, The Martians and Taxi Driver -
4PM Show at The Midway
June 17 (Saturday) Quiggs,
Diablogato, Duck & Cover, Loser's Circle at O'Brien's Pub
June 17 (Saturday) Held
Hostage, Point Blank, Infernal Diatribe, Profit Margin at
Koto in Salem (FB
Page)
June 18 (Sunday) Help
Save Out of the Blue Gallery Too - this will be an all day
affair (3PM-11PM) with FOURTEEN bands including: Brian Young
-WMFO as Emcee plus Thalia Zedek, Fireking, Randy Black,
The Knock Ups, Tsunami of Sound, The Stigmatics, State of the
Union, Cal Cali Rockin' Trio, The Last Ones, The KENZ (Highland
& Kaiser), The Thigh Scrapers and Club Linehan A Go
Go ~ 50th Birthday Party for Joe Quinn. Check out the
FB page
June 23 (Friday) Club Linehan
A GoGo, Johnny Plankton, The Unoriginals, Mad Painter and
Nonzerochance at McGann's Pub FB
page for directions etc
June 25 (Sunday) Punk Oi
Matinee at The Midway with Working Poor USA, Moose Knuckle,
DestrOi! and The Abductors 4-8PM
June 25 (Sunday) Nonzerosum
Present: Conflict, Who Killed Spikey Jacket, Cinderblock, Pandemix
- ALL AGES, $20, 8:00 PM Doors at the Middle East Up.
July 19 July 30: The
Midways Dirty 30th Anniversary Celebration Spectacular
July 17 (Monday) Township,
The Dents, Love Love and Weather Weapon at The Midway-
Night 1 of the Midway Dirty 30.
July 21 (Friday) Stray
Bullets, Hobo Chili, Warning Shots and Stop Calling Me
Frank at The Midway!! Night 5 of the Midway Dirty 30.
July 22 (Saturday) DJ
Easy Ed Night with The Cranktones, The Barley Hoppers
and Fearless Leaders at The Midway!! Night 6 of the Midway
Dirty 30.
July 29 (Saturday) The
Real Kids, Muck & The Mires, Watts and Gene Dante & The
Future Starlets night 13 of the Midway Dirty 30!!
July 30 (Sunday) Fast
Times Nervous Eaters, BarRoom Heroes, The Revilers -4-8PM
at The Midway!! Night 14 of the Midway Dirty 30. at The Midway
August 5 (Saturday) The
Silver Mirrors, Instant Shawarma, The Facc-Tones and The
Sound Down Cellar at The Midway
August 12 (Saturday) The
Modern Voice, Black Helicopter, Wrought Iron Hex, Scuzzy Yeti
at The Midway
August 27 (Sunday) Stop
Calling Me Frank, State of The Union, The New Frustrations, The
Only Things at The Midway - afternoon show 4-8PM
September 16 (Saturday) Chameleons
VOX At the Middle East Also on the bill: Soft Kill , Way
Out and The Milling Gowns FB
Page
November 3 (Friday) Human
Sexual Response at HOB
CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com
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listings, your news and anything else ya got!! You want your CD
reviewed?? Contact us for that too.
Indonesian Junk with Lou Mansdorf
Photo: Blowfish |
Jay Allen
Photo: Blowfish |
Blue Oyster Coughlin
Photo: Blowfish |
The Lost Riots
Photo: Blowfish |
Rockin Bob Punk Band
Photo: Blowfish |
John Sox and Rockin Bob
Photo: Blowfish |
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