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The BGN News Archive
I caught the Insect Surfers at the Cuisine en Locale on Wednesday. They formed in back 1979 and played Boston though the years, they played the Paradise, The Rat and the Underground and were on bills with The Lyres and MOB. Yet there were only about 40 people for the mid-week surf themed show.
I heard a few songs from openers SPF4 and they were all well done originals. They were strictly in the surf band mold and did it well.
Tsunami of Sound is also straight ahead surf. They do an equal amount of originals and covers. TSOS play a lot of surf nights around town and it’s a cool thing. It reminds me of the Rockabilly nights we go to. It’s familiar genre music done by musicians who love it. TSOS sometimes has a go-go girls but not on this night...but they did have the fake fire pots. We found out later that the bass player had an accident involving his hand and didn’t think he could play but he sounded perfect, I couldn’t tell that there was a problem at all. The drummer was a stand out. He was mugging throughout and having a good ole time and we were too.
Dave Arnson of The Insect Surfers was on the
dance floor moving all around and then under and through people’s legs.
He knew Kenne Highland and Ken Kaiser (who were both at the gig)
from their days in Washington, DC. I talked to him a while. He loves Dick Dale
as one would expect but also Link Wray and his top influence is John
Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service and once you know that a
lot comes into focus when he plays. As The Insect Surfers get on stage I can
see Dave has the same type of guitar are Cipollina (not a usual ‘surf’
guitar) and his playing sometimes is smack dab in the middle of the Cipollina
style.
The songs are more complicated than usual surf songs. There are lots of times
when the two guitarists are interacting with complimentary tandem leads, contrary
call and response or simultaneous soloing: all a treat for the ears and mind.
The writing also frees the bass from playing a stock figured bass line; he’s
free to be melodic. That was refreshing to hear.
As the week went on the story of TT the Bears closing became clearer, not good – but clearer. We will miss this comfortable and welcoming club like everyone else. A lot of people site the history which is peppered with famous acts but I’ll miss it because of the gigs right now. I've found myself going there more and more in the last couple of years. A series of memorable gigs is now ironic since it celebrated the 40 years of its life. Not too long ago we were at the marathon Bob Colby 60th Birthday Party. Lately I've seen Today Junior, Doug Tuttle, Atlantic Thrills, Black Beach, Reigning Sound, Bevis Frond, Offseason... alright already, and I’m not even trying! A lot of people are waiting for the closing weeks in July to catch some exciting shows (like Scruffy The Cat on July 25th) at the TT's Farewell Blowout 7/16-25 but I found myself there on Thursday to catch Bent Shapes. Something about Bent Shapes brings a smile to my face. I think it’s just the joy they infuse into the music and performance. They were born to play nerd indie rock.
The group Weather was in the throes of their last two songs as a got there. The music was emotional and energetic. They seemed to have their fans who were all in the listening room. There were about 50 people in the club.
TW Walsh I found hard to peg. They were all good players. The bass player had some runs that made the songs click in the right way.
If anything I liked the Bent Shapes more this time than last. They also played the 2x4’s Bridgeport Lathe this time. They make it their own by adding some fills and some jamming at the end. They play it with more punch than the single. Just a nice job and a perfect cover for them. The rest was mostly the same songs as last time. They have lots of guitar interplay; they seem to be very aware of that, you can tell from the arrangements. They seem like a very Boston band to me and I hear echoes of the Propeller label groups and the Underground scene. They'll be playing Boston Hassle's Grass Stains festival on Saturday, May 30 at Ringer Park in Allston, where Blowfish used to go sledding when he was a kid. Ringer never got any respect but this last decade the community has done their work and raised its profile and reputation. On Sunday we found ourselves back at TT’s for an all-day two year anniversary celebration of Mike’s Monster Guitar store.
Mike who has been in bands for years opened his store at
the site of Sandy’s on Mass Ave. Every Boston rocker for decades visited
this store between Harvard and Central Square. They would have used guitars
in the window that attracted rock musicians like moths. Mike continues the tradition
with some of the coolest looking guitars you can find. Right now he could use
the photos of them in his Guitar
Gallery, add a description and that would be a killer coffee table book.
Unfortunately we didn’t get there until 3:30 when Andy
California played (the name is a riff on Randy California the guitarist
for Spirit). This is Andy McBain from The Monsieurs. We knew he
did a solo blues type thing but we couldn’t imagine what that would be
like. Andy sits on stage like an old blues guy but ya know he looks like Andy
with a Celtics boxy hat and print shirt. He has a microphone on a length of
flexible stand duct taped to his guitar.
I have to admit that I wandered around and didn’t give The Worried enough attention. They were the rockingest group there by far. They were cranking it out. The guitarist had a growling guitar.
I snapped to when Triple Thick came on. We love what they do and how they do it; short, tasty garage punk with a no frills delivery. They had an ace up their sleeve with Charles Hanson on guitar. Hanson added some adornment to the body of the songs and strong solos here and there – he’s so good. It’s those songs we love in the end though. I always want to take the set list and talk to them about each song, asking, “is this a cover” and “where did this come from?”. They have so many CD’s with nuggets everywhere and most of those are originals (http://www.triplethick.com/ ). Great set.
Meanwhile this is a very social afternoon gig. The Peter O’Hallaran had is family there. Sarah from WMBR had her two kids and her mother there. Also at the show was Paula Whorsley, Brett Milano, Meg Ormond, Jon Scott from Butterscott, John Keegan, John Douherty, Matt Burns, Michele Meadows and Larry , Janice Clougherty, Andrea Gillis (preggers), Cal Cali, Tom from Mung, Johnboy Franklin.
The closers were The
Dogmatics. These guys have history at this point and when they play
that history infuses the music. Now they represent that whole time and place
of the early eighties on the Boston Rock scene and they know it. When they play
Thayer Street I almost get emotional; this from a band that many would
have passed off as a light hearted party band at the beginning. Of course they
have that. The twist is that the songs are so good you remember every one and
as we know now they stand up over time.
Mike came on stage and thanked everyone and urged the Dogmatics to play a few more songs. I loved that. Then it was over, around 6:30 I think. We did a lot of yapping even after that. It was a comfortable and homey sort of afternoon gig. I’m left with an urge to hit Mike's Monster Guitars soon.  Review of Black Souls and The Brigands |
Cuisine en Locale is getting a higher profile with more frequent gigs
and good thing too since the news of TT’s closing surfaced at the beginning
of the week.
Also this week we got confirmation that Weirdo Records
was closing. Just a few weeks ago Eric Law brought members of the Meatmen
there and there was a 75% off sale. That’s was sure sign closure was
ahead. Then there was 
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)
A Crash Course for the Ravers WMFO 95.1 1-4PM has The Forz today
plus great music and stuff.
June 6 (Saturday)
Fox Pass is at Club Bohemia at The Cantab.
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 
June 20 (Saturday)
You folks in RI check out this show!: The Monsieurs (12), Thee Itchies
(at 11PM) Party Pigs (10 PM) and The Neutrinos (9:30) at Dusk
in Provi. (
July 11 (Saturday) it's official  |
July 30 (Thursday) There's a mega hardcore show at Cuisine en Locale with Power Trip, Foreseen, Boston Strangler, Peacebreakers, Freedom, Fury, Red Death, Intent, CIAC and Take Control. Music starts at 6:30 SHARP doors are at 6.
July 31 (Friday) “THE DAMNED: Don’t You Wish That We Were Dead” documentary is FINALLY playing in Boston!! It's at the Regent Theater at 7:30. You can buy tix here. Watch the trailer here.
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!!
Insect Surfers
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Monster Mike and Andy California
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 Andy California
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 Dogmatics
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 Triple Thick
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 Dogmatics
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 Dogmatics
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He roves and then rants.... Kenne Highland at Large
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