The BGN News Archive

Muck and the Mires on WMFO Live Music Day

This year the BGN joined a long list of organizations that sponsor the WMFO Live Music Day on Saturday 6/6.

One surprise is that they have a brand new large space downstairs in addition to their jammed studios upstairs. That made everything very pleasant. Walking in we immediately bumped into Steev Ricardo of the Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico podcast. This was at noon, he was there from early on. Then it was Paula Worsley (very blond hair now), Jan Collins and Simon Ritt, Kristen Eck, Bootleg Dan, Pat Moynihan (Little Billy Lost), Gary Sohmers from the ComicCon shows who is helping solo artist Sandy Netburn who was heading into the studio to do an acoustic set.

Satch Kerans Band on WMFO Live Music Day

Downstairs with the band set up on stage was Satch Kerans Band. They were just beginning “Helen of Troy” one of our faves. They sound grittier than their album ... and we liked that. Their originals are excellent. When they started into “Common At Noon” by the Real Kids we were glassy eyed with memories. They ended with “Can’t Hardley Wait” by the Replacements and they really got into that. Nice set.

Satch Kerans Band playing the Real Kids "Common at Noon"

After that we were talking to Smitt E. Smitty about his cover of “Big Ass American Car” by Trick Wallace. We were wondering if that main steam rolling riff was original or did Smitty add it. It was original. Later in the song the band breaks out singing the melody from “Third Stone From The Sun”. In that case Trick used to play that melody on the guitar the band singing it was Smitty’s move. Smitty was one of the drummers for Trick so he had played the song with him.

The last set of the day was Muck and the Mires. It’s always like Hard Day’s Night live with them. A rush of songs, all pumped up melodic gems, that you take in and fight not to scream like a 13 year old. Not easy with Linda’s drumming carrying so much excitement on its own.

We think we want Muck to do that fast English rock flat out from beginning to end, but we always get stuck on the ballads like “I Never Got Over You”. That almost hurts to hear sometimes. Pedro (Pete) has a few spotlight moments like with “Good Enough” and then again with every sweet solo he deals out.

In the mix they played their new single “The Ghost of Roky Erickson” and “The Beat Revolution.” They used “I’m Your Man” to stomp their way to the end. That was it…but in our minds we were chasing them to the train station, like in the movie.

We enjoyed our time in the studios. We hope they had as much fun listening at home. This was a fine day but you know, WMFO has live local music in the studio action practically every day. We’re lucky they’re around!!

There’s mini golf in your punk! That’s if you go to Hanover’s Starland on July 18 for the Putt Putt Punk show. Groups are Cheryl’s Boys, Junk Punk and Tommy Ready. The show goes from 6pm to and the ticket includes a round of mini golf. Facebook event page. There will be another show at Hanover Starland on September 12 and one at Trombetta’s Farm in Marlborough, MA on August 22.

VIDEOS......

This Lou Miami interview was posted on Facebook by James Berkowitz. James was an Emerson student and did this we Cathy Carter. The show was called 30 GO. It was three ten minute interviews. This was Lou’s section. It brings back so many memories of Lou especially since there is so much of him talking that you remember his personality.

Here’s an article on the Dangerous Minds website from 2018 that talks about Lou. It also has the videos that Lou talks about in the 30 GO interview. We also have a video of Lou Miami and the Kozmetix playing “Mary, Mary” at The Space with Jack Rootoo (RIP), Bob McKenzie and Kip Korea(RIP).

We know the Real Kids became the Taxi Boys, now we have the Taxi Girls from Montreal. Here's their video for “Secret Handshake”. They are a raw garage punk but, in this song at least, with a melodic hook that can’t be beat. They claim this is the soft side of the group because the album does have harder songs. Their album Static is out June 29.

PODCASTS......

Al Quint’s 5/25 Sonic Overload was his Memorial Day special. There’s no pussyfooting around with the hardcore version. It was Proletariat right off the bat with “Decorations” then Toxic Reasons “War Hero” from their Independence album from 1980 and it still sounds strong. We have it below.

Al played a song by Freqs from Salem. “Jellyfish Cadaver” was released in 2025 and is as heavy as anything you are going to hear. The band tags themselves as a noise band rather than hardcore. We have the song embedded below. Their new album No God on the Gold Coast came out on 5/29. There are some lullabies like “I Might Have Rabies” and “Chaninsawman”.

Quint played “Freeman” by Major Accident from the UK . They were denied access to the USA and were unable to do their scheduled tour. There have been many bands in the same situation that Al has marked on this show these last few years. There was a representative old punk set with: Screamers, Flipper, Angry Samoans, Germs, Fear and the Minutemen. A whole lot of great hardcore as usual, it’s too much to detail. Your job - go listen to the podcast.

On his 6/1 Sonic Overload show Quint played a song by 2X4, not John Hovorka's 2X4s but a Boston hardcore group who had an EP out in 2015 on Twerp Records. It was a worthy scorcher. We have it embedded below.

You can hear the Sonic Overload shows on the web blog. Al has logged all the shows since 2009.

On the 5/23 Punks in the Garage podcast (from WAIF in Cincinnati)there were three rare Blondie cuts. Two were demos “Platinum Blonde” and “A Thin Line” from the Betrock demos in 1975. The other was a French version of “Sunday Girl”.

They also played a Jam demo called “Boy About Town” which is a version of the song without horns. They play some neat sixties songs like the amazing “A Question of Temperature” by Balloon Farm. There was also a Seeds song and one by The Knack which is not the “My Sharona” one but a group from 1965. There is a playlist on the Mixcloud page.

NEW MUSIC/CD's .....

Locals The Fatal Flaw put a lot of power in their pop. Even more it seems to us in their latest single “Navy Dodge Van”. It is a paean to their trusty gig transport. They give the details of sleeping on the seats and floor, petty fights and barely making the shows.

It all rings true but they add some reflection to lift the tale like: “we were never more alive”, “Now we know the best lows revival any heights” and the final insight “we were happy in that goddam beat-up navy Dodge van”. This rocking pop song should convince you to hear them live.

It did our hearts good to see Today Junior get a photo and blurb in the Boston Globe on June 3. Here if you can get by the paywall. It's about their new single “Keep On Pushing Me”.

It has the Today Junior sound that has become so familiar to us through the years. The pronounced chord action acts like a beat while the drums rumble along giving excitement. Today Junior are also doing something lyrically here that we see a lot. They are singing about how hard things are on a personal level because things are so egregious on the political level. While "it’s about not giving up when it feels like you are being pushed off the path you’re trying to achieve."

It's also about things "getting in the way, especially in the world and country we’re living in today." They get even more specific: "It’s hard surviving every day/When it’s anarchy in the USA." This is the new style protest song!

We haven’t heard from Johnny Angel in a while. Judging by his latest song “I Love Free Stuff” he’s getting domesticated. He’s extolling the rewards of coupon shopping. We can’t blame him there.

The song is wonderfully melodic. At the end it’s like a group sing along and it’s contagious. Is all this untoward for a punk? Johnny addresses that via a Who reference, “You hope you die before you get old/Miss the Senior Discount? Shut your pie hole!” See, he’s still angry and right in line with Stop Calling Me Frank singing about Market Basket. The single cover looks like an old Mad magazine cover.

Would anyone have guessed seeing Stop Calling Me Frank 40 plus years ago at Chet’s, that they would have their day in 2026 with a song about Market Basket? Would the band have guessed? It happened though. SCMF reemerged still full of creativity. Their Bandcamp page logs their singles and albums.

“My Baby Is So Socially Distant” is their current release. It tells the woeful tale of the singer’s loved one who ignores them in public. At home it’s lovey dovey, in public it’s “who are you?” As the lyrics say, "Privately, we make a good pair/Out in public, it’s like I'm not even there". It’s hilarious and benefits from Lenny’s classic SCMF vocal delivery. The sound is the classic SCMF.

This is a teaser for their album Miles To Go out this week on June 12. The album collects their songs, new and older. Some were recorded in 2023 at Bang-a-Song Studios in Gloucester. There are four songs streaming on Bandcamp now. SCMF will be playing on the The Emerson College UnCommon Corner on June 17 as part of WERS' 617 Day! Along with Dave Herlihy, Gnarly Darling, Samantha Farrell, Riah, and Key Found. SCMF is scheduled for 3:15. Also, SCMF will play at The Midway on July 18.

Here’s a another long time story. We first met Shel Pierce when we covered his band The Runes in the BGN in 1981. Now Shel leads the band Hotel Saturn which includes Kris Rodgers, Tim Jackson, Todd Ericson and some singing by Linda Viens. They released three impressive pop gems.

Those songs are on this new self-titled album. The band makes all the songs soar with their excellent playing. Kris Rodgers and Tim Jackson together is a dream team. Once you start listening you realize the quality of the material and its pace never flag. “Love Me For The Things”, “Can’t Close My Eyes” and “Saving Grace” have a psych aura about them but most songs are unabashedly straight ahead rock pop.

We really like the first twenty seconds of “Silver” by Jennifer Tefft & The Strange. You can hear the foundation of the song. First the bass has that riff where it slides up and down. Then that pronounced snare that defines the song so much. The guitars slip in with a pleasant buzz. They take those elements and shape them with the dynamics as Tefft’s voice takes advantage of the whole arrangement and drives it home time and again.

The song is about finding that silver lining no matter how tough things get. It’s a nicely crafted gem. The band does such fine work here: drums/Chris Jost, bass/Stephen “Sharky” Beccia and guitar/John Parrillo.

Gene Champagne was the drummer for Canada’s Teenage Head and is now releasing his own material on Rum Bar Records. His latest is “Gimme Ammunition”. As you can guess with using the contraction “gimme” it’s a Ramones style rocker. It flows and is wonderfully melodic, by the time it gets to the chorus you are probably singing the “gimme ammunition” chorus.

The amazing thing is that Gene does all the singing and playing on the song. This is one half of a vinyl single that is preceding an album on Rum Bar Records.

Cleopatra is releasing a third album of the Dead Boys in live recordings at CDGB’s . Time Warp Baby was recorded after the band did their second studio album in 1978. Cleopatra has release two other live Dead Boys albums this last year: Down On The Bowery and From The Sleaziest Of Catacombs. “Son of Sam”, “All This and More”, “What Love Is” and “Sonic Reducer” are here.

One surprise is a Mott the Hoople cover of “Death May Be Your Santa Claus”. It’s not streaming as of now. They are shipping the vinyl on 6/12. You can get it on the Cleopatra website.

We didn’t know the Real McKenzies before we posted their hilarious song/video for “I Wanna Eat Sardines (With Yer Mother)”. However the Vancouver group has been together since 1992. The have been pumping out Celtic punk with an accent on the punk and the Scottish ancestry. Their new album is On Yer Bike. Rather than say “get out of here” or “ F off” they use the phrase “get on yer bike”.

They have more humorous songs that go with the “Sardines” song. “Read a Book” is just about that. It sort of proves they can riff on anything and make it an entertaining song. “Liver Spot” is about hanging to long in the sun and getting the resulting liver spot. “Ragged Rock” is singing a tongue twister, “Round and round the ragged rock the ragged rascal ran”. (Years ago they did “Pliers” a riff on Hendrix song “Fire”.)

Other subjects are “Shackleton” about the explorer that glorifies his heroics. There is also a few songs about legendary cannibals of sixteenth century Scotland. Everything is treated the same way with swift tempos, punk guitars, humorous singing and bagpipes present but in check. It’s very entertaining.

Panicking about the price of gas? Then you should listen to “Price of Gas” by Chicago’s Cel Ray. They are panicking more than you, we bet. This is edgy, screamy and a race-to-the-finish punk. We listened to two other albums they had but this one is recorded way better. The whole album Cel Rayzer will not be out to July 24. We’ll be on it for sure then.

We talked about Australia’s RatSalad a while back with their single “Crush Me Like A Can”. They've released their album Pest From the West. They have both alternative and punk sounds. The singer has a cool yelling punk delivery most of the time. The songs do not rely on fast hooks. They do however have an inviting melodicism that rewards listening closely and yes, some hooks. The songs are very heavy lyrically and to appreciate what’s going on we recommend checking out the lyrics which are posted on the Bandcamp page.

Many of the songs are like long diary entrees. That’s true of “Art School Dropout” and “Bike Beach Pub”,. There’s griping about personal relations in “FIDC”, “It’s Not Even That Bad” with the signature line “Navigating life is fuckin’ tough” and “TUNE IN, ZONE OUT” “Fuck Sixt” (sixt is Australian slang for a weak person) is sort of a companion piece to The Fatal Flaw’s song “Navy Dodge Van” as it talks about absurd tour mishaps. “North West Coastal Highway” does the same thing with an even more embarrassing mishap.

There’s comedy relief in “We Definitely Do Not Sell Vapes”. The songs works best as a whole. You can spend time taking in the whole package. We had no idea when hearing “Crush Me Like a Can” that the group had this much going on.

The first time we saw Danny Laj & the Looks from Canada was at a gig at O’Brien’s in 2018. You could tell that they had developed over time. Their first music on Bandcamp is from 2010. We just saw that they have a new song up on Bandcamp now. The group plays pop but will push back any boundary. This time they even sound a little like Captain Beefheart with the jagged rhythm and guitar. The song’s main lyric is “We’re the freaks making all the noise” and the group playing rejoices in that sentiment. It’s pop with an edge. It also has a video. Their album If Looks Could Kill will be out soon.

Black Ends from Seattle manage to be edgy in a musical world that has seen everything. They describe themselves as alternative, post punk and gunk pop. We don’t know what the lyrics mean but there is a noose on the digital single graphic, so you figure this is nothing light. There’s a strange otherness in the music that doesn’t dissipate with multiple listens. If you are up for a challenge, give this a listen.

Belvedere from Calgary has been together 30 years with seven albums to show for that. Their latest album is Seven Years of Bad Luck. Right now there are three songs streaming on Bandcamp. This band plays skate punk and is super tight. The drummer is a monster. To hear the whole band in sync is a thrill ride. The vocals are forceful and they have to be.

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

June 8, 2026 (Monday) Remy, Cat Crash Band, EM Wise at The Silhouette

June 10, 2026 (Wednesday) Little Low, The Punk Cellist, The Catastrophes, Massive Nightmares at The Silhouette

June 11, 2026 (Thursday) Echo & The Bunnymen at Roadrunner TIX

June 12, 2026 (Friday) The Gruesome, Muck and The Mires, Tiger Bomb at The Burren, Somerville, MA, 6pm show! FB page

June 12, 2026 (Friday) Duck & Cover, Already Dead, The Only Things at Koto, Salem

June 12, 2026 (Friday) Punk Rock @ A coffee Shop with Worm, Ragz To Stitches, Jonee EarthQuake Band, Ruffian Dick - at The Spot in Nashua, NH -8pm All Ages $10 FB page.

June 13, 2026 (Saturday) Ocelot Records Ten Year Reunion with OH THE HUMANITY!, Dead Cats Dead Rats, A Minor Revolution, The Digs, The Hideout at Faces Malden

June 13, 2026 (Saturday) THE FIGHTING COCKS are back Also on the bill, The Emily Grogan Band and Classic Ruins! at Ralph's in Worcester show starts at 9PM! FB page.

June 13, 2026 (Saturday) Geets Romo & Paul Simisky Present Tiger Bomb, The Spackles, Mad Painter, The Hammer (A Memorial Tribute Featuring The Living Membership Of Big Meat Hammer. Cryin' Caleb will be singing as Jordan Kratz w/ Trash Picker as Skummy Bob on lead guitar, and original Big Meat Hammer members Lenny, Jim, Tony & Greg.) At The VFW Ballroom, 687 Forest Ave Portland, ME FB page.

June 13, 2026 (Saturday) Wormtown Hardcore presents an old school hardcore show! Featuring:The FUs, Rockin Bob's Punk Band, WORM. Point Blank, Oedipus Triple Rex at The Raven in Worcester FB page.

June 13, 2026 (Saturday) Swamp Roots (with Artie Sneiderman), Muslecah, Wray-Ons at The Front Room WCUW - 910 Main St, Worcester.

June 14, 2026 (Sunday) Wreckless Wreck Chords Presents: The Long Wait, Incendiary Device, Scumbari, WORM, Pledge Of Allegiance- this is a 3PM MATINEE at The Midway

June 14, 2026 (Sunday) Skeeter de Milo, Astral Bitch, BEDTIMEMAGIC, Sapling 2PM matinee at O'Brien's Allston

June 15, 2026 (Monday) American Ocelot, The Haymakers, Devil Love at The Square Root

June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) WERS' 617 Day! Along with Dave Herlihy, Gnarly Darling, Samantha Farrell, Riah, and Key Found. SCMF is scheduled for 3:15. FB event page Also, SCMF will play at The Midway on July 18.

June 17, 2026 (Wednesday) No More Youth, L.M.I., Crablord, Void Construct at The Silhouette

June 19, 2026 (Friday) Tension Scale, Human Issue, Step First, Hell Dog at The Middle East UP

June 20, 2026 (Saturday) Arlington Porchfest more info Captain Easychord is playing Arlington Porchfest with Butterscott!, the Stigmatics and Monotony Rocks at 140 Palmer St. from 2pm to 6pm!!! Stigmatics go on at 2pm, Butterscott! at 3pm, Captain Easychord at 4pm and Monotony Rocks at 5pm

June 20, 2026 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Girl With A Hawk (release show!), Tad Overbaugh & The Late Arrivals at The Midway 8PM

June 20, 2026 (Saturday) Sidewalk Driver, Black Helicopter, Miskatonik at The Middle East Up

June 21, 2026 (Sunday) Fenway Porchfest - map & bands

June 23, 2026 (Tuesday) Bounce House, Puke Pisstols and Snax on Wax spinning records before the show and between sets all night long. at Deep Cuts Medford

June 24, 2026 (Wednesday) Contracharge, Cartridge, The Blind, D.O.D at O'Brien's

June 24, 2026 (Wednesday) Leftöver Crack, sadplant, Doll's Head, DUIs at Alchemy Providence RI FB page.

June 25, 2026 (Thursday) Linnea’s Garden, TIFFY, The Lookout Honeys, Indoor Friends at O'Brien's

June 25, 2026 (Thursday) Nekromantix, Diablogato, The Rumours at Alchemy Provi RI FB page.

June 27, 2026 (Saturday) Silver Screams, Still Sedated, Past Life Crisis at The Jungle - this is a 4PM MATINEE

June 27, 2026 (Saturday) Badterms, The Downhauls, Farewell Drugs at The Ugly Mug Diner, Salem

June 27, 2026 (Saturday) Ceremony East Coast, Gossip Collar, Proles, Find a Better Body at The Parlour, Prov RI

June 28, 2026 (Sunday) Weird Nightmare, Today Junior -at Deep Cuts Medford,

June 28, 2026 (Sunday) Miracle Blood, Conan Neutron, The Freqs, Dwelley at The Middle East UP - 7:30PM

July 3, 2026 (Friday) Gossip Collar, Farewell Drugs, Yes Nanny at Obrien's Pub

July 10, 2026 (Friday) Cape Crush Record Release Show! with One Fall and Good June at Deep Cuts - FB page.

July 11, 2026 (Saturday) Vinto Van Go (Chicago), Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones, Galaxy Cake , Mad Painter at The Midway - 7:30PM SHOW

July 18, 2026 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank at The Midway

July 20, 2026 (Monday) Unnatural Axe, Puke Pistols, G.T. Arpe at the Silhouette Lounge.

July 25, 2026 (Saturday) Baabes, Joudy, Parachute Club at Deep Cuts Medford TIX

July 25, 2026 (Saturday) Grub Sweat and Beers Night ONE at O Brien's check out the O'Brien's page for bands

July 25, 2026 (Saturday) Grub Sweat and Beers Night TWO at O Brien's check out the O'Brien's page. This one is a 2PM MATINEE!!

July 31, 2026 (Friday) Jonee Earthquake, In Shreds, BAABES, Typhoid Mary at Koto Salem

September 25, 2026 (Friday) Social Distortion, Descendents, The Chats at RoadRunner TIX

September 25, 2026 (Friday) Muck and the Mires, The Sharp Class, The Chelsea Curve, Dj Sherman at Deep Cuts Medford

September 28, 2026 (Monday) The "Sex Pistols" at The Royale

October 16, 2026 (Friday) The Damned at The Royale

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com
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