The BGN News Archive

The Doug MacDonald Band at The Jungle

John Keegan hit The Jungle to hear the Doug MacDonald Band, they've added a bass player! He also saw the new Dennis Brennan group True Vines at a back yard show. He tells us what Dennis is up to. Click the photo link below for the full review.

This past week there was finally a message about the Great Scott reopening saga. The failure of the deal to move to Regina’s Pizzeria was disappointing. Carl Lavin sent out a message that another Allston option is in the works. So let's keep hoping we see a new Great Scott yet.

Message to investors, 6/20/22: "As many of you are already aware, the landlords at the Allston Depot - formerly Regina’s Pizza – decided to go in a different direction ... It was disappointing, but completely understandable.

Video viewing at Great Scott 2016 with the distinctive flooring.

They were more than patient while I navigated the process of securing the necessary additional funding and I have absolutely no ill will with them or the future tenant. It was just a tough time in the world to try to start a project as ambitious as this proved to be while also learning how to do it as I went along.

"Having said that, the Depot was always just one of the options, albeit the leader, and we’re still engaged with other locations. Conversations with one location in particular in Allston has progressed well ... the details and the location will remain under wraps, but I can say this: it’s a great location, it’s bigger than GS requires and we’re working on our options as to what we can do with the extra space. I’m looking forward to being able to give more regular and more detailed updates for sure. I remain extremely grateful for the investments in local music and arts and appreciate greatly all the patience as we continue to plow ahead. Regards, Carl"

Meanwhile our beloved Midway Cafe has soldiered on during the Covid shutdown, doing every trick in the book to keep the music, and business, going. It wasn’t easy but here we are now for their 35th Anniversary: "35 and Still Alive!"

This coming weekend they have a whole series of bands to celebrate. Friday it’s KCUF, CE Skidmore and The Damn Fine Band. Saturday is the big day. The music goes from 2:30 to …well they don’t say! The line up: Rick Berlin, Muck and The Mires, Andy California, Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Fireking, Lenny Lashley's Gang Of One, Thalia Zedek Band, Jay Allen & The Archcriminals, Hobo Chili, Loser's Circle, Richie Parsons, Britt Walsh and poet Jake Tringali.

Sunday it is The Crank-tones with Cranky Franky, The Fathoms Trio and HiFi Lowdowns.

Congrats to the Midway for showing everyone how it’s done!! The event page is here

Neighborhood Shit - Midway 2019

We’ve enjoyed several shows by Neighborhood Shit. (here's a couple, 2014 and 2019 ...both at the Midway.) Their songs about their South Boston gentrification hit home…their homes! They have songs about how drugs destroy the lives of people they know (“Drug Song” on Bandcamp), that are very effective. They are a band that knows how to put context and content in their songs.

This comes to mind because of the profile we saw of them in the No Echo website. Ryan O'Connor does a thorough job of profiling them. There is also a video of a full live set and plenty of their songs.

They talk about the Wreck Center which was a practice and performance space in Allston that eventually got shut down but not before they were able to form and develop their group. Here is the article in No Echo

and then ... Hallapalossa at the Craft Food Halls - Revolution in Lexington, was cancelled because of the extreme heat (despite Cold Expectations on the bill) on Saturday July 23. It’s rescheduled for September 10.

After all the Covid cancellations this felt like…. “really?! Heat now! Next, the asteroid hits....

The Danny Garcia film, Nightclubbing is getting a lot of press. Max’s Kansas City makes good press as the NY Post knows. This article has quotes from Alice Cooper and Billy Idol along with some period photos. Check out the article here.

We just sit back and marvel at the attention the Nervous Eaters are getting. This is all hard work on their part and it's about time. They gig and keep the recordings coming and now people are paying attention more than ever. Being signed to Little Steven Van Zandt's Wicked Cool Records label certainly has helped. It also means there's a new album, “Monsters and Angels,”

The Yahoo News sit does a a review of their new single “Wild Eyes” and upcoming album Monsters & Angels, and talks of their Brighton Music Hall show. This is the way it should be. The article

It’s not enough just writing books about playing rock and roll. Now, Mach Bell, is back to singing on stage!! He posted on Facebook on Saturday : “Hey. I just got back from singing with a pro hard-rock band for the very first time in five years. This new band's been rehearsing without me for a few months, learning all my songs. So It felt insanely comfortable walking-in the door, grabbing the mic and singing songs from my records, really loud really powerful.” Mach’s Facebook page

Pistol, The FX Sex Pistols series may not have changed the world but it did give the whole punk movement some publicity for a year. It also got us some reveling interviews with the principals. Steve Jones has an new interview in Classic Rock magazine. Hey, back in the day we never thought ‘Classic Rock’ aficionados would want to be anywhere near us. Steve is always frank, that’s what makes his autobiography so satisfying to read. He just tells it as it was.

Steve went through a lot of groups in the post Sex Pistols time. Here, he seems to qualify them all in drug terms. What was he on or off of, how much was he drinking. His latest trial was a heart attack that has made him feel vulnerable. Here's the interview in Classic Rock

Late Risers Club DJ Joanie Lindstrom gives us her latest travel report. This time she did what she calls "The Villes". That would be Ashville NC, Knoxville TN, Charlottesville VA and Greenville SC. She hits Roanoke just because it's close, along with Philadelphia and Baltimore on the way. In her trip she meets up with several Late Risers Club listeners, visits record stores and checks in with DJ Peter Choyce who now lives in Knoxville. Click for Joanie's Vacation in The Villes.

VIDEOS......

Michael Kane & the Morning Afters have a video for their song “Turn It Around.” It’s been a long time now that you can peg a song by them by the overall sound. That’s enviable calling card for any group. There’s a pleasing jangle in the chorus.

The video features the lyrics and a Ford Pinto shows up a few times. What are we to think of that?

We've seen Miracle Blood a few times (2018 and 2017) but they sound different in their new video for the song “Like a Round Hole Through a Square Peg”. They've got a harder edge and the vocals are much more intense, there’s some throat scarring screams going on.

The video has cartoon graphics along with photos of the band. There’s a scary baby popping up all the time too.

This is for guitar freaks: James Lynch of the Dropkick Murphys talks about his guitars in this video by Premier Guitar magazine. He’s got one cool modification…a cleverly hidden 1/4" jack on his go-to guitar.

Plus, he gives the sage advice from his dad that formed the foundation of his success. “It doesn’t matter if you know what you’re doing, as long as you look like you know what you’re doing.”

PODCASTS.........

This week Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico brings in DJ Skybar Lusardi of the Rising show on WMFO.

They talk about the show at the Square Root in Roslindale on Thursday 7/21 that Skybar coproduced with RumBar Records ... then there’s extended talk on favorite local bands. Here's a good one: Skybar was a mailman for 38 years and actually delivered mail to David Minehan.

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

Cocked ‘n Loaded are back! We thought there were kaput, but it sounds like they are active again and rockin’ like crazy. The song is “You Are the Summer” and it sounds like the summer of 1970 or so with its Zeppelin sounding riffs. This is just one song but we imagine more is coming. The striking cover is by Clay N Ferno.

They are playing the Middle East Down with Mellow Bravo and Sidewalk Driver this Saturday July 30. Tickets

The Hi-End’s new song “Scene Queen” is another seventies style rocker. The arrangement has the bass pumping steady through the song and that gives the song a strong identity. Highlights are Johnny Carlevale’s voice and the Curt Florczak guitar solos.

Punk Rock Karaoke is a group of punk veterans that tour and allow audience members to get up on stage and sings a punk classic with the great band playing behind. We saw them at Church in May of 2015 and it was lots of fun!!

Now, they are putting out an album. The first tracks to show up have super skateboarder Tony Hawk guesting on vocals ... and he's not bad at ai!! He covers the Jam’s “In the City” and The Damned’s “Neat, Neat, Neat”.

Geoff Palmer has done a whole album cover of Standing In The Spotlight. That was the 1989 sort of rap album by Dee Dee Ramone done under the name Dee Dee King.

Right now we just have one song to share and it’s very good. It has so much of a Geoff Palmer sound to it, that you wouldn’t peg it as a cover.

Being a music website we get music sent to us all the time. Adult Swim, from Santa Cruz, CA has a new album. new album is called No Party, on Lavasocks Records. They sound straight up indie rock to us. All aspects of their music are a step above: better lyrics, sharper riffs, melodies that stick and some unusual turns in the music.

If you have a penchant for indie, we suggest giving them a listen.

“Off Day” has an opening riff that will peak your interest. It goes back to that riff at the end and then opens up the harmony and ends the song on an out of the blue major seventh chord.

Pete Weiss is involved with this project called Valley of Weights. They've got two songs. “I Was a Wartime Draughtsman” has a vocal that apes Iggy Pop and that makes it for us.

Kevin Stevenson was a member of the fondly remembered Shods. Recently he has been living in Greece and recorded material there.

Rum Bar Records is going to release an album of those recordings soon. Now, they are previewing it with the song “Saturday Morning Coming Down”. It heralds in with a horn arrangement and a ska feeling. The title sounds like a downer but the song makes you want to get up and dance. You know it’s songwriting by someone whose got the knack.

We’re trying to keep up with Rum Bar Records…and it’s not easy. It looks like they have co-opted Blue Hour, the last album by Carissa Johnson.

If you go to the Bandcamp it's streaming three songs off the album. That’s an odd thing for Bandcamp but maybe it’s a new feature. The first song is “Merry Go Round” which is a fave of ours.

Yes, we visit this Screaching Weasel album once more. The reason is that finally all the songs are available to hear on Bandcamp.

No matter where you dip in you have some worthy pop punk.

We got hooked on “Kill To Cure”.

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

July 25, 2022 (Monday) Oh The Humanity!, Louzy, Fracture Type- Charlie's Kitchen.

July 26, 2022 (Tuesday) Exsanguination, The Prozacs, Working Poor USA, Hippocrisis at The Midway

July 28 2022 (Thursday) Paper Tigers, We Demand Parachutes, Verdegree at Notch Brighton - FREE! starts at 7PM

July 28 - 30, 2022 (Thurs - Sunday) Nice Fest in Davis Square the Crystal Ballroom and the Rockwell. Nice Fest site for schedule, info and tix.

July 29, 2022 (Friday) Fat Togue music presents StarBath, Abel Blood, Rawstrum, Choose Your Power at The Cantab Underground. this is a regular nightime show!

July 29, 2022 (Friday) Sidewalk Driver and Weakened Friends are at The Wellfleet Beachcomber

July 29, 2022 (Friday) Pancake Challenge With Worm, Jobber, The Martians, Working Poor USA, The Hagglers, Waiverwire + APE - huh? Pancakes? Wreckless Wreck Chords Presents Summer Sizzler Pancake Challenge Over 5 Years In The Making Tyler From The Martians Vs Josh from WORM/Jobber/ Crimespree. They've Been talking shit for years about who can eat more Pancake We'll Finally Its gonna Happen after Both Challengers Play their Respective Sets They Will sit down And Settle this once and For All. At the C Note in Hull!! FB Page.

July 29, 2022 (Friday) 35 and Still Alive - The Midway Day 1: CE Skidmore & The Damn Fine Band, KCUF and SHAKE FB page.

July 30, 2022 (Saturday) A Dark Summer Garden Party - a full day featuring the best in Darkscene music, vendors, and entertainment, Featuring... Black Rose Burning, Cliff and Ivy, Ghost Painted Sky, Komrads, L’Avenir, Pilgrims of Yearning, Summore, The Spearmint Sea, Trigger Discipline. at Once @ Bopynton Yards. FREE Noon to 10PM. FB page.

July 30, 2022 (Saturday) 35 and Still Alive - The Midway Day 2: Rick Berlin, Muck and The Mires, Andy California, Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Fireking,
Lenny Lashley's Gang Of One, Thalia Zedek Band, Jay Allen & The Archcriminals, Hobo Chili, Loser's Circle, Richie Parsons, Britt Walsh, Jake Tringali FB page

July 30, 2022 (Saturday) Tiber Bomb (celebrating the release of their 2nd album, "Sugar Buzz), Greg Allen’s Fringe Religion are at The Square Root FB event page.

July 30, 2022 (Saturday) Mellow Bravo, Cocked N Loaded, Sidewalk Driver at The Middle East Down.

July 30, 2022 (Saturday) Key of Caustic, Tysk Tysk Task, Leah Guanipa, WiredForSound at Union Tavern, Union Sq in Somerville,

July 30, 2022 (Saturday) Plymouth Punk Rock Flea Market at The Mayflower Brewing Co. 12-5PM FB page

July 31, 2022 (Sunday) 35 and Still Alive - The Midway Day 3: The Crank-Tones with The Fathoms Trio and The Hi-Fi Lowdowns 3PM Matinee - FB page.

August 1, 2022 (Monday) Perfectly Lethal, Dropbear, *Special Guest TBA* at Charlie's Kitchen

August 2, 2022 (Tuesday) The Legendary Cazbats, GLiDER, The Golly Geewillikers at The Jungle - FB page.

August 3, 2022 (Wednesday)  Jasmyn, Linnea's Garden, Junior Classics, Daphne Blue Underworldat O'Brien's

August 4, 2022 (Thursday) Deprogrammer Cult, Duck & Cover, C.O.B. , Give Up! at Sammy’s Patio in Revere. Facebook page

August 5, 2022 (Friday) Brunt of It, Stray Bullets, Joystick, Jerry's Got Jokes at The Midway

August 5, 2022 (Friday) Sunshine Riot, Amy Mantis, Your Friends in Hell and Glowbox at The Square Root - Facebook page

August 6, 2022 (Saturday) Four Point Restraints, Time and Place, Haley Day at The Canadian American Club in Watertown. FB page.

August 6, 2022 (Saturday) The Very, Crow Follow, and Captain Vampire at The Square Root - Come celebrate Crow Follow's new Video Drop!!

August 6, 2022 (Saturday) Mint Green, FLKL, Dutch Tulips at Faces Brewing Co. Malden. FB page.

August 7, 2022 (Sunday) Scurvy Dog Parking Lot Mega-Show - it's FREE and it starts at 2PM with Knickerbocker5 ... then Greg Allen’s Fringe Religion, Epochsis, Bug Bites,We Own Land, Grip Bite, Public Nature, Sasquatch and his Full Moon Boys, Killer Kin, the Doosh Bags and Tall Teenagers (9:30pm). FB page.

August 11, 2022 (Thursday) Salem Wolves, Michael Kane & The Morning Afters at Notch Brighton- Free Admission but they will be collecting non-perishable food donations at the door -Show times 7-11 pm

August 11, 2022 (Thursday) The Nervous Eaters are at the Music Room Gallery & Wine Bar in West Yarmouth.

August 12, 2022 (Friday) Today Junior, FEEP, Falcon Brunch at The Middle East Up.

August 12, 2022 (Friday) La Armada (R.D./Chicago), Zeta (Venezuela), Neighborhood Shit, Sick Minds, Born from Demise, Hard Target at Sammy's Patio Revere Beach. FB page. 7PM.

August 12, 2022 (Friday) Radio Compass, Diablogato, Bird Language at Faces Brewery Malden

August 13, 2022 (Saturday) Summer Shimmer at Once @ Boynton Yards - a full day and night of glam rock and glitter! This Outdoor Festival has it all! Come out and support your local musicians and vendors. There will be food, bar, live music, PLUS Glam Karaoke with The People's Karaoke and a costume contest Glampionship with trophies for the glammiest of them all.” also 8 local bands including Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, The Jacklights, Sapling, Linnea’s Garden, Weakened Friends, Happy Little Clouds and The Pom Poms...this is an all day event with vendors etc- FB page.

August 13, 2022 (Saturday) Vampire Lounge - Goth Night at The Hawthorne Hotel in Salem with DJ Kuro! FB page.

August 14, 2022 (Sunday) Murdoch, Men and Volts, Meaghan Casey and the Latchkey Boys, Tyler Bejoian - Midway Matinee Starts at 3PM.

August 15, 2022 (Monday) Time and Place, Shepards, Pink Slip at Charlie's Kitchen

August 19, 2022 (Friday) Messer Chups, The Devils Twins, Damnation at Askew Provi, RI

August 20, 2022 (Saturday) Three Hour Tour! with SCMF, The Dogmatics, and Barrence Whitfield on a boat! 21+ $30. Boarding starts 3:30, departure at 4:00 from Rowes Wharf FB page.

August 20, 2022 (Saturday) The Fleshtones, GLiDER, & Tiger Bomb w/ Emcee DJ Brian Young - The Magic Room - FB page.

August 21, 2022 (Sunday) Voice Of Addiction, Brix'N Mortar, Blame it on Whitman, Color Killer - 3PM matinee at The Midway

August 21, 2022 (Sunday) Presidential Disgrace (Bangor), Butch Baby (MA), Septic Approval, East End Redemption, Skum City (nyc) for an afternoon show at Sun Tiki Studios, Portland, ME- Starts at 5 and is only $7!! FB page.

August 26, 2022 (Friday) Bone Up Brewing Sixth Anniversary Bash! 3 days of music! The Guilloteenagers, Blood Built Empire, Lesser Glow, and Worshipper. FB event page is here.

August 26, 2022 (Friday) Kepi Ghoulie + Friends, Bad Idea USA, Adult Learners at Faces Brewing Co. Malden. FB page.

August 27, 2022 (Saturday) Kids Like Me & You (KLYAM) Spring & Summer Program at Morse-Kelley Playground a couple blocks from the Armory. line up to be announced.

August 27, 2022 (Saturday) Phantom Ocean, Orbiter, Minusworld, Thrust Club - 3PM Matinee at the Midway Cafe FB page

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

August 27, 2022 (Saturday) Bone Up Brewing Sixth Anniversary Bash! Organ Meats, The Weisstronauts, DnA’s Evolution, Benthic Realm, Attest, Sky Tigers, and Crowfeeder. FB event page is here.

August 28, 2022 (Sunday) Bone Up Brewing Sixth Anniversary Bash! Sunken City, Blue Manic, DnA’s Evolution, North Star the Wanderer, and Sexless Marriage. FB event page is here.

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

September 3, 2022 (Saturday) with Chris Brokaw, Samantha Hartsel , target and the facilitiesand Kenne Highland's Airforce at The Midway

September 4, 2022 (Sunday) Somerville Rock + Roll Yard Sale in Union Square Somerville. FB page for updates!

September 5, 2022 (Monday) Daniel & Al’s last show w/ Dutch Tulips, Tatooine Punk Scene, IWICSB at Charlie's Kitchen....see the FB page.

September 7, 2022 (Wednesday) Kids Like Me & You (KLYAM) Spring & Summer Program with Leopardo from Switzerland at O'Brien's

September 8, 2022 (Thursday) Zip Tie Handcuffs, Talk Chalk, Going222Jail at O’Briens

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

September 10, 2022 (Saturday) Key of Caustic at The Flying Embers Tap Room (152 Hampden St, Boston, MA 02119)

September 16, 2022 (Friday) Dave Herlihy, lead vocalist and principal songwriter for the legendary Boston band O Positive is at The Burren.

September 16, 2022 (Friday) The Loud Neighbors, Paper Tigers, Salem Wolves, Holy Hands at Dusk Provi RI

September 17, 2022 (Saturday) Kids Like Me & You (KLYAM) Spring & Summer Program at Lincoln Park Somerville (near Union Square) more info to come.

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.

September 23, 2022 (Friday) Soulside, Verbal Assault, Bedmaker, Wrong War at Once at The Armory - 6PM!! . Tix and info

September 24, 2022 (Saturday) The Superfonics have reunion gig at the Midway with Classic Ruins and Shiny Beasts

September 24, 2022 (Saturday) Supersuckers, White Dynomite at The Middle East Up.

September 25, 2022 (Sunday) Come is doing their first home town show in NINE years at the Middle East Up with Home Despot.

September 29, 2022 (Thursday) Early Exit, Paper Tigers, Long Autumn, Robotic Hawks - Middle east Up.

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

October 7, 2022 (Friday) Joan Jett Birthday show with Anrea Gillis & Friends and Sue Minichiello & friends doing EVERYTHING Joan Jett. At Sally O'Brien's

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

October 11, 2022 (Tuesday) Agent Orange, Midnight Creeps 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.

October 20, 2022 (Thursday) June of 44, The Thalia Zedek Band at The Middle East Down

October 21, 2022 (Friday) Key of Caustic at The Square Root.

October 23, 2022 (Sunday) Dead Boys with The Briefs and Suzi Moon at The Vault in New Bedford. FB page.

October 28, 2022 (Friday) FEAR performing The Record in its entirety at The Middle East Down - FB page.

November 5, 2022 (Saturday) The Mahones, The Pourmen, The Gobshites at Askew in Provi.

November 20, 2022 (Sunday) Hardcore Stadium presents - The Trouble at the Middle East Down (alas this show is sold out)

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.