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The BGN News Archive
We learned that Mike Bastarache or Mr. B. passed away in July, but we are unsure of the date. Mr. B had been on the scene since near the beginning. He was editor and writer of Boston Rock magazine and producer of the Modern Method label. He was involved in the majority of the early Boston Hardcore acts. He was there with Unsafe At Any Speed and This is Boston Not LA album. A photo of him is actually on the label of Unsafe at Any Speed. We have a photo of that below. Mr. B liked groups that were DIY and bursting with creativity. He and his wife Chris never stopped going out to shows. He was most often at ground zero for new groups, which was house shows. We saw him at shows at O’Brien’s or Great Scott’s if one of his favorite groups like Nice Guys was playing. Mr. B was very faithful to a group he liked and would follow their career as long as they held to their principals. We saw him at shows for Unnatural Axe ( 2019 ) and Proletariat (2018 ).
Mike came from Detroit and we loved it when he talked about seeing Iggy and the MC5 back in the day. When he talked about rock and roll he knew his stuff. That’s why his early hardcore work was invaluable for Boston; it was informed with a profound knowledge of what rock was and he understood what was going on with hardcore while others were mystified and unable to come to grips with it. He was the right person at the right time. Boston Hardcore owes him a lot.
Al Quint dedicated a set of songs that Mr. B produced on his Sonic Overload show. The groups were Gang Green, Jerry’s Kids, SS Decontrol, DYS, Native Tongue and the Outlets. To see his list of albums Mr. B was involved with check his Discogs page. Joanie Lindstrom also dedicated a set to Mr. B on her Late Risers Club show last Thursday. Sarah played Proletariat in remembrance on Gorilla Got Me on Friday. Those two shows can be found on the WMBR Archive page. RIP Mr. B. You will be missed by many!! Once has the Indie Rock Flea Market with a line up of bands at Boynton Yards on Saturday, August 14 starting at Noon. There are a ton of bands playing (Saturnids, Dutch Tulips, Home Despot , Senseless Optimism , Kind Being, Magic Finger, Lonely Leesa & The Lost Cowboys, Phantom Ocean, Clifford, Marblemouth, Baylies, DJ PANDA) along with local vendors and food available there. Tickets here We were wondering what would happen to things like the Back Porch Carousel that were created during the pandemic, once the pandemic lifted. Now we know; they go live. The whole Back Porch Carousel retinue are doing a live free concert in Allston at the Herter Park Amphitheater at 1175 Soldier’s Field Road on August 14th at 7:30PM. The line-up is Linda Viens, Randy Black, Adam Sherman, Eric Martin, Larry Dersch, Sarah Levecque, Peter Zarkadas, Lauren Parks and Matt Gruenberg. Back Porch Carousel on Facebook (also in our Gig listings below)
The press gets some press!! Slimedog of Thrash’n Bang received some attention himself in a Connecticut rock blog called Connecticut Garage Punk. Slimedog informs the site that he and Andy not only do Trash’n Bang but also “…perform live puppet shows for the afflicted”. Forget Mother Teresa these are the true humanitarians. This is a must read for those who want to know how Slimedog maintains his “youthful, beautiful appearance”. Read it here We’re in a transition phase now where the pressure is off doing live streams because live shows are starting up. This week Linnea’s Garden got in a live stream from The Skirts. It was a true basement show. The sound was muffled but even then you could hear that the songs were interesting. Here.
Even the Pixies only got one group covering one of their songs. You can get the album on Collectors Choice website Lee Harington and Lynda Mandolyn received some coverage from the Portland Press Herald. The short piece had the embed video of “Real Love”. Read it here. VIDEOS......
The raw punk/indie sound connects immediately with us and we are getting familiar with the way singer Nilagia’s voice threads itself through the song giving emphasis to certain words as she goes along. Video is above. This week on Tuesday’s Rising show with Skybar (WMFO 8pm https://www.wmfo.org/ ) he will play all of Drift, the new Jacklights EP PODCASTS..... If Steev Ricardo is anything he’s consistent. His podcast has been very dependable during the covid shutdown. This week Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico has Craig Adams and Rick Jones from Lovely. The group has former members of the Dents, Strangehold, Mung and Jerry’s Kids. There’s a lot of expectations for this new group. They are very much all business. They know the process and just go about it. The lack of ego and unnecessary distractions is refreshing. They don’t have a record label yet! Craig Adams revealed he had Covid and a bad case at that. Rick Jones talked about some early unreleased Jerry’s Kids material that will come out some day.
CDs......
We reviewed Rum Bar’s “Get Up” by Canadian Adam Brown when it was a leading single release in front of the album. Now we have the whole album and have enjoyed its joyful pop exuberance. You can play 'spot the influence' if you want. We heard some “Solsbury Hill” by Gabrial in “I Will Let You Run” and some Dwight Twilly in the chorus of “It’s Emotion!”. There’s a lightness of spirit and a joyfulness in the whole project that we love. There are twists and turns in the arrangements that keeps your attention. Below we link the song “It’s Emotion” which is a representative cut. We love the way he milks the word ‘emotion’ for about twelve seconds at the 59 second mark.
Red on Red went into the past and released Quest for Tuna’s 1989 song “She Can’t Surf, But She Sure Can Bowl”. The song is less about surfing and bowling and more about Jay Allen. It’s his gift for writing catchy punk with oddball lyrics that makes this a neat nugget. We know more about Jay now than we did when he was in this group, maybe it’s time for QFT whole catalog to be reissued!!
Dan Kopko has been mining the rock and roll past for inspiration these last few years He continues that with Peppermint Kicks, his collaboration with Sal Baglio of the Stompers, on Rum Bar records. “When Rock & Roll Met Your Dad” has a pitch perfect pining for the past right to the “She Loves You” “yeah, yeah, yeahs” that are inserted in the tune. “Hey Fanzine” goes back to the Creem and Hit Parader era. "Shag ‘72” saves you the effort of guessing the year it goes back to. “Johnny D’s” refers to the closing of that club. When you have two song writers like Kopko and Baglio you can be sure none of these songs misfire. We like “The Morning Girls” which is about groupies (!!) it seems to us. The tight rhythm playing in the intro sucks you in immediately. The song has a nice feeling to it that creates its own world. That’s what they do to most of the songs on this album.
We weren’t ready for Geoff Palmer’s album Charts & Graphs because we are still stuck on the song “This Monkey” which has some quality that just will not loosen it’s strangle hold on our ears. But the first song on this new album is “Many More Drugs” another pre-release that was a fave. Geoff’s specialty is a pop song devoid of affectations that glides on a soft groove, it all seems so easy and we know it isn’t. Primary examples are songs like “Tomorrow” and “Charts & Graphs” Like The Connection which he is part of, Geoff has a country rock side. Here he twangs it up with “Jammed Up” and “What Would Paul Westerberg Do”. We’ve seen Geoff at shows when there is some artist of special interest like the Danny Laj show at O’Brien’s. Geoff is always listening. To get the benefits of that go to his Spotify listening page to hear new rock/pop in the vein of his material. Palmer Spotify list
The Saplings have an album of material that was mostly done during the pandemic called The Apocalypse Musical. It will be fully available on August 1. They have one song posted on Bandcamp now. It’s titled “Antisemantic”. It has a familiar post punk sound from decades ago. When the singer repeats “I’m tired, I’m tired” they sound very much like Niagara of Destroy All Monsters intoning “I’m bored”. Here is Destroy All Monsters Remember The Sapling gave us a Covid theme song with “Everything was Better”.
Here's some good shows coming up .....
July 29 (Thursday) Big Sigh, Them Airs, Nazca Plate, Dead Trains at O’Brien’s July 30 (Friday) The Brattle Theater is showing The Sound of Metal at 6PM. Brattle Theater July 30 (Friday) Muck and the Mires, The Hi-End, Modern Day Idols - the First rock and roll show BACK at The Square Root Roslindale!!! July 30 (Friday) Motel Black, Gene Dante & TFS, M8, The Jacklights are at Ralph's Rock Diner July 30 (Friday) Murphy's Law, Reason To Fight, Sick Minds, Working Poor USA at Alchemy in Providence RI. July 31 (Saturday) The Brattle Theater is showing The Sound of Metal at 6PM. Brattle Theater July 31 (Saturday) Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys (Matinee) 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm - ONCE Somerville @ Boynton Yards.
July 31 (Saturday) Mad Painter, Broken Vanity, Melt at The Jungle July 31 (Saturday) The Savtones Return with special guest Marco Giovinno on Drums at The Porch in Medford. FB page August 1 (Sunday) State of the Union, Runaway After Dark, The Modern Faces, Salted Herrings - matinee show 3-7 at The Midway August 1 (Sunday) Cadderwall and Toluca Lake at O'Brien's August 3 (Tuesday) KCUF, Loser's Circle, Taken By Vultures, Blame It On Whitman at the Midway August 5 (Thursday) No Small Children, Thrust Club, Bad Larrys, Tiffy - ONCE Somerville @ Boynton Yards - a 6PM show. FB page
August 6 (Friday) End of Summer All ages hardcore show with The Woods, Witchita Hangman, Half Mast, Mont Clair, Rocket Gods and Loser Birds,at the VFW post at 95 Essex St. Whitman, Ma - 6PM. FB page. August 7 (Saturday) Nice Guys, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Boston Cream, Rick Rude at Once @ Boynton Yards a 6:30PM show. August 7 (Saturday) The Worst (featuring Dana Colley), Swivel at O'Brien's August 11 (Wednesday) BE FINE! featuring Sapling, John Powhida, Spotted Tiger, Yoni Gordon at Once @ Boynton Yards August 13 (Friday) Liz Borden (w/Stormtress), Gene Dante & The Future Starlets, Little Billy Lost at Once at Boynton Yards. 6PM Doors, Music at 7PM Tix etc here. August 14 (Saturday) The Indie Rock Flea Market at Once @ Boynton Yards starting at Noon. Tix are $15 in advance $20 day of. TONS of bands along with local vebdors and food. More info & tix here.
August 14 (Saturday) The Winter Project, A Bunch of Jerks, HIXX, Screwcart at The Jungle, 7:30 doors FB page August 14 (Saturday) Paper Tigers, Luxury Deathtrap, Little Fuss, Papercage at O'Brien's August 14 (Saturday) an evening
with legendary rocker Robin Lane in support of her
nonprofit Songbird Sings, which helps trauma survivors
heal through songwriting and music. Performers include: Kid
Gulliver, Justine and The Unclean, Nightspell, August 14 (Saturday) The Backporch Carousel 7:30 PM at Herter Park Amphitheater, Allston - with Linda Viens, Randy Black, Adam Sherman, Eric Martin, Larry Dersch, Sarah Levecque, Peter Zarkadas, Lauren Parks and Matt Gruenberg. More info etc here. August 14 (Saturday) Sidewalk Driver, Freezepop, Worshipper at the Sinclair FB page August 14 (Saturday) The Mal Thursday Quintet with special guests Tiger Bomb at Sun Tiki Studios Portland, ME FB page. August 18 (Wednesday) Possum and Martin. Morrell, Fredette, The Chelsea Curve and Tsunami of Sound at The Midway -a matinee show 3-7PM August 19 (Thursday) Tsunami of Sound, State of the Union, Disco Volante, Tsunami of Sound, The Only Thing sat The Jungle.
August 21 (Saturday) The Concerns, Crow Follow, The Skirts, Connor Storms - Matinee show 3-7PM at The Midway August 21 (Saturday) Mad Painter, Penny Outlaw, Shotgun Waltz, Glowbox at The Midway FB page August 22 (Sunday) DNZL, Urban Waste, Controlled Substance, Grip Bite doing a matinee show at The Midway 3-7PM FB page August 27 (Friday) Future Teens, Kitner, Color Killer at Once @ Boynton Yards 7PM music. $15 advance / $18 day of show August 28 (Saturday) Magen Tracy & The Missed Connections, Lonely Leesa, Happy Little Clouds at Once @ Boynton Yards 1-4PM! August 28 (Saturday) Ray's Occult, Coffin Salesman, CE Skidmore & the Damn Fine Band, Jeff Bousquet at The Midway (night show) September 2 (Thursday) Public Serpents, Threat Level Burgundy, Loser's Circle at O'Brien's September 3 (Friday) Rebuilder, Choke Up and Old Soul at the Sinclair - Tickets September 3 (Friday) The Zulus rescheduled show at The Paradise - doors 8PM, music 9PM. FB event page September 4 (Saturday) Actor|Observer, Girih, Dreamwell at O'Brien's September 10 (Friday) The DollyRots at the Middle East Up. September 11 (Saturday) Rock and Roll Yard Sale, Union Square, Somerville September 11 (Saturday) Lovelorn, Biproduct, Betties, DJ set by Octalisk at O'Brien's
September 11 (Saturday) Guided by Voices at the Sinclair. Tickets. September 12 (Sunday) Mark your
calendars! Frank Rowe's 70th Birthday Party featuring
Classic Ruins, Unnatural Axe, and friends (more info
soon) - at the Midway September 17 (Friday) The Dents, Duck and Cover, Fullmoon Vagrants, Deprogrammer Cult at The Jungle FB page September 18 (Saturday) Martin, Morell, Fredette are having a residency at The Midway. These are early shows - 3-7PM September 18 (Saturday) Rockin Bob Punk Band and Scotty Saints and the True Believers at Ralph's Diner 8PM September 19 (Sunday) It's the return of Tubefest -New England Surf/Instro Showcase! Lots of surf and instrumental bands for your enjoyment! Tubefest Facebook page. This will be a matinee show - 3 to 7:30pm at the Midway. Groups are Tsunami of Sound, The Weisstronauts, Max Heaton and the Electric Heaters, The Malfunctions and the Tarantinos (good name) from NYC.
September 30 (Thursday) Nervous Eaters/Barrence Whitfield/Willie Loco and the Boom Boom Band/Carissa Johnson at the Paradise . Get Tickets Here! October 2 (Saturday) Oh the Humanity! record release show at O'Brien's October 4 (Monday) Gary Neuman at the Paradise Tickets October 14 (Thursday) Ministry at the House of Blues. Tickets October 18 (Sunday) Martin, Morell, Fredette are having a residency at The Midway - 3-7PM October 22 & 23 (Friday & Saturday) The Town & The City Festival, Lowell. Music by: Tanya Donelly & The Parkington Sisters, Robyn Hitchcock, Screaming Females, Jon Langford & Friends, Will Dailey, Damn Tall Buildings, Evolfo, Hilken Mancini & Chris Colbourn, Alisa Amador, The Chelsea Curve, The Daylilies, The Shirts and Shoes, Daisybones, blindspot, Divine Sweater, The Q-Tip Bandits, The Only Things, oldsoul, and Brian Porter Hinkley. Website for tix & info ... FB Event page. October 24 (Sunday) Nervous Dater, Good Looking Friends, Tatoonie Punk Scene at O’Brien’s in Allston October 31 (Sunday) Dropkick Murphys At Hogan's Run again 7-11PM...best Tessie costume wins a free drinks bracelet for the night. FB page.
November 19 (Friday) Hardcore Stadium and Grayskull Booking Presents: Slapshot - Celebrating 35 Years of Hardcore Day 1- Stars & Stripes, Noi!se, COA, Patriot, Violent Way at Sonia - (already sold out!!) November 19 (Friday) Joan Jet & the Blackhearts will be at the Chevalier Theatre in Medford Square. Tickets. November 20 (Saturday) Hardcore Stadium and Grayskull Booking Presents: Slapshot - Celebrating 35 Years of Hardcore Day 2 -Slapshot, Sheer Terror, Death Before Dishonor, Pummel, Count Time - at The Middle East Down. (already sold out!!) November 27 (Saturday) Dinosaur Jr. at the House of Blues on Saturday Nov 27. Tix March 13, 2022 (Tuesday) Reigning Sound at the Sinclair Tickets: https://www.axs.com/events/402182/reigning-sound-tickets 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.
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Those of us that have been around 40 to 45 years now on the scene have
a certain comradery born from common experience. We’ve lost one
of our own with Mr. B. 
Surf instrumental fans missed the local surf show called Tubefest
last year, but it will be on this year. Sunday September 19, from 3
To 7:30pm at the Midway. Groups are Tsunami of Sound, The Weisstronauts,
Max Heaton and the Electric Heaters, The Malfunctions and the
Tarantinos (good name) from NYC. (also in our Gig listings
below) 
The 4AD record label had their 40th anniversary in
2020. This year the've released Bills and Aches and Blues
an album with their current artists covering the label’s past
catalog. The interesting thing here for us locals is that The
Breeders are covered three times - 'Cannonball' by Tune-Yards,
'Mountain Battles' by Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and 'Off You' by Big
Thief. Then the Breeders themselves cover a song by a group called His
Name is Alive.
July 26 (Monday) Disco
Volante, Grasshopper Green, Speedfossil, Will DePiano at The
Jungle 7PM 
July 31 (Saturday) Walter
Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys - 6:30 pm - 11:59 - ONCE
Somerville @ Boynton Yards.
August 6 (Friday) The Furniture,
Today Junior, Children of the Flaming Wheel + special guests
Garden Party at O'Brien's
August 14 (Saturday) Double
Star Ep Release Show w/ Service, BAABES, Bad Sandy
at The Midway 
August 20 (Friday) Bonecrusher,
The Welch Boys, Riotgun at The Midway - doors are at 10PM.
August 29 (Sunday) Johnnie
G & The Royalty, Camelopard, The Stigmatics, Vanishing Point at
The Midway MATINEE show.
We see that Tsunami of Sound has a poster for a show at Geno’s
Rock Club in Portland Me for September 24. We checked Geno’s Facebook
page https://www.facebook.com/genosportland/ and there’s no info
about the exact date of them starting up, but it must be coming.
September 24, 25 and 26 The
New England Shake Up is back. The rockabilly festival will
happen this year in Framingham. The line-up of bands is way long. They
also have a picnic record party 11AM-4PM on Saturday the 25th with
Barrence Whitfield spinning vinyl. Get 
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