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The BGN News Archive
In May of 2014 we went to the 4th Annual Hardcore Cotillion at the Presidents Rock Club in Quincy. That was a wild affair with Kilslug and Jerry’s Kids. Soon after that club became Kelly’s Cellar and no more rock was to be had. Last Friday there was a reunion and wake of sorts for the Presidents Rock Club. The building it was in is being razed to make way for a parking garage in the overall rehab of Quincy Sq. Proving that, it was hard to get a parking space. The club had a comfortable set up - bar in the middle, seats and tables around it, and a stage at the far end.
On stage was Doug MacDonald Band who John Keegan had seen. It was just a duo. The drums were intense and all the backup he needed to play his rockabilly influenced songs. One song that stuck out was a list of aging troubles that he refuses to let stop him from rocking out. It's called "Give Me My Guitar, Lets Rock This Place". It went like: "My blood sugar is low. I fell asleep on the bus. Give me my guitar let's rock this place." LOL!! Another favorite was “Jacks Joke Shop” which sounds pretty good on their CD too. They also have a song called “Jason’s Record Store” which was located just a block away from the club. This is a truly local band.
The next band, Black Beach, said that they had played there before. The setup at the club was bare boned. The PA was simple. We just had seen Black Beach two weeks ago and they had the echo turned up to the max like usual. This night the echo on the guitar was not excessive and seemed to be absent on the vocals. That set up revealed that they were not covering up any flaws with the echo, just the opposite. The bare sound revealed more subtleties. As an example there was a point in one of the songs where the guitar plays
some muted notes alternating with clear ringing notes that are played with variation.
That sequence would have been buried or dulled with the echo. Also the vocals
were more immediate and raw. The drummer and the bassist had the same benefits.
As a whole they came across as more garage and less psych-like. We’ve
seen them quite a few times and this was one with a twist.
The last band was Certain Rare Birds and they were intense hardcore/metal with screaming vocals. There was no compromise from this band. The audience was right with them. It seemed that most were there to see them. They like their music hard in Quincy. The set was satisfyingly cathartic in the way that only this sort of music can deliver. It’s hard getting any consistent punk on the South Shore. The C Note has been having the occasional show. People came out for this President’s Club reunion and when there are shows in Brockton people are there, so there's an audience of some size that deserves a club dedicated to punk, or, at least a once-a-week punk night.
J.J. Gonson has been on the scene, and documenting it, for a long time. ‘Visages de Punk’ at CambridgeSeven near Harvard Square is the second in a series of three shows of JJ's photos from the 80’s and 90s. She had the show ‘Slam Dance’ in Framingham recently. But this show is about portraits. Getting intimate with the scensters and band members, being ‘one of them’ as JJ was there in the midst of it all with her film camera getting the pics.
She was able to get faces and memories frozen in time. In this show there are band photos: Slaughter Shack, Seka and lots of other local Boston bands from that time. But there are also thoughtful close ups of single scenesters; Tory, Katie the Cleaning Lady, Billy Ruane (of course) Sam McAfee and a host of others. These tender photos make you stop and take a minute to wonder about each individual and what was going on at that moment. They feel like real life, caught quickly. But in fact JJ explained she used a manual film camera (what we had in those days!) and it actually took her a while to get the light and the focus right. An interesting point is that JJ didn't just choose the photos herself. She "crowd sourced them." She chose from sheets and sheets of negatives, whittled that down a bit then sent the images to 20 people to help her chose which ones should be in the show.
What was really great to see was several of the people in the photos were there for the opening some 20/30 years later! A testament to the feeling of ‘family’ the Boston scene has created. And of course there were a LOT of familiar faces in the crowd, there to show support: Carl Biancucci, Bret Milano, Joanie Lindstrom, Nicole Tamaro, Adam Sherman, Katie the Cleaning Lady, Larry Kelly to name a few. The show is up until October 19 at The Paul Dietrich Gallery @ CambridgeSeven, 1050 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA
Last Saturday the improbable happened when The Monsieurs opened for the Foo Fighters at Fenway Park. Mark Davis was doing sound for them and was able to get some backstage photos. He was also able to get a few shots from his perch on the sound board. Click the photo below for all the pics.  More band photos below the show listingsAnd in other news .... Congrats go to Michael Kane & The Morning Afters for getting on the huge Worcester Palladium show headed by the The Mighty Mighty Bosstones called the Cranking and Skanking Fest on August 25. And from 1987 here's a video of Ian McLellan reciting Shakespeare with The Fleshtones on Andy Warhol's show By the end of July the shows at Once will come to a close. They start up again by the end of October according to their current calendar on line. It’s fuzzy what’s going on. Is it some revamp of the club itself? People fear it may not reopen. We’ll see. Reminder: Last but not least RED
INVASION ...remember them?? one of Miss Lyn's favorite bands is
reforming to do two shows!! And they are killer shows too! Here's some good shows coming up this week.....
August 2 (Thursday) Today Junior, LittleFoot, Where's Walden at O'Brien's August 2 (Thursday) Ski Bunny, CLAGG, Thee Fightin' Fish, Friendly Psychic Stranger at Club Boho Cantab August 3 (Friday) Sternman, Deep Space Diving Suit, Get Set Go, Fuzzy Bumble at PA's Lounge Union Sq Somerville. August 3 (Friday) Melt, Bordens and the Billy Connors Project at Sally O'Brien's in Union Sq Somerville. August 3 (Friday) Carissa Johnson & The Cure-Alls, The Life Electric, Psychic Dog, The Appleyards at The Middle East Up August 3 (Friday) Bim Skala Bim, The Dogmatics & the World premiere of the film Chet's Last Call at Grumpy's Pub in Falmouth, MA FB page for more info August 3 (Friday) Blondie are playing out at Mass MOCA also on the bill And The Kids Mass MOCA page WOW!!
August 4 (Saturday) Nervous Eaters, Jeremy and The Harlequins, Justine and The Unclean at The Middle East Up- early evening show- doors at 6:30 August 4 (Saturday) Muck and the Mires, Tiger Bomb, The Gala at Sally O'Brien's August 4 (Saturday) Gene Dante & The Future Starlets at O'Brien's August 4 (Saturday) DJ Easy Ed presents The Fathoms, Trabants, The Fearless Leaders at The Midway August 4 (Saturday) Descendents w/ A Wilhelm Scream & Pavers at State Theatre, Portland, Maine FB page August 5 (Sunday) at the Midway Richie Parsons
presents a Sunday afternoon acoustic duo show! Featuring Martin-Morell
(Eric Martin of The Neats and Steve Morell of The Del Fuegos) And further out we have... August 8 (Wednesday) The Blasters come back to ONCE -NOTE!!! this show has been moved and reskedged to Brightom Music Hall - Sunday August 26!!! FB page for info
August 11 (Saturday) Tigerman WOAH!, Threat Level Burgundy, The Screw-ups do a matinee show at the Midway 4-8PM August 11 (Saturday) Billy Squire presents: A Night On The Delta featuring Andy California, Billy Squire, Detroit Rebellion, Hambone Skinny, and Red House at The Midway August 11 (Saturday) MATB, The Lost Riots, The Prozacs, Wretched Hive at The Hotel Vernon in Worcester. August 13 (Monday) Agent Orange, Fea, and more at Ralph's Diner in Worcester FB page August 15 (Wednesday) Agent Orange are at the Brighton Music Hall TIX! Silver Screams will be opening up for them. TIX here.
August 16 (Thursday) Feed the Punks with Sweet Brian at Jeannie Johnston Pub in JP. No free food but PUNK music spun by the DJ and a set by Video Filth August 16 (Thursday) Agent Orange w/ FEA, MOTO and Zero Holds at Alchemy in Provi, RI August 16 (Thursday) Michael Kane & The MAs, Reverand Dan, Volstead Act, Jonee Earthquake at the 13th Floor Music Lounge -JJs Tavern Florence, MA August 17 (Friday) Yooth Decay, Braindeth, Cook Bag, The Knock Ups, Whoopi Sticks at Club Boho Cantab August 17 (Friday) OC45 & Vaulted at the Verb Hotel - MUSIC STARTS at 5:45 PM and its FREE August 17 (Friday) Wreckless Chords presents: Gang Green & The Dogmatics...with...Diablogato, Antibodies, Worm- at the C Note in Hull - start time is 7 PM
August 21 (Tuesday) Mike Oregano, Coffin Salesman, Chandler Cross, KCUF, Gregg Perry at Tavern at the End of the World August 24 (Friday) Actor|Observer (Record Release) w/ Long Time at Great Scott August 24 (Friday) Tarantula Brothers, Black Leather Lagoon (members of The Gala US), The Egos at KOTO Salem FB page August 24 (Friday) Lyres, Glider, Pop Gun, Knock Ups at Koto in Salem August 25 (Saturday) Silver Screams, The Black Cheers, (Rockin Bob) Punk Band, Grand at the Midway for a matinee show 4-8PM August 25 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Hi-End, The Stigmatics, The Legendary Cazbats at Club Boho at The Cantab August 26 (Sunday) Sunday Matinee with Reason To Fight, Abductors, BFC, Pint Killers at the Midway 4-8PM August 28 (Tuesday) In The Whale, Tied To A Bear, Blood Built Empire at O'Brien's Pub August 28 (Tuesday) FAVL (from Italy), Brix N' Mortar, The Martians, Union Boys at Opus in Salem
August 31 (Friday) Battery Bridge, Elle Zee, Corrola DeVille, Screw Cart and Fat Randy at Club Bohemia August 31 (Friday) Petty Morals & When Particles Collide at The Plough August 31 (Friday) MATB, After The Blackout, Time Out Timmy, Color Killer, Cook Bag at Beatnik's in Worcester Banshee, Funeral Cone, Feedbag, Time Out Timmy, Sewer Buddies day show 4PM- at The Midway September 2 (Sunday) Beware the Dangers of Ghost Scorpion!, Le Yikes Surf Club, Little Troublemakers, Black Beach at O'Brien's September 8 (Saturday) Mobina Galore, New Warden, Stray Bullets, Lucky United, MOTO at The Midway - 4-8PM early show
September 8 (Saturday) The Queers on a boat!! doing the Rock On! Concert Cruise FB page for tix etc September 9 (Sunday) The Queers, The Prozacs, CityState, Color Killer, Wretched Hive at the Waterfront Tavern Holyoke MA FB page doors at 7Pm September 9 (Sunday) Punks For Pets 2018 w Special Guest Mobina Galore at The News Cafe Pawtuckeet RI FB page September 11 (Tuesday) Killing Joke on their 40th Anniversary Tour at the Paradise FB page September 12 (Wednesday) Cheetah Chrome's new "Dead Boys", The Ghost Wolves - added to the bill- The Nervous Eaters and the reformed Red Invasion!! at Sonia. This is one of only two shows Red Invasion will be doing. FB page September 13 (Thursday) MC50 presents Kick Out The Jams - The 50th Anniversary Tour - whoa!! This is Wayne Kramer celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the MC5...with special guests!! At the Paradise. FB page September 13 (Thursday) Fall-Fest 5 Day 1: featuring The Avengers! also on the bill - Silver Screams, Boot Rot, City Problems and a bunch more bands. It’s at Alchemy. Music starts at 8PM Here's the FB page September 13 (Thursday) Hudson Falcons, Genuine Rust, Sonic Libido and more TBA at This is an ALL AGES Matinee! at Thirsty First: Tavern & Grill, Lowell. September 14 (Friday) Records Collecting Dust II Film Premiere at Regent Theatre in Arlington: it "focuses on the East Coast cities of Boston, New York and Washington DC, and includes in depth interviews with twenty eight highly influential people from the 1980’s hardcore punk rock music scene." Including- Bob Cenci (jerry's kids) and John Sox (The FU's) as well as Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi, John Joseph of Cro-Mags, Dave Smalley of DYS/Dag Nasty, Amy Pickering of Dischord Records, John Sox of FU's, Walter Schreifels of Gorilla Biscuits/Quicksand, Roger Miret of Agnostic Front and Clif Croce of The Freeze." FB page
September 18 (Tuesday) ALL AGES MATINEE- 1-6PM : Hudson Falcons, Genuine Rust, Sonic Libido, Losers Circle at the Thirsty First Tavern in Lowell. September 21 (Friday) Von Traps, Some Kind of Nightmare, Ray's Occult, Live Nude Girls at Club Boho September 21 (Friday) Thalia Zedek Band album release party with special guests Sleepyhead at The Midway September 22 (Saturday) The Knock Ups, Titans of Industry, Sweetcreem, MIDI Myers at The Midway September 22 (Saturday) The Dogmatics, The Dents, HEAP at Cafe Nine in New Haven CT September 23 (Sunday) The McGunks, Quiggs, Port City Saints, The Martians do a Sunday day show at the Midway 4PM September 23 (Sunday) FEAR Plus Special Guests at the Middle East Down- Tix are $25...but maybe you'll want to shell out $125 for ameet and greet and early entry. Please!! September 28 (Friday) Have Nots, Lenny Lashley's Gang of One, Cuidado, Blood Stained Brindle at The Middle East Up September 28 (Friday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Soraia, Hambone Skinny & The Connection at Sally O'Brien's
October 12 (Friday) Salem Horror Fest After Party with Diablogato, Gray Bouchard and the Dedications and Petty Morals at Opus in Salem October 14 (Sunday) Jagger Holly, MATB, The Prozacs, Mongorellis, Color Killer at Beatnik's in Worcester. October 15 (Monday) Jagger Holly, Mongorellis, The Prozacs, Jimmy Jacked, Color Killer at Opus Salem October 18 (Thursday) The Proletariat, Savageheads, Silver Screams at Sonia October 20 (Saturday) Nervous Eaters, Indonesian Junk, Duck & Cover at the Middle East Up October 20 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Crunchtime, The Jiblantos and The Black Souls at The Midway for a 4PM matinee. October 27 (Saturday) Lyres, GLiDER, the modifierS at The Middle East Up- Early show doors at 6:30PM October 27 (Saturday) The Descendents w/ Teenage Bottlerocket at The Palladium in Worcester FB page for tix etc November 2 (Friday) Roky Erikson at Once. Tix here. November 10 (Saturday) The FUs, GLiDER, Classic Ruins and Screw Cart at Club Boho @ The Cantab. This is show 1 in a series called The Rosebud Rocks...remembering and celebrating our beloved Rosebud in Davis Square that was sold 4 years ago. December 1 (Saturday) the second and final Red Invasion show - with Funeral Cone and Brix N' Mortar and one more TBA. @ The Middle East Upstairs CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.
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Robert Gordon played Cafe Nine in CT recently. Leggs McNeil
from Please Kill Me was there and interviewed
that band- The interview is good and there are also a couple of video
of the show...
August 1 (Wednesday) Coffin Salesman,
The Natty D's, The Lipstick Boys, Circus Trees at Opus Salem
August 3 (Friday) PanzerBastard,
Taxi Driver, Brix’n Mortar and The Downhauls
at Opus in Salem
August 10 (Friday) OC45, El Escapado
(Nashville), Michael Kane & The Morning Afters, 78 Revolutions Per
Minute at the Middle East Up
August 16 (Thursday) Viva Gina,
Thrust Club , Radium Girls, Yes Commander at Sally O'Brien's
August 30th to September 2nd 6th
Annual Rat Beach Party The C-Note on Nantasket Beach! More info to
come later!!
September 8 (Saturday) Richard
Mirsky's CD Release Party at the Midway (night show)
September 16 (Sunday) Black Market
Flea by Boston Hassle & Ignore Rock n Roll Heroes - 
September 28 (Friday) When Particles
Collilde, Dirty Dottys, Bloom at O'Brien's
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