|
The BGN News Archive
Actor/Observer was at Great Scott’s and it turned out to be a whole Emo night. The bill filled the club It was presented by Emo Night Boston who usually has shows at the Sinclair.
We saw four songs by no hope/no harm (maybe it was ‘name/name’
night too). They had a hard attack for the most part as they put the emo into
the lyrics. The music/lyric combo was moody and we caught the mood. They were
effective and had a big sound for just three instruments.
The payoff for the night was Actor/Observer. Even knowing what to expect we got impressed all over again. They hit so hard and so fast you have to get yourself in gear to take it in. The video below is A/O their first song. You can see the intensity there. One thing that pervades the whole set is the way the group is
focused 100% of the time and are coordinated with each other.
You always feel the group sound. It was illustrated by those sledgehammer
slams that the whole group hits in unity. As that slam hits, the
vocals are spilling out the heart rendering lyrics. Their songs
go through changes of volume and textures which keeps them interesting.
For one song Greg told the crowd to turn off their phones and be in the moment. We stopped taking photos too. That was a good idea. There’s more of that thinking around. Some places now take your phone as you go in. After the set we felt like we had gone through an emotional wringer. We love these guys.
Saturday was the next tot he last day of the Midway's Dirty Thirty
celebration. To our eyes they've never have been more vital. They have
the momentum for many years to come.
We just saw the end of Gene Dante & The Future Starlets who was doing our favorite song of his called A Madness to His Method where the lyrics are, “I’m gorgeous and free of disease” . Gene was all glammed up. Their latest song Girl on A Unicycle was used (until 7/29 but still worth downloading!!) as a fund raiser for Rosie’s Place, a long running and worthy charity. Check out the video here.
Watts have their attack down to a science.
It’s no fail rawk and roll. They have their live favorites
from their catalog. Up All Night, A Flash of White Light,
Sidewinder, She Wants to Rock and She’s So Electric.
The elements are so simple it’s hard to believe the effect.
They may not be playing complicated but they do everything pitch
perfect between the guitar tones, the vocals and the group interplay.
John Lynch on drums does the two/four beat unrelentingly
with minimal fills. With the guitars ringing out front that does
the job. And all four bandmembers sing. Bassist Tim McCoy
may only sing once but he has the closer Strut Like a Champ.
One earlier song favorite was The Mess Is The Makeup
which captured a bit of a relationship failing feeling.
Muck and the Mires – just the name should tell you the story. It was a rushed set of fun and catchy songs that take your breath away. I think everyone in the crowd had seen Muck several times. I heard a few people say they thought this was one of their best sets. Well, we don’t know, they are all pretty much of this quality. We were struck by Linda’s drumming again
especially after Lynch’s bare bones playing, she was a continuous
flurry of fills, flams and rolls. That poor drum set is getting
the crap beat out of it. It was an illustration on how different
styles work. Linda does her trick of starting the next song before
the current song is over. It’s all part of how the group
makes you feel like you’re on a roller coaster ride and
there is no way off till the end. They did one cover Lies
by the Knickerbockers. The they ended with Doreen. That
was the first song we heard by them got us hooked. Now they have
sets of songs all that good and better.
The last set was saved for the Real Kids. They started this
latest phase of their career at the Midway with the summer residency at this
club a few years ago. There’s a lot going on in the Real Kids camp now.
There are projects in the pipeline that will mean a presence for the Real Kids
in this year and the next. The new album is one. Not to forget our John
Felice interview.
Congrats to the Midway again. We end up there
a lot these days. It’s always been comfortable and welcoming.
We love the staff, they have zero attitude and that’s always
been true. In fact we're going there today (Sunday) for the afternoon
show with the Nervous Eaters- the last show of
the Dirty Thirty celebration, more about that next week. Friday night Arthur Freedman was at PA's in Somerville and saw Girl of Top. Photos below.
And in other news ....
The Chet's Last Call doc is moving forward- go here to check out the trailer and maybe part with a few bucks to help it move along and come to fruition... The September issue of Bass Player Magazine has the cover story on Peter Hook. The interview has some interesting details on how he got his sound. The magazine also has an article on jazz bassist Steve Swallow whose latest album will have Iggy Pop singing on a three tracks. Steve says about Iggy’s singing: “I think he was grappling with the idiom and in the end he turned that to his advantage. You hear him coming to terms with something he hasn’t encountered before and successfully wrestling it to the ground. “ And again a huge Thank You Thank you THANK YOU!!! and HAPPY Dirty 30 Celebration to The Midway Cafe!! Here's a great article on the club from WBUR: Read it here. Here's some good shows coming up .....
August 5 (Saturday) The Silver Mirrors, Instant Shawarma, The Facc-Tones and The Sound Down Cellar at The Midway August 5 (Saturday) The Knockups, The Caught Flies, Black Hatch and the Labor Pains are at The Chit Chat Club in Haverhill August 5 (Saturday) Rancid and The Dropkick Murphys are at the Brockton Fair! 4:30-9Pm check out the FB page August 6 (Sunday) Loser's Circle's Record Release Show! they are back from their US tour and celebrating their new release on CD and vinyl! at The Midway FB page August 6 (Sunday) World/Inferno Friendship Society with Diablogato and Stars Like Ours at The Middle East August 8 (Tuesday) Weakened Friends are at O'Brien's
August 11 (Friday) The Way Ways (EP Release), Today Junior, Andy Sadoway at Great Scott August 11 (Friday) Michael Kane and the Morning Afters, Scotchka, Kreisau Circle, Kato Kaelin at O'Brien's August 12 (Saturday) They're on the road again - OC45 Summer Tour Kickoff! feat. El Escapado, In The Meantime at the Middle East Up for an early-ish show 6:30 PM - 11:55 PM August 12 (Saturday) The Modern Voice, Black Helicopter, Wrought Iron Hex, Scuzzy Yeti at The Midway August 13 (Sunday) Pinkerton Thugs all ages punk show at The Middle East = also on the bill The Warning Shots and Duck and Cover. This is a daytime show- 1-6PM Check the FB page for more info as it is posted. August 13 (Sunday) - This is Bob Colby's 65th Birthday Extravaganza - it is also he LAST show in Boston!! Thalia Zedek, Viva Gina, DYR FASER, The Land of Enchantment, Kingdom of Love, Cold Expectations, Carissa Johnson (solo acoustic), The Very, Randy Black and the Heathcroppers and The Wrong Shapes. At Once in Somerville and the show runs 3PM until Midnite! FB page And further out.... August 14 (Monday) The Silver Mirrors, Spo, Scotty & The Gang at Great Scott August 15 (Tuesday) No Time, Concrete Elite (tx), Savageheads, Cinderblock and Piss Dogs at Ralph's in Worcester.
August 19 (Saturday) Ocelot Records Presents: The Tenafly Vipers, Bucky Harris, A Minor Revolution, The `88 Rangers at O'Brien's August 22 (Tuesday) OI!! - Rixe (France), The Brass, Bombers, Security and The Stance at The Middle East Up August 24 (Thursday) The Surfrajettes, Tsunami of Sound and The Beachcombovers are at Regent Theater in Arlington (FB page) August 25 (Friday) Eyehategod and The Cro-Mags at The Middle East Up (FB page) August 25 (Friday) When Particles Collide and Petty Morals at Fury's Publick House in Dover NH August 27 (Sunday) Stop Calling Me Frank, State of The Union, The New Frustrations, The Only Things at The Midway - afternoon show 4-8PM
September 7 (Thursday) Teenage Bottlerocket, OC45 and MakeWar at The Middle East September 7 (Thursday) Thrust Club, Burnt VIllage, Psychic Dog and Cook Bag at O'Brien's September 8 (Friday) The Nervous Eaters and Glider , State of the Union and Casanovas in Heat at Out of the Blue Gallery Central Sq. here's the FB page to get updates. September 9 (Saturday) The Stigmatics are on A Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO 91.5 from 1-4PM September 9 (Saturday) The Gala, Future Carnivores, Stars Like Ours and Courters at O'Brien's September 10 (Sunday) A Giant Dog, The Dazies, Boston Cream at O'Brien's September 10 (Sunday) GBH and The Casualties at The Brighton Music Hall September 11 (Monday) Roky Erickson at the Brighton Music Hall. WOW!! Get yer tix here. September 16 (Saturday) Boston vs Tokyo Rock n Roll Showdown with Muck And The Mires, The Fadeaways (from Japan), Mellvins (from Japan), Jittery Jack at O'Brien's Pub
September 18 (Monday) Duck & Cover and the Quiggs are at Once with a fake version of The Dead Boys...no Stiv no Jimmy Zero -how can you call that the Dead Boys?? sad. September 20 (Wednesday) X doing their 40th Anniversary Tour- at the Brighton Music Hall September 22 (Friday) The Ataris and The Queers at The Middle East - this is an early show- 6PM -10Pm September 28 (Thursday) Stiff Little Fingers are doing their 40th Anniversary tour they have Death by Unga Bunga opening for them - at the Brighton Music Hall September 29 (Friday) Il Mostro, Silver Screams, BDSX and The Von Traps October 8 (Sunday) Petty Morals are having a Ballroom Blitz at Once Ballroom with a Flea Market and Art Show -also on the bill Muck & The Mires, The Dazies and Lady Pill (set times and more are on the FB page) It's 2PM- 8PM November 4 (Saturday) Human Sexual Response at HOB November 9 (Thursday) The Proletariat at ONCE Ballroom w/ Siege and Black Beach November 10 (Friday) The Proletariat are at Narrows Center for the Arts w/ Black Beach in Fall River, MA (FB page for info) 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.
|
Rick Paige proprietor of the awesome
The latest issue of Rutgers, the magazine for Rutgers’
alumni has a look at graduate Lenny Kaye. They
say in college he was in a group called Zoo and
had a single Crazy Like a Fox issued under the name Link
Cromwell. He talks about the early days with Patti Smith. 
August 5 (Saturday) Coffin Lids, Downbeat
5, Other Girls, Bunch of Jerks at Sally O'Brien's
August 8 (Tuesday) Poptone...which
is Daniel Ash and Kevin Haskins from Bauhaus, Tones on Tail
and Love and Rockets are at The Paradise
August 16 (Wednesday) Salem Wolves,
North by North and Day Grazer at O Brien's
August 27 (Sunday) Brian Young's A.C.C.F.T.R.
featuring Casanovas in Heat! 91.5 WMFO 1-4PM
September 16 (Saturday) Chameleons VOX
At the Middle East Also on the bill: Soft Kill , Way Out and The Milling
Gowns 
FACEBOOK
links | contact us