The BGN News Archive

Fireking

Friday had a bill that piled up four groups we've paid attention to; Fireking, The Forz, The Above and The Connection. In my mind the Midway should have been sold out for this but in reality the attendance was small.
    It was a disappointment to find The Connection had dropped off the bill. I didn't know even looking at the usual places online. Eve so that's still three good groups.
   I just can't get enough Fireking since listening to the Double Trouble album. (Reviewed here) They did a great job at Great Scotts a few weeks ago.
    Both live and on recordings Fireking has this THING where it seems like when the song kicks in it has a forward motion that seems inevitable. Live they don't stop between songs so that forward motion becomes an even bigger force. That's all because of the songwriting and then that dream rhythm section. Fez topped Smitt E Smitty sits at a Gretch drum set that looks like a 57 Chevy Bel Air. His drumming is clean and snappy and done with power. His pick up fills are distinctive, you don't get those from most players.

Chevy Bel Air and Smitt E Smitty drums

    He locks in with bassist Drew Morrison and you can see them interact visually during the set both smiling because, one imagines, they hear how it's working. A few times Drew played a melodic figure as Tony was chunking away and your ear went to him for a chorus or verse.
   Tony Kascynski said he was feeling a bit sick but you couldn't tell from listening. My favorite Tony moments are when he kicks his voice up a level. It adds drama to the songs and the timbre of his voice is unique. They played songs from the Double Trouble album but not enough for me. Already the set has songs from the next album. Tony is in a real creative burst.

The Above

    We saw The Above back in March at the Midway. They put in a similar set as last time with their English Invasion style. The songwriting is a key component in their success. The chords come fast and go from minor to major to mimic the English style. There are back-up vocals in almost every song. The guitarist spends a lot of time on a 12-string guitar that adds extra atmosphere.

The Above's Chris Cancelliere

    We were awed anew by the drummer Chris Cancelliere. He plays in a style only Linda Shore can match. It's 60's all the way. He even sits different from most current drummers being slightly hunched over the snare, not unlike Buddy Rich. Smitt E Smitty was at the side taking it all in and seemed to be enjoying it immensely. The guy is a phenom.
   It was all ear candy for me. I wanted to see the Forz but the 2am club close seemed so far off that I called it a night.

In other news:

To add to the list of clubs that are closing - we have The Beachcomber in Quincy!! (after 56 years of live entertainment) Argh!! Well the last punk show there is coming up on August 29th- see listings below for line up. And you'd think with all our clubs closing that Church would step up and have some good gigs instead of disgusting Greatful Dead cover bands. Come on guys!!!

Well I guess we could stay home and watch Jittery Jack's new TV Show which will debut on the web in mid- September! it's called "Havin' a Time With Jittery Jack" and there will be footage from his travels, interviews with rockin' folks from around the globe and previews of all upcoming happenings. Stay tuned for release and episode schedules.

Arthur Freedman presents a very well written statement about his films and his beloved Boston scene at the Harvard Film Archive site Please take a look, its a quick and good read.

Robert Barry Francos writes about having a dream of Johnny Thunders on his Ffanzeen site. Read it here.

Patti Smith has a new book out M Train, which sounds very interesting! She will be reading from the book at the John Hancock Hall in the Back Bay Event Center downstown near Copley Sq. sponsored by the Harvard Bookstore, on Saturday October 10 at 7PM (doors at 6). It's $30 but that includes the book as well! For more info and to buy tix go here. Also.... The cable channel Showtime just bought the rights ot do a TV series of Patti's book Just Kids!! I can't wait for that one! Read more here.

Muck and the Mires tour Japan from Sept 4 to 12!!!

Here are some shows coming up ....

August 17 (Monday) The Pity Whores, Threat Level Burgundy, Stiletto Bomb and Whoopi Sticks are at The Midway

August 20 (Thursday) A Must Go To cool event at Church!!: All The Rest Burlesque is hosting The End Of Summer Blow Out. In addition to the usual crew of miscreants (Roxy Shake, Stabatha La Thrills, Clara Blows, Mikey Shake, and Leather Pixie), ATR will be joined by Special Guests Dale Stones (of Sirlesque) and Brandy Wine (of Rogue Burlesque). In addition Johnny Berosh has lined up a HOT variety show featuring feats of amazement by Miss Adventure (a.k.a. Jenny The Juggler) and The Somerville Strongman, multimedia performance by Solei, comedy by the likes of Niki Luparelli, John Paul Rivera, and Andrew George...And as if that weren't enough, The Evil Streaks will bring their spooky, fuzz 'n' twang garage punk.

August 21 (Friday) The Upper Crust are at Johnny D's.

August 21 (Friday) Performing at the Boston Tattoo Convention, (Boston Back Bay Sheraton Hotel ) in the Beer Garden Diablogato, Iron Chin, OC45 and The Sprained Ankles

August 22 (Saturday) there's an early show (4-8:30) at the Midway with OC45, GANGWAY! and The Weaklings

August 22 (Saturday) Duck and Cover and The Skeleton Beats are at PA's Lounge along with Hobo Chilli and Off Grove.

August 22 (Saturday) Performing at the Boston Tattoo Convention, are Diablogato, The Bluebloods, The Goddamn Draculas and The Beantown Boozehounds

August 22 (Saturday) performing at the Boston Tattoo Convention after party at Kings Boston (50 Dalton St, Boston, MA) are Riki Rocksteady & Dave Wells

August 22 (Saturday) Memphis Rockabilly Band is at the Marshfield Fair. check out the particulars here

August 22 (Saturday) White Pages, Far Corners, TRiPLE THiCK Life Partners and Andy California are at The Midway

August 23 (Sunday) Night Slice is having a party at The Midway 4-8 PM...It's a CD Release, Moving and Birthday party all rolled into one great afternoon! Check the FB event page here.

August 23 (Sunday) Up in Salem at Koto there's The FU's, Grito (from Mexico!!), Wrought-Iron Hex , Red Tape

August 24 (Monday) It's Monday so it must be Opus Underground in Salem! With the Koffin Kats, The Evil Streaks, The Skeleton Beats and OC45

August 27 (Thursday) Jittery Jack is performing at the LIVE Music Thursdays in the Amphitheater at Assembly Row. Starts at 6:30.

August 28 (Friday) you have Thick Shakes, Thalia Zedek Band, Royal Wedding and The Gondoliers at The Midway

August 29 (Saturday) The Ten Foot Polecats are gonna be on A Crash Course for the Ravers with Brian Young and Mike Stewart on WMFO 91.5 - that's 1PM- 4PM.

August 29 (Saturday) The last punk show at the Beachcomber damn it- this is a 4-9 show, bands start at 5PM - on the list are Rockin' Bob Punk Band, The Woods, The Martians, The Union Boys, BarRoom Heroes, The McGunks, The Disquiets, Beantown Boozehounds, The Art Thieves with Jesse Ahern playing a few sets out on the Deck throughout the day and evening. Here's the FB page to stay updated.

August 29 (Saturday) GG Allin's Birthday Celebration with The Jabbers, The Cryptics, jonee earthquake band and the Meat Depressed. It's at the The Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St. Manchester, NH and it is Free FB page here

August 31 (Monday) The Fake Boys, Petty Morals, BDSX, Spectre Hawk and The broken glass kids at Opus Underground Salem.

and of course The New England Shake-Up! September 25,26,27 2015! Keep yourself updated at their FB page

September 3 (Thursday) Wormwood (mem of Doomriders), Mountain God (NY), Conclave (ex Warhorse), and Livver are at O'Briens

September 5 (Saturday) Paul Robinson (of the Boize fame & brother of David Robinson) will be on A Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO 95.1FM from 1-4PM with Brian Young.

September 5 (Saturday) at The Middle East Down: Alanna Royale, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion! and The New Review

September 6 (Sunday) Jittery Jack and DJ Easy Ed are doing an evening show on at Atwood's.

September 9 (Wednesday) There's a new band in town that promises to be killer! The Hi-End which consists of Johnny Carlevale of the Skeleton Beats, Curt Florzcak of Greg Allen's Fringe Religion and Bruno, Anthony and Scott from The Swindlers. They're at The Midway this night along with AdapterAdapter, The Short Term and The Shallow End Divers (FB Page)

September 12 (Saturday) The JP Music Fest is happening at PineBanks Field in JP from 12Noon to 7PM. Some of the bands playing will be The Hi-End (see Sept 9), The Upper Crust, Streight Angular, Love Love, Rick Berlin and Trusty Sidekick!! Here's the FB page for more info and directions.

September 12 (Saturday) at The Midway are M.O.M. (Mercury On Mars), The Classic Ruins, State of the Union and Stop Calling Me Frank.

September 12 (Saturday) Lyres are at The Middle East up along with Little War Twins and Hudson K

September 12 (Saturday) Barrence Whitfield & The Savages are at the Brighton Music Hall

September 12 (Saturday) Mayte & Nicole Present a Night at The Greeks (79 Bow St, Somerville) ! With Jay Allen & The Archcriminals, Animal Talk, and I Thought They Were Models?

September 16 (Wednesday) Oh Malô, Bent Shapes, Bay Faction, The Colonnade are at the Middle East Up.

September 17 (Thursday) at The Oberon this should be an amazing experience: Endation has put together a special show "The Chimera" explores musical and artistic dichotomies. Act I features the raw, intense, melodic force of two-piece Endation accompanied by movement and dance. Act II brings the audience into the dreamy, experimental world of Bent Knee as visual artists create pieces inspired by the band in real time. The Chimera invites the audience to seek their own interpretations in the disparate pieces that form one singular evening of performance. Buy tix here. Get more info on the FB event page.

September 17 (Thursday) Sham 69 and The Welsh Boys are at Middle East up.

September 18 (Friday) Livver, Tenafly Vipers, Dead Cats Dead Rats and Profit Margin are at Koto in Salem, MA

September 18 (Friday)- 21 (Sunday) Mark Lind has his annual Boston's Burning shows lined up at The Midway for these days so far they have Duck & Cover The Drax, The Warning Shots, Warn The Duke, The Skeleton Beats, Iron Chin ....more to come!!

September 19 (Saturday) Pop Gun along with Fireking, Classic Ruins and 138 are at Koto in Salem, MA

September 25 (Friday) Illegally Blind Presents: Boogie Boy Metal Mouth (EP Release), The Televibes, Black Beach, Esh The Monolith, and Midriffs at The Middle East Up.

Tony Kaczynski

September 26 (Saturday) Continental (ft. Rick Barton), The Nervous Eaters, and The Charms are doing a Matinee show (doors at 1) at the Middle East Up.

October 3 (Saturday) Fireking is having a Double Trouble VINYL Record release party at The Midway along with guests The Grip Weeds, Watts and John Powhida

October 4 (Sunday) at the Middle East Down: Chameleons Vox (UK) (The Chameleons from the old days continued) playing ‘Script of the Bridge’, Avoxblue, The Milling Gowns and DJ Matthew Griffin. Doors are a little early - at 7PM.

October 8-11 The Third Annual Rat Beach Party WILL happen - at the C Note on Nantasket Beach -- October 8th-11th. Check the FB page for updates.

October 17 (Saturday) As part of Crash Safely 2015 a Benefit for MS at The Midway are The Sprained Ankles, The Dents, Muck & the Mires, Phil Aiken Army, Gymnasium

October 26 (Sunday) As part of Crash Safely 2015 A Benefit for the National MS Society the Middle East Up has Township, Watts, Unnatural Axe and Fireking - that's a GREAT show!!

October 26 (Sunday) - TRiPLE THiCK, Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders (ex-Lazy Cowgirls), Thee Itchies and Hambone Skinny are at The Midway

CONTACT US AT…….misslynbgn@yahoo.com - Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!

Fireking

The Above