The BGN News Archive

The Dogmatics play the WRPS-tival.

We went to the WRPS 50th Anniversary WRPS-tival at Rockland High School on Saturday. We were at the same place in 2023 for the Dogmatics/Dogumentary film.

There were food trucks outside and people we’re chowing down. Inside, for scholarship fundraising, there were raffles of bags of gift cards. We won one! The auditorium is large and the seats were comfortable. There were four bands and we thought there should have been more people especially where there aren’t many punk shows at all in this area.

The stage had a back line all set up. The amps were on the small side. All the bands played at volumes much lower than they're used to. That gave a different listening experience than a club. It was more comfortable to the ears and songs became more important. There was no disguising any shortcomings with volume. On the other side we missed being blown away here and there.

Screw Cart

Lauren Parks

First up was Screw Cart who have been on a streak of stellar singles starting with “Foot Washer”. See their Bandcamp page The new tunes have served them well on this night but they still dipped back to “Cheese Wheel” which was a highlight. The group now has Bat, from The Spackles, on bass and now they have a cello player! Lauren Parks has an electric cello. It’s much smaller than the traditional instrument. Sometimes the volume was too low to hear it clearly but even then it added thickness to the sound. When you could hear it clearly, it was pretty great. Once she hit some double stops and it was like power chords from a string instrument that was revelatory.

The Wynotts

The Wynotts are having their second life. We saw them in their first incarnation in 2009. Bob Cenci of Jerry’s Kids is on guitar.

Has any other hardcore musician expanded their genre like Bob? He did the Wynotts then to Rockin’ Bob Punk Band and even further afield with U-ey at the Buoy.
All members of The Wynotts write, and the writing is not cookie cutter punk rock songs. They have their own ideas of what to sound like. The songs went over well in the lower volume. “Follow You” was a winner. That’s on their Bandcamp page. Another one that hit it’s mark was “Operator”. Sample lyric: “You put our heart on hold”. Those two songs especially seem like they come from a Brill Building ethic. This first album they put out is all older songs. Next up is a new album with new material.

The Dogmatics

Jerry Lehane

The Dogmatics took the next slot. They were without new member James Young and we missed him. But they were still in top form. They've had a busy few years as they have traveled with their Dogumentary film ... and director Rudy Childs was in the audience. They played a string of their older material (get it all on Bandcamp) : “Drinking by the Pool”, “Sister Serina”, “King Sized Cigarette”, “Gimme The Shakes” and “My Little Sister’s Got A Motorcycle”. The thing with the Dogs is that the new material is as good as anything they ever did. The audience greeted “Drop the Needle” with the same welcoming cheer as the older material. One of our new faves they played is “Can’t Get Over You”. They had a new song that we think was called “Scarlet Letter”. They ended with “Thayer Street” which always hits us in the heart.

Stars Like Ours.

The night was wrapped up with Stars Like Ours. The trio played as loud as they could. They has a simple template – the guitar blasts out the power chords and chord progressions and Michele sings the catchy melodies on top. There is not a lot of complications here. It works so well. Again the comparably lower volume helped to grasp what was happening. It all came to a high point on the last long titled “High” (hear it on Bandcamp) Michele’s vocals were rich and there was a tone of transcendence that carried you away. It was a suitable and satisfying end to the night.

VIDEOS......

We found out about Slady, the all-female Slade tribute band, on the Elastic Glam show. They now have a video for “Cum On Feel The Noize” that captures a lot of Slade spirit.

RADIO......

Skybar gave Already Dead a generous amount of time on his Rising show this last Tuesday. They reviewed how their band got together. Their first release, “Stability” was only in 2022 the band members have earlier band histories. Skybar played four songs from their albums and they sang three live.

Even though the band has just released the 14 cut Something Like a War album, they're soon going in the studio to record more songs.

We have the interview section of the show below.

Next Tuesday 8/27 Skybar will have Evan and Linda Shore from Muck and the Mires. That group is alwasys up to something. Their either touring or recording new songs. We'll find out.

The Rising show is on WMFO 93.5 FM on Tuesdays at 8pm. After that got to the WMFO schedule page Hit the Rising show on 8pm on Tuesday, then hit the ‘archive’ button.

Nick Wang played a cool garage rocker named “Meet Your Maker” by Indonesian group Battlebeats on his Late Risers show. That’s the title tune of the album. We listened to the rest of the album on Bandcamp. All the songs sound like they are playing cheap guitars with parts missing and amps on the verge of crapping out, which is to say – all good with us!! Another song we would point out for a listen is “You Ain’t Better Than Me”.

To hear Nick’s whole show go to the WMBR archive page and hit the Late Risers Show for Monday 8/19.

PODCASTS.........

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico interviews Lisa Kekaula of The BellRays. The band has gotten loads of airplay on the Boston punk stations since they started in 1990. Kekaula’s voice makes their material impressive and immediately recognizable.

The group comes from Riverside, California. Lisa was open to all music when she was young. She does name check Etta James which makes sense. Her first band was The Rose Thorns.

The BellRays had hard luck with record companies and downturns in the industry but they have persisted We’ve always loved The BellRays because they have the punk ethic but their very own sound. Currently they are on tour with Social Distortion.

We’ve had curiosity about Lisa and the BellRays for years, it was nice to finally get the story. Check out the videos of “Black Lightning” and “Revolution Get Down” to get an idea of their sound.

There’s a lot of music on The Bellrays Bandcamp page

The Elastic Glam show started out this week’s show with T.Rex’s classic “Planet Queen”. Early on Sethyspice played “Pretty Girls” by the English group Honeyglaze. They seem like an interesting up and coming group. The song sounds different and doesn’t easily fit in a genre.

New glam exponents Gyasi are getting loads attention. Elastic Glam offers up a live cut “Cheap High”. More new glammers played were Black Gasoline with “Crucify Me” and The Rare Occasions playing “Mr. Bubbles. We’ve come to love the Violet Palms with their song of the intriguing title “All This Joy Has Made You Dull”.

There was a nice throwback with Nick Gilder’s “You Really Rock Me” and Sweet’s “Action” for good measure.

All song choices show good taste…check it out below.

On Sonic Overload Al Quint played the newest song Jesus Lizard has previewed from their new album Rack. “Moto(R)” has a massive crank to it pushed even further by David Yow’s vocals. There is a video for this that shows some of Yow’s antics

Al played a song that addresses an issue of our current season of politics. “Democracy Is Useless” is a song by Skamflack, from Sweden. The title is misleading. What the first verse says is:
“Democracy is useless/without human rights
Democracy is useless/without equality for all”

That sounds reasonable. The next verse tersely gives the consequences of not following those tenants and they say it in hardcore style which makes so much more of an impression.

Al played a song from the Pop Rivets which is funny because Brian Young played the group on last week’s A Crash Course for the Ravers in a long section about the Medway sound. That scene was started and surrounds Billy Childish. Al played “Skip Off School” which had a perk in the middle where he musically quotes the melody of “Love Song” by the Damned. Hear that below.

Another neat song was by Mark Stewart of the Pop Group who did “All of My Senses” which has Mike Watt doing a stellar turn on bass.

You can hear the whole show on the Sonic Overload web page

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

The day has come ..... the Nervous Eaters have finally released the whole new Rock n Roll Your Heart Away album.

They've been regularly releasing singles so it would seem you would know most of the tunes but that’s not true because some of those single sides are non-album songs (like “Someone Else In Your Arms” and “Knockdown Day”) .

The album’s ten songs are: "Rock n Roll Your Heart Away", "Vampire", "Don't Need to Make You Mine", "Just for You", "Inside Out", "New Face", "Girl Next Door", "Scream", "Sharlene" and "In The Shadows".

Hearing the album as a whole you get to appreciate the production values and you can hear where the keyboards add another dimension. We’ve heard some strong songs so far with “Rock n Roll Your Heart Away”, “Vampire”, “Just For You” and a redo of the classic “Girl Next Door”.

“Scream” is the most blistering track. It’s compact, cranking and chock full of sharp solos. We love when the lyrics say, “I walk the streets alone”. That’s such a Nervous Eaters moment as are those high background vocals.

“Inside Out” starts with some feedback and you can hear the guitar is turned way up on this. At the end you can hear the fading guitar turn into feedback again. At the end Steve is repeatedly singing “In” and “Out” and that sounds like sex to us! We’re terrible.

“New Face” starts with an acoustic guitar but the song has a lot of muscle, it is not wimpy. All the songs are like that, they have heightened energy all the time. There always seems like there’s something at stake and no time to slack off. We love the way Steve sings the chorus line “with a walk, a talk, and a look that took my breath away”. His articulation links ‘a walk’, ‘a talk’ and ‘away’ together. Subtle and sweet.

“Sharlene” has another recognizable Eaters sound. It’s bluesy at its roots while still in rock territory. That allows for some guitar antics.

You can hear throughout how the Eaters capture a moment, feeling or memory and inject it in the fabric of the song. It’s that extra element that is always in the Eaters material and why we love them.

“In the Shadows” is another Adam Sherman song. It’s amazing to have a player and songwriter of his quality in addition to Steve.

Rob Moss and the Skin-Tight Skin have faithfully been releasing singles from an upcoming album. This is the last single before the album Records come out on September 19.

The singles have had notable guests. This song “What Happened (to the Rock 'n' Roll)?” features Clive Wright, who has a long resume. He’s played in bands such as Broken English and Cock Robin. He's worked with Pete Byrne (Naked Eyes), Kim Carnes, Peter Gabriel, and more.

The song bemoans the rock music now made with machines and the costs of shows going up and up. We can relate to that. Clive’s guitar weaves through the song dishing up flashy fills.

“Rock’n’Roll Enemy #1” is a song done by San Francisco’s Crime from 1978-79 and released in 1991. Now, CPC Gangbangs, a group from Reno, Nevada on Slovenly Records, has covered the song. Crime was known for a rough sound even by early punk standards. CPC Gangbangs makes it yet more raw and full of jagged edges, plus the recording is better and gives it more punch. This is very much in spirit with the original intent. We say, good job by CPC Gangbangs. Here’s the original Crime version

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

August 30, 2024 (Friday) Wreckless    Wreck Chords Presents The FU's, WORM, Ruffian Dick    and More TBA - at The C Note - FB    page

September 1, 2024 (Sunday) The    March Violets, Rose Garden Funeral, Gossip Collar at The Middle East    Up 7PM

September 6, 2024 (Friday) Rixe,    Public Trust, The Massacred, The Rejekts, The Pump at Sammys Patio 

September 6, 2024 (Friday) Linnea's    Garden celebrates the release of their newest single "No Vision,"    performing at the Middle East Upstairs with special guests Lipsmear,    TIFFY, and Lover of Eve

September 6, 2024 (Friday) Bootleg Dan    presents: Sharp Class, Muck and the Mires, The Chelsea Curve    at The Burren - FB    page 

September 7, 2024 (Saturday) Girl    with a Hawk on A Crash Course for the Ravers 1PM on WMFO- FB    page  

September 8, 2024 (Sunday) The    Somerville Rock And Roll Yard Sale is in Union Square Somerville FB    event page 

September 13, 2024 (Friday) Fierce    & Fabulous!!! American Ocelot, Ruby Grove, Girl With a    Hawk, Happy Little Clouds at The Jungle - Doors at 7/Music 8 

September 14, 2024 (Saturday) Brian    Young has The Va Va Voodoos as guests on A    Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO. 1-4PM 

September 14, 2024 (Saturday) Kids    Like You and Me present SUPAP - Somerville Underground Pop Arts &    Perfromace Showcase - with Unnatural Axe, Children of the Flaming Wheel,    Fugue State, Mike from Picnic Lunch... 1:30PM at Lincoln Park (46 Lincoln    Pkwy, Somerville, MA) This is an outdoor show FREE- but $5-$15 suggested donatation    for bands. 

September 14, 2024 (Saturday) Bootleg    Dan presents: The Prime Movers Reunion!! with Thee    Sonomatics at The Burren 7PM show FB    event page.

September 14, 2024 (Saturday) Tiger    Bomb, Robin Lane, and The Nervous Eaters at Askew    Provi RI   

September 14, 2024 (Saturday) Miracle    Blood, Sapling, Endation, Slow Quit at Distant Castle in Worcester. 

September 15, 2024 (Sunday) Wreckless    Wreck Chords Presents MidDay Madness with WORM, Working Poor USA, Barry    Larry, StressBall, Fice - at The Midway - Matinee 3-7 All Ages $15    3pm Doors - FB page. 

September 15, 2024 (Sunday) The    Thigh Scrapers, The Stigmatics and Va Va Voodoos are    at the Worthern Attic in Lowell 

September 16, 2024 (Monday) John    Cooper Clarke comes again!!! at The City Winery [7:30PM] 

September 19, 2024 (Thursday) Legendary    Queer-core Pop Rockers Pansy Division, The Fatal Flaw and Gene    Dante at Faces in Malden 

September 19, 2024 (Thursday) Bootleg Dan    presents: John Powhida, Tiger Bomb, Rick Barton Band, playing Blue in    Portland at Blue in Portland, ME 

September 20, 2024 (Friday) Tiger    Bomb and The Nervous Eaters at Sonia 

September 20, 2024 (Friday) Bootleg Dan    presents: John Hovorka Band, Crow Follow, Connor Storms and his Bouquet,    at The Burren 6:15pm show 

September 21, 2024 (Saturday) The "Rat    Reunion" at The Bellforge Art Center with Nervous Eaters and The    Dogmatics. This'll be outside anda its 3-7PM. Link    to tix and updates

September 21, 2024 (Saturday) The    Cynz, Spanking Charlene, Kanak, are at The Parkside Lounge NYC 9/21 

September 28, 2024 (Saturday) Rich    Mirsky is on A Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO 1-4PM. FB    page. 

September 28, 2024 (Saturday) DRAGO    20th Anniversary Show with The Downhauls, Dead Like Death,    The Blue Bloods at The Midway = this is a matinee at 3PM. FB    page.

September 28, 2024 (Saturday)    Eddie Japan, Lovina Falls and Roxy    and The Crisis at Faces Brewery

September 29, 2024 (Sunday) Supersuckers,    Downhauls, TJ Welch and the Wasted and Speedteeth (That's    Jesse Meyers and Andy Excuse's new band!!) at Sammy’s Patio - Revere Beach    -    Facebook page 

October 5, 2024 (Saturday) Dreadnoughts,    Hub City Stompers, the Pourmen at Sammy's Patio Revere FB    page 

October 18, 2024 (Friday) The Fuzzstival    at The Armory: Sweeping Promises, Babybaby Explores, Yhwh Nailgun, Bong    Wish, Balaclava, Mingko, Nurse Joy, Lupo Citta, The Spatulas, Plant Fight

October 19, 2024 (Saturday) The    Fuzzstival at The Armory: Doug Tuttle, Greg Freeman, Latrell    James, Francie Medosch (of Florry), Paper Lady, Prewn, Clifford, War Machine,    Corporeal, Pew Pe.

October 19, 2024 (Saturday) 5th    annual Punktoberfest music and craft beer festival! Full lineup of    bands AND breweries coming soon! Save the date…at Thirsty First Lowell. 

October 24, 2024 (Thursday) Stupidity,    Cocktail Slippers and the Wynotts at Alchemy, Providence    FB    page. 

October 25, 2024 (Friday) Moving    Targets, The Long Wait, Spiller - Middle East Up - Facebook    page 

October 25, 2024 (Friday) Bootleg Dan presents    Cocktail Slippers, The Chelsea Curve, DJ Sherman at The Burren 

October 26, 2024 (Saturday) Tiger    Bomb, The Cocktail Slippers, Stupidity, Muck & The Mires at The    Bayside Bowl, Portland, ME FB    page 

November 1, 2024 (Friday) Coffin    Salesman (Record Release!), Motel Black, Saeddyr, Squallie    Greenthumb at Faces Malden. ! 

November 23, 2024 (Saturday) Hi-End,    Duck and Cover, Color Killers at The Square Root

December 6, 2024 (Friday) Warrior    Soul, All Sinners and Speed Teeth at Koto Salem 

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com    Send us your gig listings, your anything else    you've got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.