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The BGN News Archive
It was a Sex Pistols kinda week here in Boston. First we had Jones/Matloc/Cooke (with Carter) at The Royale. Then we had PIL (with, of course, John [Rotten] Lydon) at Big Night Live. The Sex Pistols (JonesMatlockCooke, Carter) and Bad Nerves were at Royale this past week. Openers were Bad Nerves from England. They were worth the trip, if not the ticket price, on their own. They had a lot of pop sensibilities in their punk. It was most noticeable in the singer who hung on to some syllables and got an ear tweaking melodic turn out of them. He has a distinctive high tone that will become identifiable with a few listens.
One song that jumped out at us was "Radio Punk". The lyrics express our view, "radio, you used to be mine/now you never play the punk I like". Here's the song on Spotify. "Antidote" was another memorable tune. They played "USA" a song that cheers America. We knew that song because Joanie Lindstrom (who was at the show) played that song on her show last April. We had the video in the BGN. They've been together for 10 years. They did themselves a lot of good by being openers for the Pistols. Hear them on their Spotify page. The opening song on the page "Can't Be Mine" is a another gem.
Then, into "Holliday In the Sun". Lydon fill-in Frank Carter has a rock solid delivery that bolsters these songs. Matlock's son suggested him as singer when they started looking. He doesn't copy Lydon, that would be disastrous, but he has a hint of sarcasm and anger, nothing over the top. After that the no-Rotten idea was no-problem for the audience. The follow up was "I'm A Lazy Sod". In the background was a huge screen showing a slide show of old band photos and punk history in 45 sleeves and punk mag (Sniffin' Glue) pages. During "Pretty Vacant" singer Carter jumped into the crowd and sang from the floor. As the band got to "Bodies" and "Steppin' Stone" we began to really get into Steve Jones' playing. Of all the guitarists out there of note he probably plays the least solos. No, it's his guitar tone that his fame rests on. That big roar from big amps tells the whole story. The set continues with "Liar" and a glorious "God Save the Queen". Deep into the set we realize that the band takes it slow. There are gaps between the songs. They are not trying to bulldoze their way through the set. When they play "No Fun" they have the first and only real solo by Jones, after that they introduce the band members one by one. No one minds. We want to thank Paul Cooke, Glen Matlock and Steve Jones. Then Carter explains that the audience will clear a big space for a ladies only mosh pit during "Problems". Someone objects in the crowd. Carter swears at him, jumps down to confront him and soon we see two burly security guards double time the objector out of the club. Hey, a little controversy! But he was smiling as he was escorted out. Then another surprise, the band sits down. It's into "My Way". Again Carter sings in his style and does a nice job. When the song second half cranks up that's a neat moment. The final thrill is "Anarchy in the UK". They do the song and at the end extend it and prompt the audience a few times to get a full throated uninhibited version. You could hear us all singing, it was a great moment! We think everyone was happy at the end. Saturday night was PIL at Big Night Live.
Unfortunately we did not get the very last info on set changes and missed Plague Vendor. But heard lots of great things about their set. Damn!! We arrived 20 minutes into the PIL set. The building was literally shaking. John Lydon was in great form. He is such a commanding presence up there. He plays with his voice a lot now. Honestly I miss the snarling, nasally original Johnny Rotten voice! But Lydon took voice lessons in 2014 and sings so differently now ... and he loves it obviously. It's the reason the set list was about 8 songs but the band played for at least an hour and a half.
Lydon was drinking a full bottle of whisky between songs and had to take a 'cigarette break' before "Rise". Lots of snot was released on stage, from both sides of his nose with one finger on a nostril each time. Also lots of loving insults spewed at us throughout the set. The shocker was seeing him leave the club in a wheel chair! What was that about??? Lydon was the brilliant brain behind the lyrics of the Sex Pistols and had to grow and go beyond that..it wasn't enough for him. PIL shows what more he could do. And we do really hope this IS NOT the last tour as they promise. After the Sex Pistols show we ran into film maker Cheryl Egan Donovan. She did the great All Kindsa Girls about the Real Kids. Her new film is All The World's A Stage that will play Sundance and a few other film festivals this year. Cheryl also is working on getting All Kindsa Girls a 25th Anniversary showing somewhere. We were at the premier at the Coolidge Theatre in June of 2003. Cheryl says the Coolidge was not up for the anniversary showing! Disappointing. Some other notables: Act of the Year - Weakened Friends, Album of the Year - Girl with A Hawk and Amplifier Heads, Song of the Year - The Fatal Flaw for "Navy Dodge Van", Producer of the Year - David Minehan and Brian Charles, New Act of the Year - The Northern Line, Rock Act of the Year - American Ocelot, Satch Kerans Band, The Amplifier Heads, blindspot and Carissa Johnson.
Now, 46 years later they're releasing an enhanced version of “Too Many Creeps”on an album with the same title It has seven cuts. The three original songs with two versions of “Creeps”, “Snakes Crawl”/”You Taste Like The Tropics”, two unreleased songs from the sessions: “Fess Up”/ “Punch Drunk” and “In Mind A Run” which was recorded in 1980. This is available from Wharf Cat Records. VIDEOS......
Sapling has a video for their song "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Service". They've successfully transferred a magical musical moment into a visual one. We love the way the instruments come in one by one as they stroll along. They exit before the Saplings have their bodega moment. They make boppin' along to the song's rhythm seem so natural with their (seemingly) spontaneous choreography. The band always drop odd cultural snippets from life in their songs, here it's, "When I was your age, I walked uphill both ways to school with no shoes eight miles in a blizzard." The video was shot in Providence and Worcester. As the group goes on the members' names grow longer. Now it's AmberRose ToiletFire Tortorelli, Rainy Maple Sugar Candy-Spaghetti and Jonny McBlastbeats Candy-Spaghetti. Holy Moly, ToiletFire!!!
The Glimmer Stars have a video for “Autumn Girl” off their last album Yesterday’s a Long Time. The song portrays a simple romantic yearning. The video keeps it simple too. We have the band joining the Autumn Girl on a stroll. In the credits we see this is happening around Pilgrim’s Coffee House in Fullerton, CA. It seems to be sunny there in a way it never is around here these days! We have the bands interview on the Skybar Rising show below.
A long way from Fullerton, in a lot of ways, is the band compound of The Lemon Drop Gang in Tucson, AZ. Here the unhinged antics of the gang act out their main problem – “My Mind’s Got A Mind of Its Own”. We first see Steph O’Halloran in a trailer on the toilet reading a book on Linda Lovelace. No matter how possessed they are at least they have a pool – with inflatable shark and alligator. The most convincing thing still is that crazy garage chord progression. That’s powerful mojo. RADIO......
Skybar got them to talk about their album Sometimes Is A Long Time a bit. He also got their backstory which we needed to hear. They talked about how they hooked up with Lou Mansdorf. They are an easy going bunch. We have the interview below. The Rising show is on WMFO 91.5 FM on Tuesday at 7 to 9pm. To listen to this show go to the WMFO webpage and hit the show listing on Tuesday 8/25 at 7pm and then hit 'archive'. PODCASTS......
Peter was born on Long Island, NY and went to prep school in Western Mass. From there he went to Boston for the Museum School of Fine Arts. He went to Paris for two years and now is back on Long Island. One of the best stories is the first, which is how Dayton stumbled upon a Ramones gig and then convinced school mates Roger and Mark to form a group despite not being musicians. The group got early encouragement from Jeff Conolly. Peter talks through the early days which was the early Inn Square Men's Bar Rumble win and the song "Better Off Dead". LaPeste played CBGB's, Harrah's, Danceteria and at Max's Kansas City with Pure Hell. They also played in Allentown, PA with Ramones and Damned. Peter has a great Rat Scabies story connected to that gig. There was a great story on how Rick Harte saved the day by throwing the switch to record LaPeste's performance at the First WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble. Roger talks about how he stopped and expresses regret now. Later he produced the first demo for MOB. "This Is Not a Photograph" and "Academy Fight Song". The recording is out there somewhere. Peter said that the Vol.2 album from Wharf Rat will be the WBCN Rock and Roll Rumble set. Peter has a lot of stories you haven't heard. For instance he reveals that "Spymaster" was going to be a rock opera. This is an excellent look back with much new infomation.
Al played a 1981 local single that you don't hear at all these days. The group was Swingers Resort. That's the group with photographer B.C. Kagan on bass (who was also in Planet Street). "Rockets and Rose" is a cute punk pop song from the era. The song ends with the same two chords as "Roadrunner". It's produced by Willie Alexander! You won't find this song easy. We have it below. You can hear all this on the Sonic Overload shows on the web blog. . Al has logged all the shows since 2009.
Sethyspice played the top five glam songs of the summer. They were from: Des Rocks, The Amplifier Heads, The Hollywood Stars, Tell and Julez and the Rollers. Then there was some classic glam with Slade, Hello and Mud. Gotta love that.
For the eighties it was The Chesterfield Kings "Hey Little Bird" from 1982 and The Press Tones doing "Passion or the Pain" that was new to us. Current punk came from The Low Spirits "Time Will Tell" which was a neat garage tune. On top of that you get to hear The Wipers, The Adverts, Roky Erickson, The Jam and Psycho (from Ireland doing "No Return"). They do a lot in one hour. NEW MUSIC/CD's ......
J. Prozac has as cool project going with Muckspout Comics. Muckspout has a three comic series that will have a soundtrack via a five song EP by Prozac. The song "The Stardust Projector" is crazy catchy. Right from the beginning with it's "Whoa oh oh, sha na na na/Whoa oh oh, yeah yeah yeah" your singing along. From the lyrics you can guess the story line in the comic. That song is streaming on Bandcamp, we have it below. The EP begins with "The Muckspout Theme". It's a neat song that you could imagine being a Saturday morning cartoon theme. "We love punk rock/We love comics/We are the misfits and the weirdos/We are Muckspout!" We got the biggest laugh in a long time from the first blast of "Emo Song". The song is fast and punky and a mere 1:47 but that's enough time to state, " I hate your fucking emo band. / I can't stand your fucking band" with enough room for calls of "die, die, die" and some disparaging laughter. "Feral Punk" tells the story of an East Bay Punk just trying to get by. Like all the songs it stands on its own as a pop punk song and dupes as a soundtrack to a story. Just when you want to pigeon hole J Prozac he throws a left curve. "Prom Night" is a low key acoustic number that captures the fragile ego hoping to take someone to the prom. It's all of Jay's pop punk arsenal of pop punk tricks done for feeling and not to blast out. These last few years Jay has expanded the whole idea of what was possible for him to do. This comic soundtrack idea is a big winner. You can get the Comic bundle with the EP in colored vinyl at Critical Mass Music. It’s been a year since Cold Expectations dropped a song. “Waiting For the Pills To Take Effect” is a welcome return. This is probably the hardest rocking tune they have in their catalog. The drums are rumbling on the bottom with the bass and the guitar is thick toned. They have the synth ping ponging up and down to add a neat effect. They get a very insistent beat right from the get go and the recording has an immediacy to it. It was recorded at Woolly Mammoth. The group still has that art rock, alternate feel to the singing/lyrics like the first line “Don’t you tell me I’m emotional.” Cold Expectations will be on the Rising show with Skybar on WMFO 91.5 FM on Tuesday, October 6.
The Ape Hangers have a full 16 cut album titled Ape Hangers II. This will signal the full return by the group who had a too long hiatus. Their EP earlier this year was super and those songs ("She Comes Again" and "I Don't Mind") are on the album. The songs on their 4 track EP This Is It from last year is also included: "Happiness", "This Is It", "Bombay", "Think About Me". Some of those songs and other on this album were supposed to be on the groups second album that never happened, but they have made it happen now on Rum Bar Records. Right now they one other song streaming, "I Miss You Girl". Listen to the bands' controlled rampage of garage rock with a few twists and feints to keep things new and unexpected. Those are the moves that mark all their material. We have that embedded below. The whole album is due to come out in November 13. For those that don't know. Those long handlebars on the bikes in the album photo above - those are 'ape hangers'. Rob Moss of the Skin-Tight Skin has done up a solo single. The thing that hits with “The More I Scroll” is that the theme resonates so strong. Does anyone like being glued to the screen and scrolling so much? The idea that Rob makes right at the beginning that we love is that it’s not what we are looking at on the screen it’s that when doing that you “…tune out everything in my life”. There’s hope though as Rob sings, “The less we scroll, we’ll get out of the hole.” Just listening to the song makes us want to commit to less screen time. The music behind this lesson is almost a drone which is suitable for the subject matter.
What a joy to listen to The Thermals' (Portland, OR) album Under Crushing Rain released September 4, 2026. It has such a positive heart, a long way from the dark outlook that most current music has these depressing times. It's not that they deny life's challenges, it's that that choose to take them on and be uplifting. The first song explains the view. "Good Morning Fellow Scavengers" talks to fellow humans like we're all in a game of 'survivor'. Admitting the game is predetermined, "We're not far from where we started and it's too soon to decay" it's "now time to commit". Then more reality, but not negativity, "How many breaths do we have left? We have the time to pray". It's really an inspiring shot in the arm. This is not Pollyanna mindlessness but realistic positivity. The next song "A Dark Dark Place" flirts with danger but the singer says "I Don't want to die, I just want to get close". "In the Flow" starts with the "Roadrunner" rhythm and chords. The Thermals make their trip an existential one. "There is nowhere to go, we are in the flow". "I Have Had Enough Blood" has a classic sounding chord progression and catchy melody and background vocals. It's celebrating the joys of finding a true love. "I Will Be Delivered" mines the same territory. "Angel Eyes Are Always Watching Me" is the common enough idea that Angels are over watching us. Again, a positive idea to give comfort. "Under Crushing Rain" is another story of everlasting love. Love conquers all and especially time in this romantic song. The guitar has a trebly tone that is played with a muted tone that mimics rain drops. I focused on the lyrical themes here but all the music is tuneful and the pop sensibilities are perfect. Chronic Fatigue from Vancouver have a sound somewhere between punk/garage/hardcore that makes them sound different from straight hardcore. Their current single release is “Steroids” which lyrically sounds like a put down of steroids and other drugs. The intro bass line evokes a lumbering beast. When the group joins in they mimic that line and that’s the song main characteristic. The singer slips in a chant of “steroids” that rides the rhythm. The singer is saying a lot during the song, it would be nice to have the lyrics.
The Psychotic Youth from Sweden who have teased us with three singles now have their 15 cut Ready Go album out now. One of the best modes for the group is when they ply their poppy punk sound to romance and the beach…individually or at the same time. The songs rhythms and tempos are contagious and when the swirly organ revs up it's a magic brew. Songs like that are "Endless Summer", "Girls" and "Back To You". "Can't Get Enough of You" is in that category too but they zing it up with some skipping ska done very tight. We really like "Punk Tour" where the lyrics list the myriad vicissitudes of thankless touring: "Used strings, no fee, no gas/bad chilli and a bad bad back/Bar tab, stress rash, no class and/the sound check still rings in my head". It's indicative of the album that their own songs are on the same levels as their two covers from The Plimsoles "Now", and Phil Seymour's "I Found A Love". Excellent taste in covers there. This is their 18th album! They are vets. We identify with what they say in "Punk Tour", "I'm broke, I'm loud, I'm still on the scene" Soraia from NYC have a new version of The Sonics “The Witch”. They make it sound smooth yet still primitive and their version comes across as even more ‘witchy’ with some neat screams. The group has played Boston many times. We saw them at Sally O’Brien’s in 2018. They are touring now and they'll be back in town on October 10 at the Midway. Then at the Parlour in Proivdence on October 11. The single will be released on October 9. Check out their Bandcamp page then for “The Witch”.
The Lambrini Girls from the UK new album No Refunds is out on January 2027. Right now there are two songs streaming on Bandcamp. The Lambrini Girls hit all the hot button topics. The more inflammatory the better. It's their mission. What we like is that they do it with Poly Styrene vocals. The music has a heavy bass component holding down the chaotic sound that always seems ready to crash. "The Cult of Celebrity" takes potshots at the ultra-rich hedonists, easy pickings for the Lambrini Girls. There's a video for the song. "Bang Bang Bang" has some anger in the vocals, about what, we don't know, but we know we like it. That comes with a video too. We talked about Sharp Pins in the last issue of the BGN. This week it’s another six song EP release Electric My Icebox. Two songs are streaming now on Bandcamp. Sharp Pins is basically Kai Slater. Like all his work this is lo-fi. “How Can I Explain What She Does To Me” is a dreamy tune that is filled with 12 string guitar filigree. The vocals are dripping with psych trappings. “Saturday Sun” gets more rambunctious. The drums hit harder and the fuzz is grittier. Both are gold for Sharp Pins fans, which we are.
Sleep In are from New Jersey. Their new album Tangled In the Vines is a nicely done emo album. There's good musicianship that makes for an interesting group sound. The singer has a quality emo voice that shines throughout the album. The first song "It's All Rattfucked" is a good representation of their sound. We love the busy guitar work in this. They do a lot with a little as in "Cigs" where a single sax in the last minute of the song tastefully evokes the Springsteen sound. In "I'm Not Ready" a pedal steel, again restrained, adds atmosphere and expands their sonic reach. We’ve featured Softjaw (from Long Beach CA) before with their last self-titled album on Bandcamp. They have a fetching list of influences: Cheap Trick, the Cars, the Beat, Phil Seymour, the Boyfriends and the Poppees. OK, sold already! The group's has a new album Love Can’t Kill You is on Dandy Boy Records. They have that title song streaming on Bandcamp now. That should be enough to convince power pop fans. The album will be released on October 4. You can preorder now on Bandcamp.
The Carringtons are from Quebec City. Their album Reunion has 10 songs, and here's the quirk - they are all exactly two minutes long and have one word titles. Somebody is anal retentive! The group straddles a few genres. There's punk and indie and they have some synth work in the arrangements. Despite the synths the sound is very substantive, nothing wimpy here. The lyrics are very good. They are always making a point or sharp observation. There are quotable lines in almost every song. They have the lyrics on their Bandcamp page so you can catch everything. This was a real album experience. The two minute song length helped in listening. You felt like you got a lot for your two minutes. Tall Days are a duo group from New Jersey. Their album Breakers has a song that stuck out for us. “NYC Rock ‘N’ Roll” is played in a Velvet Underground style, you can catch that pretty fast. They mention WFMU and CBGB’s in the lyrics. They get some “Na, na, na’s” in there along with a sax solo. They let the guitar get noisy in the last minute of the almost six minute song. We continue to find it amazing that the Velvets sound still is so influential and is so often an obvious reference point for groups. The Monsters from Switzerland are a lot of lo-fi fun. They have a new single in front of an album Off The Road We Go coming out soon. When The Monsters get their hooks into a subject they don’t let go. In “Pay the Rent” they go on and on. They really can’t pay the rent, you know, and it looks like they are going to end up in jail. That short sad tale is the story behind the song. Here's some good shows coming up ....
October 9, 2026 (Friday) URGH A Music War is playing at Mass Art with Hugo Burnham as guest speaker. Buy Tix Here! October 10, 2026 (Saturday) Soraia, The Downhauls, Bad Idea USA at The Midway October 10, 2026 (Saturday) The Long Wait, Farewell Drugs, 99 Shots at Faces Malden. October 10, 2026 (Saturday) Woburn PorchFest - check out Still Sedated and Johnny Plankton& The Seamonkeys at 7 MArion Ave Woburn. October 10, 2026 (Saturday) Another awesome Scurvy Dog Mega Parking Lot show with Miracle Blood, Silver Screams and more...check the FB page for the list of bands (2PM start) October 11, 2026 (Sunday) Clone, Proles, Bad Verb, Neponset Monastery at O'Brien's
October 14, 2026 (Wednesday) Roger Miller Release Show, Tanya Donelly + Chris Brokaw . at Deep Cuts, Medford, MA October 15, 2026 (Thursday) Lover of Eve, Magic City, American Ocelot, Linnea’s Garden at The Middle East Up EARLY show Doors at 7 with music at 7:30 October 15, 2026 (Thursday) Atomic Prey, Phantom Riders, Zipper, Poof at O'Brien's October 16, 2026 (Friday) Daikaiju and Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion at O’Briens in Allston October 16, 2026 (Friday) The Damned with The Flamin’ Groovies and The Courettes at The Royale October 17, 2026 (Saturday) Sidewalk Driver's Album Release show with Louder Joy, Lipsmear, blindspot - The Middle East Downstairs EARLY 7PM show October 17, 2026 (Saturday) WOW!! Punktoberfest at Thirsty First in Lowell...tons of bands including Farewell Drugs, Tension Scale, Cittizens, The Damaged, Beantown Boozehounds, Michael Kane & The Morning Afters... and MORE!! October 18, 2026 (Sunday) Screeching Weasel & The Queers at The Middle East 7PM. October 20, 2026 (Tuesday) Cradle of Filth, Moonspell, WORM, Black Satellite - Big Night Live October 23, 2026 (Friday) In Contempt, Vicegrip, Skives, Will Tell Aim at O'Brien's 7PM October 24, 2026 (Saturday) Puke Pisstols, Triple Thick, Lithophones, Deuce Club The Band at Underbones October 24, 2026 (Saturday) Osis, Mirrormen, The Sandy Clams, Mirror Stars at The Midway MATINEE at 3PM
October 29, 2026 (Thursday) Ziptie Handcuffs Halloween trick-or-freak party Ziptie Handcuffs, The Freqs, Black Hatch at Underbones October 31, 2026 (Saturday) Punkoween round two. hardcore and punk bands covering Bad Brains, Black Flag, Dead Kennedys, and Slapshot. Pink Cream — opening the night with a full mixtape set. Every genre, no rules. A true mix. Mad Brains — celebrating 50 years of Bad Brains, played by Milo’s Syndicate, Flack Blag — members of The Bags, Blood of Saturn and Catching Hell scream the hits from Hermosa’s Beach’s finest. Black Flag. Charbroiled Nuns — covering the Dead Kennedys. You know them as ChumHuffer, DK comparisons since 2021. Tonight they borrow their name from a lyric in “Bleed for Me.” Slapnot — closing the night with Slapshot songs, played by the actual Boston hardcore legends who helped write them. Born at Slapshot’s 35th anniversary show, they’re also known as The Long Wait when they’re not covering their own legacy. At The Middle East FB page for tix.
November 7, 2026 (Saturday) Flipper, SQRM, Facepaint, Lewd, Violent Protest at Ralph's Diner, Worcester. November 8, 2026 (Sunday) Unnatural Axe, Warthog, The Spackles, The Sonic Wavelength at The Midway MATINEE at 3PM November 12, 2026 (Thursday) Silver Screams, Black Helicopter, Osis at The Square Root November 13, 2026 (Friday) Another chance to catch the film Life On The Other Planet with the Nervous Eaters performing too!! at The Spire Center for the Performing Arts in Plymouth. FB page for info & tix. November 14, 2026 (Saturday) Hixxsgiving with Hixx, Zagnutt, Sex Zombies, Tj Welch & The Wasted at The Midway 3PM MATINEE November 14, 2026 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan presents Glowbox, Girl With A Hawk. Anne Husick and Interstate Johnson at Under Bones, Davis Square
November 20, 2026 (Friday) Minibeast, Thalia Zedek Band, Flying Vipers at O'Brien's November 21, 2026 (Saturday) Spectacle, Modern Day Idols, Tad Overbaugh and the Late Arrivals at The Midway 3PM MATINEE November 21, 2026 (Saturday) Little Billy Lost, Typhoid Mary, Crow Follow, The BickerSins at The Midway 8PM show December 5, 2026 (Saturday) Bootleg Dan presents Tom Springer Band, Spackles, Amanda White Band at Under Bones, Davis Square December 12, 2026 (Saturday) Crow Follow holiday show at Underbones December 17, 2026 (Thursday) Christmas Party with Kenne Highland's Air Force, Still Sedated, JayAllen, Mickey Bliss (psst, it's his birthday) at The Jungle December 18, 2026 (Friday) Lydia Lunch special guests Cryin Caleb, Matt Nelson and Tim Dahl at Koto, Salem - FB page December 31, 2026 (Thursday) New Year's Eve Show with Salyse, On What You're On, Kier Byrnes & The Kettle Burners, Hambone Skinny at The Jungle TIX! 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.
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