The BGN News Archive

Smitt E. Smitty MCs the IPO Photo: Blowfish

The International Pop Overthrow is one of the many annual events that we look forward to: 2009 , 2013, 2014, 2015.
We interviewed David Bash who created the whole thing last year. (You can read it here) This is its 16th year in Boston.

This year, like last year it was at PA’s. I didn’t know any of the bands on the bill for Thursday and that’s part of the deal sometimes. You trust Bash to introduce you to some interesting bands. Bash himself was sick so it was Smitt E. Smitty of Fireking acting as the host.

Ships Have Sailed Photo: John Keegan

Ships Have Sailed were low key and sophisticated. They were a duo of guitar and bass with a backing track that was mainly the bass lines. They navigated the prerecorded tracks constraints as well as I’ve seen. The drummer was constantly inventive and nuanced. It was way more than straight two/four. He alone was enough to hold your interest. Will Carpenter had a lot of moves on the guitar which were a compliment to the intricate yet poppy songs. Overall I hear some Killers like influences. Check out their music here.

The Corrections Photo: John Keegan

The Corrections were in the same neighborhood as Ships Have Sailed. Again they were performing as a duo (guitar/bass). They come from Buffalo and do play with a full band as far as I can tell. The first thing that hits you is Guillermo’s vocals which are perfect fit for pop. There were a few songs that were so good...and that would be a knock out with a group doing them. I knew I was missing something there, but it was a good set. I hope they get to town with the rest of the group at some point, I would hit that. Here's their Facebook page.

Biltmore Photo: Blowfish

Finally a group played; Biltmore are from Pawtucket, RI and their sound is classy like their name. Again I hear The Killers influence. Most of that was from the guitarist, who was spectacular. He had the licks and a pedal board that got him the tone to make them hang in the air and resonate. They had that solid group sound and strong vocals. The whole set had an appealing moody feel that sat easy on a low key Thursday.

This was a night where the right line up of bands made for something bigger than anyone of them alone. It was what I wanted: new pop bands to check out.
Smitty, who was in fez, looked like he was ready to play if needed and did a fine job as host. He’s got the personality. He was be playing on Saturday with a real rocking line up to close out the IPO.

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

November 17 (Thursday) Ten Dollar Mistake, Field Nurse, Hambone Skinny, Jay Allen & the Archcriminals at PA's

November 17 (Thursday) Oh The Humanity, Suburban Samurai, The Hideout, Alarms @ PA's Lounge Union Sq Somerville

November 18 (Friday) Kingsley Flood record release party also on the bill Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents at The Sinclair.

November 19 (Saturday) Live Band Emo/Pop Punk Karaoke at the Middle East Down featuring songs from the likes of Brand New, Sum - 41, Taking Back Sunday, Blink 182 and whole bunch of other surprises backed by Coach and friends and members of local bands Fall Risk, Animal Flag, Sports, and Leaner.

November 19 (Saturday) Tsunami of Sound, The Knock Ups, Axemunkee and The High End at Koto in Salem

November 19 (Saturday) The Forz, Tiger Bomb and The Electric Mess at Beatnik's in Worcester. FB Page

November 20 (Sunday) Nobunny, The Monsieurs, The Cowboys, Black Beach at the Middle East Up. This is an Illegally Blind show. FB PAge

And further out......

November 23-26 (Weds-Saturday) 4 Nights! Jonathan Richman featuring Tommy Larkins on the drums at the Middle East Up. FB page It was an amazing night when we went in 2014. And for fun read our 1980 interview with Jonathan

November 26 (Saturday) Frigate are at The Midway for an afternoon show! Also on the bill Thigh Scrapers and State of The Union 4PM show!

November 28 (Monday) Bob Colby Presents: Cold Expectations and So Sol at the Upstairs Lounge at Once.

November 30 (Wednesday) The Low Babies, Lost Cosmonauts, Thrust Club, Lockette at The Midway

December 1 (Thursday) Humanoids, Mam Ladilla (Spain), Covered in Bees (Maine), Intheshit & Black Friday - O'Brien's

December 2 (Friday) Blood Drive, Sex Orgy Death Crash, Jarva Land and Charlie Don't Surf at PA's

December 2 (Friday) Today Junior, Calico Blue, Spirit Ghost and Brushes at The Midway

December 2 (Friday) Blood Drive, Sex Orgy Death Crash, Jarva Land, Charlie Don't Surf at PA's Lounge

December 3 (Saturday) Muck & The Mires will be on A Crash Course for the Ravers with Brian Young on WMFO 91.5 1-4PM

December 3 (Saturday) Studio Two , The Beatles Tribute w/ Muck and the Mires at The Middle East Up.

December 3 (Saturday) The Forz, Young Bull and others TBA are at Club Boho at The Cantab.

December 3 (Saturday) VapoRubs, Psychic Dog, Silver Screams, Tony Jones & the Cretin 3 at AS220 in Provi

December 6 (Tuesday) When Particles Collide are doing a December Residency every Tuesday at Atwood's Tavern, 7PM show

December 9 (Friday) Peter Murphy "Stripped" -This is A rare opportunity to see Peter Murphy performing (with an ensemble - 3 piece in all) semi-acoustic versions of his music from throughout his illustrious career (um, $25 Advance / $35 Day of Show / $30 VIP Early Bird / $35 VIP Advance) 7 PM Doors

December 9- 13 (Fri- Tues) Danny Garcia's Sad Vacation (a film about Sid and Nancy) is showing at The Regent Theater. You can get tix here.

December 10 (Saturday) Charlie Don't Surf will be on A Crash Course for the Ravers with Brian Young on WMFO 91.5 1-4PM

December 10 (Saturday) Thrash'n'Bang Christmas Party at the Midway

December 10 (Saturday) The Weisstronauts 18th Annual Holiday Jubilee at 4:00 pm at Atwood's

December 10 (Saturday) Nicole Tamaro Productions Christmas Party with The Silver Mirrors, Legendary Rockin Prophets and + free snacks & swag all at the Greek in Union Sq Somerville.

December 10 (Saturday) Psychic TV at Brighton Music Hall

December 13 (Tuesday) When Particles Collide are at Atwood's Tavern, 7PM show

December 20 (Tuesday) When Particles Collide are at Atwood's Tavern, 7PM show

December 23 (Friday) Raging Teens 20th Anniversary Boston Reunion! at O'Brien's (FB page)

December 27 (Tuesday) When Particles Collide are at Atwood's Tavern, 7PM show

April 22 (Saturday) The Templars (NYC), Battle Ruins (Boston), Shipwrecked (Norway), Fit for Abuse (Boston), Boston Strangler (Boston) at the Middle East Down And it's ALREADY sold out in September 2016!

December 10 (Saturday) Psychic TV are at The Brighton Music Hall FB page

January 7 (Saturday) The Johns, The Martians (mems of Bim Skala Bim/Rock Bottom), The Cold Expectations (Album Release) and Medical Maps at The Midway

January 7 (Saturday) The Last Ones, Tsunami of Sound and Stop Calling Me Frank are at Sally O'Briens

January 13 (Friday) Lyres, The Charms, the modifierS at The Middle East Up.

January 14 (Saturday) Now here's a show you won't want to miss Brian Young's A Crash Course for the Ravers (WMFO 95.1FM 1-4PM) has Andy California as a guest.

January 27 (Friday) Ska and Punk night at the Midway with Hobo Chili, Stray Bullets, Losers Circle, Crime Spree and Gant!

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

Ships Have Sailed Photo: Blowfish

The Corrections Photo: Blowfish

Biltmore Photo: Blowfish