The BGN News Archive

Miss Lyn went to the Lydia Lunch and Joseph Keckler show at The Lilypad on Sunday Nov. 6.

Lydia is a whirlwind of psychic energy spewing forth words, that come tumbling out, one over the other, in her smoker’s rasp ... fingers fliting and all attitude.
She’s seen it, done it, been through it and has something to say about it. She doesn’t care what you think … but you better sit there and listen!!

If you’ve been living life in your happy little first-world cloud she’s gonna wake you up and force you to remember all the shit that’s out there. In fact she grabs you by the brain and the heart and shoves your face in it … child abuse, patriarchal society, gritty cities, friends ruined by drugs, whores, war, politics …her post traumatic stress syndrome!!! … and music …glam, punk, the blues.

And Joseph Keckler was such a pleasant surprise!! Classically trained in opera with an extensive vocal range from bass baritone to high pitched scary movie sounds, his pieces are humorous with contemporary themes, albeit bizarre ones, absurd ones. He sings his arias in German and Italian yet he sites Screaming Jay Hawkins, who he called The King of the Ridiculous, as one of his heroes. He is an experience not to be missed!

 

Keith Levene

Garry Roberts

Keith Levene of PIL died on Friday 11/11. He was 65. Keith was also the guitarist for Clash in their early days but left before the first album was recorded.

What he did on guitar has been widely imitated through the years.

Article in the Guardian Article in Guitar World

Garry Roberts the Boomtown Rats guitarist died this week. The Boomtown Rats seemed to have faded a bit as the decades go by but they were a big deal in the early punk days. We still remember their Paradise show. The singer Bob Geldorf got a lot of attention, but the sound of the band was basically Gary’s guitar.

Article on MSN Article on LouderSound

Lowell’s venue The Thirsty First Central St location has closed for good!! That is terrible news!! After the sprinkler system flood the owners terminated the lease.

They posted on their Facebook page:
"Thank you so very much to each and every one of our customers who have become family over the past 7 years. Your support got us through the pandemic and your loyalty over the past year with all of the building’s issues has been appreciated more than we could ever tell you. We are in the process of finding another location downtown and we hope to open back up as soon as possible and better than ever! We understand that there was something special about our location on Central street and we will do our absolute best to bring as much of that vibe with us as possible! And, like many of our crew have said……it’s the people that make Thirsty’s special and that is the damn truth! Love you guys……..see you soon!"

Here's a story on Vanyaland

and in the vein The Boston Globe had an informative article on the club situation in Western Mass. It seems while the Iron Horse Music Hall and Pearl St Nightclub venues are still idle a few new clubs have opened in the last few years. The longstanding Parlor Room is now joined by the Drake, The Bombyx Center and Race Street Live. They cater to a wide variety of tastes.

After a big build up the Nervous Eaters now have their new album Monsters & Angels officially released. We've been treated to five of the album tracks already. What a line-up of songs “Superman’s Hands”, “Hop Sing Said”, “Wild Eyes” and “End of the World Girl”. All those had videos, as does “Chad” which was released this week with the album. See that video below.

“Want It Like Before” roars out of the gate like all the classic Eaters songs. The lyrics are “I just want it like before”. Well, if you are an Eaters fan this does that for you.

“Tear Me Up” has some lyrics showing some vulnerability in the character but alternately some rage and it’s in an ambiguous apocalyptic setting.

“One Thousand Ships” seems to be about David Bowie and his personas. It name checks Margaret Mary Jones who was Bowie’s (David Jones) mother. Check out the lyrics on the Bandcamp page.

“Evilynn (Zombies & Sapphires)” is a change-up. It’s slow and casts a spell. The title of the album Monsters & Angels come from this song. There’s lots of contrasts and dualities spun through the lyrics. Evil Lyn is a character in Masters of the Universe but there’s nothing cartoony about the song at all, it seems like serious business.

Then there is a new version of the classic “Last Chance.” We get misty when we think of all the clubs and all the shows where we have been thrilled and moved to hear that song. The kicker here is that we have some of those Cataldo solos that we love, finally in recorded form. This is a gift for the longtime fan.

We love that the cover is a photo of a Wayne Viens art piece and that the design of the cover is by band member Adam Sherman.

Old time fans will love this album and it’s already getting new fans with the airplay of the pre-released songs. We’ve said it before – it’s a great time to be a Nervous Eaters fan.

November 19th is the 2nd Annual Colman Burns-Takki and Linnea Sturdy Memorial Benefit Show. Colman and Linnea both of the group Bad Movies died in the same month in 2021 which was heartbreaking. This show will take place at the C Note and all money raised will go to the charities the families have set up in memory.

Last Year they raised $2400 which was donated to the respective Charities which sent 2 girls to a science summer Camp on Penikese Island and one drummer to attend Berkley College of Music. Links below in the Gig Listings

They continue to line up bands but here's what they have so far - Jobber, Dogs In The Woods, Straight Eights( Reunion Show), Witches Tears, Working Poor USA,
Gold Hoax, Hardwired, WORM (2 sets with Original Line-up and Current Line up honoring CJ Playing their first and Last album Colman Drummed on)
and .... Chris Doherty Of Gang Green backed By WORM doing 12-14 Gang Green Songs

OK, it's not even Thanksgiving yet but the Christmas stuff is being announced so get in the mood friends!!

The Scrooges are at Notch Brewery Brighton on Dec 22nd. Also on the bill are Gretchen & The Banshees. Links etc in the gig listings (scroll down!!)

The Holiday Markets are setting up ... so plan your gift shopping accordingly:

Salem's Black Mold Market II at Old Town Hall in Salem Center 1:30PM - 9PM November 27th - Bands: Dropdead, Backstabbers Inc.,PCP & The Knives, Troll Milk, Funerary Spell, Necralant, Brix 'n Mortar, Vomit Dolls, Rejects, and Stryga - Vendors: Deathwish Inc., Armageddon Shop, Tomb Gallery & Tattoo, Come On Strong, Chaos & Hell, Speakeasy Printshop, Creeping Death Designs, Content Breaks Distro, The Haul Of Horror, Salem Kustom Leathers, Clay Creep - FB page.

Winter Fest, Holiday Market at Boynton Yards by Once on Dec 10 - Games, Free Food, Bands and a huge list of awesome vendors. FB event page.

New England Punk Rock Flea Market on Dec 10 at the historic Hotel Vernon, located in the vibrant and newly revitalized Kelly Square, Worcester. it's a day of vendors and bands, a toy drive, and holiday raffles! 11AM - 9PM Music at 7PM -Music 7PM with Michael Kane (solo), Scare City, Sapling, Memory Lame FB page for vendor info etc

Night Shift Brewing Holiday Market is Sunday Dec 11 from 12 PM – 5 PM. Shop Boston Women’s Market small businesses for gifts throughout the marketplace ~ Get delicious grub from Daddy's Bonetown Burger from 12 PM - 5 PM - ~ Enjoy live music from 2 PM - 5 PM. ~ No tickets required, free event! FB page

The Plymouth Punk Rock Indoor Market is now TWO DAYS for the Holidays. Dec 17 & 18 at Mayflower Brewing Company, Plymouth. 15 vendors on Saturday, 15 different vendors on Sunday: vinyl records, housewares, accessories, handmade jewelry, oddities, vintage goods & clothing.
Weird stuff for weird people. all ages, no cover. Food trucks: Wild Game Sausage Guy on Saturday, Wolf Pizza on Sunday FB event page

BOOKS......

Patti Smith has a new book of photos; A Book of Days has over 365 photos. Patti took Polaroids for many years and those images were in some of her other books. Starting in 2018 she began posting phone images on Instagram. The images are similar to her Polaroids, they're sepia and black & white. They tend to be simple and stark.

"Original to this book are vintage photographs: anniversary pearls, a mother’s keychain, and a husband’s Mosrite guitar. Here, too, are photos from Smith’s archives of life on and off the road, train stations, obscure cafés, a notebook always nearby. In wide-ranging yet intimate daily notations, Smith shares dispatches from her travels around the world."

You can see some of them in this New Yorker piece online The book is officially released on this Tuesday. Here’s the book on the Brookline Booksmith website

VIDEOS......

Along with the album release the Nervous Eaters have yet another well done video. This one is “Chad” which has been a fave for a while. We love that line “ she had blonde hair, then she had brown hair, then she had red hair, then she had blue hair”. This is a particularly sweet piece of song writing both lyrically, with it’s memory of a lost love, and musically. There are spots were the guitars chunk out some power chords and that alternates where the chords splash out and they sound suspended. There’s some mystery in those spots.

They look real good here and the feel of the video mirrors the song. Add this to the line of well-done videos that have served to showcase the band.

We loved “Summer Rain” by Evil Felipe when it came out. Now they just released a video. The song is framed as a break up letter that never gets sent. The video transmits that idea that the breakup is freeing, like being washed by summer rain.

The music hangs on two chords with a distinctive rhythm. The lyrics have the naked emotion that are effective.

The video by Gina Birch, the legendary punker from the Raincoats, has an opening that will stop your short. Gina will have an album on Third Man Records in February of 2023. This song is “Wish I Were You”.

There have been some videos of The Damned shows in England with the original lineup. This video is the whole show (42 minutes) but it’s was filmed by an audience member. Not great quality, but if you’re curious, it’s all there.

The link to the video

PODCASTS.........

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico interviews Smitt E. Smitty this week. It’s no secret that Smitty is from Detroit and they go over some of Detroit’s music legacy.

Smitty was in Figures on a Beach with Tony Kaczynski. His story of how he got on some recordings with Was Not Was is interesting. There’s another story of fate working its magic with Smitty’s story of Figures on a Beach getting a gig at Axis in the eighties.

Steeve also includes an interview with critic/musician Charles Rivers. They talk about facets that bands face when playing in the Boston area.

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

Rick Coraccio's name is familiar to all long time Boston punk fans. He was bass player for DMZ, Lyres and the Last Ones. Through the years Rick was constantly writing and recording in his own studio. The 24 cut Anthology was released a few years ago. Now, it’s available on Bandcamp.

Rick is known for his bass playing but his organ playing is garage gold too.

There are songs that many will want on this. The first song “In the Alley” should convince you right away of the garage greatness that is to follow. “Heaven is Falling” is a haunting mood piece. “Only Andrea Knows” has been covered by other groups. “Dreams of a Poor Man’s Mind” has a Velvet Underground chord vamp going for it. We always put that on ‘repeat’. It ends with “Number One Again” a local radio hit for the Last Ones.

If you haven't read them you may also be interested in the journals Rick wrote for the BGN from 2003 to 2007. Rick is a great writer and includes a lot of vintage photos in his Journals. You can read them here.

Jay Allen and the Archcriminals are on the verge of releasing a five song EP titled Decriminalized. “Frying Pan Justice” will be on the EP. This week they released another song “Be Mine Tonight”.

The verses are where Jay gets to spin his hard luck tales that he is known for. The chorus has a real sixties girl group sound to it which is reinforced with the sax playing by Terry O’Malley from Stop Calling Me Frank. Caution: extremely catchy.

We learned on Bay State Rock’s last bi-weekly show that the 80’s band The Underachievers had remastered their material and made it available on Bandcamp. It’s a sixteen track album with all sorts of goodies. The recordings come from different sources.

In the band was Carmen Wiseman of Miscarriage on bass and Bob MacKenzie of GG Allin, Mighty Ions and Hopelessly Obscure on drums. Jim Janota is also on four tracks on drums.

There are spots like on “I’ll Be There For You “ where they sound a lot like X. It’s indie sounding without giving up the punk edge. You can’t help but feel that this is a real find. Going against their name The Underachievers worked hard. They played a lot of shows, had songs on compilations and got a good measure of attention in their time but maybe not enough.

The Fabulous Courvettes are a duo that get a lot of attention in the rock press. Here’s there latest single titled “Bye Bye, Mon Amour” the other song is the English version “I Want You Like a Cigarette”.

With production the duo makes a record that sounds like a low fi version of Phil Spector.

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

November 14, 2022 (Monday) The Schizophonics, Muck and the Mires, The Chelsea Curve are at Middle East - Upstairs

November 14, 2022 (Monday) Secret Miracle, Constantly Terrified, Goon Platoon and Marc Alan at the Silhouette Lounge in Allston FB page

November 16, 2022 (Wednesday) Youth of Today, Art Thieves, ICU at The Middle East Down TIX!!

November 16, 2022 (Wednesday) International Pop Overthrow starts today at the Union Tavern and runs through Sunday 11/19. Go here to see who is paying when

November 17, 2022 (Thursday) The Thigh Scrapers, Mad Painter, Doug MacDonald Band, The Stigmatics at The Middle East Up.

November 18, 2022 (Friday) Walter Sickert & The Army of Broken Toys: 2nd Annual SOMETHING STRANGE a a live music and dance tribute to the Nightmare Before Christmas at the Crystal Ballroom at Somerville Theatre - show is at 8PM. FB page.

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) A Crash Course For The Ravers on WMFO 91.5 FM has Mach Bell as guest. 10AM- 1PM FB page

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) 2nd Annual Colman Burns-Takki and Linnea Sturdy Memorial Benefit Show at the C Note. All money raised will go to the charities the families have set up in memory. The Facebook event page Featuring Jobber, Dogs In The Woods, Straight Eights (Reunion Show), Witches Tears, Working Poor USA, Gold Hoax, Hardwired, WORM (2 sets with Original Line-up and Current Line up honoring CJ Playing their first and Last album Colman Drummed on)
and .... Chris Doherty Of Gang Green backed By WORM doing 12-14 Gang Green Songs

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) Linnea’s Garden, The Lights Out, Emily Grogan Band, Crow Follow at The Jungle

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) Public Speaking, Thalia Zedeck, Luxury Deathtrap, Storax Sedan at O'Briens

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) Men and Volts at The Square Root

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) Annihil, Velvet Dreaming, Secret Miracle and Bluffs at the Democracy Center in Cambridge - 7PM, all ages - no booze/drugs, masks required

November 19, 2022 (Saturday) Classic Ruins, Greg Allen's Fringe Religion, The BickerSins at Alchemy in Provi, RI FB page

November 20, 2022 (Sunday) Local punk legends Garage Dogs join Scream Along with Billy, Anthony Kaczynski (Magnetic Fields) and Thalia Zedek (Come), for a recreation of the Rolling Stones’ 1969 masterpiece. Surprise guests and Stones deep-cuts included at no extra cost. Show is at 6PM! At The Rockwell Davis Sq Somerville. FB page.

November 20, 2022 (Sunday) Hardcore Stadium presents - The Trouble at the Middle East Down (alas this show is sold out)

November 25, 2022 (Friday) Grayskull Booking & Hardcore Stadium present Slapshot, Crown of Thornz, Risk, Neighborhood Shit at The Middle East Down This show has been moved to March 2023

November 25, 2022 (Friday) The Sheila Divine, Valleyheart, The Rupert Selection at the Paradise Facebook event page Tickets

November 25, 2022 (Friday) Hammered Saint, The Hellbound Hitmen, Shock Corpse, Scumbari are at Koto in Salem.

November 25, 2022 (Friday) Tree are at Alchemy in Provi RI - FB page

November 26, 2022 (Saturday) Stars & Stripes, The Prowlers, Cinderblock, Luger at Sonia

November 26, 2022 (Saturday) Dinosaur Jr., Guided by Voices and Eugene Mirman are at the House of Blues -FB page

November 27, 2022 (Sunday) Salem's Black Mold Market II at Old Town Hall in Salem Center 1:30PM - 9PM. Bands: Dropdead, Backstabbers Inc.,PCP & The Knives, Troll Milk, Funerary Spell, Necralant, Brix 'n Mortar, Vomit Dolls, Rejects, and Stryga - Vendors: Deathwish Inc., Armageddon Shop, Tomb Gallery & Tattoo, Come On Strong, Chaos & Hell, Speakeasy Printshop, Creeping Death Designs, Content Breaks Distro, The Haul Of Horror, Salem Kustom Leathers, Clay Creep - FB page.

November 28, 2022 (Monday) War On Women, Cancer Bats, Spaced at The Middle East - Upstairs

December 2, 2022 (Friday) California's Decent Criminal comes to Boston joined by locals C.E. Skidmore & the Damn Fine Band and KCUF at Faces Brewing Malden.

December 2 & 3, 2022 (Friday & Saturday) America’s Hardcore Fest 2022 Friday December 2 - tons of bands check out the Facebook page for bands, times and weekend pass purchases.

December 3, 2022 (Saturday) Baabes, Sgt. Scag, Threat Level Burgundy at The Midway

December 8, 2022 (Thursday) Anngelle Wood’s 11th Annual Spectacular Gift Drive for DCF Wonderfund at Faces Brewing in Malden - featuring music by Parlour Bells, Gretchen Shae and the Middle Eight, Little Fuss. They are collecting unwrapped gifts for foster families in the Boston area - not just toys, gifts for all ages, infants to 18 year olds. Think books, clothing, art supplies, personal care items, sporting goods, electronics, games, gift cards and more. Come spread holiday cheer! - Here is the FB page.

December 9, 2022 (Friday) The McGunks Christmas Party with We Own Land, Grip Bite and hosted by Adam Femino at The News Cafe, Pawtucket, RI. FBpage.

December 9, 2022 (Friday) Zip-Tie Handcuffs, One Fall, Blame It On Whitman, at Faces Brewing in Malden. FB page.

December 9, 2022 (Friday) Jonee Earthquake Xmas Punk Party at The Shaksheen Pub Manchester, NH FB page.

December 9, 2022 (Friday) The McGunks X-Mas Party with The McGunks, We Own Land, Grip Bite and Hosted by Adam Femino at The News Cafe Pawtucket RI

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) Winter Fest, Holiday Market at Boynton Yards by Once on Dec 10 - Games, Free Food, Bands and a huge list of awesome vendors. FB event page.

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) New England Punk Rock Flea Market presents our inaugural live event, happening here at the historic Hotel Vernon, located in the vibrant and newly revitalized Kelly Square. Join us for a fun day of vendors and bands, a toy drive, and holiday raffles! 11AM - 9PM Music at 7PM -Music 7PM with Michael Kane (solo), Scare City, Sapling, Memory Lame FB page for vendor info etc

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) 5th Annual Tunes for Tots with Lenny Lashley's Gang of One, Loser's Circle, Dead Low, Jeff Bousquet at The Midway Cafe - MATINEE at 3 PM | 10 Bucks | ALL AGES! - *PLEASE BRING A NEW AND UNWRAPPED TOY TO DONATE TO TOYS FOR TOTS! FB page.

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) Magic Room Rock and Roll Holiday Party! with Diablogato, The Shang Hi Lo, Muck and The Mires, Little Billy Lost - this is an early-ish show- music starts at 7:30PM -FB page.

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) Oneida, Martin Bisi, Thalia Zedek at Lilypad Inman Sq Cambridge 7-10PM show.

December 10, 2022 (Saturday) The Stampede, Mouth Washington, Miracle Blood at Aeronaut Cannery in Everett FB page

December 11, 2022 (Sunday) Night Shift Brewing Holiday Market

December 14, 2022 (Wednesday) Boston Music Awards - FB page.

December 16, 2022 (Friday) A Very FUNdraising XMAS: featuring rock star heroes of the 90’s: Buffalo Tom, Mary Lou Lord, The Bags, members of Fuzzy, Merrie Amsterburg, Scruffy The Cat and more- all playing holiday tunes and some of their infectious 90’s hits at the Burren Davis Square, Somerville, MA. Rock the nostalgia, come by, and donate to a great cause https://abortionfunds.org/ - it’s sure to be a seasonal treat! FB page

December 17 & 18, 2022 (Saturday & Sunday) Plymouth Punk Rock TWO DAY Indoor Market at Mayflower Brewing Company, Plymouth. 15 vendors on Saturday, 15 different vendors on Sunday: vinyl records, housewares, accessories, handmade jewelry, oddities, vintage goods & clothing.
Weird stuff for weird people. all ages, no cover. Food trucks: Wild Game Sausage Guy on Saturday, Wolf Pizza on Sunday FB event page

December 17, 2022 (Saturday) Hardcore Stadium Holiday Celebration with Infest, Siege, Citizens Arrest, Dropdead, F.U.'s, Shark Attack, Intent To Injure, Tree, Firewalker, Peace Test, The Lousy, Tossed Aside, Sinister Wand, Burning Lord - at the Middle East - All Ages, $35 Advance / $30 Day of Show, 3:00 PM Doors

December 17, 2022 (Saturday) SCMF, Dogmatics, Jittery Jack & Amy Griffin at Faces in Malden FB page.

December 17, 2022 (Saturday) Murdoch, Lonely Leesa & The Lost Cowboys, Gene Dante & The Future Starlets at The Middle East - Upstairs - (Doors: 6:00 pm )

December 18, 2022 (Sunday) The Lemonheads are playing a second show the Paradise - Facebook event page

December 22, 2022 (Thursday) The Scrooges and Gretchen & The Bansheess are at Notch Brewery Brighton. Facebook Event page

February 24, 2023 (Thursday) Triple B Records presents: Gorilla Biscuits, Restraining Order, Wild Side, Vantage Point, Truth Cult, Wreckage - warning tix are $40!! this is a 6 PM show.

March 11, 2023 (Saturday) Grayskull Booking & Hardcore Stadium present Slapshot, Crown of Thornz, Risk, Neighborhood Shit at The Middle East Down

October 11, 2023 (Wednesday) The Mission UK & The Chameleons: Deja Vu Tour 2022 Rescheduled to 2023!!! also on the bill Theatre of Hate

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.