The BGN News Archive

Roger Miller

Roger Miller of MOB has to be one of the most interesting musicians out there. Not only is his music fascinating but the ideas behind the creations are novel and intriguing. That brings us to the interview with Miller on the Sun 13 website out of Liverpool.

They give him enough space to go over some early history and explain his different projects. Like a lot of our generation the Beatles had a big influence and then living in Detroit exposed him to MC5 and Iggy.

There’s spots that surprise, as well as explain, some of his music. Like the point where he says the solo in “Weatherbox” is him waving back in forth (with heavy tremolo on the guitar), like a weathervane, in front of the amp – and that’s the solo. He talks about making music from dreams or NASA’s photos of Mars! He remembers not moving during an MTV filming of “Trem Two” because he wanted to sabotage the whole thing. The band hated MTV.

He talks about the later reunion and why that stopped after a few albums. Just the paragraph talking about the album Oh, Guitars, etc (Forced Expose Records 1988) is worth reading alone to hear the ideas, art and attitude Roger brings to a recording. The same goes with his story of recording the album The Forest.

The Globe gave a write up for the For the Children benefit hardcore show at Big Night Live on Saturday/Sunday a few days ago 12/6-7. They focused on the stereotyped image of hardcore groups against the beneficial good they were doing. That's just wrong!!

The groups playing were: Haywire, Fiddlehead, Bane, Colin of Arabia, and Twitching Tongues and more. The show was organized by Austin Sparkman, of Haywire, who are touring with the Dropkick Murphys in 2026. Here’s Haywires album Conditioned for Demolition from January 2024. The lyrics are strong, blunt and backed with grinding hardcore.

Here’s the link if you can get by the paywall.

The Spackles have an album coming out in January and have a album release show scheduled for January 18 Sunday, at the Midway. Other groups on the bill are Galaxy Cake, The Haymakers and Bob Cenci’s Orange Guitar. The Facebook event page.

The fiftieth anniversary of the Patti Smith's Horses album has gotten much attention. Locals were thrilled by the show at the Orpheum. One of the best assessments of Horses was in the New York Times. They talked to the main principals and fellow musicians who were influenced by the record. Here is the link if you can get by the paywall.

Underbones, the club below Redbones in Davis Square is up and running and they seemed to have done it fast. Bootleg Dan Anklin is booking the club. On Saturday, December 20 there is a bill with Motel Saturn who have had notable releases lately and The Thigh Scrapers with currently radioless Brian Young.

The third band on the bill is the Idolizers from NYC who have straight up rock and roll sound stuck in 5th gear. You can hear that yourself on KA-BOOM!, their latest album on Bandcamp. NYC never sleeps they say and The Idolizers never slow down. A ballad is like kryptonite to them – they stay far away from it. Live they should be a killer. Hear the album below.

The annual Coolest Song in the World contest on Little Steven’s Underground Garage is here again. We have several local groups looking to get chosen. Muck and the Mires want a “Beat Revolution” and also a vote for that song that made the list. “Little Doll” is the song they picked for Peppermint Kicks, it could have been any other song too on their album Pop Rocks in My Chewing Gum.

Local group (by adoption) Supidity have their great cover of The Bag's“Spread It Around” up for it. Imagine that song that came out in 1987 being considered now?! Vote at the Underground Garage website. You can vote (every 12 hours) up to December 24. Since the Coolest Song in the World is always the best song on the weekly show that makes a playlist of those songs super frigid. Hear them below on the Spotify playlist.

VIDEOS......

It’s another Fezztones production (in Fezz-A-Scope) with the new Little Billy Lost video for “Tonight”. There’s a wide range of super colorized imagery interspersed with the band playing live. The two paintings by Edward Hopper that are tucked in were a surprise.

You see Jim Melanson the guitarist playing parts of his solo. It seems effortless and in a way it is. The playing isn’t difficult; it’s the way the notes are chosen and crafted that makes them special.

Stage Diving Santa showed up at a TREE show. Ho Ho Kris Kringle. This was posted on Facebook.

Bob Mould’s Sugar has reformed and recorded their first song in over three decades. “House of Dead Memories” comes with a video which shows concert footage of the band back in its original days. There will be a 4 LP set on Record Store day with complete recordings of Sugar’s first album Copper Blue.

RADIO......

On Skybar’s December 2 show had Bruno from the new group Torch Red. Bruno related the beginnings of the group and played two songs. Later he talked about their songs and immediate future plans. This is a good chance to get up to speed with Torch Red.

The Rising show is on Tuesday at 7 to 9pm. To listen go to the WMFO webpage and hit the show listing on Wednesday at 9pm and then hit archive.

PODCASTS......

The Elastic Glam show posted their Black Friday show 12/5. They began with a poppy beauty by The Lemon Twigs “I’ve Got a Broken Heart”. They followed with a song that makes a statement about being replaced by a machine. “Automate Me” is by Australian group Speed Me.

We get the glam Christmas fix with “No One Waits Till Christmas” by Silver Glam and Glam Queen Suzi Quatro’s “Frosty the Snowman”. The throwbacks were from New York Dolls, David Essex and, one new to us, Barry Blue “Dancin’ on a Saturday Night”.

You can now vote for your favorite Glam Song of the Year and the winners will be played on the New Year’s Eve show. Voting goes till December 26.

Al Quint did his all covers show on Sonic Overload on 11/24. There was gold in the first set where groups covered Boston hardcore groups: Jerry’s Kids, Negative FX, Last Rights, FUs and SS Decontrol. You get to hear hardcore versions of songs by: Devo, Swell Maps and Beatles.

There was a great punk cover set. Chron Gen did Jet Boy Jet Girl (Elton Motello), Fea with “I Am A Cliche” (X Ray Spex), Stagger doing “You Tear Me Up” Buzzcocks” , Chemo Kids with “Cranked Up Really High” and Nation of Finks covering The Clash song “What’s Your Name”. Later Eddie and the Hot Rods make it in with “Get Out of Denver” which is a Bob Seger song. Al played the Flying Lizards doing the “Money” cover and we had occasion to mention that this week in our review of the group American Lips below in the New Music section.

Embedded below we give you a taste with “Come Together” the Beatles song done by Fanbase, This show is jammed packed with interesting covers, it’s your duty to go in and explore.

On the 12/1 Sonic Overload show the Queen, Hall & Oats and Cheap Trick set was not expected but Quint will slip those oddball songs in. He did play the Jam with the 45 anniversary of Sound Effects and The Jesus and Mary Chain for the 40th anniversary of Psycho Candy album.

We share three cuts. S.O.H. with “Life On Edge, Kicker singing “Bunker”. The singer sounds like Anti Nowhere League and it's funny how they just go on about that ‘bunker’ and local band Lude Boys doing “Combat Shock”.

You can hear the Sonic Overload shows on their web blog. . Al has logged all the shows since 2009.

Vincent Straggas is getting attention with the documentary Life On The Other Planet. He was interviewed on WGBH’s The Culture Show podcast on November 25. Vincent admits that he saw the downtime during Covid as an opportunity to do a project that he had a love for.

They play sections of “Prettiest Girl” as an intro and later play the Read Kids’ “Out of Place”, Robin Lane and the Chartbusters “When Things Go Wrong”, Wille Loco Alexander’s “Kerouac” and Nervous Eaters “Loretta”. They talk about how the city was part of the scene and of course the Rat.

Vincent says there are other screenings for Life on the Other Planet and you can keep up to date on that on the film’s website.

Wormtown Underground Radio had another superb instalment on 11/24. They always have a mix of genres and range of times in their playlists.

We liked The Make Out with “I Don’t Want Anyone That Wants Me”. They were an indie band out around 2020. The group has a video that brings the song to life too. We liked the Sugar/Bob Mould/Husker Du triptych.

DJ Mike did a set for the anniversary of President Kennedy’s assassination. Mike played an old favorite by Little Roger and the Goosebumps. “Kennedy Girl” put new words to Neil Young’s “Cinnamon Girl”. That got played like crazy on WTBS/WMBR around 1980. The group also did the infamous “Stairway to Gilligan”.

There’s new material with Sapling, Nervous Eaters and Muck and the Mires. The show is four hours so it’s hard to even summarize. Take a look at the playlist and dive in.

NEW MUSIC/CD's ......

We mentioned the benefit album A Compilation to Benefit the Science Club for Girls that Sapling was contributing to. That album is now streaming on Bandcamp. There are some familiar names and Boston groups in the lineup outside of Sapling.

Linnea’s Garden offer their very relevant “Science and You” released in 2021. Linnea is a perfect role model for this target audience. In the same vein Sailor Down does a cover of Guided by Voices song “I Am a Scientist”. Daphne Blue Underworld goes to the eccentric Tom Lehrer and does up “The Elements”, that was a genius idea.

See You at Rogers cover “Vow” by Garbage and capture the Garbage characteristics in the song which we don’t think is easy. Bad Idea from Salem cover “Seether” by Veruca Salt. It was a flashback to hear Cass Elliot’s “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by MK Naomi but again a song that that fits the bill here. There’s lots of good ideas and empowering songs in this collection.

The album wraps it up with the group Sadlands. As you might suspect with that name they play their cover slow and sad. They make it feel wrong that “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (Cindy Lauper) or at least they question the concept. It’s actually a fun mind warp.

It up to Miracle on Comm Ave IX now, that means nine years of raising money for Child’s Play. They gift toys and video games to terminally ill children.

There are some regular performers here from years past like Squallie Greenthumb and The Coffin Salesmen. The Coffin Salesmen with Lynsey Moon do a fine version of The Pogues’ “Fairytale of New York”. We shouldn’t be surprised but the group Permanent Stains covers “Merry Christmas I Fucked Your Snowman” by The Showcase Showdown. Hell Beach goes old school straight ahead rock on Chuck Berry’s “Run Rudolph Run”.

Most of the cuts are acoustic and reflect the Christmas season. Warm + Fuzzy do a dreamy soundscape titled “Snowflake”. It’s only $5 that will show the artists you care for their effort and give help for the children.

Stop Calling Me Frank releases a new recording every year for Christmas. This time it is “Naughty or Nice” a cover of rockabilly artist Warren Smith. SCMF capture the 50s style effortlessly, especially having the sax man Terry O’Malley doing his thing.

Rum Bar has coupled this along with past Christmas songs and have released what they are calling a Maxi Single. That’s 6 cuts including the “Market Basket Anthem” for good measure. Also in there is “Santa I’m Bored” which is a rock sax surfin’ tune that pleads “let’s get a fifth, ‘cause Santa, I’m bored”.

Huck 2 sent us a Christmas song they recorded a few years ago. They call it “Bahoo Bores” which turns out to be “Welcome Christmas” which is sung by the Whos in Dr. Suess’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas TV special. It was new to us and a fun Christmas tune.

American Lips are a group with members from both Montreal and Los Angeles. They're a mix of art rock, garage and new wave. They sound lo-fi and on the primate side. They are funny too. They describe themselves as college rock, collage rock and then collagen supplement rock.

We got flashbacks of the Flying Lizards (who covered “Money” in 1979 and had a huge hit). The group uses synths in a similar way. “Got It Made” and “Get It On” are the songs we kept going back to because of the melodic sections. “On Strike” might be the most Flying Lizard sound alike. There used to be lots of groups like this, not any more.

Another group from our Canadian connection is garage pop group Alex Little with the album Spider in the Sink. Ther band sounds like its main purveyor Blondie. Her voice is not a copy of Blondie but the singing/songs/group sound combo fits the comparison.

The song that hooked us was “Forever”. It starts quiet with guitar harmonics over a bass line but soon cranks up with the whole group. Then unexpectedly at the 1:50 mark the guitar swoops in. It is all amped up on fuzz and the guitarist, Adam Sabla, digs in as he hits the whammy bar fast but controlled. This is clearly Davie Allan and the Arrows territory. What a sweet solo that is.

It happens again in the song “Sounds Like A Deal”. We go on about the guitar work but most people will like this for the song quality and the singing.

Got this group from the Radio Warfare podcast this week. The Gnomes are from Australia. They play mostly Mersey beat power pop. They aren’t a tidy group. They let the excitement carry them away – as in “I Like It”. They sound Mersey but they don’t get religious about it. That means they get to some other places and that’s good. The drummer especially gets very enthusiastic – again, that’s good. In “Flippin’ Stomp” they flip out.

Hear the whole album on their Bandcamp page. We are going to leave you with the song Tim Livingston played on Radio Warfare “I’ll Be There”. That hooked us and it might hook you.

We featured a Christmas song, “Maria Believes in Christmas Again” by the Krayolas from San Antonio in the last BGN. It turns out the group has lots of surprises on the album Christmas Candy that contains that single.

A few songs are upbeat rockin’ Christmas songs a la Beach Boys. Those would be “Giddy Up Santa” and “Surf’s Down”. Then there are two songs featuring the legendary Augie Meyers from the Sir Douglas Quintet: “Tex Mex Rudolph” and “Exit Salida”. They also bring in veteran Tex Mex musicians Flaco Jimenez and Santiago Jimenez, Jr. All that is sort of a Christmas present for people that love the rock and Tex Mex music from San Antonio.

In the last issue of the BGN we reviewed the new Lyres album Lyres: Live at the Rusty Nail on the Misty Lane Music record label. That got us to the labels’ Bandcamp page where they have other garage groups. The latest is The Others from Italy. Their Teen Trash album is a 15 cut deep dive into garage rock that you should check out.

Many songs start off with a four chord garage rock progression that typifies so much of the classic garage tunes through the years. Fuzz? Oh ya. Organ? Plenty of it. It all sounds like it was recorded in 1963. These guys have it down.

More garage sound from Slovenly Records with Los Inquietos (The Restless), from Costa Rica. They have the Slovenly sound which is very raw garage. It sounds like the group has small amps turned up all the way with blown speakers. The most traditional garage tune on this three song EP is “Asi Soy” (That’s How I Am). But maybe being traditional is not the thing for this wild group.

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

December 8, 2025 (Monday) Jean Paul Jean Paul, and Big Rav at The Silhouette

December 10, 2025 (Wednesday) Angry-Las, Osis, The Iron League, The Pledge Pins at O'Briens

December 11, 2025 (Thursday) AN EVENING OF MUSICAL CELEBRATION with Girl with a Hawk, MARS, The Weisstronauts at The Burren 7PM show!

December 12, 2025 (Friday) Let’s Rock Cancer! A Rockin’ Night to benefit Dana-Farber Cancer Institute’s Cancer Care Access Program with Vapors of Morphine The Chelsea Curve Muck & the Mires The Ray Liriano Experience, GO! and special guests at The Crystal Ballroom Somerville. TIX!

December 12, 2025 (Friday) Butterbrain, Sonic Bomb, Cuidado, The Agonizers at The Middle East Up

December 13, 2025 (Saturday) Tj Welch & The Wasted, The Strikeout Boys, Spectacle, Psycho Prophet - The Midway

December 13, 2025 (Saturday) Stray Bullets, Nick And The Adversaries, OC45, Service Pistol at The Middle East Up

December 13, 2025 (Saturday) The Stress Balls, Quick To Judge, Dead In The Water, Sue, and STD, at the Cambridge Community Center, 5 Callender St, Cambridge, MA, 6:30pm, $10 All Ages TIX.

December 13, 2025 (Saturday) Killer Hearts, Killer Kin, Scumbari, Ruffian Dick at O'Briens

December 14, 2025 (Sunday) O'BRIEN'S Allston Live Makers Market —" local artists, printmakers, indie designers, vintage hunters, and small-batch makers who actually care about what they make. No mass-produced crap. No personality-free presents. Come hang. Grab a beer or a cocktail.".. also on Dec 21 12–4pm each day And check it out: Vendors keep 100% of what they make. It's all at O'Brien's Allston

December 14, 2025 (Sunday) Then it's the O'Brien's Christmas Party with The Scrooges and 99 Shots at O'Briens [free w/ unwrapped toy]

December 14, 2025 (Sunday) Pregame Rituals, Shiver, Return Address at Deep Cuts Malden

December 14, 2025 (Sunday) Worcester Punk Rock Flea Market at The White Eagle, 118 Green Street, Worcester, MA. Free, 21+ LOADS of awesome vendors (check out the FB link!!) With Jonee Earthquake Band, Take Warning, Good Judgement, and Joey Ramone's Fireside Rocker Facebook page.

December 17, 2025 (Wednesday) Mollusk. Ingrate, Guppy, Infecticide Machine at The Midway - This is a Community food drive! Bring $10 cash or (at least) 2 canned food items. ALL AGES 8PM show

December 18, 2025 (Thursday) Cheat Death, Far Too Late, Car Girlfriend, Funnybone, Convoluted at The Parlor in Provi, RI - TIX

December 19, 2025 (Friday) 13TH Annual Gift Drive for DCF WONDERFUND with Gene Dante & The Future Starlets and Lovinia Falls at The Burren TIX HOW TO GIVE -bring New, unwrapped gifts for children of all ages to include toys, books, games, coats, hats, mittens, hoodies, personal care items, sporting goods, art supplies, instruments, electronics, and gift cards. . SATELLITE DROP BOX LOCATION ��For anyone who would like to donate but may not be able to attend, new, unwrapped gifts can be left at Petsi Pies at 285 Beacon St, Somerville, from Friday, December 5 through Friday, December 19.

December 19, 2025 (Friday) Holiday music party with Amanda Palmer and Friends at The Magic Room TIX

December 20, 2025 (Saturday) Thigh Scrapers, The Idolizers, Hotel Saturn at Underbones (at RedBones)

December 20, 2025 (Saturday) The Del Fuegos at City Winery - TWO shows - 3PM TIX and 7:30PM TIX

December 20, 2025 (Saturday) Jittery Jack, Deke Dickerson at The Burren - 5:30 EARLY show

December 21, 2025 (Sunday) O'BRIEN'S Allston Live Makers Market —" local artists, printmakers, indie designers, vintage hunters, and small-batch makers who actually care about what they make. No mass-produced crap. No personality-free presents. Come hang. Grab a beer or a cocktail.".. 12–4pm each day And check it out: Vendors keep 100% of what they make. It's all at O'Brien's Allston

December 21, 2025 (Sunday) and then it's O’Brien’s Annual Holiday Party & Toy Drive with The Scrooges and 99 Shots (Free Entry with a new unwrapped toy) 8PM

December 21, 2025 (Sunday) A Very FUNdraising Xmas! to raise funds for the local chapter of the ACLU - 4:30 PM With DJ Angie C, raffles, prizes, giveaways, and sets from Fuzzy, The Handymen, Muck and The Mires, Jen Trynin, Merrie Amsterburg, plus members of Buffalo Tom, Scruffy the Cat, and more! This show always sells out — get your tickets now!

December 21, 2025 (Sunday) Kids Like You & Me Holiday Party with Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Adult Learners, Noah Britton, Kremlin Bats - The Midway matinee

December 27, 2025 (Saturday) Hammered Saint, Jack & The Idiots, Farewell Drugs, Yes Nanny at the Middle East Up - doors 7

December 31, 2025 (Wednesday) New Year's Eve!! with The Legion Basement Band, The Manglers, Gimmick, Spectacle - The Midway TIX

December 31, 2025 (Wednesday) New Year's Eve!! with Battlemode, Linnea’s Garden, Truckers Atlas at The Jungle TIX

January 4, 2026 (Sunday) Since Club Bohemia closed Mickey Bliss has been doing some club dates. He will play a 30 minute set starting around 8pm at The Walnut Street Cafe (157 Walnut St., Lynn)

January 17, 2026 (Saturday) Silver Screams, Static Friction, Screw Cart, Fear is a Mind Killer at The Midway - this is a Matinee show at 3PM.

January 17, 2026 (Saturday) The Park Hill Romance, Late Night Idle, The Sleds, blindspot - The Midway

January 18, 2026 (Sunday) Galaxy Cake, The Haymakers, The Spackles, Bob Cenci's Orange Guitar - another 3PM matinee at The Midway

January 24, 2026 (Saturday) Hooligan Holiday Boston with The Oppressed - ALL AGES show at The Middle East 7PM doors. FB page

January 24, 2026 (Saturday) Stop Calling Me Frank, Unnatural Axe + More - this is a 3PM matinee at The Midway

January 24, 2026 (Saturday) Sapling, John Hovorka Band, Crow Follow at The Square Root

March 26, 2026 (Saturday) - The Bags and Trinary System are at The Crystal Ballroom.

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com