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RIP Tom Tipton Out of the Blue Gallery

You haven't seen a new BGN in a while - reason? Miss Lyn had a total knee replacement on August 5th. She's doing gangbusters on her recovery though.

The BGN takes many hours in front of the computer and that has just now become possible for her. We will have a few weeks of BGN’s in a row till we catch up with the News and then go back to every other week. So here we go.....

On Sunday 8/10 Arthur Freedman blacked out while driving and totaled his car into a tree (see photo to the right). The air bag deployed and broke several ribs and his sternum. He’s been in pain. He also lost his license as they try to figure out what happened. We posted this on Facebook last week and Arthur has received some help from some kind people on the scene.

The Fuzzstival has scheduled their show this year. It'll be at the Somerville Armory on February 19 and 20. Tickets. On the 19th is: Landowner, Rong, Space Camp, Warmachine, Nurse Joy, KO Queen, Pew Pew and Makeout Palace. On the 20th is: Robber Robber, Paper Lady, Bong Wish, Dino Gala, Clifford, Pink Lids, Tilt and Ohio State Fair.

Paper Lady has some good moves. Listen to the heavy psychedelic noise wash at the beginning of their song “Silt”.

The fun of the Fuzzstival is to find some new groups. In 2016 we heard Ravi Shavi and followed them to gigs afterward. We saw Black Beach and Weakened Friends for the first time there too. John Keegan saw a ton of groups including The Monsieurs, Zip Tie Handcuffs and Magic Shoppe.

Tom Tipton died recently. He ran the Out of the Blue Gallery. We were delighted when that opened in Central Square. The gallery had loads of paintings. It was a ideal place for local artists. The music was very good too.

For these sorts of things you need a person like Tom, someone who is dedicated to the max and loves what he is doing. There was an outpouring of love on Tom’s Facebook page. An article in the Cambridge Day paper informs that there might be an Out of the Blue space in the Somerville Armory.
We saw the Cry do a wonderful show there in 2015. John Keegan covered the big benefit for the Gallery when it needed to move to Allston.

Power Pop is having a resurgence lately. We notice it locally in our New Music section. The New York group The Flashcubes who have a Boston connection with Paul Armstrong, now with 1.4.5. have a 24 cut album titled Make Something Happen: A Tribute to the Flashcubes.

The first song is a new one by The Flashcubes, “Reminisce”. Groups who play on the tribute are: Graham Parker, Mike Gent, Spongetones, Chris Von Sneidern, The Kennedys, Rob Moss & Skin Tight Skin, Sorrows and Boston’s own Peppermint Kicks. Also in there is The Verbs which has Steve Jordan, the current drummer for the Rolling Stones, and Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob) and the Hi-Seas. Order it on Bandcamp.

Power Pop giants The Raspberries are also getting the tribute treatment. Look at this video for the new album Play On: A Raspberries Tribute.

We came across a story of a Sacramento punk who had a stash of 20,000 VHS tapes, Cassette tapes, Reel-to-reels and DATs documenting the local music. The collector, Shayne Stacy, is digitizing the collection. The problem is that people see and hear what he's doing and they bring their collection for him to work on. He’s swamped.

If you have time to spare, dip in to the collection at the Sacramento Music Archive. There are currently 1500 live recordings there. More about the collection at KQED (a PBS station) website.

Locally we have Arthur Freedman whose collection is being digitized at Harvard.Arthur sent us a link to a story about a DC musician, Sohrab Habibion, who video taped 60 concerts in Washington DC from 1985 to 1988. They include pre-record Fugazi, Brain Damage with pre Nirvana David Grohl, Lemonheads and GWAR. All the tapes have been digitized and are on YouTube. This is thanks to the DC Public Library archives. We await any interest from the Boston Public Library for a similar project!! The story is in the Open Culture website.

VIDEOS......

TJ Welch and the Wasted now have a video for one of our favorite songs off their recent self-titled album. “A Female Joey Ramone” has a title that tells the story. The video is a live performance spotted with peaks of the female Ramone. The beefy recording really pumps out of the YouTube soundtrack. More than usual. TJ Welch plays a guitar that looks like the one Prince had with the elaborate curly top.

The Chelsea Curve have a video for their latest song “Kindawanna”. Director Joan Hathaway has them cavorting around Boston, with the Zakim Bridge often in the background, dressed in black/red/white Mod fashion. The sound on the YouTube vid is very good. You can hear the bass digging in. The song is so undeniable catchy. Nothing is going to stop this band now.

The new local Casket Rats are metal all the way. Their rocking and rolling riffage is non-stop. The singer hits just two high squeals in this song “Whiskey Queen”, but they are memorable. The black and white video does what you want, which is to see what these bad boys look like playing live. If you like metal you want to see this band live for sure. They have a few guitarists so when leads come they trade off or double up. It’s all fun.

There's a movie coming based in the middle of the East Bay scene in CA. It’s named after the1995 Rancid album And Out Comes the Wolf. Rancid is not in the movie but the band Scowl is. The trailer gives clues that the story is about a caper gone bad. There is violence and some torture,and oh ya, some punks involved. More about the movie on the Consequence website.

RADIO......

On Skybar’s 7/22 Rising show he had Linda Bean Pardee of Chelsea Curve in for an interview. She outlined her early bands: Miles Deathmuffin, Orbit, Frigate and then Chelsea Curve. She talked about all the issues that caused them to slow down last year and then the work to get back in action this year. They have a new drummer and another tour of England next month.

On Skybar’s 7/29 Rising show he had the Peppermint Kicks in. Dan Kopko and Sal Baglio talked about how they got together. They both have lots of idea and they also like sharing them to create new songs. Dan mentioned trying to duplicate bubble gum music as sweet as the Archies for their new material that became Pop Rocks in My Chewing Gum.

They discused how radio has changed in reference to their song “Radio Wam Bam Boom”. Sal talked about going up the Pru Center to watch the DJ’s broadcasting on WBCN. One of which was Maxine. They let out that there is a full length video of “ Oh YA”.
They also have some gigs. October 24 at Crystal Ballroom is the first. Then they play the International Pop Overthrow at The Square Roots on November 14.

To hear the Rising show listen on WMFO on Tuesdays from 7 to 9pm, or go to the WMFO schedule page and hit Rising show on Tuesday at 7pm and then hit archive.

PODCASTS ......

On the 7/21 Sonic Overload show Al Quint played three sets for his longtime friend Bill Chamberlain who was in over half a dozen bands. Those sets are some fine hardcore. He also had a label Eugene and Al played records from that too.

Just that would be a satisfying show but there was the regular show before it. One song got our attention just from its name. The group was Violent Anal Death which is pretty attention getting right there, but on Sonic Overload it’s actually the norm! The song title was “Hungry Hungry Hippos”. Wait...what??? Al announced it was a game. Sure enough it’s a kid’s game that still is made. Violent Anal Death does up the song in the commercial for the game hardcore style. We have that embedded below along with Ground Zero.

Ground Zero is a group that has kept its attraction through the years. They played electronic music. The song Al played was Cybernetic War that has a sci-fi theme that still fascinates people. They only had two EP’s in 1979 and 1980. The first EP had a color zerox cover that was very unusual not to mention the Biohazard label plastered on it.

On the August 8 Elastic Glam show Sethyspice announced that Netflix is going to broadcast a Suzi Quatro documentary soon and then it was right into the amazing “48 Crash”. Suzi has been in a lot of shows and films according to this TV Guide listing.

The new glam that was played that you want to be introduced to was Colony House, The States, Gyasi, The Voltz and Bobby Dazzle. One of the throwback gems was the crazy good “Cherry Baby” by Starz.

NEW MUSIC/CD’s ......

Jonathan Richman has released “Keith” and “Oh Guitar” available for streaming on his Bandcamp page. Released in 2015, these two songs were the second 7-inch vinyl release (BAR002) that Jojo made with Blue Arrow Records. Originally available only on vinyl, these two songs do not appear on any full-length albums.

“Keith” is a song of praise for Keith Richards. It’s Jonathan admitting a strong influence, although Keith played electric and Jonathan doesn’t go near that anymore.
“They Showed Me The Door To Bohemia” is six minutes long. Jonathan relates his early period of artistic growth. First his parents, seeing his inclination, drop him off in Harvard Square. There with his Pretentious Artwork Portfolio he searched for Bohemia. The Velvet Underground help him in his search. The song shows how that time period was so important to Jonathan and how his parents supporting him was so important.

You can get this in white vinyl also on this Bandcamp page.

The Peppermint Twins’ song “Radio Wham Bam Boom” sang the praises of sixties radio. A lot of songs do that, but The Hi-End’s “Ghosts on the Radio” seems different. There’s a real edge to Johnny Carlevale as he sings “Can you hear the static/nothing but static.” He seems angry. The group’s playing seems confrontational too, or we’re reading into it. Either way it makes for a great performance. We’re reminded of their cover of the Dictators “Stay With Me”, they bring a Dictators feel to this too.

Skybar began his 7/22 Rising show with this song.
This is the leading single of an album coming soon.

Still crazy after all these years? That would be Stop Calling Me Frank. “Where You Gonna Hide” has a character whose still riding hard. He’s “keeping the edge” but he’s ducking his home life. The band rides hard too and with the patented sax wailing, the bad boy life sounds appealing. Where you gonna hide, the song asks, at a SCMF show probably.

WORM from the South Shore have been together since 2003. We’ve heard them a few times since 2016. Their set at the Paradise at the Chris Doherty Benefit was a highlight.

Their new album is Slave Driver. It starts with four songs that are thematically linked. They all deal with politics and our surveillance society.
“Life is Short” shows how the world situation can weigh heavy on a young person. The “Eye In The Sky” is spot on its criticism of what’s happening. The music fits the message perfectly here as is the singing. We want to hear this getting played on the radio. “Media” rages against the establishment and again shows what an effective hardcore unit Worm is.

“Lost Generation” we assume is about Gen Z. We would like to have the lyrics to that to catch everything. Then there’s a switch with “Sawed off Pool Cue” which is a barroom tale. “Dusk” and “Night of the Dead” are gothic. Worm love playing in the line-up of groups at the Halloween bills at the C Note. Then there are two relationship songs with “Misery” and “Not Into Me”. Those are very effective. “In the Trenches” sounds like a touring road song. That’s a lot of ground for any group to cover and Worm do it fine.

Our faves are “Misery” as well as “Eye In The Sky”. The album is ambitious and shows how much the group can accomplish.

We talked about the new group Tension Scale from Salem in our 7/7/25 issue. As promised their Demo EP came out on August 1. The lyrics are all based on the movie The Burbs. Seeing that this is all raging hardcore one can see where they take a lot of the darkness and paranoia from the movie. A lot of that is channeled by LoWreck who does a superb job vocalizing.

One favorite moment is the “Beacon of Light” chorus in “Hard Camo”. LoWreck’s singing and the lyrics that are on Bandcamp help you to understand the whole project. We haven’t seen the movie – that’s on the agenda. Tension Scale’s first show is at Faces Brewing in Malden on September 5.

We loved the first two single releases by new group Hotel Saturn. The third single proves that there is lot more pop gems coming out of this group lead by Shel Pierce.

“Can’t Be Wrong” is a pop song with a heart. The song tells the story of a woman hoping the next relationship will be the one. There’s so much fine musicianship on this. You have Tim Jackson (Robin Lane and the Chartbusters) slotting in tasteful beats. Kris Rodgers almost steals the show with his organ and keyboard work. Rock Garden producer Todd Erickson supplies a bass line that’s just busy enough and with a commanding tone. A lot of the heart in the song is right in Shel’s voice.
We hope the group killed at their International Pop Overthrow show in LA on August 3.

The song is on Bandcamp now to buy, but is not streaming.

Silver Screams last album came out in 2017. They had an EP in 2018. Now they have a single release titled “Dub Siren” in preparation of their album Sore Eyes soon. Silver Screams are who you go to when you want the hard stuff. The feedback introduction tells you all is fine on that front.

The lyrics depict a lonely and bleak place. We don’t know what a ‘Dub Siren’ is but it’s emphasized in the chorus. The last half of the song alternates between the chorus and some heavy guitar playing where things get louder and the drummer does some exciting playing. We listened to that last half over and over.

The album Pop Rocks In My Chewing Gum by The Peppermint Kicks has got so much attention. We’ve all got rolled over with the exuberant candy pop of the album. “Radio Wham Bam Boom” primed the pump and all the songs fit that mold. Or did they?
We’re going to spotlight “Shangri La”. In the middle of this pop rock circus that song holds its ground as a wistful and pensive effort. It spins its magic with minimal lyrics. There is a George Harrison style slide guitar solo in the middle too. We have it on our Top Ten Songs.

Swedish garage rockers Stupidity have been a favorite here in Boston, where they've played a few times. Now, they have a cover of Boston’s Bags with “Spread It Around”. They are faithful to the sound of the original recorded version . The Stupidity version has the edge with a sharp recording quality. They also have a manic guitar solo that we would have loved to hear go longer. Great job and a gift for Boston fans.

There’s also a long version with some more insane guitar work at the end on Bandcamp The song was also picked up as Little Steven’s Underground Garage Coolest Song in the World.

Acapulco Lips are a psych band from Seattle. Their latest album is titled Now. “Fuzzy Sunshine”, a song title, is also a perfect description for their whole sound. It’s blissed out sixties vibes with heavy fuzz. Everything is buzzing on this recording, except for “You Won’t”, “So Many Miles” and “Happy Were the Days” which have a 12 string ringing out.

The last song, “See You On the Other Side” ends with two and a half minutes of sitar droning. That’s what the other side sounds like, evidently. It has a gritty garage feel. There’s nothing antiseptic about it. This album is made for listening all the way through and just letting it flow.

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

August 27, 2025 (Wednesday) Osis, Silver Screams, Bad\\Verb, Wrought Iron Hex: at O'Brien's

August 28, 2025 (Thursday) Scrawl, Chris Brokaw Band, Phantom Tollbooth at Deep Cuts -FB event page

August 28, 2025 (Thursday) The Murder Junkies, Scumbari, Moose Knuckle, Troll Milk at Alchemy Providence RI - FB event page.

August 29, 2025 (Friday) Wreckless Wreck Chords Presents - The FU's, Unnatural Axe, WORM, Spectacle, The Strikeout Boys (Brand New Band ex members of The Hagglers, Mooseknuckle, BrainDead, The Pug Uglys The Marvels) FB page

August 30, 2025 (Saturday) Dear Maryanne, Blame it on Whitman, Pink Slip, Jerrys Got Jokes at The MIdway - 3PM Matinee

September 5, 2025 (Friday) Tension Scale is playing their FIRST SHOW (members of Downhauls, Brix'n Mortar, and many, many more). They're joined by friends Neighborhood Shit and SkyTigers!

September 5, 2025 (Friday) Bob Cenci's Orange Guitar, John Havorka Band, Huck 2 at Koto Salem - FB page

September 5, 2025 (Friday) TJ Welch and the Wasted, Iron League, Ungraded, Strikeout Boys at O'Brien's FB page

September 5, 2025 (Friday) Tough Luck Festival (2 days!) Day One: Slow Joy, Trophy Wife, Actor|Observer, Exit 18, 5Ever, Sophie's Body - Brighton Music Hall TIX

September 6, 2025 (Saturday) Tough Luck Festival (2 days!) Day Two: Great American Ghost, Move, Euclid, Blood Tithe, Survive The Sun, Sevalynn - Brighton Music Hall TIX

September 6, 2025 (Saturday) Lonely Leesa & Lost Cowboys, Crow Follow, Thalia Zedek Band, Daylilies at The Jungle

September 6, 2025 (Saturday) TREE, Incendiary Device, Catching Hell and Motomags will be playing outside in the parking lot at Ralph's Rock Diner. 8pm 21+ $15

September 6, 2025 (Saturday) Peacbreaker, The Promised End, Already Dead, WarGraves at Bad Brgr Manchester, NH - FB page

September 7, 2025 (Sunday) Rock and Roll Yard Sale in Somerville Union Square FB page for more info vendors etc

September 7, 2025 (Sunday) Martin / Morell / Fredette, Hummingbird Syndicate, The Starlings at The Midway 3PM matinee

September 13, 2025 (Saturday) The Del Fuegos will be playing the Belforge Art Center (Medfield) on Saturday September 13 at 3 to 7pm. Tickets are $30.00.

September 13, 2025 (Saturday) DnA's Evolution, The Spackles, Screw Cart, Iron League at The Midway 3PM matinee FB event page

September 19, 2025 (Friday) Brad Marino , Chelsea Curve, Glimmer Stars at The Burren

September 19, 2025 (Friday) Boston Fuzztival - Line Up TBA = save the date!! at Arts at the Armory - FB page to check

September 20, 2025 (Saturday) Party In Salem with Silver Screams, Yes Nanny, Sonic Bomb and Linnea's Garden at Koto Salem.

September 20, 2025 (Saturday) Punks for Pets with Sourpunck, Soapbpx Saints, Daen Cabral, The Underwires, Stone Nobles, Musclecah, Hope Anchor at Nick A Nee's - check the FB event page for wish list items to bring!!

September 21, 2025 (Sunday) The Courettes and Pangs are at Warehouse XI in Somerville

September 21, 2025 (Sunday) Your Friends in Hell, Lenny Lashley, kcuf at The Jungle - EARLY show 5-8:30PM

September 21, 2025 (Sunday) Shonen Knife, Pack AD - All Ages at Sonia

September 23, 2025 (Tuesday) Bad Idea USA, Kids On Fire, Mk Naomi, Autumn Astronauts at The MIdway 7:30

September 27, 2025 (Saturday) Futon Lasagna, Skaleton Crew, Threat Level Burgundy, So Many Dangers for a 3M matinee at The Midway

September 27, 2025 (Saturday) Kingpin, The Long Wait, Wire Lines, DJ Vivid Oblivion at Deep Cuts

September 27, 2025 (Saturday) Grip Weeds, Tiger Bomb, DJ Sherman at The BUrren

September 28, 2025 (Sunday) Allston Village Street Fair Festival - On Harvard Ave, Six blocks of entertainment. Music all day - noon to 6pm. Bands include Blindspot, Zip Tie Handcuffs and Children of the Flaming Wheel. All bands and tiems listed on website Facebook page.

September 28, 2025 (Sunday) Coffin Salesman, Daphne Blue Underworld, Connor Storms & His Bouquet for a 3PM matinee at The Midway

October 4, 2025 (Saturday) Soraia, The Cocktail Slippers, River City Rebels, The Chelsea Curve at The Midway 8PM

October 11, 2025 (Saturday) Lyres, Mal Thursday Quintet, Tiber Bomb at VFW 6859 in Portland, ME check FB page for location directions

October 16, 2025 (Thursday) Moving Targets celebrate the release of their new LP and are hitting the road with Atlanta based melodic punkers in Billy Batts and the Made Men, with special guests Spiller 

October 18, 2025 (Saturday) Al Barile Day at Roadrunner All proceeds to benefit Dana Farber Cancer Institute ... info coming...

October 19, 2025 (Sunday) The Sound Cove presents the first ever Super Sonic Showcase with The Chelsea Curve, Cold Expectations, Speed Fossil, Happy Little Clouds, Corin Ashley and Eric Barlow at The Burren this is an EARLY show 2- 5:30PM. FB page.

October 25, 2025 (Saturday) An International Garage Rock Shakedown with Stupidity, Muck & The Mires, The Chelsea Curve, Pop!, at The Stone Church Music CLub, Newmarket, NH FB page.

October 26, 2025 (Sunday) Galaxy Cake, Pleasing Terrors, American Ocelot at The Jungle EARLY show 5-8PM

October 30, 2025 (Thursday) Stupidity, Chelsea Curve, Little Billy Lost, at The Burren

November 1, 2025 (Saturday) The Barstool Preachers, The Last Gang at Deep Cuts -CANCELLED!!!

November 14, 2025 (Friday) Steve Conte, Muck & the Mires, Gene Dante & the Future Starlet, Pink (acoustic) at Deep Cuts in Medford FB page.

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

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