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The BGN News Archive
The rock week started early with Monday’s Brian Young Appreciation night at Charlie’s Kitchen. The night was put together by Nancy Neon who is booking shows and keeping busy. The rest of the small club had no idea about the Appreciation Night and was focused on the head bangers at the other end of the room. They were Cosmic Bong Destroyer. The place was populated with a very young black leather clad crowd. There's definitely a Monday night scene going there.
Tuesday it was a much bigger Royale for the 40th Anniversary of the Buzzcocks show. We missed all the beginning acts by our constant yapping because practically everyone we knew was there! The good news is that the Buzzcocks were in fine form the bad news is that the sound mix was so bad it really hurt the show. You could hear the drums and bass very clearly but the guitars came through only now and then. That Buzzcocks signature buzzsaw guitar never could be heard.
Still the songs couldn’t be beat. They began with Boredom and the encores were What Do I Get, Orgasm Addict, Ever Fallen in Love and Harmony in My Head. There were plenty of other greats. We saw them in this same hall, then called The Bradford Ballroom, in 1980.
The Barbazons called it quits at the ME Up on Friday to a full house.
The Barbazons always seemed to get attention from the press especially
from the repercussions of their previous name: The Fagettes.
We’ve seen them a few
times at the
Middle East and in one of those wouldn’t-you-know-it
moments, it was this closing show that they were at their best. The
songs really come out strong in their final presentation. The vocals
were at their best and the group, who were always on the loose side,
tightened it up a bit…just a bit. One different thing they did
was having two stand up drummers that were reminiscent of that 60s tribal/hippie
sound they seemed to be aiming for.
Bong Wish started the night but Earthquake Party was the first group we saw. We talked about Justin Lally last week as he drummed in Beach Toys this night he played guitar. Earthquake Party is a trio with drums, keyboard and guitar. They are rough and raw the exception is the synth player. She was also in the Mardi Kings. She plays a small Roland using simple lines but they are measured and in time. This became the center as the drums and guitar were playing wild and loose. The songs are short, sometimes just a minute, which we loved. Justin had some hooks in some of the riff structured songs. In the end it seemed too ragtag to hit hard despite the energetic performance. Tightened up it would be a whole new ballgame.
A big draw for us was Ravi Shavi. They made a big impression
on us at the Fuzztival.
We’ve been talking them up to whoever will listen. Main man Rafay
Rashid has brought a completely new stlye to the scene. It reminds
me of the 60’s rock and psych collections from South America or
Asia where other cultures absorb and play out their versions of USA
rock. Ravi Shavi songs are throwbacks like that, as is Ravi’s performance.
They were as good as, and better than, the Fuzztival show. The audience
seemed to love them too. We’re going to give our recommendation
again to see and hear this band. Other than that we just keep seeing
them ourselves and telling you about it. It was an early show at the Middle East that they pushed back an hour the day of. Last time we went to an early show (Blanks 77 ) they pushed it forward and we missed most of it!
We made sure we caught OC45 who did a tremendous show in the same place during their fifth anniversary show They were at full-bore again this day. They do some smart punk. They put some twists and turns into the format while still slamming it out with no restraint. The guitarist doesn’t just jump but does it while twisting 360 degrees. He’s ready for the Olympic gymnastics. The bass player is given stage center and pushed forward. You don’t often see that. Some people were singing along with the songs. I’m still trying to get a song to hang on to. I’ll be listening to their Bandcamp for that. OC45 are simply one of the best local punk bands out there. They’re keeping it alive. If you like punk you should go see them.
Next up was The Fantastic Plastics which I just took as comic relief but others liked this duo dressed up like retro future space travelers…or something. It was a little Devo and a little B52’s. We went out to the front bar for a drink.
Olga, the lead singer of the Svetlanas did her vocal sound check on the floor, barefoot. She never bothered to get on stage. She did the whole show on the floor confronting and diving into the crowd. She was always in the middle of the moshing in those bare feet completely unfazed. She grabs guys by the neck of their shirts, she tried to knock hats off and she stole a guy’s beer, drank it and threw to empty across the club. All the while the band was blazing on stage with a mixture of metal and hardcore and she never stops moving for a second.
The songs were different ways of saying ‘fuck you’ and ‘you suck’ always with the Russian accent. Olga is always confrontational; in her stance, her facial expression and her singing style. Her voice is a razor-edged growling scream. She made it an exciting set. We still can't figure out if they are really from Russia or not. They take the (mock?) Russian thing and run with it successfully. That's part of what makes them compelling too! We saw them at the 2013 Upstart Fest which was downstairs. They totally impressed us then too! Here's a great quote about Olga's voice: "Olga has quite an unusual voice, kind of like an angry cornered mongoose" -Jello Biafra. I'd say think Tasmanian Devil.
After a truly wild set we were thinking it would be hard for any band to follow the intense Svetlanas but The Queers didn’t have a problem at all. The Queers are loved everywhere and especially around here since they're hometown guys. It became clear that a lot of the people at the show were there to hear them. The crowd was with them from the first note to the last. They did their punk thing and it was glorious. The Ramones template they use of dumb lyrics and catchy punk music is a winner. At the end they brought the OC45 guys on stage with them and did a few songs with Shenna is A Punk Rocker as the highlight.
What a great show - we heard three excellent punk bands. The Upstartfest was a winner!!
In other news Here's a great video of Muck & The Mires Touring Japan! WMFO’s On The Town with Mikey Dee show It's Weds 9PM--midnight. This weeks show....10/5 M 8 live Looks like you guys in Provi have another great club opening Alchemy Grand Opening/Halloween Bash w/Jesse Leach of Killswitch
Here's some good shows coming up .....
October 7 (Friday) a special event down in Provi....at Darren Hill's store POP, a Book Party for photographer Bobby Grossman's new book Low Fidelity - The Photographs of Bobby Grossman 1975-1983. The book is a trip to the New York Underground through the lens of Bobby Grossman during the exciting time of the emerging Punk/New Wave/No Wave scene. BUT performing for this party is David Johansen!! The book will be on sale. also a Doom & Destiny Collaboration with Shepard Fairey....FB page!! and Pop page for tix etc October 7 (Friday) State Of The Union, Watts, Pop Gun, and The Knock Ups are at Koto in Salem October 7 (Friday) Quiggs, Diablo Gato and Tom Baker & The Snakes are at Opus in Salem October 8 (Saturday) for those of you who were Ska fans- An Evening with Dancin' Randy's Ska Punk Time Machine at Great Scott
And further out...... October 14 (Friday) at the Midway it looks like Craig Bell is not on the bill any longer MOTO, The Time Beings, Black Souls, Shiny Beasts Still an awesome show though!! October 15 (Saturday) The Stigmatics (Randall Gibson's new band) will be on the Crash Course for the Ravers with Brian Young on WMFO 91.5FM 1-4PM. October 15 (Saturday) Nervous Eaters, Fast Times, The FUs, Crimespree, & Kermit's Finger 4PM show at The Midway
October 15 (Saturday) Panzerbastard, The Crosses (Dan Kubinski of Die Kreuzen), FUs, and The Pragmatics at PA's Lounge October 15 (Saturday) The Upper Crust, Hickoids, The Grannies & Devil On Horseback at Once October 15 (Saturday) Grieve, Pink Mass (NJ), horrible earth, Psycho and Gorepedo at The Midway October 15 (Saturday) Trophy Lungs, Choke Up, Bottlecaps , New Warden & Yo Ticonderoga at O'Brien's - This is Trophy Lungs LAST SHOW- Blowfish is sad about this!! October 15 (Saturday) The Charms, Last Ones and The Flipsides at The Bayside Bowl in Portland, ME
October 16 (Sunday) Cosmonauts, Magic Shoppe, Rye Pines and Future Spa at O'Brien's October 21, 22 & 23 (Fri., Sat & Sun) The Boston Rock Opera presents Hair at Once Ballroom. October 21 (Friday) Fuzbrains Presents: The Time Beings, The Hopelessly Obscure, Glider and If We Go At All at Ralph's Rock Diner in Worcester! October 22 (Saturday) Burnt Village, The Guilloteenagers, PowerSlut and The Dick Pics - Matinee 4-8PM show at the Midway October 27 (Thursday) Panzerbastard, Churchburn, Ritual Blade, and Upheaval @ O’Briens October 28 (Friday) The Vooduo, (from CA), The Crimson Ghosts, The Skeleton Beats & The Outsiders are at Koto in Salem October 28 (Friday) The Prozacs, BarRoom Heroes, Injury, The Pink Parts and Whoopi Sticks - 4-8PM Matinee Show at The Midway October 29 (Saturday) Cheech 20th Anniversary Show also on the bill Taxi Driver, Reason to Fight, Words of Truth, & Barfight Champs at The Midway October 29 (Saturday) Growing Up Spooky - Music and movies from the 60s-00's at The Plow and Stars. The Dazies as The Exploding Hearts, Dirty Bangs as Nirvana, Glass House as The Jesus and Mary Chain and Bruvs as The Beatles
November 3 (Thursday)Wolfman And The Brimstone Boys, The Evil Streaks, The Devil's Twins and Damnation are at Opus Underground in Salem November 4 (Friday) The Upper Crust, Topheavy, Gene Dante & The Future Starlets and The Hi-End at The Midway November 4 (Friday) The Proletariat are at The Met in Pawtucket RI (FB page) November 9 (Wednesday) Illegally Blind and League Podcast Present: Shonen Knife, Shepherdess, and Birthing Hips at the Middle East Up November 9 -12 is International Pop Overthrow at PA's Lounge
November 10 (Thursday) The Sonics will be at Fete Music Hall 103 Dike St, Providence, Rhode Island 02909 - Here's the FB page November 11 (Friday) The Sprained Ankles, Stop Calling Me Frank, Spectacle, The Johns at the Midway - This is a benefit for Frank Johnson (FB page for more info) November 12 (Saturday) The Welch Boys, Penalty Kill, BarRoom Heroes, Zero Rights & Words of Truth a 4-8.30PM show at the Midway November 12 (Saturday) Punk Rock Flea Market at Koto in Salem 1-5PM "Come down and buy some records, some band and sports tees, some homemade crafts and jewelry" There's be punk rock music after 8PM. FB page November 12 (Saturday) Presented by State Line Records. This is the music after the Flea Market- The northshore's best punk bands will be playing their second show of the year together. Local favorites The Tenafly Vipers and Quiggs bring down the house. Boston visitors Duck & Cover and The Warning Shots warm you up for the local favorites. Let's have a good time. all at Koto.
December 1 (Thursday) Humanoids, Mam? Ladilla (Spain), Covered in Bees (Maine), Intheshit & Black Friday - O'Brien's 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 10 (Saturday) Thrash'n'Bang Christmas Party at the Midway 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 23 (Friday) Raging Teens 20th Anniversary Boston Reunion! at O'Brien's (FB page) 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 CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com - Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!
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October 3 (Monday) Bob Colby Presents:
Mr Airplane Man and The Land of Enchantment at ONCE Lounge - He
will present occasional shows at this venue now...These shows are taking place
as part of ONCE's "Taco Monday" series, which means two things: 1)
You can have some great food beforehand (starting at 5). 2) The shows have *no
cover*, but donations to performers are encouraged (no set amount, whatever
you can do). Look for the big silver bucket, every dollar that goes in there
goes to the artists!
October 9 (Sunday)The Martians, Reaver, Lion's
Share, Injury, Chanticlear This is a 4PM show!!
October 16 (Sunday) Trusty Sidekick,
Jiblantos (featuring the BGN's John Keegan!!), The First Supper
and Last Exit To Palookaville - This Midway Cafe show is a matinee
4.30-8.30PM
November 3 (Thursday) The Proletariat
are at Once: "After a 33 year hiatus, legendary Boston punk
rock band The Proletariat has decided to reunite for a few select shows
. Original members Richard Brown, Peter Bevilacqua and Tom McKnight
will be joined by guitarist Dan Sanders(from the Providence band Idle
Rich) and will reunite for a series of shows in Fall 16. The reunion
comes on the heels of the vinyl rerelease of the bands groundbreaking
debut “Soma Holiday” on SS Records." 
November 10 (Thursday) The Goddamn Gallows,
Gallows Bound, Tigerman WOAH, Ten Foot Polecats - Middle East Up
November 23-26 (Weds- Sunday) 4
Nights! Jonathan Richman featuring Tommy Larkins on the
drums at the Middle East Up. 
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