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Willie BGNTWO.jpg - 5.73 K Ocasac BGN.jpg - 6.12 K The Late Risers Club WMBR at MIT Nervous Eaters pIc by Denise Donahue Johnathan Richman. Oedipus - for a while he had rainbow colored dandruff.
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The BGN News Archive

February 3, 2020

Flyer for Hong Kong We’ve been looking forward to the Saturday Hong Kong show with DNZL and Loser’s Circle. There’s something different about climbing those stairs to get up to the club. You feel like you left Harvard Square behind and you are in your own private party. And in fact it was a party tonight - this was Keely's birthday party and part of this show was about that positively gleeful audience. They were singing, moshing, talking to the bands and generally having a ball. We’ve gone to many shows at the Hong Kong that have had an uplifting buzz to them. It’s a nice space to have a show.

The night began with two sets by solo singers. Jameson Savage played three Lawrence Arms songs. He got some sing-alongs going too. Chandler Cross revealed a clear soaring voice in her set. She also had the crowd singing along.

This was another Loser’s Circle set in a long line of sets that we’ve seen. The last time we saw them was at O’Brien’s a month ago, and it was killer. That level of playing was the same at this Hong Kong show. The addition of their original drummer, John, from way back has proved to be the catalyst that got them there.

Loser's Circle
Loser's Circle
Photo: Blowfish

They already had a strong set of songs. They talked about playing the “hits” on stage. They mean those songs from their first album. They just lined those songs up and when the three up front hit the microphones at the same time the effect was undeniable.

Matt, who used to be the drummer, and moved to guitar was pouring out some funny chatter between songs. During the songs he was all intense with his vocal performance and his stage moves. His guitar crapped out, he just put it down and put all effort into the singing. Nothing stops this guy. He's a great focal point up there.

There was lots of interaction with the audience. At one point the idea seemed to be how many hats can you put on Mike. It was just one of the fun bits the crowd was doing.

It’s been an experience to see this group slowly gain all the things they needed to become a powerhouse band.

DNZL
DNZL
Photo: Blowfish

Our infatuation with DNZL continues. This set was just a confirmation of what we already knew. DNZL has the concept: all lyrics are about Denzel Washington movies. They take that idea and transform it into a set that is hard punk driven by character emotions.

The set was riveting in the music and the performance. The songs went through several sections that were riff based. Those riffs were pounding out in the rhythm and by playing in unison. To add to all of this their drummer, who is relatively new (this is his second time out with the band) was bashing of the drums nonstop keeping up that relentless fast dramatic buildup in the songs. They really gain an overwhelming momentum. When you get three or four songs in a row that hit that serious groove, it was almost too much. But it's also awesome!!

DNZL
DNZL
Photo: Blowfish

Mel is half singing, half acting the character’s plight in the lyrics. Sometimes as he waits for the verse or chorus to begin it seems as if he can hardly hold it back. When the time comes he lunges forward and pours out the words in screamo mode. He would jump into the audience sometimes and maybe jump on someone (see photo above) as he releases the pent up words.

This very active audience was all over the group, running in circles and breaking out in some moshing.

In the end we saw too sets by two groups that should be seen by all Boston punkers. What is the next step for groups like this in the current scene? We always think of that. In the old days there would be radio play and record company attention followed by some national attention. But today, we don’t know. One nice note was that Mel told us one of DNZL's songs was played on BBC radio and that's great...more radio coverage for these guys would be well deserved.

Click Here for more band photos.

And in other news.......

Andy Gill We have to pause this week to acknowledge the passing of Andy Gill, the guitarist of Gang of Four. We thought of that Gang of Four show at Once just shy of a year ago. The photo on the right is from that show. Andy was the only original Gang of Four member on stage and you could feel that difference; but what was not in contention was Andy’s guitar work. That was amazing all night. Andy’s post punk funk was a game changer in 1979 with the release of the LP Entertainment. Those cutting stabs of dissonance sounded as fresh in that 2019 show as they did back in 1979.

So many art rock groups in Boston took Andy’s style and created their own thing. Being a creative inspiration is a sort of magical thing and Andy Gill had that and that will live on.

Bob Cenci makes local television news…not about music but about MBTA Problems. We're hoping for a new song in the making. But The Grommets already have a song 'cause, you know, the T sucks and there's so much frustration. It's fodder for some good lyrics! Here's The Grommets “MBTA” and their 2015 Snowmageddon video. Oh yeah, that was the year the T annouced they didn't know there was such a thing as snow plow trains.

Boston Beat The Boston Beat podcast continues to add to a large group of interviews with Boston Rockers new and old. The lastest is a 2 part interview with Ted Dewart & Billy Corelle from North Shore pop heroes Teddy & The Pandas. It features songs from their singles and the "Basic Magnetism" LP. That is available here CLICK .

The Rum Bar juggernaut continues. They are streaming one song called “One Less Step” from a Ken Fox future release. It’s a whipping power pop song with a dirty solo to tie it all up. Ken played bass with the Fleshtones which explains a lot.

Another release is the Ratboys. They have an early punk sound like the Vibrators and the Motors. You can hear it strong in “French Girls”.

Pop Art poster “Suzie Survived Chemotherapy” was one of the first songs by Kid Gulliver that told us that this was a group to pay attention to. They finally have a recorded version. It’s a Ramones rocker with a lighter touch. The rhythm section sets up an irresistible rolling beat and the guitar hooks are smack on. Simone’s vocals are clean but not antiseptic. In the verses the melody is done in a monotone until the last word where it drops down. It begs you sing along. They says the story in the lyrics is true. and that just makes it all the more wonderful. It was recorded by Brian Charles at his Zippah Studios.

Jenn Lombari is making music with muscle in her duo Stubborn Hearts. Her latest “Don’t Freak Out” is super punky and has a heart, indeed a stubborn heart, exposed in the lyrics. She has so much talent and she couples that up with the energy she is putting in on performing out.

Duck and Cover EP poster This week Duck & Cover released three new songs. We see Duck & Cover a lot and are always wanting more recordings. They start up with “Two Shots” a punk stomper where you shake your head to the chord progression. “The Bleeding Edge” has one of those choruses that the band does so well. The words marry the melody and you can get hooked. “Unlucky 17” is a just a bit poppier and punctuated with some extra studio effects. At 1:52 they throw in some twin guitar leads which is one of their live trademarks. All three songs reward repeated listenings.

They were recorded at Wooly Mammoth and have a full in your face immediacy. The quality and consistency of the recordings coming out of Wooly Mammoth are currently unmatched.

Huck.com published a very good article: "Why punk keeps connecting people across space and time" in 2018 but we hadn’t seen it. It compares the photos and inspiration by David Godlis and Angela Boatwright. Godlis photographed early NYC punk and Boatwright covers the current LA scene. The text makes some interesting points on it’s own.

And for your cupid day pleasure -

Color Killer Color Killer has another whiz bang pop punk tune called “Not Your Valentine”, just in time for Valentine Day! WOW, It bounces along and has those single string Buzzcock like lines and clocks at 1:59. Listen here...you'll want to hear it a few times over!!!

Muck and the Mires just released their brand new single and its another anti-Valentine's theme!! "Cupid's Not A Friend Of Mine" for airplay, reviews, streams, blogs, screams, and your pure enjoyment of garage rock n' roll. You can check it out here: Cupid/Muck....

Oh and Miss Lyn can never get enough John Lydon.....from The Guardian - here's an interesting article with a couple super early photos of the Sex Pistols at on of the first gigs in London: Young punks: unseen photos of the Sex Pistols by Jon Savage and then there's John Lydon at 60 – a life in pictures .... and as an added bonus - if you scroll down after that one there are links to a lot more John Lydon articles/interviews. And did ya know John Lydon is a a compassionate animal lover??? I bet you did not...if you go to John Lydon Official FB page you will find he's got pics and vids of chimpanzees he advocates for and he had a series several years back called John Lydon's Megabugs. Oh and his meet and greet An Intimate Evening with John Lydon UK tour has sold out every single show!!!


Mark you calendar for:

Art show poster Saturday February 8- THIS SATURDAY Feb 8 3-9PM - with works by a large number of people in the Boston music scene ... Two Pieces Art Show and Party will have work by Wayne Valdez, Dave Tree, Ruby Viens, Jess Punk, Irene Ferri, Isabel Riley, Diane Dodge, Claire Eder, Woody Geisman, Amelia May, William Jordan, Tracy White Wendland, Dennis Stein, Joanne Kaliontzis and not to forget – Miss Lyn of the BGN. Each artist will have two pieces in the show. It's at Gallery Poulet, 613 Cambridge St, Cambridge, MA 02141

February 8 (Saturday) SS*25, The Von Traps, The Lipstick Boys at Sally O'Brien's FB page

Von Traps Live shows in a recording studies are fun. Here’s one on Feb 29 at Q Division Studios with The Gravel Pit and The Mommyheads. "The two have not played a show together since the late 90's at T.T. the Bear's Place. Both bands have been mutual fans of one another since the 90's and somehow are still making music some 32 years into their respective careers...so why not play a show in Boston in 2020?" well be there! FB page.

It's the first Nervous Eaters show in NYC in 15 years.Well, it's actually in Brooklyn but that's cool these days....Nervous eatyers and The Putz at Sixty Sixth Congress on May 2. Here's the FB page. And TIX.

May 8, 9 & 10 - Salem Answers-Night: A three day music fest to celebrate and encourage the arts, magic, equality, and diversity of Salem! (listings below)


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

Zip Tie February 6 (Thursday) Zip Tie Handcuffs, The Bobby Lees, Baabes, Dead Trains at O'Brien's

February 7 (Friday) Lucid Lynx, Above The Din, Luxury Deathrap, Heavy Hands at The Midway

February 7 (Friday) Immolators, Labor Hex, Wire Lines, Brain Vacuum at 13th Floor Music Lounge Florence MA.

February 8 (Saturday) Modern Day Idols are on Crash Course for the Ravers - WMFO 91.5FM 1-4PM

February 8 (Saturday) Murphy & The Mess, The Inebriations, the Deep State, Amoricans at The Midway - this is a 3PM Matinee show

February 8 (Saturday) SS*25, The Von Traps, The Lipstick Boys at Sally O'Brien's FB page

Tsunami February 8 (Saturday) Screamin' Rebel Angels, Trash Pandas, The Wandering Ones and DJ Easy Ed spinnin' 45s t The Square Root FB page for set times etc

February 8 (Saturday) Scuzzy Yeti, IL Mostro, Z/28 and Wrought Iron Hex at The Midway

February 8 (Saturday) Nick And The Adversaries (CD Release), Jason Bennett and The Resistance, Triggered at The Middle East Up

February 8 (Saturday) Nat Freedberg & No Brainer at the Plough & Stars with special guests John Powhida's JPX to celebrate the release of Record Number Three on Rum Bar Records!

February 8 (Saturday) Lux Lives 2020 with The Evil Streaks, The Demon Seeds, Thee Benevolent Tarots and DJ Kogar the Swinging Ape playing Lux and Ivy's Favorites all night long! - at Opus, Salem FB page

February 8 (Saturday) Confusatron, Escuela Grind, Willzyx, Lepra, Sores at Geno's Portland, ME

February 9 (Sunday) Club Linehan A Go Go, A Bunch of Jerks, The Billy Connors Project, Miranda Rae at Midway - a matinbee show 3-7PM

And further out there is....

February 13 (Thursday) Fashion Show Dance Party celebrating the last night of Dark Days Long Nights. Fashions from VQnC Vintage, Leather Pixie, Made In Boston, Painter Productions, Rod Webber, SweeTree Ink/Dave TREE and Music by DJ Won't, DJ Final Object, DJ Grin. at New ALliance Gallery Union Sq Somerville...FB page for info

Nervous Eaters February 14 (Friday) The Endorphins, Moist Boy, the Betties at The Hong Kong

February 15 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers featuring Screw Cart WMFO 91.5 - 1-4PM

February 15 (Saturday) Martin, Morell, Fredette, Richie Parsons and Randy Black at the Midway Matinee show 3-7PM

February 15 (Saturday) The Gala, Hambone Skinny, Zulu Lulu at The Square Root- this is an ALL AGES show

February 15 (Saturday) Xander Nelson & TIger Bomb at Big Babe's Portland, ME

February 16 (Sunday) Stop Calling Me Frank, State of the Union, The New Frustrations, The Steamies at The Midway - matinee 3-7PM

February 16 (Sunday) HardCore Stadium presents Fuming Mouth, High Command, Raw Radar War, Suffer on Acid, Mangled - Middle East Up 7PM

February 17 (Monday) Black Beach, Rye Pines, Proper Nouns, Night Beat at Charlie's Kitchen

February 19 (Wednesday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers Plough & Stars Residency

February 21 (Friday) Set Fire, The Gala, Motel Black, Gene Dante and The Future Starlets at Koto in Salem

February 22 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers featuring Linea Herzog WMFO 91.5 - 1-4PM

February 22 (Saturday) Benefit for Horizons for Homeless Children with Electric Streets Queens, Loretta, Battery March, M.O.T.O., and Sewer Buddies - 3-7PM Matinee show at The Midway

Easy Ed February 22 (Saturday) Justine's Black Threads EP Release Party w/Two Fathoms Down at Atwood's Tavern - this is a 3-6PM show.

February 22 (Saturday) Rum Bar Records Anniversary Show with The Dogmatics - 11:00 PM, Muck and the Mires - 10:00 PM, The Dirty Truckers - 9:00 PM at The Square Root

February 22 (Saturday) blindspot, Baabes, Set Fire, Hands 3 at O'Brien's

February 23 (Sunday) The Gobshites - Performing Live on WAAF - Carmelita's Bay State Rock

February 23 (Sunday) Sick Minds, Skytigers, Color Killer, Nine Votes Short - 2-6PM matinee and ALL AGES at Thirsty First in Lowell

February 24 (Monday) Rebuilder, Dead Bars, Oh the Humanity!, Towanda at Charlie’s Kitchen

February 28 (Friday) Scuzzy Yeti, Death Pesos, 3 Parts Dead, Blue Manic at Club Bohemia

February 28 (Friday) LUX LIVES East Coast 2020 with The Evil Streaks, The Demon Seeds, Thee Benevolent Tarots and DJ Kogar the Swinging Ape playing Lux and Ivy's Favorites all night long! at Opus Underground Salem. FB page.

February 29 (Saturday) DJ Easy Ed presents: Lynnette & the Sundowners, The Barley Hoppers, Easy Ed's Record Hop at The Midway for a 3-7PM matinee show.

Brian Young WMFO February 29 (Saturday) PowerSlut “Fun With Junk” Release Party...AND...WhistleStop Rock Fest featuring he Chelsea Curve, Cold Expectations, Field Day, Heather Rose In Clover, Justine and The Unclean, Lockette, Kid Gulliver, The Knock Ups, The Shang-Hi-Los, and Tiger Bomb! EARLY show 3PM - Midnight mat Once Somerville.

March 7 (Saturday) The Gala, Muck and the Mires, Dangereens, The Downhauls at The Midway (night show)

March 7 (Saturday) Cortez, Mighty High, Test Meat, Bone Church at OBrien's

March 8 (Sunday) Kenne Highland Clan, Mad Painter, The Fools Agenda, Spaces For Two at The Jungle

March 9 (Monday) SkyTigers, Brix'n Mortar, Circus Battalio, Rage//Quit at Charlie's Kitchen

March 13 (Friday) Murphy's Law at the Middle East Up

March 13 (Friday) This is Night 1 of a 2-night Whistle Stop Rock festival in Salem!! Featuring: The Knock Ups, The Cold Expectations, The Chelsea Curve at Koto Salem

March 14 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers featuring Lucretia’s Daggers! WMFO 91.5 - 1-4PM

March 14 (Saturday) Dead Kennedys (three originals and NO Jello Biafra) at Big Night Live - here's the FB page- be sure to read everything you CANNOT do there before you go!!!

March 14 (Saturday) This is Night 2 of a 2-night Whistle Stop Rock festival in Salem!! Featuring: Kid Gulliver, Heather Rose In Clover, Justine's Black Threads... And special guests: The Dents!! at Koto

BGN Archives March 15 (Sunday) Anti-Flag, Grade 2, Doll Skin, Evan Greer at Brighton Music Hall

March 18 (Wednesday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers Plough & Stars Residency

March 20 (Friday) Wine Lips, Zip-Tie Handcuffs, Baabes at O'Brien's Pub FB page

March 21 (Saturday) Brockton Hardcore Punk Shows presents In Cold Blood, Departed, Sick Minds, Divided Life, Eternal Reach at Dylan's in Brockton. FB page.

March 21 (Saturday) POST PUNK II with Chuck Ferreira, Duncan w Johnson, Anthony Kaczynski at Sally O'Brien's

March 21 (Saturday) The Return of the Bentmen w/ CMB at Once FB page

March 21 (Saturday) The Knock Ups, Motel Black, Pigeon Man, The Runouts at The Square Root

March 27 (Friday) Hey Zeus, Labor Hex, Razorburn City at O'Brien's

March 27 (Friday) Little Caesar, Diablogato, Little Billy Lost, Pink Mahalares at Koto Salem

March 28 (Saturday) Bombpops, MakeWar, Pass Away, In the Meantime at The Hong Kong

March 28 (Saturday) The Zulus at The Paradise

Rock Show poster March 28 (Saturday) WhistleStop Rock Festival Portland with Tiger Bomb, Heather Rose In Clover, The Knock Ups, PowerSlut, The Chelsea Curve, Kid Gulliver, Justine and the Unclean at Sun Tiki Studios 6PM start!!! FB page

March 31 (STuesday) Stubborn Hearts, Nowhere Fast, Lotus Kid, The War In Kids at the News Cafe Provi RI

April 3 (Friday) Kid Gulliver, The Steamies, The Winter Project, A Bunch of Jerks at The Jungle

April 4 (Saturday) Uncomfortables, DNZL, Joe Division, The Damaged at the 13th Floor Music Lounge, Florence MA

April 5 (Sunday) The Grommets, The Fatal Flaw, Trusty Sidekick, Kermit's Finger. MC: Poet Jake Tringali 3-7PM matinee show at The Midway

April 8 (Wednesday) Mad Painter Live on the Heavy Leather Topless Dance Party

April 11 (Saturday) DJ Easy Ed presents the Cranktones with Sax Gordon, the Fathoms, and Easy Ed's Record Hop 3-7matinee show at The midway

April 11 (Saturday) Courtney From Work, The Holts, Rawstrum, OTP at The Jungle

April 17 (Friday) FU's, End of Hope, Northern Skulls, & More at O'Brien's

April 19 (Sunday) The Undertones at The Paradise

Bay State Rock April 25 (Saturday) WhistleStop Rock Festival Western Massachusetts - featuring: Heather Rose In Clover, Kid Gulliver, The Cold Expectations, OTP and special guests State Of The Union at HiLO North Adams - FB page

May 8 (Friday) Salem Answers-Night 1: This is a music fest to celebrate and encourage the arts, magic, equality, and diversity of Salem! 7-9 at Koto: Accoustic sets with Pink Malahares, Coffin Salesman, Jenn Lombari - 9:30 to close at Koto: Salem Wolves, Oh The Humanity!, Radio Compass, Bad Larry's....9:30 to Close at Opus: Marianne Toilet and the Runs, Losers Circle, Red Ledger, Hyber, Subourban Sunrise FB page

May 9 (Saturday) A Crash Course for the Ravers featuring Glider WMFO 91.5 - 1-4PM

May 9 (Saturday) Divine Sweater, Eagle Jesus, Louzy, Jailbait matinee show 3-7PM at The Midway

May 9 (Saturday) Salem Answers-Night 2: 7-9 at Koto: Acoustic sets with Live Nude Girls, C.Murray, C.Okeeefe - 9:30 to close at Koto: Diablogato, Brix'N Mortar, Hellbound Hitmen, Skytigers, Motel Black...9:30 to Close at Opus: The Gala U.S., Z28, The Von Traps, The Downhauls FB page

Skybar May 10 (Sunday) SalemAnswers-Night 3: 7-9 at Koto: Accoustic sets with Carissa Angelo, Opus, Vilanvs, - 9:30 to close at Koto: Stiff Propisition (Glamtastic covers members of Bacterial Husk, Sexcrement, and Brix'N Mortar), Master of Beers (Metallica), Aces High (Iron Maiden), Warthog (Ramones ). FB page

May 16 (Saturday) Baabes, The Knock Ups, Mister Vertigo, Motel Black at The Jungle

June 13 (Saturday) Lyres and GLiDER at ONCE Lounge early 6:30-9PM show

June 14 (Sunday) Fourth Annual Out of the Blue Art Gallery Benefit FB page for more info as it comes.

September 17 - 21 The New England Shake-Up! Year Seven! in Framingham FB page

CONTACT US AT....misslynbgn@yahoo.com Send us your gig listings, your anything else ya got!! You want your CD reviewed?? Contact us for that too.

Chandler
Jameson Savage
Photo: Blowfish
Solo singling
Chandler Cross
Photo: Blowfish
Losers Circle
Mel and Mike
Photo: Blowfish
Losers Circle
Loser's Circle
Photo: Blowfish
DNZL
DNZL
Photo: Blowfish
DNZL
DNZL
Photo: Blowfish

 


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