The BGN News Archive

This past weekend was a busy one! The Chelsea Curve played The Rock & Roll Rumble, Glowbox, Speedfossil, Girl with a Hawk were at Sally O'Brien's and Kingshot, Happy Little Clouds, Galaxy Cake, American Ocelot were at The Jungle. Saturday was overloaded with great shows everywhere!

John Keegan made it a night in Union Square, Somerville hitting both The Jungle and Sally O's. He give us coverage on the packed show at The Jungle. It was more or less first gigs for Galaxy Cake and American Ocelot. Check out his page in hitting the link in the photo above.

The Michael Weddle Memorial and Benefit show at the C Note last Friday and Saturday. Michael put the C Note on the map for us with his Rat Beach Parties, and subsequent shows. The morning after the show his ashes were to be spread on the Nantasket Beach across from the club.

There was drama on Saturday when the Count Viglione, true to his moniker, rose from his sick bed to perform. He'd been bed ridden for two weeks. The band never practiced but they pulled out a performance and the Count rose for the occasion. One song they did was the lyrically appropriate “Pills” by the NY Dolls. On the bill were 1,4,5, Tsunami of Sound, Mad Painter, Kenne Highland Air Force, The Johnny Thunders "Orchestra", Blacking Out, Squeaky Wheel and others.

Kenne Highland reviews the Saturday show (in the way only he can) in his Kenne Highland at Large column.

The Dogmatics, a Dogumentary was accepted to the Boston International Film Festival. The competition for this is intense; just that the film was accepted is amazing. It will be shown at the Brattle on Saturday April 29.

Tickets, if they are still available, are here

The Rock & Roll Rumble continues. The Chelsea Curve won their night! No surprise there right?? And Ruin the Nite won their night.

Follow the results on the Rumble Facebook page

John Lydon has continued to work on the new Public Image album, End of The World, despite the loss of Nora Forster this past week. The album, called End of World, will be released on August 11. PIL released a new song "Penge" with a video .It shows them working in the studio. PIL will follow up the release of the album with a UK and European Tour. The videe, song listings and tour dates are in this Pitchfork story

Meanwhile Lydon continues to personally make the news yet again...this time for sharing his opinion of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle by saying: “If you want to be normal and outside of [the Royal Family], then fuck off. Just fuck off and shut up. I’ve had to make decisions like this in the past. I had to leave the Pistols, I had to break up PiL a couple of times because the situation was unsustainable. And if that was their dilemma then please go away, alright? And we’ll love you for it. But they won’t. And I’ve never been one for kiss and tell books. They’re very, very spiteful to families and friends.”

That's what's making the news big time. But it's actually from a really great article/interview in The Telegraph by James Hall just released on April 12th.

What Lydon says about Vivienne Westwood is our favorite: "“Vivienne was one of the hardest women in the world to have to deal with. No sense of humour. Lethally vindictive, and always displayed a vicious animosity towards me. So, yes” – a wry laugh – “she will be missed. I respected her completely as a fully-blown character.” He says she taught him never to try to impress anyone. That lesson has certainly stuck."

And were we speaking of punk rock history? Often........

This week we have Johnny D's Allston Closing Night Installment #EIGHT from Bob Martel (aka Bob Cellar) - Ten bands and Bill Tupper as MC....those were the days folks and these are never heard before audio recordings of Johnny D's closing night! Let this be a history of Boston punk for you if you were not there!!

The eighth band was The Flies (Dan Salzmann, Jay Parham, Nat Freedberg, Randall Lee Gibson IV) - Listen to it here.

For some visuals here is the BGN photo coverage of Johnny D's closing night and the BGN coverage of the 2010 Johnny D's Reunion at Church.

VIDEOS......

Brix’ n Mortar are on Sonic Lobotomy this week!!

This is an excellent chance to see the group in a controlled environment. You can zero in on the vocal styles of Troy and Joey Riot. They attack vocals differently. The clash and the melding of the raw versus the melodic is one of the main draws of the group. The street punk assault of the music is another obvious characteristic.

Not to forget the drums by Devon, they are the main way they get that steamroller effect, where they just overwhelm with the total sound.

Brix’n Mortar are doing well up there in Salem. This video was shot at Salem Access Video. Some parts of the next Brix’ n Mortar video will be shot in this studio too. There’s a good scene going in the city.

When the group was talking about their next tour they revealed that Japan and Netherlands will be part of it!! WOW!

Sonic Lobotomy has been going on for 15 years. Show number 12 was Killslug!!

Don’t Sleep is a group that features Dave Smalley from DYS, Dag Nasty and Down By Law. Their latest song “Promise Made” is a cranker. The video shows a young band getting ready for their first show and the result is shown at the end…so, watch till the end.

This is from the soon to be out album See Change out on June 2 Order here

The New York Hardcore Chronicles has Lars Frederiksen of Rancid in for an interview. Lars talks a lot about the scene in California that was a bit different than here in Boston and that is interesting. It’s surprising that his main early musical influence was Kiss and Ace Frehley especially. Lars tells lots of stories from his long career.
That show is above left.

Another current NYHC Chronicle show had Moby talking about his Punk Rock Vegan movie. Moby and Drew get into talking about the New York City clubs and haunts they both know.
That show is above right.

Punk Rock Vegan is on YouTube

The group Vanity Mirror, from Toronto, has released a video for the song “Dandelion Wish.” It's from their soon to be released album Puff.

The video is interesting in the way it takes the 60s music vibe and adds rotating clothes changing in the visuals. They describe the music as ‘bedroom pop’ and we think that’s a good description. The Kinks will come to mind in the music and clothes more than anything. Even with the lo-fi vibe they do capture some ornate 60s arrangements.

You can pre-order Puff on Bandcamp

RADIO......

Joanie on the Late Risers Club on Thursday played a new Mudhoney song “Cry Me An Atmospheric River” off the just released album Plastic Eternity. It a screaming fuzzed out outburst, the kind Mudhoney has been doing from the beginning. That led us to the album which turns out to have lots of Mudhoney goodness in it.

We liked “Cascades of Crap,” just the title alone appeals to us. The same with “Flush the Fascists.” The lyrics are worth trying to catch. A most enjoyable album.

According to the Louder Than War website this was done during the Covid 19 shutdown. You really can’t tell from the recording, it sounds very sharp. See the article here.

Mudhoney are at the Brighton Music Hall in October. More info and tickets link below in the gig listings. Just scroll down.

The hear Joanie's whole show go to the WMBR Archive page and hit the link on the Monday 10am show for April 11.

Joanie was also the guest on Skybar’s Rising show this last week. We love when Joanie talks of her days when she lived in Kenmore Square, across the street from the Rat. What a place to be in that era!! Skybar and Joanie talk a lot about the situation with rock in radio…not good of course. The talk flowed easily with these to DJs.

Listen to the show on the archives, go to WMFO archive page and hit Tuesday 2/11 at 8pm then hit the archive button.

On WMFO on Saturday, A Crash Course for the Ravers had the Classic Ruins do a live set in the studio.

Songs included: “I Can’t Spell Romance”, “You Don’t Love Me No More”, “Labatts”, “Heart Attack” and “Lights Out”.

Listen to that show go archive version by going to the WMFO Schedule page and hitting Crash Course for the Ravers at 1pm Saturday then hit the archive button.

PODCASTS.........

This week Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico has Dana Colley of Morphine and Vapors Of Morphine.

Dana has one of the most distinctive saxophone sounds in all of popular music. Judging by his story getting Morphine together and then recorded happened fast.

Stormstress is on the podcast called The Metal Forge. They talked about their latest song “Buried In The Snow” and the whole process of getting it done from beginning to end.

Last Saturday Stormstress opened for Iron Maiden. That’s a dream show for a comparably new band especially.

NEW MUSIC/CDs......

Kurt Baker has a new song out. That’s all one needs to say to those in the know. Kurt never fails to deliver the pop you need.

“Secrets” from a new album – YAY!!, has the typical pop with muscle style that Kurt excels at. Kurt can borrow influences at will it seems. Here he says he went for a Motown sound, and you can hear that especially in the bass.

We’re catching up with The Hi-End who have released a few singles on Bandcamp.

The last one was the Dictators “Stay With Me”. The group successfully captures the song vocally, instrumentally and that Dictators attitude and outlook. Excellent job.

“Death To Me” is an original with plenty of attitude on its own.
With guitarist Curt Florczak leaving the group, the remaining members are more in focus. Now you can get Bruno Giordano’s guitar sound and riffs. His playing is simple and rocking. All of a sudden we are noticing Anthony Giordano’s bass playing, whose deep warm sound is felt in the mix. One thing hasn’t changed, that’s their ability to arrange a song. “Death To Me” goes through a few different change ups as it rolls along. There is a lot of ideas in this recording that bands could pick up on.

“God Complex” digs in and emphasizes the vocal which is delivering a commanding pronouncement of someone offering a new drug, or love but in any case it seems a menacing proposition.

“Livin’ In a Bad Dream” is another rocker with some added arrangement attractions. The more you listen the more you hear. This is the level this band is always at. Amazing really.

The Hi-End are going their way with little hoopla but we should maybe be making a little hoopla for them.

You can here "Death to Me" below. To hear all the songs go to The Hi-End Bandcamp page

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

April 16, 2023 (Sunday) How We Burn, WLKRS, Jamie & The Guarded Heart, Randy Black & the Heathcroppers at The Midway - 3PM Matinee

April 20, 2023 (Thursday) Black Flag at the Middle East Down - 2 sets- Set 1 the band performs the album My War, Set 2 - Black Flag classics. $30 TIX here FB page

April 20, 2023 (Thursday) Gang Green, The USM (a full member reunion), Far Above The Ground Grip Bite at Alchemy in Provi, RI. Doors at 7, Music at 8- FB page.

April 21, 2023 (Friday) Trash Rabbit The R.B.N.X., Lurking Class (NY) The Only Things, Film & Gender at The Worthen Attic
8:00 PM • $10 • 21+

April 21, 2023 (Friday) GANG GREEN with Spectacle, Presidential Disgrace, No Good, Uncle Spudd, Scotty Saints and The True Believers at Geno's Portland, ME FB page

April 21, 2023 (Friday) Tree, Drained, On Your Deathbed at The New World Tavern, Plymouth

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Copyright Chaos, The Ruffians, Unwanted Noise, Menudo Death Squad, Dogshit, Who Killed Spikey Jacket, Moose Knuckle Sammy's Patio Revere

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Welch Boys, Loser's Circle, ChumHuffer, Cry Havoc, Scumbari at The Midway for a Matinee at 3PM

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) The Thigh Scrapers, Mad Painter, The Stigmatics, Johnny Plankton & the Sea Monkeys of Sole at The Jungle - a matinee show - 3:30 PM – 7:15 PM. FB page.

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) White Dynomite, Casket Rats, The Long Wait at Garage B at The Speedway by Notch - 8:30 music - FB page.

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Lenny Lashley, Centrist Class Traitor, Already Dead, Time and Place at Fields West, Allston

April 22, 2023 (Saturday) Answerman, The Grubs, The Love Shamans at Faces Brewing in Malden - FB page

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Plymouth Punk Rock Market 12 PM – 5 PM at Mayflower Brewing Company. They'll indoor and outdoor beginning this spring: vinyl records, housewares, accessories, handmade jewelry, oddities, vintage goods & clothing. Weird stuff for weird people. Live music, food trucks, all ages, no cover. Check out the FB page for the awesome stuff you can get there!!

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Villain of the War, SleepJumper, Today Junior, Jiddo at The Silhouette

April 23, 2023 (Sunday) Actor|Observer, Good Sleepy, Godseyes, Peregrine at Ralph's Rock Diner Worcester

April 24, 2023 (Monday) Waiver Wire, Stay In Nothing(UK), Indoor Friends, The Dreamtoday at The Silhouette

April 26, 2023 (Wednesday) What Famine, Hans Gruber & the Die Hards, Threat Level Burgundy, PWRUP at Koto Salem

April 28, 2023 (Friday) Crystal Canyons, Cold Expectations, Vivid Bloom at O'Brien's

April 28, 2023 (Friday) Emo Night Karaoke with live backing band & special guest Monica Whitlock at Middle East - Downstairs.

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) Your Friends In Hell are featured on A.C.C.F.T.R.! 1PM. FB page.

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) Brunt of It, Hans Gruber & The Die Hards, Nick & The Adversaries, Sgt Scag at The Midway - FB page

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) Jeff Rowe, Matt Charette, Hall Monitor & Mike Moderski at Fields West, Allston

April 29, 2023 (Saturday) TOLAs, The Modern Day Idols, Glowbox at The Square Root

April 30, 2023 (Sunday) Scream Along With Billy - Lou Reed’s Berlin - Once at The Rockwell - 7PM. Tickets

April 30, 2023 (Sunday) Gorilla Biscuits, With Honor, Gel, Peace Test, Anklebiter, Bulletproof Backpack at The Met - Pawtucket, RI. All Ages - Early show 2PM- 10PM - FB page

May 1, 2023 (Monday) Mill Pond Falls, Norris The Terrible, Modern Day Idols, Jim Healey at The Silhouette

May 5, 2023 (Friday) Dentist, Salem Wolves, and Strange Pains - Faces Brewing, Malden, MA

May 5, 2023 (Friday) Midnight Creeps at Dusk, Providence RI

May 5, 2023 (Friday) Township and Stars Like Ours at The Burren - 7PM FB page.

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Randy Black & The Heathcroppers have a First Saturday of Every Month 4-6PM residency at Plough & Stars

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Dark Spring Boston Festival at The Middle East Down - line up coming - FB page.

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Cathedral Ceilings, Hilken Mancini Band, Lupo Citta at The Midway - 8PM

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Doc Hopper, Mikey Erg, Charmed & Strange, and Nate Doyle at Faces in Malden

May 6, 2023 (Saturday) Alexander, Tuxis Giant, Housefires & Al Z (Tatooine Punk Scene) at Fields West, Allston

May 10, 2023 (Wednesday) theWorst, Baabes at O'Brien's

May 10, 2023 (Wednesday) The White Bear Principle, FEEP, Nightvisions at The Silhouette

May 12, 2023 (Friday) MOD NITE with The Sharp Class (UK); Chelsea Curve, Tiger Bomb, Muck & The Mires, DJ Sherman at Geno's Portland, ME- FB page

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Somerville PorchFest!! Crow Follow, Linnea's Garden, Happy Little Clouds 4-6PM at 32 Stone Ave. FB page. Porchfest website

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Condition Baker, The Grimly Pleased, The Grommets, The Grubs at The Midway - 3PM Matinee.

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Muck and The Mires, The Chelsea Curve, Sharp Class, Tiger Bomb at The Jungle - FB page

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Answerman, Phantom Ocean, Black Hatch, The Endorphins at The Midway - 8PM

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) Kepi Ghoulie with his best lineups ever! Bface on bass and Atom Bomb on drums and also Brad Marino, and The Jacklights at Faces, Malden - TIX

May 13, 2023 (Saturday) The Hold Steady, Dinosaur Jr. with special guest Come at Roadrunner 7PM - FB page.

May 15, 2023 (Monday) Luxury Deathtrap, Summercult, Hands of Spite, Dropbear at The Silhouette

May 15, 2023 (Monday) KCUF, Tatooine Punk Scene, Hall Monitor, Superdown (acoustic) at The Silhouette

May 17, 2023 (Wednesday) Micah Schnabel, Vanessa Jean Speckman, Time & Place, Squallie Greenthumb at Faces in Malden

May 19, 2023 (Friday) The Downhauls EP Release! at The Lizard Lounge - more info to come on the FB page.

May 19, 2023 (Friday) Wreckless Wreck Chords Presents The Return Of TREE w/ WORM, Old North End(O.N.E), Goon Platoon at The C Note Hull

May 20, 2023 (Saturday) Kermit's Finger, Jonee Earthquake Band, Charmed & Strange, The McCritters at The Midway for a matinee @ 3:00pm

May 20, 2023 (Saturday) Radio Knives, Dead On Sunday, Llynks, Bullpup at The Midway 8PM FB page

May 20, 2023 (Saturday) Mach Bell Experience, The Claws (L.A.), Girl With a Hawk at The Square Root 8PM

May 20, 2023 (Saturday) Midnight Creeps at Ralph's Rock Diner Worcester

May 24, 2023 (Wednesday) Doom Lover, Thrust Club, Daphne Blue Underground, Really Great at The Silhouette

May 25, 2023 (Thursday) C.E. Skidmore & The Damn Fine Band (and friends) Mike Frazier, Jared Hart, and Miketon Graton at Faces in Malden

May 27, 2023 (Saturday) Highway Chapel, Nymphidels, Happy Little Clouds, Johnny Plankton and the Sea Monkeys of Sole at The Midway for a matinee @ 3PM.

May 28, 2023 (Sunday) Boston Vinyl & Variety - at Fields West Allston, LOADS of record stores, vinyl vendors and other vendors like Wanna Hear It Records, Ancient Injury Records, Kitty Levesque Vintage, Black Mold Market, Archie Snow, Gonzo Sonic, Judge Amps - Amp Demo Table, Period Three Records - Lathe Record Cutting and for the Merch Swap - Leave An Item Take An Item - 5-10PM - FREE but RSVP here

June 1, 2023 (Thursday) Gretchen Shea and The Middle Eight, Detroit Rebellion, Stubborn Hearts at Notch Brighton FREE but RSVP here and bring some shelf stable food to donate.

June 2, 2023 (Friday) Justine & The Unclean, Barrence Whitfield & His All-Star Band, Spiller at Faces in Malden TIX

June 2 & 3, 2023 (Friday/Saturday) Southbridge Mass will have its moment with the Alt_Together Festival! (Southbridge is between Worcester and Springfield) Friday’s bands are: Remy, Gold Star Boulovard, Mattias Band, Back in 86', Gx42, Saturday’s bands are: Lurid Purple Flowers, Evil Felipe, Circus Trees, Bobby for Apples and Whalom Park. FB page Tickets are here

June 3, 2023 (Saturday) Eddie Japan, Magen Tracy & The Missed Connections, Carissa Johnson at Faces in Malden. FB page.

June 8, 2023 (Thursday) Tysk Tysk Task, PiNKLIDS, Trash Rabbit at Notch Brighton FREE but RSVP here and bring some shelf stable food to donate.

June 8, 2023 (Thursday) Done, WOJTEK (FL), Headfoam (FL), Constantly Terrified, Psychic Weight at O'Brien's Allston

June 8, 2023 (Thursday) SkyTigers, Between Skies Perennial Quest ay Faces Malden

June 11, 2023 (Sunday) The Thigh Scrapers, Classic Ruins, The Ballbusters, Loretta at The Midway for a 3PM Matinee show.

June 15, 2023 (Thursday) Chris Wagner (Modern Day Idols) solo show at the Natick Common, Natick. Set time: 5-7pm.

June 15, 2023 (Thursday) Modern Day Idols, Tad Overbaugh and the Late Arrivals, If We Go At All at The Central Tavern, Milford.

June 21, 2023 (Wednesday) Lupo Citta, Valley of Weights, Nat Freedberg at The Silhouette

June 21, 2023 (Wednesday) The Rippers Rage (Rage Against The Machine Tribute), Rawstrum, The Melted Chapstix at The Midway

June 26, 2023 (Monday) Gretchen Shea And The Middle Eight, Salem Wolves, Luxury Deathtrap at The Silhouette

June 26, 2023 (Monday) The Murder Junkies 30 Year GG Deathaversary Tour (Playing a full set of all old GG songs) with local lineup Psycho, Midnight Creeps, Scümbari - At Alchemy, Provi, RI Doors 7pm Music 7:30pm - FB page.

July 22, 2023 (Saturday) The Lemon Drop Gang EP release with The Dogmatics, The New Frustrations at The New World Tavern Plymouth MA. Facebook page

August 5, 2023 (Saturday) Crown Court, Violent Way, Oil!, Klaxon, Doc Marten Soundsystem at The Midway - 8PM

August 8, 2023 (Friday) Modern Day Idols at Exhibit A Brewing, Framingham. 7-9PM

August 19 & 20, 2023 (Sat & Sun) In Between Days Festival - 2 Stages, 2 Days, 24 bands ... and Cool Vintage and Local Market Place, Vinyl Record Pop Up Shop, Food, Modest Mouse , Weakened Friends, Paper Tigers, Clarissa Johnson, Dutch Tulips and the South Shore’s own Gypsy Moths. You'll want to get your tickets now because they have a ‘tier’ system. They have some "tier" ticket scheme so the longer you wait the higher the ticket prices are. FB page

August 25, 2023 (Friday) Bone Up Brewing Seventh Anniversary Festival Night 2 - 6pm -10PM with The Guilloteenagers, Blood Lightning, Lesser Glow

August 26, 2023 (Saturday) Bone Up Brewing Seventh Anniversary Festival Day 3 12:30pm- 10PM with from 1st to last: DnA's Evolution, Glacier, Sundrifter, Clouds Taste Satanic, North Star the Wanderer, SkyTigers (6PM), Brain Famine

August 27, 2023 (Sunday) Bone Up Brewing Seventh Anniversary Festival Day 4 - 12:30pm - 7PM - with Weisstronauts, Organ Meats, Hobo Wizard, Cortez, Major Stars, Crowfeeder

September 3, 2023 (Sunday) Belvedere at Faces Malden

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

October 26, 2023 (Thursday) Mudhoney at The Brighton Music Hall 18+ TIX

November 3, 2023 (Friday) Modern Day Idols Single Release Party with Tad Overbaugh and the Late Arrivals at Square Root, Roslindale.

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.