The BGN News Archive

Tension Scale from Salem Photo:Nicole Tammaro

There's a new band in town, actually in Salem. We are excited! Tension Scale is LoWreck, Troy, Jon and Jay. They come from the bands: Razors in the Night, Brix'n Mortar, Tijuana Sweetheart, The Downhauls, Fear is the Mind-Killer, and Lon Chaney Jr.

The band's songs are all riffing on the 1989 Tom Hanks movie The Burbs. We've heard some of the songs and some have dialog clips from the movie in them. This reminds us of DNZL whose lyrics were all based on Denzel Washington movies.

You know with Troy in the group that the music is hardcore all the way. Troy talks about the humor in the songs, but when we hear them it all seem very much hardcore business going on. It's impressive.
They'll have a demo out on August 1 and their first gig will be at Faces in Malden on September 5. Tension Scale Facebook page.
  

Congrats to Richie Parsons for his new position as partner in a new dispensary called Surf's Up in Dorchester.

Rich Gilbert of the Zulus has a 3CD album titled Cockfight in a Bullring is being released to streaming services soon. The album includes demos from Radiobeat, Fort Apache, the Bones EP, as well a recording of their last live gig in 2/15/1991 at the Rat. He says that it will be out soon.

The Lily Pad always has unusual groups playing. We see that they are going to have Swiss group Leopardo there on Thursday July 17. That's part of a month long USA tour for the group. They end with a live on air set at WFMU.

Leopardo are an experimental art rock group. They have melodica and harmonium in their instrumental line up. They have been together since 2018 and have five albums out. The latest is titled SIDE A/SIDE B. You can hear it on Bandcamp. Here's a chance to get a heads up on what's playing at Lily Pad.

It’s been 50 years but to us they never get old. The Damned's grand 50th anniversary show at Wembley Stadium on April 11, 2026. On the bill are The Courettes, Peter Hook, and The Loveless (Marc Almond). They're giving you a nine month stretch to get ready. Tickets are on sale now.

There will be some shows at Suffolk Downs this year in August and September. On September 25 it will be Iggy, Sex Pistols and the Molotovs. Tickets.

There's only a few rock groups that make the mainstream news feeds these days. Foo Fighters are one of them. We read that they have a cover of Minor Threat's "I Don't Wanna Hear It". It's no secret the David Grohl has history in the DC hardcore scene. The instrumental part of the track was recorded in 1995 and the vocal was done this year.

This is seemingly part of the Foo Fighters' 30th anniversary of their first album. We have the song embedded below. The video is packed with photos of the Foos. Read more about the background of the cover on the Louder Sound website.

The Dream Syndicate will be at the Crystal Ballroom on December 10, 2025. Tickets are on sale.

We saw Steve Wynn back in 2010 performing the whole Medicine Show album at Church. John Keegan caught Dream Syndicate at Once in 2017.

VIDEOS......

Actor|Observer have a video for their song "Found Wanting". The song is so intense that it's surprising to see them have some fun with the concept. The song is about frustration in accomplishing your goals, and some band goals specifically. In the video they personify that with a goose. Maybe it's the goose that is supposed to lay the golden egg but doesn't. The band chases it around. The song is ragging the whole time.

Mercy Music's song/video should be depressing, but the music while not being bouncy is upbeat at least and that helps to uplift things. The song is "Big Fucking Mess" and its opening line is "Big Fucking Mess, and I'm always depressed, will I ever be over it?" It's not "Sweet Caroline" but that's a sing-a-long that I would join.

The melodic opening is followed by a low key chunking power chord section. It goes back and forth and that works wonders. The song has a great feel to it. The lyric video has a silhouette of a roach in the background! This is part of a split single with Danger Days doing "Wasted Time" on Double Helix Records.

RADIO....

On Skybar’s 7/1 Rising show he played some songs that we have reviewed below in the New Music section.
One song caught us by surprise…twice. One, it was a cover of the Nervous Eaters’ “Born to Die” off the Hot Steel and Acid album and two, it was a local band with Joe Packard in it. The group is named Bastard Leg. Their EP, which came out last February, is called Demo 2025.

The group sound is hardcore/punk but also sounds like it’s informed by metal and hard rock. We would use the made up word heaviosity to describe the general thrust. But even then they break the mold with some keyboard action here and there. In the end it has its own sound and characteristics. That’s very good for a first time out demo.

They do an exemplary job with “Born to Die”. It is a novel feeling hearing them play the intro, for so many years we have only heard the Eaters doing that. They even get the stinging treble guitar tone that Steve Cataldo has in the solo. Great move there. We liked all the songs. We have “"Born to Die"” embedded below. For the whole EP go to the Bastard Leg Bandcamp page.

Skybar also played a new song by Irish group Sprint. The name was of interest – “Descartes” from their album All is Over. One doesn’t often see the name of the sixteenth century philosopher/mathematician in a punk song. The singer/songwriter Karla Chubb said that she wrote the song while reading Rackel Cusk’s book Outline. Karla does throw the name Descartes around in the lyrics. It’s a nice piece of post punk. More about the group and single on the NME.

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.

Providence’s garage rockers Atlantic Thrills did a rockin’ live set on WFMU on Saturday 6/28 on the Todd-o-phonic show.  The played mostly songs from their latest album Three.  There’s a short interview after.

PODCASTS......

Blowing Smoke with Twisted Rico had Judy Grunwald and Beth Kaplan of Salem 66 in to discuss their new collection of songs titled Salt.
They talk about knowing each other from being on the Boston scene. Both Beth and Judy wanted more freedom to control a group than they had in the past. Their second show was at Mavericks with Flipper.

They fit in with the art rock scene more than other genres and they talked about the Underground and the BFVF. They were the first band signed to Homestead Records. There was no dramatic ending for the group. Judy and Beth talk as if it just seemed like time to stop.

The new album Salt was done with the idea of getting the songs on streaming services. With the album comes pleas for the group to play a live show but the members are saying no. Judy talks about having The Dark write the song "Judy" about her.

Al Quint was under the weather and missed a show so he made the 6/30 Sonic Overload show three hours long.
Al began the second block with an Outlets song and followed that with General Foodz doing "Be So Funny". That was a single from 1980. The flip was "Love Potion #9". General Foodz members got together in Medford High and went on to become part of the PTL Club.

Right now that single is going for between $100 and $300 dollars on Discogs. There is a vinyl collection with some live cuts too on Discogs. He followed that up with The Transplants. Another Boston band with members: Roger Tripp, Mark Mayhem, Dan McCormack, Jordan Kratz and Paul Lacritz. Discogs has info. We have those two songs embedded below.

The extra hour of Sonic Overload was Al doing his Fourth of July special. That's always provocative. We were glad that after a Husker Du intro he started with locals Phagocyte doing "I Am An American". They are a cutting edge hardcore group to keep an eye on.

The hour of political songs was unrelenting and unforgiving both musically and in their criticism. Some titles: The Whorehouse of Representatives - "Let Freedom Reign", Dillinger Four - "The American Going Out of Business Sale", Broken Prayer - "National Cum", Those Unknown - "Cries of a Nation", F.L.I.P. - "No Hope For the USA".

On the Sonic Overload page there is a super easy way to support Al by hitting the "Buy Me Coffee" button. To hear the whole Sonic Overload show go to Al's Blogspot page.

After the T Rex opener the 6/320 The Elastic Glam show had an interesting new song. It was a fine pop rocker by new local group Hotel Saturn featuring Shel Pierce.
Back in the day Shel was in The Runes and they had a single out in 1984 and were in the BGN (print version) then too (Issue #21 1981). Shel has played with Kenne Highland a few times, like at the Jungle in 2023.

Also on the recording are Kris Rodgers, Linda Viens (Girl With A Hawk) and Tim Jackson (Robin Lane and the Chartbusters). The song and the upcoming album, out in the Fall, is on Rock Garden Records.
The lyrics capture a yearning that will never be fulfilled which is a class subject for a power pop nugget. The line "but this is all your heart will allow" is the reality and admitting "just the way it's gotta be" is the arrow in the heart. Their follow up single is out now. "A Long As It Lasts" can be found on their Bandcamp page.

Sethyspice played one of the new Alice Cooper songs with the original line up. Sethyspice informs that new glammer Bobby Dazzle will open up for Cooper in his European tour and later for ELO and the Dobbie Brothers.

He played the Bobby Dazzle song "Revolution". There was another good song from Gyasi titled "She Says". Suzi Quatro who just turned 75 sings "Rolling Stone" a song about being 16. The States are a new band that have the glam sound down pat. Sethyspice played "Gimme Joy". Here's their Bandcamp page.

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

Jonathan Richman's new album is Only Frozen Sky Anyway. On the album is longtime collaborator Tommy Larkins and recent returnee Jerry Harrison.
The title tune "I Was Just a Piece of Frozen Sky Anyway" is Jonathan's take on existence. Don't cry for him if he's gone he was just a piece of frozen sky. Jonathan likes to get to simplicity, and here he gets Zen simple. He does that again with "Wavelet" and "I Am the Sky".

On many songs he sounds very much like the way he did on his early solo albums. "That Older Girl", "Night Fever", "You Need Me Too", "David & Goliath" and others would fit in on any other earlier album. Jonathan also likes to go Spanish for variety and does that on " Se Va Pa'volver" and "Little Black Bat".

Jonathan will be at the Somerville Theatre on October 24-26, Tickets.

Satch Kerans Band has another fine character study, like their previously released "Chantel", this single "Helen of Troy (NY)" is playing off the Greek legend Helen of Troy and that adds to the import of the song. It signals that the person is special and life changing. To refer it to Troy, NY is very funny/clever.
That carries over to the single cover art which shows a woman in profile superimposed with a yellow bus from Troy, NY. The art was done by Adam Sherman.

As in some of Kerans other songs and recordings he captures some of the pre-punk seventies singer songwriters. We always pay attention to guitarist George Hall and he brings a lot to the table here. Satch almost talks through the song. The unadorned delivery nails the vibe.
It was produced and engineered by David Minehan.

Duck & Cover have a new 5 song EP titled…EP. Duck & Cover are often lauded as being a current example of punk. The song "Bored in the City" fits into that assessment. Right off, the title sounds like an old punk song. Even though the song is only 2:29 long there is a lot to listen to with the arrangement. Halfway through a string scrape signals the guitar joining in on a verse with an odd tone that plays along with the vocal still going. Then there's a stop and start. The more you listen, the more you catch.

"Bad Blood" is chord heavy. It's actually the lilt of the chord progression that is the hook in the chorus. They preview that in the intro so you listen for it later. Here, and on every song, the drum playing by Damien is a controlled rumble. The beauty is that the recording always give the drums sonic space so you feel it punching away all the time.

As always Chris' voice is one of the main attractions. He got a distinctive tone that along with the group sound is something we always look forward to hearing.

The Stigmatics have a new EP titled Life of the Party.
The first song "Your Dream Girl's a Nightmare" comes crashing in like a classic New York Dolls tune. It sounds like it and the lyrics fit the bill too. Pete McCormack has that David Johansen attitude in his vocals. We didn't notice that before. He shines on this EP.

They do something similar in "Some Summer Time" where the antics are a far cry from the usual 'fun on the beach' reports.
They have a spot on and hysterical character portrait in "Life of the Party". This guy is charming and funny….before he starts drinking. Later : "Life of the party/Can't drive home. He came here alone. Gotta make room on the couch/Take away his key. Life of the party/He's always last to leave." They captured a type with that song.

We have "Your Dream Girl's a Nightmare" on our Top Ten Songs.

We found this as we were just surfing around. Invisible Rays are a local group. They play power pop and real heavy on ringing guitars. They have been together since 2020. They tag Big Star, Teenage Fanclub and Lemonheads in their Bandcamp description.

The album Sequin Dreams starts with the song "Call Off". The 30 second intro has so much cool guitar that you not require any more convincing about this group. Yet, it goes on. It has some Who "I Can't Explain" type guitar/drum action near the end. Each song is similar.
We especially like the local themed songs "Massachusetts" and "Mystic River". All the songs are good but it's the group sound that crushes our resistance. They check off all the power pop boxes.

Another plus, it's recorded at Woolly Mammoth and has David Minehan on background vocals. They are playing State Park in Kendall Square on July 23. They should be on a bill with Glowbox, that would be power pop heaven. We have "Call Off" on our BGN Top Ten Songs.

Talk about Power Pop. The Flashcubes from Syracuse had two singles in the late seventies. Paul Armstrong the guitarist ended up in Boston and we now know him from the group 1.4.5. The Flashcubes reputation has been growing through the subsequent years.

In a month the group will have a tribute album with notable pop groups. This week they released the first of three singles. The song “Reminisce” reflects on the fascination about talking up the old rockin’ days of yesteryear, something we know a lot about here at the BGN.
But why pine for the old days when you get pop gems like this right now? The Flashcubes still have the same line up they had in 1977 and we would say the music is only getting better.

Rum Bar Records has a power pop release too. The Jive are from PA. The first 30 seconds of "Good Time Call" just about define the term Power Pop. The Jive have it down. The last minute is all "I got your number" over and over. That is classic pop grist too. The EP titled Extended Play has five more songs too. Another boss pick from Rum Bar.

Now Rum Bar Records has scooped up The Kowalskis! The band started in 1996 in NYC and earned a reputation on their live shows. They were able to translate their live excitement onto records. We were at a live Kowalski show and we were surrounded by rabid fans. It was like a cult.

On 30 years of Goofballs Rum Bar has put together 25 tracks featuring their debut album, catalog retrospectives and unreleased material, all re-mastered. They have four songs preleased now. We love the song for Dee Dee Ramone titled "Oh Dee Dee". It's a touching remembrance but that doesn't mean they don't blast it out.

Last issue of BGN we mentioned that The Queers had done a few covers of Brian Wilson (RIP) songs. Now Joe Queer has a new group with some other experienced pop punkers called The 66ers. The first song released is very much influenced by Brian Wilson/Beach Boys.
There were years where the summer was filled with sunny upbeat songs that celebrated the season and the fun you had. Joe zeros in on the "Holiday" get away. It's that same feeling of freedom. It's a welcome retro flashback. There will be a full album in the fall.

Psychotic Youth from Sweden have been around since 1985. They got our attention with the 2023 album Happy Songs. They now have an old 'lost' album from 2012 posted on Bandcamp titled Retro.
They take a dive into their garage roots with a bunch of covers. They may be all covers. Here's what we recognize: "Bad News Travels Fast" by the Fuzztones, "Just Like Me" by Paul Revere and the Raiders, "Strychnine"/ "Have Love Will Travel" by the Sonics, "Run Chicken Run" by Link Wray and "Blues Theme" by Dave Allen and the Arrows.
If the remaining songs aren't covers they are fine garage tunes that are right in league with the classics.

Cosmic Joke on Triple B Records is hardcore. Forced Perspective is the name of the new 5 song EP. It's powerhouse stuff.
The inclusion of "Psycho Killer" was an attention getter. The Talking Heads just released a new video of the song on its upcoming 50th anniversary. We mentioned it a month ago.

Cosmic Joke give it a Chuck Berry intro. The drums start pounding, rushed, as the guitar starts its assault. The singer gets some of the inflections of Byrne's voice here and there as you realize the anger in the song fits hardcore just fine. The singer gets through the French section well enough. The feedback ending is a suitable ending.

Sounds Rad records is rereleasing Squirtgun's first self-titled album from 1995. It was originally on Lookout Records. The group included members from Screeching Weasel and Common Rider.

"Social" from the album was used in Kevin Smith's Mallrats movie in the opening credits. The song is pop punk but has a message about being controlled by upper class snobs. We have the song below.

The group also had a song in 1996 called "Mary Ann" about the same Mary Ann (Dawn Wells) from Gilligan's Island that Muck and the Mires just made a video about. See the Squirtgun video.

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

July 11, 2025 (Friday) The Freqs, Lev (Philly), The Rupert Selection - at Faces

July 11, 2025 (Friday) Casket Rats, All Sinners, Officer X, Phantom Rider at Ralph's Rock Diner Worcester - FB page

July 12, 2025 (Satuday) Girl with a Hawk, Linnea's garden, St Divine at The Burren

July 12, 2025 (Satuday) Plymouth Punk Rock Market At Mayflower Brewing Co  Noon - 5PM FB page.

July 13, 2025 (Sunday) New Bomb Turks, The Drowns, Gossip Collar, and Static Friction at Sonia

July 13, 2025 (Sunday) Corin Ashley Band, SCMF, The Chelsea Curve, at The Worthen Attic

July 16, 2025 (Wednesday) Slo-anne (Farewell Show!), Toluca Lake, Watson Park at Deep Cuts Medford

July 16, 2025 (Wednesday) Jon Spencer with Tiger Bomb at Oxbow Blending & Bottling Portland, ME FB page.

July 16, 2025 (Wednesday) Alvilda, Brower, The Downhauls, The Crimps, Balloon Thief at The Middle East UP

July 17 & 18 2025 (Thursday & Friday) Ryan Packer Presents Mike Mccolgan and the bomb squad "Do or Die" in its entirety, Violent Way, The Welch Boys, Klaxon at The Middle East (Down) 7pm $30

July 18, 2025 (Friday) Spectacle, The Manglers, Baabes, On What You're On at The Jeannie Johnston Pub, JP.

July 18, 2025 (Friday) Goth Summer with Staring at The Sea and Gretchen & The Banshees at Koto Lowell

July 19, 2025 (Saturday) The Instamatics, The McCritters, Harry and the Hot Flashes, The Grommets at The Midway for a 3PM matinee

July 19, 2025 (Saturday) Eddie Japan and Happy Little Clouds at The Burren -early show at 7PM

July 19, 2025 (Saturday) The Stress Balls (record release party!), Barry Larry, and Shexmus Kurdi - The Jungle, 3pm matinee

July 19, 2025 (Saturday) The Wynotts, The Haymakers, American Ocelot at the Square Root, Roslindale 8pm

July 19, 2025 (Saturday) The Stigmatics, Little Billy Lost, and Smitt E. Smitty & The Fezztones at KOTO in Salem, MA,

July 19, 2025 (Saturday) Screamin' Rebel Angels, Atlantic Thrills, Diablogato, and Hope Anchor & Car Show - Scurvey Dog (Providence)  2PM< p>

July 20, 2025 (Sunday) BAABES, Sourpunch, Euphemia at The Midway for a 3PM matinee

July 24, 2025 (Thursday) Rum Bar Records presents Summer Sizzler Vol. 1 @ The Square Root!! Featuring: The Spackles, The Hi-End, J Prozac and The Prozacs, TBA Special Guest Acoustic Opener!! Live Music Starts 8:00 PM Sharp!!

July 26, 2025 (Saturday) Already Dead, East End Redemption, The Frenzy of Tongs, Circus Battalion, COB at The Midway for a 3PM matine

July 26, 2025 (Saturday) The Dogmatics Record Release Party with Black Cheers, Jay Allen and The Archcriminals, Last Stand, Gypsy Moths, Tom Baker and The Double Down, Stop Calling Me Frank and Band 19. At at the Waltham’s French American Victory Club- 3:30 to 11pm. Facebook event page.

July 26, 2025 (Saturday) Thrust Club, The Flaming Little Sh*ts, Ruby Grove, Tiffy at The Jungle

July 27, 2025 (Sunday) Threat Level Burgundy, Lefthand Hotdog, Pink Slip, Bad Idea USA at The Midway for a 3PM matinee

July 30, 2025 (Wednesday) Bad Idea USA, Cyber Bullies, Harmony's Cuddle Partyat  Deep Cuts, Medford, ALL AGES

July 31, 2025 (Thursday) The New Bomb Turks, The Drowns, Gossip Collar, Static Friction at Sonia TIX

August 2, 2025 (Saturday) The Dwarves, Burn Kit, Scumbari at Deep Cuts TIX!! FB page

August 2, 2025 (Saturday) The Muckers, The Gobshites, Kier Byrnes at  O'Briens

August 7, 2025 (Thursday) Castle Goblin, Divorce Cake, Circus Battalion at The Jungle

August 9, 2025 (Saturday) The McGunks, Voice of Dissent, The Graniteers, Ragz to Stitchez at The Midway for a 3PM matinee

August 9, 2025 (Saturday) Endation. Happy Little Clouds, Cold Expectations, Ex Hyena at The Jungle

August 9, 2025 (Saturday) Cocked & Loaded, White Dynomite, Brownboot at Faces

August 9, 2025 (Saturday) The Lookout Honeys, Tiger Bomb, Powderhouse at The Burren - 6PM Early show!

August 12, 2025 (Tuesday) The Massacred, Gossip Collar, Sympathy Flowers, Sin Offering, Uniformed Service at O'Brien's

August 15, 2025 (Friday) Futon Lasagna, Blackout Shoppers (NYC punk), Skum City (NYC Punk), Basics at Ralph's Rock Diner Worcester

August 22, 2025 (Friday) WRPS-tival at Players in Rockland. Lenny Lashley, Inverter and Shove are set to perform with DJ Rocco from Rockland as the emcee with special performances. A fundraiser for the WRPS Scholarship fund. Tickets to be released this week.

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

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)

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

November 14, 2025 (Friday) Steve Conte, Muck & the Mires, Gene Dante & the Future Starlets at Deep Cuts in Medford

January 27, 2026 (Thursday) Hooligan Holiday Boston with The Oppressed - ALL AGES show 7PM doors. FB page

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