The BGN News Archive

Bishops Green at Brighton Music Hall

We walked in the Brighton Music Hall on Saturday to see 7 Seconds with Success and Bishops Green but when we walked in we found ourselves looking at the FU's. That was super cool for us - what a surprise!! About 6 weeks ago they were added to the bill but we never saw that listed.
   This was their first show with their two new guitarists; "man about town" Ian King and Joe Koonz ex-of the Freeze. The raised stage at BMH makes every group look more impressive and that was the case with the FU's whose two new members had the look down and sounded great!

The FU's

    Somehow through all the FU's personnel changes the music remains the same and that old school hardcore was hitting hard. John Sox is always the focus but right beside him Ed Lynch on bass is the dynamic energy ball that displays the heart of the music. The set was on the short side but satisfying.

Success - also showing the new fence in foreground

    Success is from Seattle and are an odd mixture of influences. There was punk, pop punk, 70's rock and even a dash of Springsteen-like yearning in the mix. I found it very listenable, in a guilty pleasure sort of way. The song 22nd Street on Bandcamp sounds much more pop punk than the live version. The guitarist played in a pre-punk style and then there was a keyboard player. The keyboards were low in the mix but in a hardcore line up keyboards are problematical. In fact they somehow just don't seem to fit in really. In one song they cut in a section of Aereosmith's Sweet Emotion and later they did a good cover of Alternative Ulster; two songs that show that inclusive mix they embrace.

Bishops Green

    Vancouver's Bishops Green were a much more straight ahead affair. They were street punk, hardcore straight up, all the time. They played everything at a similar mid-tempo pace and all their songs had a similar feel. The well done but unvarying tempo could verge on mechanical but they would tip it to a feeling of unrelenting force time and time again to make a powerful set of songs.
   The singer Greg Huff was able to elevate the songs with some top of the lungs vocals, that made for some inspiring moments. He is very charismatic and earnest and though they are from Canada he sings with a bit of a British accent.
    The crowd responded with the moshing, group singing and fists raised in the air. We ran into Joanie Lindstrom there, she's seen them before and has played them on the air many times. They were new to us but we won't miss them next time that's for sure!

7 Seconds

    We knew we were gonna get some 80's era hardcore with 7 Seconds. They picked up where the FU's left off. The volume was way up. The abrupt tempo changes were done with precision. This was a well-oiled machine. The drumming was very busy with loads of cymbal action.
    They played their covers of When the Kids are United by Sham 69 (Coming to the Middle East next month) and then 99 Red Balloons (Gee, that song got a lot of attention back in the day). I liked the title song of the new album Leave a Light On. It sounded more like traditional rock and it worked better live than the recorded version. It was a long and generous set. They ended with the hit Walk Together, Rock Together but to me that wasn't the best song of the set by any means.

7 Seconds

   Better than any one set was the overall night. This was four good bands that made up a solid set of rock for the late summer.
    As a new addition at BMH there's now a 4 foot high black iron mesh…fence type thing....in front of the stage. It's an anti-stage-diving mechanism and keeps back the crowd and comes with two bouncer staff members as well....just in case they are needed.
    The club was only half filled. Somehow we thought the lineup and the headliners 7 Seconds would attract more. This was also a 6 pm show because at 11 pm they get everyone out so they can start "Heroes", the "80s New Wave, Electro, Punk & Old-School Goth" record spinning with DJ Chris Ewen. That has been transported from the defunct TT's. GRRRRRRR.

The Darlings - In a Pigs Eye Photo: Arthur Freedman

   While we were at BMH Arthur Freedman trekked to Salem to catch The Darlings at In a Pig's Eye on Saturday. He reports: The Darlings played sweet all night at "In a Pigs Eye" Guitarist emeritus Billy Loosigian was some kinda MUCHO HOMBRE playing with his busted arm in a cast like a man possessed!

Billy Losigian playing with a cast. Photo: Arthur Freedman

Muck and the Mires tour Japan from Sept 4 to 12!!! And they have scheduled a return home party at Sally O'Brien's on Sept 26th. Read more below.

There's a new Cramps doc in the works: Cramped Up...planned release date is October! You can read more about it, and see a trailer, here

Here are some shows coming up ....

August 24 (Monday) It's Monday so it must be Opus Underground in Salem! With the Koffin Kats, The Evil Streaks, The Skeleton Beats and OC45

August 27 (Thursday) Jittery Jack is performing at the LIVE Music Thursdays in the Amphitheater at Assembly Row. Starts at 6:30.

August 27 (Thursday) Honey & Tears Duo featuring Richie Parsons is at The Midway before Queeraoke. So thats from 8:30 - 10PM. $5!!!

August 28 (Friday) you have Thick Shakes, Thalia Zedek Band, Royal Wedding and The Gondoliers at The Midway

August 29 (Saturday) The Ten Foot Polecats are gonna be on A Crash Course for the Ravers with Brian Young and Mike Stewart on WMFO 91.5 - that's 1PM- 4PM.

August 29 (Saturday) is the Dorchester Beach Festival from 2-9PM. At Malibu Beach, Savin Hill (off Morrissey Blvd, opposite UMass Boston, just before the draw bridge) and The Beachcombovers will be performing at this event. It's "family focused" from 2-5 then more "Adult Focused" from 5-9PM. Check out the FB page for all the info, there's lots!!

August 29 (Saturday) The last punk show at the Beachcomber damn it- this is a 4-9 show, bands start at 5PM - on the list are Rockin' Bob Punk Band, The Woods, The Martians, The Union Boys, BarRoom Heroes, The McGunks, The Disquiets, Beantown Boozehounds, The Art Thieves with Jesse Ahern playing a few sets out on the Deck throughout the day and evening. Here's the FB page to stay updated.

August 29 (Saturday) GG Allin's Birthday Celebration with The Jabbers, The Cryptics, jonee earthquake band and the Meat Depressed. It's at the The Shaskeen Pub, 909 Elm St. Manchester, NH and it is Free FB page here

August 31 (Monday) The Fake Boys, Petty Morals, BDSX, Spectre Hawk and The broken glass kids at Opus Underground Salem.

and of course The New England Shake-Up! September 25,26,27 2015! Keep yourself updated at their FB page

September 3 (Thursday) Wormwood (mem of Doomriders), Mountain God (NY), Conclave (ex Warhorse), and Livver are at O'Briens

September 5 (Saturday) Paul Robinson (of the Boize fame & brother of David Robinson) will be on A Crash Course for the Ravers on WMFO 95.1FM from 1-4PM with Brian Young.

September 5 (Saturday) White Light White Heat: Tribute To Lou Reed's Rock and Roll Animal Tour is at The Cantab Club Bohemia. It features Kenne Highland and Nelson Slater and Love and Flame with Joe Viglione and Lady Carolyn and Fred Pineau and Michael J Quirk and John Morrill and Elsewhere . It will be a night to remember, 8 PM to 1 AM - all Songs of Louis Reed. FB page here

September 5 (Saturday) at The Middle East Down: Alanna Royale, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion! and The New Review

September 6 (Sunday) Jittery Jack and DJ Easy Ed are doing an evening show on at Atwood's.

September 9 (Wednesday) There's a new band in town that promises to be killer! The Hi-End which consists of Johnny Carlevale of the Skeleton Beats, Curt Florzcak of Greg Allen's Fringe Religion and Bruno, Anthony and Scott from The Swindlers. They're at The Midway this night along with AdapterAdapter, The Short Term and The Shallow End Divers (FB Page)

September 12 (Saturday) The JP Music Fest is happening at PineBanks Field in JP from 12Noon to 7PM. Some of the bands playing will be The Hi-End (see Sept 9), The Upper Crust, Streight Angular, Love Love, Rick Berlin and Trusty Sidekick!! Here's the FB page for more info and directions.

September 12 (Saturday) at The Midway are M.O.M. (Mercury On Mars), The Classic Ruins, State of the Union and Stop Calling Me Frank.

September 12 (Saturday) Lyres are at The Middle East up along with Little War Twins and Hudson K

September 12 (Saturday) Barrence Whitfield & The Savages are at the Brighton Music Hall

September 12 (Saturday) Mayte & Nicole Present a Night at The Greeks (79 Bow St, Somerville) ! With Jay Allen & The Archcriminals, Animal Talk, and I Thought They Were Models?

September 13 (Sunday) This year's Somerville Rock And Roll Yard Sale will again be in Union Square, Somerville: a DJ and live local bands will entertain you while you peruse the awesome goods offered by lots of local independent vendors things like great Records / Vintage / DIY Handmade goods galore in and around Union Square Plaza. Time: 11AM- 5PM FB page here

September 16 (Wednesday) Oh Malô, Bent Shapes, Bay Faction, The Colonnade are at the Middle East Up.

September 17 (Thursday) at The Oberon this should be an amazing experience: Endation has put together a special show "The Chimera" explores musical and artistic dichotomies. Act I features the raw, intense, melodic force of two-piece Endation accompanied by movement and dance. Act II brings the audience into the dreamy, experimental world of Bent Knee as visual artists create pieces inspired by the band in real time. The Chimera invites the audience to seek their own interpretations in the disparate pieces that form one singular evening of performance. Buy tix here. Get more info on the FB event page.

September 17 (Thursday) Sham 69 and The Welsh Boys are at Middle East up.

September 18 (Friday) Livver, Tenafly Vipers, Dead Cats Dead Rats and Profit Margin are at Koto in Salem, MA

September 18 (Friday)- 21 (Sunday) Mark Lind has his annual Boston's Burning shows lined up at The Midway for these days so far they have Duck & Cover The Drax, The Warning Shots, Warn The Duke, The Skeleton Beats, Iron Chin ....more to come!!

September 19 (Saturday) Pop Gun along with Fireking, Classic Ruins and 138 are at Koto in Salem, MA

September 25 (Friday) Illegally Blind Presents: Boogie Boy Metal Mouth (EP Release), The Televibes, Black Beach, Esh The Monolith, and Midriffs at The Middle East Up.

September 25 (Friday) At "The Greek's" (Greek American Social Construction Club) in Union Ssquare Somerville are The Evil Streaks, The Black Souls, Silver Mirrors and The Electrolux Combo. Here's the FB page.

September 26 (Saturday) Continental (ft. Rick Barton), The Nervous Eaters, and The Charms are doing a Matinee show (doors at 1) at the Middle East Up.

September 26 (Saturday) Muck & The Mires are back from Japan and they party it up Sugar Blood Jinx and Hambone Skinny at Sally O'Brien's in Union Sq Somerville. FB page here

September 30 (Wednesday) Grex, Kenne Highland and Fable Grazer are at The Lily Pad in Inman Square Cambridge. 7-10PM All Ages. FB Event page here.

October 3 (Saturday) Fireking is having a Double Trouble VINYL Record release party at The Midway along with guests The Grip Weeds, Watts and John Powhida

October 4 (Sunday) at the Middle East Down: Chameleons Vox (UK) (The Chameleons from the old days continued) playing ‘Script of the Bridge’, Avoxblue, The Milling Gowns and DJ Matthew Griffin . Doors are a little early - at 7PM.

October 4 (Sunday) it's a very special reunion of The Coachmen featuring Jerry Miller, Roy Sludge, and Johnny Sciascia at The Midway. FB page here

October 8-11 The Third Annual Rat Beach Party WILL happen - at the C Note on Nantasket Beach -- October 8th-11th. Check the FB page for updates.

October 10 (Saturday) Patti Smith has a new book out called M Train.She will be reading from the book at the John Hancock Hall in the Back Bay Event Center downtown near Copley Sq. sponsored by the Harvard Bookstore, 7PM (doors at 6). It's $30 but that includes the book as well! For more info and to buy tix go here. Also.... The cable channel Showtime just bought the rights to do a TV series of Patti's book Just Kids!! I can't wait for that one! Read more here.

October 17 (Saturday) As part of Crash Safely 2015 a Benefit for MS at The Midway are The Sprained Ankles, The Dents, Muck & the Mires, Phil Aiken Army, Gymnasium

October 26 (Sunday) As part of Crash Safely 2015 A Benefit for the National MS Society the Middle East Up has Township, Watts, Unnatural Axe and Fireking - that's a GREAT show!!

October 26 (Sunday) - TRiPLE THiCK, Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders (ex-Lazy Cowgirls), Thee Itchies and Hambone Skinny are at The Midway

CONTACT US AT…….misslynbgn@yahoo.com - Send us your gig listings, your news and anything else ya got!!

FU's

Joe Koonz - FU's

The Darlings Photo: Arthur Freedman

7 Seconds