Cheers to us! I didn’t feel like waiting till tomorrow haha. Tomorrow, June 27th, marks the 17th anniversary of Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM)! The best thing I’ve done with my life. It’s been a pleasure of listening to all of these wonderful, weird bands – near and far – over the years! Listening, seeing live, writing, booking, releasing records and tapes, podcasting, spinning records, and even playing shows of our own! We’ve met countless heads over the years and been able to share our love of music with all of y’all and likewise. Been exposed to so many great artists new and old and hopefully we’ve turned some of you on to some cool shit too! Ultimately though, the real best part of all of this is having my best friend, Gritty, by my side. Whether it was before we knew anyone else and we showed up to every show obnoxiously early before anyone else; front and center, to now knowing most of the people in the room. Either way, happy to have each other. We still catch up daily to discuss our favorite bands and share our spiels. It’s what I’m most grateful for in life.

What’s next for us?! To be frank (and this is why a band decided to call themselves Stop Calling Me Frank!) we’re going to dial it back a bit. Not leaving you. Don’t worry! But, we may be going off to college in the Fall! Get early on it! KLYAM is 17 now and getting a little old for the kids’ table!

I’ll leave you with a few of my favorite songs of all time. Just a few! One per decade. We’ll start with the 30s. And in the grand traditions of KLYAM, a little bit expected, a little bit random! Here we go…

Lucille Bogan – Shave Em’ Dry (1935) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PhOWpdt6xg&list=RD_PhOWpdt6xg&start_radio=1

The Sharps and Flats – I Knew He Would (year unknown, late 40s?) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3ICynn3AtE&list=RDh3ICynn3AtE&start_radio=1

The Phantom – Love Me (1958) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zgsIdMa8qA&list=RD8zgsIdMa8qA&start_radio=1

Los Saicos – Demolicion (1964) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=haVaaDLwWvI&list=RDhaVaaDLwWvI&start_radio=1

The Mentally Ill – Gacy’s Place (1979) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HePj8xH8I0w&list=RDHePj8xH8I0w&start_radio=1

Susan SuLu Dubow – I’m Demented, You’re Demented! (1981) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvphZ-CoslQ&list=PL287kpvhH9PxAPKtrE8iiEyFpLAHFghq2&index=11

The Trashwomen – Perversion (1993) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ur_RUjhhhQ4&list=RDur_RUjhhhQ4&start_radio=1

Black Lips – Wild Man (2005)* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ9rVAp0K6M&list=PL287kpvhH9PycXW3qywrx9Q_ABU36FUrv&index=36

Saralee – Circle of Hands (2011) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU_sK2cTENI&list=RDKU_sK2cTENI&start_radio=1

Happy Body – Plastic Lovers (2023) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FqDNXEcErUA&list=RDFqDNXEcErUA&start_radio=1

Okay, because you’ve been good, here’s a few more!

The Earthquakes – This is Really Real (1960) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poLDr94YEng&list=RDpoLDr94YEng&start_radio=1

The Run-Arounds – Such a Night (1965) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUKa9AjtyVM&list=RDzUKa9AjtyVM&start_radio=1

Ralph Nielsen & The Chancellors – Scream (1962) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WMp0kANEFc&list=RD1WMp0kANEFc&start_radio=1

Vomit Pigs – Useless Eater (1978) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f3TimGgFqk&list=RD1f3TimGgFqk&start_radio=1

Vomit Squad – Burning with Beelzebub (2010) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjFdV75D44w&list=RDhjFdV75D44w&start_radio=1

Leopardo – Country Side Love (2021) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiwxA5fruPw&list=RDYiwxA5fruPw&start_radio=1

Leona Bass with The Lost Guitars – I Want to Marry An Egghead (1958) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E-QJO7ief5I&list=RDE-QJO7ief5I&start_radio=1

*Black Lips did this amazing cover that really got me into the song and it became one of my favorites. A standard of mine on vocals for Johnnie an the Foodmasters. The original is by The Tamrons from 1966 and it’s one of the best Rock and Roll songs I have ever heard. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc8tmiQVblk&list=RDFc8tmiQVblk&start_radio=1

With the exception of Saralee, I didn’t include any Boston artists here, because there’s too many local favorites to name and I’m sure I’ll have more on that in the future. BUT if you crave any of my tastebuds and want to hear more of my playlists or recommendations, I have plenty!!! Local annd everywhere! Here’s one I made a couple years back of most of my favorite local artists (2009-2024) for the KLYAM 15th Anniversary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_4UVdsc_ps&list=PL287kpvhH9PxCz8yAi03LXR5hBUjWe0g6

Of course, I can’t do a KLYAM celebration post without honoring someone incredibly near and dear to the KLYAM fam as anyone else, our dear departed friend, Ben Tan. RIP Ben. (1990-2026). KLYAM won’t be the same without you. Boston won’t be the same without you. Life won’t be the same without you. Much love brother. Until we meet again, my friend.

Benjamin J. Tan Scholarship for the Performing Arts Ben Tan’s Bandcamp Johnnie and the Foodmasters Bandcamp

Last, but certainly not least, check out my PIC, the King of Slop himself, NYC’s finest, none of other than G. Gordon Gritty!!! https://ggordongritty.bandcamp.com/

That’s all folks!!! – Chris