The late Reatard would have been 34 today.
All posts by Chris DeCarlo
Review: Gangbang Gordon, Vaporubs, Lady Pilot @ O’Brien’s Pub (3/28/14)
Bands: Gangbang Gordon, The Vaporubs, Lady Pilot
Date: Friday, March 28, 2014
Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)
Gangbang Gordon – I’M WALKING HERE! I’M WALKING HERE! Gangbang Gordon is walking here and he’s playing here too. The party animal himself has brought along a whole crew of hooligans. BBT (Big Ben Tan) on bass, Justin DeCarlo (my bro) on drums, and Brian Hickey on guitar. They are all crammed in together on the tiny O’Brien’s stage.
Tonight, GBG’s vocals are a bit clearer than usual and the band sounds like they have rehearsed, just a little bit. Saving some of the typical GBG theatrics for another night. Though, at one point he kicks the men’s room door wide open. GBG plays for the all of the people, even if they have to take a whiz. He comes to you.
Covers. BOY, you got it. The WTF band perform a little ditty known as “Cherry” from a band (Fat Creeps) we first saw here at O’Brien’s many moons ago (April 13, 2012).
Pop your cherry to GBG here: http://gbgordon.bandcamp.com/
The Vaporubs – The Vaporubs hail from Providence, RI, a city that has given us its fair share of crunchy, spankin’ rock ‘n’ roll goodness in the last few years, and these fellas offer us a slice from that humble pie.
Vaporubs play a fast power pop/punk/new wave sounding set. It’s loud and feisty, and naturally would serve better with a larger audience. Alas, it’s a tad sparse in the haus. Nonetheless, they rub it all out, even hopping off the stage and into the crowd.
I must be losing my marbles these days, because I forgot to cop a set list! and this wasn’t some ordinary set list, no way. Vaporubs go all out with their set lists, they laminate them! Anywho, my eyes light up when they shred through their rendition of The Go Go’s “Vacation.” I could use one.
Lady Pilot – I don’t remember most of Lady Pilot’s set, it all happens so fast! It kept up the same punk energy of the first two bands, falling much more in line with The Vaporubs though. This show is Lady Pilot’s tape release and it is being released on La Parca. La Parca put on the show tonight, so big shout out to them! http://ladypilot.bandcamp.com/
Review: Beware The Dangers Of A Ghost Scorpion! and Sun Lions @ Middle East Upstairs (3/22/14)
Bands: Beware The Dangers Of A Ghost Scorpion!, Sun Lions, Soft Pyramids, Whiskey Warpath
Date: Saturday, March 22, 2014
Venue: Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge, MA)
We missed Whiskey Warpath and Soft Pyramids. Damn, next time!
Sun Lions – I have mixed feelings about this band. They are pleasant in some respects, especially in a live setting, but I’m not going bonkers over them either. It’s just too clean and proper for my savage tastes. I need an extra kick in the gut to loosen me up a little bit. This set feels like it lasts forever too. http://thesunlions.bandcamp.com/
Beware The Dangers Of A Ghost Scorpion! – Now, here is a band more to my liking. BTDOAGS is a trippy, all instrumental surf rock outfit, a surf nut’s wet dream, if you will.
Staying true to their name, the guys bear an air of mystery to them. Dressed in black shirts and blue jeans and wearing bandannas that cover most of their faces, they never verbally interact with their audience, not once. Instead, they communicate with their music.
I am always biased when it comes to surf music. I find it hard not to enjoy it, even if it is extremely generic. Frankly, it actually all sounds the same to me, but that’s just it, it’s a sound and one that I never get tired of hearing. Still, BTDOAGS picks it up a notch with their sinister, horror punk take on the genre. Anyway you look at it, it’s fun.
Overall, a strong set, but I’ve seen better from the band. The venue is mostly filled and the crowd is digging the band, rightfully so, but I’d rather see at least one of the members leap off the stage and dance around with the audience or entice them to move more as I have seen in the past. Regardless, always a pleasure to see these dudes. BTDOAGS in a basement/underground setting, now that is something I need to see next. http://ghostscorpion.bandcamp.com/
BUFU Fest 2014 Schedule Announced
Yo, check it out! Here’s the schedule for this weekend’s BUFU Records Fest. Our GBG starting at 420 on Saturday, tight. 4 mo info, here’s da fascist book page: https://www.facebook.com/events/695215827208809/709038109159914/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity
Black Lips & Orwells SXSW Interviews
The AU Review’s been on the up n up interviewing some KLYAM faves. Check it out.
Black Lips
Part II: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVhf4xmcoGs
The Orwells
Review: Miami Doritos, Kal Marks, Buttercup @ Charlie’s Kitchen (3/17/14)
FAST APPLE presents: Nice Guys, Kal Marks, Miami Doritos, Buttercup
Date: Monday, March 17, 2014
Venue: Charlie’s Kitchen (Cambridge, MA)
I haven’t been taking care of my show “reviews” the way I should be. You can call me out on it, you can pinch my nipples extra hard when you see me next. Extra hard. So, here’s a show from a few weeks back.
Buttercup – Aww, look at the cute little buttercup, aww. Nope, not these guys. They’ll eat you up and tear you a new asshole. Tear you three. Buttercup is Nathan (guitar/vocals) and Lee (drums) of local favorites Saralee. This performance is a departure from the soft, serene pop of Saralee. Buttercup is blistering noise without a hint or care for melody or pop. With that being said, their song “Fucked You In My Car” has stuck to me for the last few weeks. It’s sticky.
Rough, unsafe at any speed, and harmful for all ages. Buttercup: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tE1sKFwe9j8
Miami Doritos – The Miami Doreets are back in Boston! These Doreets just got back from a slammin’ tour with fellow rough riders NICE GUYS and they aren’t even stopping for a breather.
I first saw Miami Doritos last July and in the subsequent months I have come to adore everything about them. Which is actually funny because I often have a hard time describing the band to people. Mad people (I don’t know why they are so maddd) will go up to me and say “hey, what’s up with these doritos? Are they really from Miami? What’s going on? Who am I?” I don’t know what to tell them, but here’s a shot. Musically, this vocals/guitar/drums based two piece, are a rough mixture of bizarre garage punk and screechy noise pop. It’s not all brutality though, they are a fun, charming bunch of ragamuffins.
I’ve never been to Charlie’s before. I know, it’s whack, but I also have never lived in the city. It’s a tight venue and the place is bumpin’, bumpin’ to the doreets in all their wacky goodness. For more wacky goodness. Hit up their bandcamp: http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/
Kal Marks – Kal Marks is a straight up epic band. It’s hard not to get swept away in this group’s overwhelming sound and emotion. They have almost a classic rock feel to them, but not in a cheesy or pretentious way.
I’ve seen Kal Marks several times over the years, but this is the first time my brother has seen them and he’s going nuts and he’s not the only one. Alas, we have to depart earlier than expected on this evening and aren’t able to catch the full set :(. In time, we’ll catch you again Kal. http://kalmarks.bandcamp.com/
Nice Guys – The name ain’t a misnomer! Listen to them here: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/ and seriously pick up a copy of the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ from KLYAM Records!
Flashback: The Reatards in New York (4/28/00)
It’s Monday and I’m feeling tired already. So, here’s footage of Jay performing with The Reatards from wayyyyy back, way before my time. You can hear such Reatardian gems as “Stacye,” “It Ain’t Me,” and “Bummer Bitch.” This will wake us all up.
Deep Thoughts…
Deep Thoughts from Sasha Tolmachyov on Vimeo.
Check out this short documentary on one of Boston’s best record stores, Deep Thoughts in Jamaica Plain. Keep an eye out at 3:01 for a KLYAM Records Release!
Listen: Peach Kelli Pop – “Do the Eggroll” Japanese Version!
Yo, I know y’all loved the OG Eggroll from Peach Kelli Pop, but you will piss your pants when you hear this new Japanese version! It’s available through Recess Records (Japan).
Listen here: http://peachkellipop.bandcamp.com/
Review: The Orwells & Twin Peaks @ Great Scott (3/4/14)
Bands: The Orwells, Twin Peaks
Date: Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Venue: Great Scott (Allston, MA)
Twin Peaks – Twin Peaks are on tour with their fellow Chicago brethren, The Orwells. I’ve never seen the dudes before, but I dig what I hear now. They seem to have a similar style as the headliners; mixing the bare bones style of garage with a further reaching, bigger ROCK sound, and not coming off as cheesy might I add.
While I do enjoy Twin Peaks, they play for a little bit longer than I need. Johnny Ramone once said that young bands should play for fifteen minutes. Essentially Johnny is saying hit the audience like a bucket of water with your best material and leave them thirsting for more. Then again, you’re on tour, only two bands are playing, play a long set, enjoy the experience. http://twinpeakschicago.bandcamp.com/
The Orwells – These fine, young men must really love Boston. We’ve been spoiled in the past year, with this being the fifth KLYAM attended Orwells show. The gamut has ranged from somewhat empty clubs to gianormous arenas, and everywhere in between. The band opening for FIDLAR at the Sinclair was the best, until now.
To rewind for one second, last month we saw Chicago’s finest opening for Arctic Monkeys at Agganis Arena alongside Deerhunter. Tasty swells indeed, but let’s face it arenas are just massive shitholes. Like a shithole inside of a shithole for shitholes. The Orwells done well, just they were so so so far away. I want my Orwells right in front of me, staring through my very soul, like one Mario Cuomo (vocals) always does, when he’s not being pig piled by a series of babes and fanboys galore. Needless to say, The Orwells feel right at home here at Great Scott – a 250 capacity venue. Sold out show, may I add.
Yes, the kids are moshing and sloshing and playing and swaying about to all the classic (yes classic!) Orwells tunes and then some. In addition to the band’s standard covers of “I Wanna Be Your Dog” and “Build Me Up Buttercup” apparently they also cover Black Lips’ “Not A Problem.” How do I miss this?!
The set crashes to its conclusion when a fucked Mario hucks the mic stand into the crowd (or maybe that was earlier in the show? I don’t know anymore) as an ensuing storm of hysterical Orwells fans flood the stage and hover over the frontman. Meanwhile, he clutches my hand and stares me down, without blinking once. He’s an odd duck.
All in all, one of the best shows of twenty-fourteen thus far. Orwells we always welcome you with open arms.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 