Wow, I don’t know if it is just me or did that feel like the longest week with our last Band of the Week, The Electric Street Queens. Ahh well, y’all had plenty of time to check them out! And it’s a must that you check out our current BOTW: Girls of the Gravitron! These dudes are from Memphis, TN and their music is so out of control and bizarre, that after obsessively and excessively listening to their 2010 LP Magnetic Mountain for about three months straight, I still struggle to articulate what it sounds like. It’s weird pop about our weird world. There are elements of Black Lips, Beat Happening (especially in the vocals, very Calvin Johnson), Adam Green/Moldy Peaches, Pavement, and the cheeriness of fellow Memphis legends The Barbaras, Magic Kids, and Toxie- which by the way keyboardist Will McElroy is a member of all four of these bands! He’s the man, and there may be some other overlapping members. I’d say GOTG are a lot darker than those other bands though; there’s this real fuck you attitude to them. Lastly, they remind me of The Adventures of Pete and Pete and a nice, fairly warm Autumn day. In any case, I can’t recommend this band enough. One of my favorites that unfortunately no one outside Memphis seems to know. Well, we at KLYAM are spreading our love, read Glen’s review of Magnetic Mountain: https://klyam.com/2012/10/12/classic-album-review-magnetic-mountain/
All posts by Chris DeCarlo
LISTEN: Nice Guys//Fagettes Tour Split!
Nice Guys and Fagettes are two excellent Boston bands that went on tour recently (https://klyam.com/2013/02/28/fagettesnice-guys-march-beast-coast-tour/) and here they have a split tour tape for your listening pleasure. Listen to Nice Guys from the tour tape here: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/nice-guys-fagettes-tour-split
Nice Guys are playing tomorrow night at O’Brien’s Pub (Allston) with Fat Creeps, Guilty Party, and Steep Leans. Here’s a link to the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/113943468789134/?fref=ts
Fagettes are playing a Freak Flag show at Radio upstairs (Somerville) on Wednesday, March 27 with one of our favorite bands, Ottawa bubblegum poppers, Peach Kelli Pop as well as local solids, The Scamps and Great Valley. Here’s a link to the Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/568494936512234/?fref=ts
Concert Review: Fat Creeps, Atlantic Thrills, Gangbang Gordon, Dividers @ Firehouse 13 (3/8/13)
Bands: Gangbang Gordon, The Dividers, Fat Creeps, Atlantic Thrills, Thee Itchies
Date: Friday, March 8, 2013
Venue: Firehouse 13 (Providence, Rhode Island)
And the award for best house music goes to…… Firehouse 13!!!! Ahh, we should start doing KLYAM awards, it would knock the grammys flat on its fake, fluffy, fat fucking ass. Firehouse is the place to be though, one of my favorite venues. Place is massive, but has a warm, homey, basement feel to it, good for rock ‘n’ roll. And certainly Eric Aguiar’s playlists help set the mood: Black Lips, The Penguins, Frank Zappa, Nobunny. Eric’s got you covered. Soon enough we slip and slide down the punk slime trail, crashing into the first act: Gangbang Gordon.
Gangbang Gordon kickstarts this Burger Revolution, playing his second show ever! GBG would be the right man to kick off a Burger Records showcase, being a Wiener himself. What’s that? Y’all know. I’m Not A Musician Gangbang Gordon’s debut for Wiener Records, a Burger subsidiary. Pick that shit up, before it goes, they are selling like hot cakes!
Tonight, Gangbang Gordon is decked out in his kooky three dee glasses and he plays in front of the stage alone with his gee tar and a few other tricks up his sleeve. You can call it outsider, amateur-one man band garage, or just plain old noise, either way GBG is unforgettable. I saw his first show at P.A.’s Lounge and while that was odd and memorable, this time around he sounds much better and I can actually hear most of his vocals.
I recognize fan favorites such as “It’s A Damn Shame,” “Lost Touch (With The Youths),” and my fave “Life At The ABC (Abandon Bear Cages).”
His music is fairly diverse and this shows in his performance which includes a recorder, rap, and a drum machine. Way to go bro! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFbSUmVGj1c
Set-List:
“Blue Jay Road”
“It’s A Damn Shame”
“Lost Touch (With The Young)”
“The Breeze”
“Life At The ABC”
“Shit Geetar”
“I Can Testify”
“Slide Paper”
“Wanna Go”
ENCORE:
“Everybody’s Doing It” (Black Lips)
The Dividers hail from New Bedford and they continue GBG’s trend of garage rock ode. I know, I know I get sick of saying garage too, but I mean this is a Burger showcase. Call it punk slime, if you will. The Dividers champion this style and spirit and they give my ears a fierce pounding. I hear that they have a history with our guys the Atlantic Thrills; it’s fitting. Both bands have played shows together across New England and both bands share the aforementioned slimy flavor of rock ‘n’ roll. The Dividers are fun and they get the people movin’ a little. They kind of remind of The Reatards, so yeah nasty, noisy “garage,” but easy to slam around to ya know? Course you do. I recommend you check out their music here: http://www.reverbnation.com/thedividers
Set-List:
“Grinder”
“Psych Moshers”
“Contra Band”
“Lester Goodbody”
“Unk’s Jam”
“Smelly Furman”
“White Hot Russian”
“Free Burd! (Robitaile)”
“Justine”
“Winter Weather”
Fat Creeps are our top dogs, so it’s a real pleasure to see them up on the big stage at the Firehouse 13 in Providence. I always love seeing my favorite bands in foreign settings. The sound is top notch and they dish out several of their classics like “Nancy Drew,” “700 Parts,” and “Secrets.” It’s cool to think that most in attendance proabably haven’t heard these sick tunes before, and from what I observe everyone seems to dig it, especially one Kelly Riley (Atlantic Thrills). During some of the heavier pop songs like “Daydreaming” and “Going To The Party” I notice Kelly rocking out pretty hard, jumping up and down, reveling in his first Fat Creeps experience. Indeed, this trio is one of the best live acts I’ve seen. They also play a song they don’t play as often with “Leave Her Alone,” an excellent surfy song, which is coming out on their upcoming self-titled 10″ release on our very own KLYAM Records! Listen to the digital version here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/album/fat-creeps-ep
Fat Creeps and Atlantic Thrills are two of our favorite groups, which makes this show real, real special. We’ve seen both bands separately a gazillion times, but the two have never appeared on the same bill before. Needless to say, I’m extremely pumped to see the Atlantic Thrills in their hometown. The Firehouse is one of the best places to see the Thrillz do what they do best. Whether it’s Dan’s solo, “meat” playing as Glen would say, Josh’s passionate drumming, Eric’s heroic leaps, or Kelly’s manic behavior, the Thrillz are one of the most enjoyable live bands. There’s like this great fun, party atmosphere to them that is rarely matched, and it comes through not just in their physical performance, but also their music. There is an undeniable familiarity to their songs, we’ve all heard this sound before, but the Thrillz are such characters that they shine through any inkling of cliché.
Alas, this show doesn’t have the same crowd reaction (non stop moshing) as the last Atlantic Thrills show I saw at Wilder Zangcraft in Lowell. But , it’s all good, the Thrillz are just as awesome, people dance and have fun. One soul commends them for their “gang vocals,” I’m with you on that one brah. The Thrillz definitely have a particular quality of camaraderie to them, much like a gang or that of the oft-compared Black Lips. The band describes themselves the best: “Four badass muthafuckers who like to drink whiskey and play dirty garage rock”- http://www.reverbnation.com/atlanticthrills
Set-List:
“Give It Back”
“Holy Mountain”
“Booze”
“Beach”
“On My Mind”
“Lies”
“Gatos”
“Light Shines”
“Hold Your Tongue”
“Shotgun”
“Drugs”
I’ll be square with you guys, I don’t recall the last band Thee Itchies too well, my apologies! I’m sure they killed it.
MUSIC VIDEO: Yankee Power- “Stray”
Watch this music video for Yankee Power’s “Stray,” my favorite track off their album Zoo Traffic. I greatly encourage you to listen to it now: http://theyankeepower.bandcamp.com/album/zoo-traffic-2
Also check out their latest single “Bounty” http://theyankeepower.bandcamp.com/
Concert Review: Animal Collective @ House Of Blues (3/7/13)
Bands: Animal Collective, Dan Deacon
Date: Thursday, March 7, 2013
Venue: House Of Blues (Boston, MA)
We haven’t been to a show at the House Of Rules in 3 years, can’t honestly say I miss the place, but what I do miss about going to bigger shows like this is encountering random folks that you’ve never met before. It’s always nice to find people that share similar interests as you. Enter Ryder. Ryder is the illest pimp in all of Portland and Glen, Ryder, and myself chat about our lives, our favorite bands, and our past show experiences (Ryder attended that epic Ty Segall Space Gallery show from last year, good man). Great meeting you Ryder, stay in touch brotha. Now to the show.
Dan Deacon– Dan’s a dude I’ve known about for 3-4 years now, but have never listened to until tonight. He introduces the show explaining that he talks a lot and boy, he’s isn’t kidding! Early into the performance, Dan instructs everyone to get down on one leg, raise their left arm in the air, and then point up to the ceiling and think of what makes them feel the most cowardice. Random, right? But, Dan manages to get nearly the entire audience on the floor to adhere to his bizarre commands.
He is a great orator and his humorous projection continues throughout his performance. Twice in the set, he orders the crowd to form a giant circle and within this giant circle, the participants are ordered to DANCE in competition with one another, with each competitor switching off with another attendee in the audience to keep the dance mania alive until General Dan commands everyone to join! At times it feels like a high school assembly or field trip, sort of cheesy, yet also admirable in its unorthodox nature. I’ll give him that. I always appreciate it when an artist attempts to break the mold of expectation for what a performance is supposed to be like.
At other junctures it reminds me of a rave, with kids bopping about to Dan’s wacked out, jungle/ tribal fused electronic pop. The specifics of Dan’s musical style are far above my noggin; put simply Dan has an electronic/computer set up and makes noises into the mic while two drummers (Jeremy Hyman and Kevin O’Meara) bash away on each side of him. Dan Deacon and crew definitely put on an entertaining, elaborate show, perhaps not my specific flavor, but sure to charm many a doe eyed electronic music sophisto OR new comers that are simply looking for something a bit more unconventional. Go for it.
Animal Collective – I owe much of my infatuation with contemporary music to Animal Collective. Back in high school, I mostly rocked out to older music; in fact, I thought modern music blew, with the exception of a few bands. When I heard Animal Collective, I started to open up to current music and now look where I am today! Running a blog about the latest bands I hear and see. It was Animal Collective’s sheer oddity that roped me in from the first time I heard them. Songs like “Who Could Win A Rabbit” and “Fickle Cycle” were trippy, but poppy too. In 2013, these fellas still retain that unique, utterly undefined character to their craft.
Four years ago, Glen and I experienced Animal Collective at the House Of Blues and at the time it was as one Frank Hurricane would say “life changing.” Just read our old review here: http://wakefieldnews.blogspot.com/2009/05/concert-review-animal-collective-hobo.html Mind altering may be even more apropos Kids were going nuts and I could barely stand for most of the duration of the show, I even lost a shoe at one point.
This time around however, there is only a hint of that mayhem and I’m not quite sure why that is. Maybe these young lads (all ages show) aren’t into moshing and what have ya. Or the music itself doesn’t drive them in that direction. The music tonight is great, but definitely more toned down sonically – not as loud as last time. And with this, there is also substantial less pop elements. Most of the songs I don’t recognize and I’ll admit I am not overly familiar with their most recent album, Centipede Hz. I am more of a Feels– Strawberry Jam kinda guy. The performance tonight is more akin to a fleshed out Dan Deacon, harnessing much of that tribal/experimental freak folk aesthetic.
Personally, for me I am more of a rock ‘n’ roll fan, so the poppier side of Animal Collective is the element of their music that appeals the most to me. I was hoping to hear more of that variety, but all in all this was a fun show. Classics like “Bluish,” “My Girls,” (I probably looked like a screeching fan girl to some of the kiddies when they played this number), “Lion In A Coma,” and show closer “The Purple Bottle” are personal highlights.
NEW Black Lips Web Site!
Brothers and sisters, check out the new Black Lips web site! http://black-lips.com/ Here you can find news, tours, merch, and more! I found a video of Pete Doherty playing a cover of Elvis’ “Blue Suede Shoes,” with the Lips in Stockholm, Sweden from 2006. I hadn’t watched it in years. You can watch it below.
Review: The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills, Polaroids, The Real Tom Hanks @ Wilder Zangcraft (2/23/13)
Bands: The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills, Polaroids, The Real Tom Hanks
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2013
Venue: Wilder Zangcraft (Lowell, MA)
Painted Grashopper– We missed this bedroom set :( Like their FB page : http://www.facebook.com/PaintedGrasshopper?fref=ts
The Real Tom Hanks– For the first twenty two years of my life I was led to believe that this man http://www.hdwallpaperspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/tom-hanks-1.jpg was Tom Hanks. Sadly, I was mistaken. The Real Tom Hanks is actually Alex Sargent (guitar), Ben Dickinson (guitar), Johnny Gelsomini (bass), and Kevin Dacey (drums); and they are not sorry for ruining your Black Panther Party. Haha, but seriously these dudes rule. I remember Kevin describing the band to me months ago and I was immediately intrigued. Needless to say, I have been looking forward to this performance. As I was promised, The Real Tom Hanks play a killer instrumental set filled with slick, surf-punk tunes that would make a Dick Dale fan’s eyes light up. It’s hard not to dig this music, it’s catchy, fun, and serves as a solid ode to OG surf of the 1960s garage variety, just the kind of slime I devour. They cover The Ventures’classic “Walk, Don’t Run” and now the song is stuck in my dome forever. The Real Tom Hanks kick ass and set the mood for the evening. Can’t wait to see another fine ass show from these upstanding gents in the near future. Like their page on da fascist book, make it a little less fascist and a better world for you and me. http://www.facebook.com/TheRealTomHanks?fref=ts
http://therealtomhanks.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Beach Boner”
“Walk Don’t Run” (The Ventures)
“Becomes a Barnacle”
“Aunts on the Beach”
“Monkey Man”
Polaroids– I don’t catch all of Polaroids’ set, but what I do see is impressive. Polaroids features Tim Oxton and The New Highway Hymnal’s Hadden Stemp and together with guitars and a drum machine they create a dream pop set that evokes Jesus and Mary Chain, Galaxie 500, and a little bit of Memphis cults, Girls of the Gravitron (at least in the vocals). The music is slow, calm, and haunting. Maybe it makes you reflect on your life up until this moment or maybe you just stare off into nothingness. Whichever it is, Polaroids will fuck with your head, just a little bit. http://polaroidz.bandcamp.com/
Atlantic Thrills– I remember the first time Glen Maganzini told me about the Atlantic Thrills. It was minutes, possibly seconds after seeing them live for the very first time. Glen ventured to Pawtucket, RI to see our favorite band the Black Lips (I would have gone, but I had a conflicting schedule, had to wait until the next night to see them in Boston :( ). Glen called me up, hysterically screaming about this band the Atlantic Thrills that he just saw. “THE ENERGRY! THE EXCITEMENT! THEIR SPIRIT, THEIR EMOTION. THEY’RE CLEARLY INFLUENCED BY LOS SAICOS AND THE BLACK LIPS AND THIS ONE GUY WAS REALLY HAMMERED, HE STUCK THE PIC INSIDE HIS FOREHEAD, IT WAS NUTS!” After hundreds of KLYAM attended shows, I can sincerely say that that sort of reaction is a rarity. Overtime, we became bigger fans of the band and we got to know these guys, great dudes. The Thrillz simply love and represent the music we love and represent. If I had to point to one local band that comes close to capturing the spirit of the Black Lips, which is the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, then it is the Atlantic Thrills. Glen and I have seen them several times now and we’re always extremely excited to see Providence’s wildest rock ‘n’ roll band, but often others in attendance are mellower in their appreciation. In fact in one review I even wrote, “I can’t wait to see the Atlantic Thrills kill it in a packed basement in Lowell, Allston (or anywhere) filled with kids ready to let loose and go wild.” And that’s exactly what happens. The Thrillz blast through all of their classics and a basement filled with drunken youths dance and mosh and sing along. I can’t believe my eyes, I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. I’m not sure how many fans are in attendance, but I feel confident that the quartet convert some, if not many new disiciples, eager to engage in future, rampant rock ‘n’ roll. I can see kids picking up on the sharp hooks and melodies that the Thrillz deliver. The whoaoooooooo of “Light Shines,” the 60s slimy guiar riffage of “Give It Back” or my favorite the la la la of “Lies,” all sound better than ever. Well, the sound is fantastic, but I don’t know if the actual audio is better than ever, but when your having the time of your life with one of your favorite bands, it sounds better than ever. Like I said earlier, the energy tonight is unprecedented in my experience at a Thrillz show. It’s just like a game of catch, the audience and the performers simply toss the ball of energy back and forth between one another. As I’ve noted in the past, drummer Josh Towers revels in the crowd’s excitement and participation, he feeds off of it and you can see it in his performance; when he smacks those drums it’s like he’s having sex. I admire such joy in the music. That’s what it’s all about and the Atlantic Thrills bring the joy, the good times (great times), the party better than anyone else in New England. http://www.reverbnation.com/atlanticthrills
The New Highway Hymnal– The New Highway Hymnal headline, NOT The New Highway Hymen as I had to inform a dissapointed gentlemen. Ha! Tonight, NHH are shooting a video for Whispers opener, “Through Stained Glass,” a fine song indeed off an even finer record. This trio is another band I have seen several times and like the Atlantic Thrills, they put on quite a show. With New Highway Hymnal, things slither into the darkside of the rock ‘n’ roll experience, a violent, bestial eruption of psych noise ensues. During this set, moshing continues and never stops. At this point in the night, I’m pretty out of it, mostly finding a way to survive in this sweaty, smelly, but undeniably fun mosh pit. I’d say this is the craziest I’ve seen at a NHH show (in my experience, which is limited). At one point I notice vocalist/guitartist, Hadden Stemp in the midst of the pit, his visibility in the crowd is a perennial NHH show experience, but this time his emergence seems to come out of nowhere and before you know it, he vanishes, back in front of the mike. He’s a tricky one.
All in all, this set, this show was a bruiser. Anytime I get to mosh with Kelly Riley (Atlantic Thrills) is usually a good time. http://thenewhighwayhymnal.bandcamp.com/
And big ups to The Lysergic Factory Light dudes for making everything look pretty and psychedelic.
Nobunny On BRGRTV!
Concert Review: The Fagettes, Fat Creeps, Dream Warrior @ O’Brien’s Pub (2/22/13)
Bands: The Fagettes, Fat Creeps, Dream Warrior, The Electric Street Queens
Date: Friday, February 22, 2013
Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)
Dream Warrior– Never heard of these girls before, which is pretty cool because I think seeing a band live is the perfect introduction. Dream Warrior are an all female, all instrumental three piece and they bash out heavy, headbanging, blues inspired, quasi metal tunes. It’s a slow, sludgey, doomy kind of rock, but it never drags. A few attendees compare them to Metallica, I can see that, especially the first few albums, not St. Anger Metallica or any of that garbage. Glen says they are like the “girl Big Mess.” I actually haven’t thought of this, but I agree to an extent. Both bands create heavy, all instrumental songs that have the power and volume of a metal band, but with more of a blues, perhaps even hook emphasis in some respects. The crowd response is pretty solid and I am digging them as well. I’ll have to keep my eye out for them in local listings, as I am sure they’ll pop up again sometime soon.
Fat Creeps– Yo dawg, Fat Creeps two nights in a row sucka, that’s what I’m talking about! We KLYAMERS like to jam out with our KLYAM out, lord knows how that works. Last night was at the Salem Cinema, first time I have ever been there. In fact, I have never really been in Salem, place kind of gives me the creeps, no pun intended. Tonight is O’Brien’s, one of the best and most active rock venues in Boston, and this is my third time seeing the Fat Creeps here. More national rock ‘n’ roll and shock ‘n’ troll and jock ‘n’ skoal bands should come through to OB’s more often. Seeing the Fat Creeps though is sound enough for me, being a tremendous fan of the band.
I have a 70s conservative take on rock ‘n’ roll, a select few bands that rule, like when you think of rock ‘n’ roll you think of these bands. Like one of those infomercials that air in the wee hours of the morning featuring hit songs from the 60s or 70s, I like to think of all of the music I love being featured in a fake ad with some black guy’s low, soulful voice in the background. Someday, that will become a reality! Transitioning back to the present, it’s a real pleasure to see some great rock ‘n’ roll bands under our nose right in Boston. As I’ve said a million times, Fat Creeps are our favorite Boston band and one of our favorites in general. This is the first time I’ve seen them back to back and it’s exceptional.
Performance wise, tonight is pretty solid, not the best from the band, but awesome. “Going to the Party” is quickly becoming one my favorite Creeps numbers, I just adore Mariam’s monotone vocals and how they transition into screams as the song gets heavier. Much of this heaviness stems from the early hardcore riffage coming from the guitars, like a diabolical Dead Kennedys tune. “He Comes In Loudly” is another stand out, especially in Gracie’s mumbly vocals. As always, fun show from your local creeps. See them live, if you haven’t! Or start by listening to them here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/
Following the Creeps’ performance is the movie premiere of Ali White’s and Lauren Kimball’s Nautical Nymphs. A short film about some wild mermaids and an unsuspecting sailor. It’s a colorful, cool little movie. I suggest you watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pfW0_EIyxA
The Fagettes– The Fagettes are up on stage, but before they play there is a special guest performance from The Electric Street Queens, a kickass duo consisting of Coco Roy on vocals and guitar and the Fagettes’ Melanie Bernier on drums and vocals. They play a couple of tunes alongside the other members of the Fagettes including their nastiest number, “Dontcha Wanna Work At the Brewary” and like the last time I saw em’ Coco comes out to the audience, playing her guitar on the floor. I am pretty excited for this, cause I dig the ESQ very much and I didn’t hear of their special guest appearance until an hour or so before they hit the stage. Check dem out and like their page!: http://www.facebook.com/ElectricStreetQueens?fref=ts
The Fagettes open with their latest and greatest offering, “Gonna Die Out Here,” and it gets the crowd a rockin’. It’s a smooth, catchy song that showcases the simple drum beats and dual vocals that make the Fagettes an impressionable garage pop group. Their set features most of the hits I have fallen in love with over the past six months, such as “Mystery Pills,” “On Drugs,” “My Girl Looks Like Johnny Thunders,” and more. They are a fun loving, light-hearted band in the spirit of Hunx and His Punx, Shannon and the Clams, and Nobunny, just the kind of rock ‘n’ roll we dig around here. This show doesn’t sound as nice as the previous Great Scott show we attended, but there is more of a physical presence, and energy coming from both the performers and audience and that always makes for fun at a rock show. In particular, Ryan Major hops into the crowd bringing the mic stand with him, dude’s a boss, one of the best showmen around town. They close their set with the classic, “Water, Tea, and Alcohol,” a fast pounder indeed. Haha pounder. Listen to Fagettes, yeah I’m talking to you. http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Gonna Die Out Here”
“The AA Took My Baby Away”
“Mystery Pills”
“I Kill Him If I See Him Again”
“On Drugs”
“My Girl Looks Like Johnny Thunders”
“I Wanna Feel Good”
“Water, Tea, and Alcohol”
Black Lips Will Cover “Ten Little Indians” Anti-Drug PSA (1972) On New Album
According to the Black Lips facebook page: “we cover this on our new album.” Is it fake? Is it real? We’ll just have to stay tuned, I sure hope it’s real cause it’s a catchy little number and fits perfectly with the Lips’ dark, quasi surreal sense of humor. The thought of a new album is fabulous enough; of course there have been no official announcements and I don’t even know where they are at with the recording process. All I know is that when they’re ready, we’ll be ready.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 
