Turn your noggin to the righthand side of this page. Who is that there? Why that is none other than the Adam Green Machine. Our Band of the Week or should I say Man of the Week. Green’s unique brand of pop music evokes laughter, tears, and confusion- often all at one moment. I admit I just started getting into him and have only heard one of his records, Friends of Mine (2003), which will be reviewed in the near future. I would say he is bigger than most of our featured BOTW artists, but if you have not heard of him, seriously give his work some sincere eartime. Whether you like it or not, I guarantee you will walk away scarred for life.
When you see them on the righthand side of this page you will know that they are The Beets, our Band of the Week. One of the finest bands around, these Queens, New York natives play a soft, but comically meancing brand of Punk Rock that for me draws comparisons to the Maine Coons, Black Lips, Beat Happening, and even Gangbang Gordan. My favorite tunes include “Broken English, “Flower Girl,” “I Think I Might’ve Built a Horse,” and “The Devil,” just to name a few. Below is a link to their myspace page.
This week’s Band of the Week is none other than our Honorary KLYAMer Nobunny!!!! Do we really have to explain why he is the BOTW- I don’t think so. His Ramones drenched bublegummy punk slimy all the timey Rock and Roll deserves to be communicated to the masses on any given day, but today (or this week I should say) is more signifcant than any other day. For, we are two short days away from seeing the bunnyman in the flesh! Live it Up!
Hey y’all, we have a new band of the week: Lotus Plaza. Lotus Plaza is the solo project of Deerhunter guitarist Lockett Pundt. I just recently started listening to Lockett’s solo work and a couple of weeks back I made LP a “Band Rec,” but I enjoyed the music so much I decided, well fuck it let’s make em’ BOTW! LP has a very calm, atmospheric, dreamy sound, fans of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound as well should really appreciate this, like Atlas, I feel like this is really just an extension of Deerhunter, but instead this showcases the unique quality of Lockett’s songwriting. I know the whole shoegazy-dreamy description gets thrown around a lot, but it’s true. I find it best to listen to Lotus around dusk or when you can’t fall asleep at night or you’re half awake and about to start your day. In any case, it fits perfect with a hazy state, when your transitioning from one consciousness to the other. My favorite song right now is “Rain Down,” but I still need to hear more from Mr. Pundt. Thanks for the music.
Fantastic band, got the pleasure to see them open for Black Lips a month back at The Met in Pawtucket. Really wanted to see them play at No Problemo on Cinco de MAYO, but there is the next best option: Watching some vids of their set on YouTube! Killer enthusiasm, killer fun, real nice dudes. Here is “Ain’t Enough” below!
This week the pleasant pop hooks of Colleen Green grace the righthand side of our site reserved only for the coolest of cats. And this kitten is definitely not one to miss; Colleen plays fun, no bullshit, lo-fi Rock and Roll: a lone guitar, a drum machine, and an excellent voice. I’ve heard some make comparisons to the likes of Daniel Johnston and the Ramones and I can definitely see those comparisons, but I think she has more of her own thing going. People that come to mind as possible influences are The Vaselines or The Dum Dum Girls, at least I hear it in the vocals. In any case, the production is very much a DIY, minimalist sorta deal, but at the same time the songs are as welcoming as a Beach Boys number. My favorites are “I Wanna Be Degraded”- feels like a female Bobby Ubangi, which is so damn cool as well as “Oh Baby.” She also has recorded several kick ass covers from all over the spectrum from The Pixies (“Cactus”) to Blink 182 (“M+Ms”) to our guy Nobunny (“I Am a Girlfriend”). On top of all that, Colleen is labelmates with Honorary KLYAMers Hunx and His Punx (Hardly Art).
P.S. up until three days ago I had never heard of Colleen, but I met her at a show at the Starlab in Somerville, MA (she’s really nice!), of which a review will be up soon. Alas, I missed her performance :( but I will be sure to catch her again when she plays next.
Dead Ghosts are from the land of the Human Serviette — that Nardwuar guy. They got some rockabilly twang, obvious dirty pop sensibility, and all that stuff that turns me on to bands like these. Heard “Off the Hook” the day before today and it was exactly that and I’m saying to myself gee I gotta look into them more. I’ve done so and this is the result: BAND OF THE WEEK!
Our Band of the Week is The Dum Dum Girls. DDG are one of the finest groups around right now. There is a mystique to their art that seems to be missing in most groups- they don’t just jump out at you and let you know all about them on the first date. At the same time, their strong pop hooks and earnest, gorgeous vocals bring a certain comfort and easily draw the listener in. It’s too bad they are not bigger because I think the DDG are great role models for young women!
Here is a recent cover of Big Star’s “September Gurls”:
This week we have none other than Natural Child, a fun filled, wild crew from Nashville, Tennessee. They keep up the spirit of KLYAM favorites like The Black Lips and Jay Reatard, without directly mimicking those artists and instead stretching for their own brand of sweaty, balls out, Rock and Roll- crazy and malevolent like it should be. “Crack Mountain” is a particular favorite of mine. Check them out!
Check out our Band of the Week, Boston’s Girlfriends. Since, The Maine Coons sudden departure, Girlfriends are easily the best Boston band around or at least my favorite. Their take on the “garage” style is intriguing, to say the least and without a doubt they have a knack for writing catchy pop numbers. Favorites of mine include “Good To Be True” and “I Was Here, But I Disappear.” Here is a link to their myspace page.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 