Poster by Jessica Owen Art
In case you missed my last post about the Boston Peach Kelli Pop matinee show at T.T. The Bears on April 19th, which now features Littlefoot, Bong wish and Feral Jenny, here’s a poster displaying all the tour dates. When is PKP coming to your town? Needless to say (but, I’ll say it again and again), I’m excited!
Boston show: https://www.facebook.com/events/398873680281146/
Flyer by the mighty Gangbang Gordon
First things first, THANK YOU to all of the folks that came out, all the bands that played, The Lysergic Factory Lightshow, and Mickey Bliss & Crew/Cantab Lounge for rockin’ and/or rollin’ with us last Friday for the first KLYAM Presents show of the year. We love all of y’all. Now, we are moving to a new grooving. This Saturday, January 24th @ Lilypad in Inman Sq. Cambridge a new fiesta is in the making. The Monsieurs, Atlantic Thrills (Providence), Feral Jenny, and ACLU Benefit will be tearing it up and down… starting at 10PM and going till 1AM. I’m talking 10 PM SHARP! This thang is getting started on time, no foolies. Seriously get there at 10, don’t make me tell you again! There’s four excellent bands playing and you don’t want to miss any of them or else you fail at life… Oh oh and it’s ALL AGES!!! so bring the kids, the babies, the angsty teens, ehh no old folks. JK, bring em’ too.
So, one more time. Lilypad, 10PM-1AM. ALL AGES. $7-10 sliding scale. Be there.
This will also be ACLU Benefit’s record release for Old Stuff, Part Two, a “collection of my best out-of-print and never-released tracks” – ACLU Benefit
Facialbook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/813886121991254/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular
ACLU Benefit: http://aclubenefit.bandcamp.com/
Feral Jenny: http://feraljenny.bandcamp.com/
Atlantic Thrills: http://www.atlanticthrills.com/
The Monsieurs: http://themonsieurs.bandcamp.com/
I know this sounds like bullshit and I do say it every year, but each year gets better. I’d be lying if I said 2014 was the best year of my life, but as far as KLYAM goes it was definitely the best year for KLYAM. Every year does get better, just look at our label. We put out three more releases that we’re very proud of – Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″, Back Pages – Singles 13, and The Electric Street Queens – Live From Your Dreams, We’re The… and we have more on the way. Just look at our calendar, we went to more shows than ever this year. I counted 85 shows I attended this year, I know for some people that’s nothing, but considering I’m not in a band, I don’t have a car, I’m broke, and don’t live in the city, I’d say that’s pretty good. But hey, it’s not quantity, it’s quality (though we got both!), so here’s my top ten favorite shows from 2014:
10) The Orwells & Twin Peaks @ Great Scott (3/4) – Our dudes, The Orwells always put on a fantastic show and we saw them three times this year, but the Great Scott set was by far the best. Right up against the stage where the action is, no douchebag security guys or broseph stalins, just straight up fun. Oh and who could forget Mario hucking the mic stand into the crowd. Classic. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/04/05/review-the-orwells-twin-peaks-great-scott-3414/
9) TIE: Nice Guys & Miami Doritos Tour Kick Off w/ Malportardo Kids and Grave Ideas & Nice Guys, Free Pizza, Ladybones, Dinoczar, both @ Thieves Grotto (2/28 & 11/21, respectively) – This is just one big shout out to the Grotto and Nice Guys. Nice Guys are honorary klyamers and so are Miami Doritos, and we love Free Pizza, we’ll miss those Miami boys. Ahh so much Miami! Guys, pizza, doritos. All the bands are named after food! Haha, but ya Thieves Grotto throws the most insane basement shows and it’s always a party. I wish every show was like these shows. KLYAM Review (2/28): https://klyam.com/2014/03/22/review-nice-guys-miami-doritos-tour-kick-off-thieves-grotto-22814/ & (11/21): https://klyam.com/2014/11/26/nice-guys-free-pizza-thieves-grotto-112114/
8) Cumstain, Free Pizza, Gangbang Gordon (BUFU Tape Release), White Pages @ JP Drive In (8/24) – I still haven’t gotten over this show, not even just the show itself, but the very fact that it happened. Call me crazy, call me wild, call me a cocksucker, I don’t give a fuck. I’ve been waiting to see this band for four years now, I still can’t believe it. It was awesome to finally meet the stains themselves as well. This show is also significant because it was the first KLYAM Presents show in nearly a year and it was my homie, Gangbang Gordon’s BUFU tape release show. Cheers buddy. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/09/20/review-cumstain-free-pizza-gangbang-gordon-tape-release-white-pages-jp-drive-in-82414/
7) Nobunny, The Hussy, The Fagettes, Banditas, Gangbang Gordon @ Middle East Upstairs (2/4) – NO NO needs NO introduction. It’s always a blast seeing the bunnyman in action, especially in front of a rowdy, sold out Boston crowd filled with tons of my friends. Solid set of openers including one of my favorites, The Hussy, whom made both their Boston and KLYAM debut. A highly memorable show that brought us some joy and warmth in the middle of a shivering, cold ass winter. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/02/15/review-nobunny-the-hussy-fagettes-banditas-gangbang-gordon-mid-east-upstairs-2414/
6) Black Lips & Natural Child @ Paradise (4/19) – Of course, my favorite band, Black Lips, of course you’d see them here and you’ll see them again my friends. At last, I can finally put them on my year end lists again; we haven’t seen the flower punkers live since 2011. WHATT?! This was also my first time seeing Natural Child, yet another band I’ve been anticipating seeing for years. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/05/31/review-black-lips-natural-child-paradise-41914/
5) Black Lips, The King Khan & BBQ Show, Coke Weed @ Port City Music Hall (9/27) – I always love seeing a show at a venue I’ve never been to before, even if it’s a traditional music hall, it’s still new to me. I haven’t been in Portland (Maine) for a while, so that’s an added bonus. More importantly, this is a KLYAMER’s wet dream bill. Two giants of contemporary garage slime, straight up Rock ‘n’ Roll all in one night. Definitely some of best I’ve seen from the Lips and KKBBQ in years. No KLYAM Review, because my dog ate it. Do kids still say that?
4) Ty Segall, La Luz, Boytoy @ Great Scott (9/19) – At this point in his career, Ty Segall can and will sell out large clubs, but that wasn’t the case this time. The show was sold out, of course, but it was at Great Scott, a relatively small venue. This is Ty here. I never thought I’d see him on that small stage. It was nuts. A vicious set with tunes from all over his career. Why can’t all my favorites just stop here? No bigger clubs (except Middle East). Ty’s the face of our rock ‘n’ roll and this show is a testament that Boston loves him. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/10/06/review-ty-segall-la-luz-boytoy-great-scott-91914/
3) Black Lips, The King Khan & BBQ Show, The Kominas @ Paradise (9/28) – Christ, what a Black Lips whore. You knew what you were getting into when you started reading this. Night II of my Black Lips/KKBBQ Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekend and as you can probably tell the superior of the two nights. In particular, the Lips shined through cranking out golden oldies such as “I’ve Got A Knife” and “Ain’t No Deal” among other classics from all over their fifteen year reign of terror. These Atlantans were as feisty as ever (including newcummer/oldcummer Jack Hines, welcome back Jack!). Speaking of bodily fluids, never thought I’d see Cole peeing in his mouth again, damn I thought that was over after 2006 haha. Best of all, the Lips and KKBBQ merged as one and performed as the gospel supergroup, The Almighty Defenders. I SAW THE LIGHT. Oh and we got to enjoy a beer with some of the guys backstage, also something I’d never expect at the Paradise. I told Jared that I lost my virginity while The Spooks were playing in the background, which is true, he said “Well, cheers to that!” Yes, cheers.
2) Atlantic Thrills (Album Release), Ravi Shavi, Gymshorts, Littlefoot @ Dusk (2/1) – Providence consistently dishes out the wildest shows and this was total debauchery, one of the craziest shows I’ve ever seen. While, I don’t think anyone was hurt (though I had several bruises) I do mean crazy. The word gets tossed around all too often, but this one is up there. Pandemonium. At the very least, just good old fashioned fun. Whether it was all the nudity, moshing, silly string, beer flying, or simply singing along to all the songs we’ve come to know and love, it was a special little feeling you don’t get often and if I could trap it in a bottle and sell it to all of ya’ll, I’d be a billionaire. And we KLYAMERS have really been waiting for this record to come out, three years now. An epic show with stellar opening sets might I add. What we call in my line of work a “stacked line up.” Keep up the craziness in 2015 and beyond. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/02/10/review-atlantic-thrills-album-release-show-w-ravi-shavi-gymshorts-littlefoot-dusk-2114/
1) BUFU Fest @ Cambridge Elks Lodge (4/25 & 4/26) – I’ve been to a few local music festivals now, but this one tops them all. Easily the closest to what a KLYAM Fest would look like (Fuzzstival is a close second though). A wide variety of acts being thrust in your face. One moment you’re rocking out to the Nice Guys, the next you’re singing along to ACLU Benefit’s one man show, then the next minute you’re shouting about “living in Boston, Massachusetts” with Free Pizza or you’re caught in a mosh with Guerrilla Toss. I’m ready to do it all over again this year. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/06/14/bufu-fest-recap-425-2614/
So, that’s that. As I said before, there were a ton of excellent shows I/we attended this year, I could make an honorable mentions list, but the list would go on and on. At the very least, here’s a list of my favorite bands I saw for the first time in 2014 in chronological order: Littlefoot, The Hussy, The Sulk Scouts, Buttercup, Tacocat, Durt Dog The Band, Natural Child, Juan Wauters, ACLU Benefit, The Ar-Kaics, Beach Toys, Robot Death Kites, Black Beach, The Lemons, Cumstain, (New England) Patriots, Ben Katzman’s DeGreaser, Good Nature (formerly known as Phaze), Ausmuteants, Ursula, Show Me The Body, Buck Gooter, Big Buck Hunter, and Feral Jenny.
Hello to all you handsome devils and dominatrices out there. We the KLYAM have cooked up some spicy, sassy KLYAM Presents shows for y’all in January and February. Just oozing punk slime, the way we like it…
Friday, January 16th – The TeleVibes, Future Spa, Ben Tan, and 1 MORE TBA @ Cantab Lounge (basement) in Cambridge.$8, 21+, sorry kiddies :( 8 PM. Check out the slick flyer above from Future Spa’s own Cody Pettengil. https://www.facebook.com/events/375101495991229/
Saturday, January 24th – The Monsieurs, Atlantic Thrills, Feral Jenny, ACLU Benefit @ Lilypad in Cambridge. $7-10 Sliding Scale, ALL AGES!, 10PM-1AM. Flyer coming soon. FB EVENT: https://www.facebook.com/events/813886121991254/
Monday, February 9th – KLYAM Presents w/ RAD CASTLE: Fire Retarded (Wisconsin, members of The Hussy), The Fagettes, Miami Doritos, Gangbang Gordon @ ZuZu (Middle East) in Cambridge – FREE! (donations are accepted for the touring band) 21+, sorry kiddies :( 10 PM. Flyer and FB event page coming soon.
COME OUT TO ALL OF THESE! YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED. THREE NIGHTS OF BARE BONES ROCK ‘N’ ROLL AT ITS FINEST.
Bands: LAST FEST featuring: Speedy Ortiz, IAN, Couples Counseling, Dent, The Sulk Scouts, URSULA, Feral Jenny, Trophy Knife, Ellen-Siberian Tiger, Trashbaby
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014
Venue: Lasthaus (Allston, MA)
There was an all day music festival held on this day known as LAST FEST organized by Casey Herz among others. These are the bands that KLYAM saw at the fest…
Trophy Knife – Trophy Knife is Mona Maruyama on “vocals n floor tom” and H. Rose Parry on “guitar n loops.” Mona wears a ski mask and shrieks and smashes the floor tom while Rose shreds each chord. Together, the sound is harrowing and deranged, appropriately complementing the music’s disturbing subject matter. All or most of the songs seem to be in reference to sexism, rape, and general violence against women.
At one point in the set Mona initiates the whole crowd in chanting the word “YES.” She goes on to say “That is the sound of affirmative consent. This next song is about Bill Cosby.” She often sings and speaks directly to audience members and the set as a whole is equally exciting as it is uncomfortable. The band is locked in the performance and they have the people under emotional arrest. This is also one of their first shows I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) and I look forward to seeing where they go from here. http://ttrophyknife.bandcamp.com/releases
Feral Jenny – I was recently having a conversation with my good buddy Anthony about our favorite current bands and Anthony mentioned Feral Jenny, a band I had never heard before. He saw them play a show at Church with IAN (who is playing their last Boston show later tonight), Flat Swamp, and Gracie a little while back and was apparently blown away. Soon thereafter, co-KLYAMER Glen started listening to Feral Jenny and echoed Anthony’s notions, so I finally said let’s give it a go. Needless to say, I’ve been listening to the Feral Jenny bandcamp ever since, anticipating seeing the band for the very first time tonight.
I’m glad my first time seeing Feral Jenny is at a house space such as one right here at the Lasthaus. Feral Jenny’s set helps give off those warm, fuzzy feelings that I often feel in this kind of atmosphere. The band itself features Jenny on vocals and guitar and she’s backed by two other chums on bass and drums. They have some garage rock leanings with a fair amount of dream pop. It’s like if Elliott Smith, Jay Reatard, and Bradford Cox had a baby. Wow, that would be an interesting night.
I’m still somewhat of a newbie to the Feral Jenny, but I’m really digging “Say The Word” and “Law & Order,” both of which are played tonight. For the last song or second to last song, I can’t remember, the band does a switcheroo and everyone trades instruments, with Jenny on the drums. Check out Feral Jenny here: http://feraljenny.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Do Right By Me”
“Say The Word”
“You Let Me Fall”
“Let It Rot”
“Law & Order”
New Song
“It Makes Me Sick”
URSULA – Glen and I are massive URSULA fangirls. It’s hard to describe our excessive fandom, it sometimes freaks out lame people. URSULA comprises of Sonam on drums and Caity on vocals and guitar. Thus far, we’ve seen them only in Boston basements, such as this place and I’ve seen them here three times now. The pair tear through a sheering, slimy set filled with songs about watching Home Alone and something about your fucking mother. I particularly adore Caity’s ravenous yalps. Always get me.
Sonam gets everyone singing MOTHERFUCKER MOTHERFUCKER MOTHERFUCKER from their monster hit “Cavegrrl.” Motherfucker, that’s a funny word when you think about it. Like goldfish and Milwaukee.
There’s an odd, off kilterish vibe to their music. It’s sort of simple and rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. It’s minimal and messy. They’re a young band and you can feel the magic (which I usually can’t) and the ambition you can only find when a project is in its infancy. It’s exciting. http://ripursula.bandcamp.com/
Hey some videos shot by the man himself Ethan LLoonngg:
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 