Category Archives: Honorary KLAYMERS

Animal Collective, Art, concert review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, reviews

Concert Review: Animal Collective @ House Of Blues (3/7/13)

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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.

Art, Black Lips, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, Pete Doherty, pictures, Punk, Video

NEW Black Lips Web Site!

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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.

Art, Atlantic Thrills, concert review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Review: The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills, Polaroids, The Real Tom Hanks @ Wilder Zangcraft (2/23/13)

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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.

Art, concert review, Fat Creeps, Film, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Fagettes, Video

Concert Review: The Fagettes, Fat Creeps, Dream Warrior @ O’Brien’s Pub (2/22/13)

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Nautical
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”

Art, Black Lips, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, Punk, Video

Black Lips Will Cover “Ten Little Indians” Anti-Drug PSA (1972) On New Album

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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.

http://www.facebook.com/theblacklips?ref=stream

Art, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, Smith Westerns

NEW SMITH WESTERNS- Soft Will/ LISTEN to “Varsity”

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New Smith
Photo from Pitchfork

We’ve been fans of Smith Westerns for a few years now and are HUGE fans of their first two albums, Smith Westerns and Dye It Blonde, especially the former! We even saw the dudes last January at the Paradise. That was around the last time anyone saw Smith Westerns, but now they are back with a new album, Soft Will out on June 11 on new label, Mom + Pop. You can listen to one of the tracks (actually album closer) “Varsity” below. I’m really digging “Varsity,” makes me even more excited for the new album. This song continues the same trend Dye It Blonde began with more expansive and ambitious production, and stronger songwriting. At heart, it’s exactly what Smith Westerns has been since day one: simple, but insanely catchy pop songs.

Here’s the track list for Soft Will:
01 3am Spiritual
02 Idol
03 Glossed
04 XXIII
05 Fool Proof
06 White Oath
07 Only Natural
08 Best Friend
09 Cheer Up
10 Varsity

Art, Atlantic Thrills, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, Punk, Video

WATCH Atlantic Thrills Perform “Os Vampiros” W/ Joao de Jesus

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Check out this video of Providence punk slimers, Atlantic Thrills performing “Os Vampiros” with Joao de Jesus at the Os Mutantes show at the Fete on December 7, 2012.

And don’t forget to go to this kickass show on Friday at the Firehouse 13: http://www.facebook.com/events/462055847176160/

Art, Colleen Green, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, pictures, Punk, Show Alert, Tours, Video

COLLEEN GREEN 2013 SPRING TOUR/ SHOW @ RADIO (4/25)!

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Colleen Spring Tour
KLYAM fave, Colleen Green is heading on tour again and naturally I’m giddy like a school girl. Last time, I caught two back to back Colleen shows! This time around, I’m even giddier because my favorite local band, Fat Creeps are on the bill along with some kewl cats, Fedavees and Ronnie Nordac. All of this craziness is going down on Thursday, April 25 @ Radio (upstairs) in Somerville. Here’s the FB page: http://www.facebook.com/events/599794756703838/?ref=3 For Those of you that don’t come from these parts, check below to see when Colleen Green hits your town:

April 4: San Diego CA
@ The Void w/ WIDOWSPEAK

April 5: Tucson AZ
@ Topaz w/ WIDOWSPEAK

April 6: El Paso, TX
@ The Lovesprout

April 8: McAllen, TX
@ Thirsty Monkey

April 9: Austin, TX
@ Hotel Vegas w/ CHEAP CURLS

April 10: Little Rock, AR
@ The Crown & Harp

April 11: Oxford MS
@ Lamar Lounge

April 12: Murray KY
@ Tater-Tot Mansion

April 13: Nashville TN
@ The Stone Fox w/ NIGHTMARE BOYZZZ, NATURAL CHILD

April 15: Atlanta GA
@ 529

April 16: Columbia SC
@ Jessica Oliver’s House

April 17: Bristol TN
@ Machiavelli’s

April 18: Harrisonburg VA
@ My Mansion

April 19: Washington DC
@ Judy’s

April 20: Philadelphia PA
@ Dad’s House

April 21: Brooklyn NY
@ Death by Audio

April 25: Boston MA
@ Radio  w/ Fat Creeps, Fedavees, and Ronnie Nordac

April 26: Montreal QB
@ Drone Club

April 27: Ottawa ON
@ Pressed

April 28: Toronto ON
@ The Shop at Parts and Labour

April 29: Detroit MI
@ The Garden Bowl

April 30: Columbus OH
@ Ace of Cups

May 1: Lexington KY
@ Al’s Sidecar

May 2: Bloomington IN
@ Bishop Bar w/ JAILL

May 3: Chicago IL
@ The Empty Bottle w/ JAILL

May 4: Milwaukee WI
@ Hotel Foster w/ JAILL

May 5: Duluth MN
@ TBA

May 6: Minneapolis MN
@ Memory Lanes

May 7: Omaha NE
@ The Middle House

May 9: Denver CO
@ GLOB

May 10: Salt Lake City, UT
@ Salt Haus

May 11: Boise ID
@ The Chamber of Death

May 12: Moscow ID
@ Matt’s Basement

May 13: Seattle WA
@ Heartland w/ WHITE FANG

May 14: Vancouver BC
@ TBA

May 15: Portland OR
@ Crayon Coffin w/ WHITE FANG

May 16: Eugene, OR
@ TBA

May 17: San Francisco CA
@ Amnesia

May 18: Los Angeles CA
@ TBA
Info from here: http://www.facebook.com/events/146697912157429/?notif_t=plan_edited

I’ll fill in these dates, when they’re announced. In the meantime, listen to my favorite Colleen Green song below: