Bands: Fat Creeps, The Memories, The Lemons, Street Gnar, Miami Doritos Date: Saturday, May 31, 2014 Venue: Whitehaus (Jamaica Plain, MA)
Miami Doritos – It feels like déjà vu seeing Miami Doritos slaying at thee olde vanillahouse. I saw them two weeks ago on a bill with Fat Creeps, Crosss, and Loose Tooth. This set is pretty much similar to that one and that’s fine by me. There’s a mixture of new songs, newish songs, and some vintage Doreets. I tells ya, for my money it doesn’t get much better than Kurt and Alex slamming into “Bike Cops” when you’re feeling rather toasted. It’s always a highlight of mine, just makes my spidey sense tingle. It’s like discovering you still have twenty more minutes to sleep in before getting up for work. I’ll take a spiritually arousing Miami Doritos set to kick off a show anytime.
Catch the band live before they catch you. It will be fun, it will be educational, it will make you laugh, it may even make you cry. One thing is certain, you will need to bring an extra pair of pants because you will finish before they finish. Get started here: http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/
Street Gnar – I only catch a few moments of this and it sounds like a combination of dream pop and experimental noise. Reminds me of Lowell’s Chill City Icon. http://streetgnar.bandcamp.com/
The Lemons – Damn, I missed these guys :(. http://thelemons.bandcamp.com/ They are coming back on August 12 at Great Scott!
The Memories – Few bands can make my eyes light up like these Memories. Ahh yes the memories come back to me literally. Memories of the time I saw the band at a haus in JP last October with Colleen Green, White Fang, Ronnie Nordac’s Crying Lessons, and Smarty. This set tonight is like a time machine back to that breezy, beautiful autumn night.
Front dude Rikky is an all star performer. A true entertainer. With just a few words, moves, and mannerisms he can captivate an audience. He’s Dude Love if Dude Love had a rad band that journeyed across the country and beyond nearly all year long. For my non pro wrestling enthusiasts Dude Love was Mick Foley’s hippie alter ego. And if you don’t know who Mick Foley is then I just can’t help you. Matt Altieri would be disappointed in you.
Speaking of love, it’s the theme of the evening. It’s the theme of The Memories. It’s everywhere, it’s in their hearts and souls, and it’s in the air. The smell of love in the air… or marijuana smoke. These cats can’t go more than a couple songs without firing up another joint. And their songs aren’t long either!
Love and weed. Those are the themes of The Memories and this show. As I’m writing this though, I just remembered my English teachers telling me that themes are not just one, but an entire statement. Damn and I was an English Major. I’ve failed. But Hey! it’s all good. I’m with The Memories.
Jumping back to the joints for a second, besides this act complementing the music and vibe itself, it also establishes the point that house shows are always superior in nature to any other show. That goes for pretty much most bands, but with The Memories it is especially true. I really can’t picture seeing these dudes anywhere other than a tight, tiny spot. Haha that sounded far more licentious (I love this word) than I intended it to be.
As I mentioned earlier Rikky can work a crowd and half of the pleasure of taking in a Memories show is his/the band’s light hearted sense of humor. This comes through in most of their songs on tape/record, but it’s far more animated when you see it live.
Once again, it’s like a trip back to my first Memories experience. All of the songs are performed to a tee. Such playful classics as “Dad’s Not Home,” “Higher,” “You Need A Big Man,” “Go Down On You,” and many others. Those last two are essential. Big Man Rikky is able to take a typically disgusting sentiment and make it palatable in a pop song, because it’s funny in a coy sort of way. Wink wink, nudge nudge.
If Ice Cube, Steve Albini, or myself said YOU NEED A BIG MAN to a woman then we’d probably get clocked in the head. “You awful, awful man!” But, it works here. It’s simultaneously mocking and celebrating males’ obsession with their own anatomy. It’s funny, Rikky even flexes his arms as he says “A big man tough and a big man strong, you need a big man thick and a big man long.” ExtenZe needs to get on this. I smell a theme song.
The show closes with Rikky spreading a few words of wisdom. He enlightens us about the meaning of this evening’s final tune. (I’m paraphrasing) Sometimes in life you find something you’re good at and very passionate about, so you want to pursue it full time. Then he pauses…. “nah, I’m fucking with you, this song is about eating pussy,” and with that they kick into what is arguably the finest Memories tune “Go Down On You.” The song is a great example of how the band mashes their sweet, 60s AM pop sound with sexy/stoner themed lyrics.
Fat Creeps – A running theme tonight is the actual basement setting itself. A lot of music freaks (including myself) attribute their most memorable show experiences to seeing shows in basements/houses. It’s an entirely different environment from your typical aboveground, legitimate establishment – even if it’s a swell venue, the swells aren’t as tasty as a place like the Whitehaus.
Besides seeing the Creeps at BUFU Fest I haven’t seen them in months. New Year’s Eve was the last time actually. So, hey man it’s great to actually see the band with a proper set. It’s been ohh so long. Their music is perfect for a a basement show too. It hits on all the emotions. It can be fun and happy, solemn and murky, upbeat and sexy. You name it. I’ve felt it. Whatever.
If you haven’t felt it you should spend the rest of your worthless life figuring out what went wrong at the following tour dates with The Lentils:
Monday, July 14 in Brattleboro, VT at THE FUTURE
Tuesday, July 15 in Buffalo, NY at SPIRAL SCRATCH RECORDS w/ JOHNS and SPACE WOLVES
Wednesday, July 16 in Columbus, OH at ACE OF CUPS
Thursday, July 17 in Chicago, IL at AUXILIARY ARTS w/ JIMMY WHISPERS and THE SUEVES
Friday, July 18 in Chicago, IL at THE OBSERVATORY w/ THE HECKS and WUME
Saturday, July 19 in Louisville, KY at Astro Black
Sunday, July 20 Nashville, TN at PUSSY PALACE w/ IDLE BLOOM
Tuesday, July 22 in Atlanta, GA at GOAT FARM ARTS CENTER
Wednesday, July 23 in Athens, GA at SECRET SQUIRREL
Thursday, July 24 in Charlotte, NC at RECESS FEST
Friday, July 25 in Boone, NC at BLACK CAT
Saturday, July 26 in Washington D.C. for Fringe Fest w/ CHAIN AND THE GANG
Sunday, July 27 in Philly, PA w/ BUGS AND RATS at HAZZARD HALL Monday, July 28 in Boston, MA at MIDDLESEX w/ BUGS AND RATS
Sometimes people have a habit of associating music with a particular season or climate, but you see listening to the Fat Creeps is an everyday kind of musical experience. This is hardly anything new! From their early days when they readily donned costumes and frequently changed guitars and instruments up through the more subdued times of late, Fat Creeps’ sound has remained about the same: indefinable, but always rocking – sometimes straight up pop, sometimes far more strange!
The first recordings of the Fat Creeps – their self-titled EP released in 2012 and later issued physically by us KLYAM Records and their two song Feeding Tube split 12” with ZEBU! – are peppered with all waves of punk and surf-pop with guitarist/vocalists Gracie Jackson and Mariam Saleh often singing in harmony or trading lines. Those two songs, “Dad Weed” and “Daydreaming” appear 1-2 on Must Be Nice, the band’s first full-length album released on Sophomore Lounge and GNAR Tapes. Their inclusion here is an excellent way to acknowledge their past and usher in some newer sounds. Third track “He Comes In Loudly” supremely shows off the styling and distinctions of Gracie and Mariam. In fact, this one sounds like a best of everything that the pair has done in their four years together. Gracie’s astounding and mumbly vocals on the verses meet up with Mariam’s haunting backing vocals before they so elegantly collide; Gracie ruptures into a brief solo before finishing the song as it started. After this most intriguing song and with good reason, Fat Creeps diversify their arsenal from here on out.
“In Name Only” is Must Be Nice’s “700 Parts,” a Gracie song for sure! Super chill, super hard to figure out what she’s saying, dreamy, surfy. “Blue” is similarly vibed, although it is markedly faster and here Mariam sings her articulate leads. Same is the case for the first two songs on SIDE B. “I’ve Got” is insanely hooky, the bass fuller than ever it seems and the guitars screeching in the old garage. The girls are up to trouble by the time those sludgy distorted four chords enter into the picture and someone’s won or warn.
Get ready to break out your best late ‘70s dance moves for “Party” and don’t be surprised if you catch your hip or not so hip mom, dad, grandmother, and sis causing their own raucus in the rumpus room. Take DEVO and the B-52’s for a point of reference. Fat Creeps certainly have the sweet ability of uniting the punks, the hippiesters, and the family accountant who will instantly reminisce of his days spinning The Gun Club’s Fire of Love at the college radio station. Must Be Nice has you toe-tappin’, head bobbin’ through and through, perhaps most unevenly on “Bak 2 School” – anxiety is high, but so isn’t the whatever factor. Just give me noisy guitars and a throbbing bass. No words necessary. In pure helmets and wedding dress Fat Creeps fashion, the band goes full circle, ending the album with their first song, their first video, the one that drew the acclaim of the Boston Phoenix and the rest of us. NANCY DREW. We got Gracie in our left ear, Mariam in our right, in this more minimalistic, poppy number with one chorus you ain’t forgetting anytime soon!
Noisy, surfy, garagey, who cares-y, Fat Creeps keep things light always. The spooky and haunting aura that has surrounded them since the beginning is only slightly demystified on Must Be Nice and hey, that sure is nice. I wouldn’t go up to them and start quoting their songs, but if I was you and you were me, I would attend every possible show of theirs that you can. And lastly, credit to Jim Leonard, who drummed on this record and all of Fat Creeps earlier offerings. His versatile and tight drumming is instantly recognizable, holding down the fort economically and just-in-time like an expert operations manager.
Miami Doritos – I believe the glam goddesses of rock ‘n’ roll flicked me on this planet to see kick ass bands like Miami Doritos in dank, dusty basements such as the Whitehaus. Well, I’m certain I was put here for other reasons as well, but what’s better than a nice, wholesome Miami Doreets set in JP? Nothing else. It’s 200 million thousand times greater than seeing some shitty, schlock rock band in a big, boring stadium that’s for sure. Ha, actually imagine seeing Kurt and Alex at one of those big ass shows. The Miami Doreets just planted in the middle of the Xfinity Center. I’m picturing it now and giggling like a little school girl. Keep laughing buddy.
But, enough of that tom foolery. Miami Doritos are a KLYAM Records band and they are one of the best around town. Of course, I would say that. I have to say that, but even if I didn’t have to say that I still would, because it’s true. Their brand of fiercely intimate, noisy two piece slacker spunk garage rawk brings me back to the days of fellow Boston two piece greats Fat History Month. The Doreets have that same silly, strangely comical, almost awkward quality to them. It’s a massive middle finger to all yee loser indie rock bands that take yourselves way too seriously. These Doreets are above all that and you can tell their just having fun with the music. And everyone else is having fun hearing it. http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/ And order here for the band’s splifft 7″ with Nice Guys: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/nice-guys-miami-doritos-splifft-7
Loose Tooth – This band is from Philly and they’re excited to be here. They have this very Pavementy, 90s “indie” rock style to them. It’s fairly relaxed, but still rocking. Most folks are nodding along, 40s and what have you in hand, gently enjoying the music.
At one point, one of the guitarists announces that today is her sister’s 21st birthday and she feels bad that she is out of town for it. So, she whips out her phone and snapchats (is that the correct term? I’m a luddite and don’t keep up with the times) everyone singing happy birthday to her sister. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! http://loosetoothphilly.bandcamp.com/
Following their set, the crowd takes a pleasant, mid show jaunt down to Deep Thoughts, also in JP, for the remainder of the show. I’ve shopped at this record store before and the first two KLYAM Records releases (Fat Creeps 10″ and Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″) are in stock here, but I’ve never seen a show here until tonight. It’s spacious and really has potential as a legitimate venue. It’s a big basement, but no stages or anything like that, which is how it ought to be. Well, stages can work sometimes, but I’m liking them less and less. Point being, there’s plenty of room, but it’s still intimate.
Crosss – This is a first for me and I actually haven’t even heard their music before. Though, I have seen one of these Canadian gents perform before in the band Soupcans from Toronto. I almost forgot how tall those fuckers are!
Cross (from Halifax, Nova Scotia) has a heavy, droning sound to them. It’s a slow menace that builds up and attacks you. Part metal, part psych, a pinch of noise. It’s dark and doomy. I don’t find myself falling in love with the band or finding any desire to move myself to the music, but it seems like most people are into it. They have a decent sound and they are talented musicians, but I feel satisfied after a couple songs and after that I don’t feel like I need to hear more. It just all sounds the same. To anyone that disagrees with me, remember this is only my opinion and there’s a good chance I LOVE bands that you think suck ass. It’s a big fucking world and there’s plenty of room for all of us. http://crosss.bandcamp.com/
Date: Friday, April 25 and Saturday, April 26, 2014 Venue: Cambridge Elks Lodge
Yeah, I know this shit was like over a month ago. Get over it. The following is a recollection of April’s first annual BUFU Records Festival. Here are the bands that made me chill the hardest…
Night One:
Nice Guys – OOOHHHHH Nice Guys! Boston’s Nicest Guyzzzz. As soon as I enter the Elks these guys are getting ready to play. They blast through a fast, frenzied set that affirms my belief that I am one deaf bastard.
With this set there’s a solid chunk of new material or at the very least songs I’ve never heard before: “Whale,” “Rock ‘n’ Roll,” “Freedom,” “Pegger,” and “Stinker.” All bone crushing in their own eloquent way. Still, I get the biggest kicks from the regular chart toppers such as “Boxfort,” “Medical Envy,” and “Cop Walk.” During “Cop Walk” Alex rummages his way through the crowd in classic Alex fashion. A valiant way to wake up the stiff crowd and kick off BUFU Fest.
Yo, have you been staying up all night alone in your bed thinking “damn, I love those Nice Guys live if only I could own a piece of that magic on wax. Sigh.” Well partner, you’re in luck. Such a gem exists. Nice Guys have a splifft 7″ with fellow stasement boners Miami Doritos via KLYAM Records. Pick it up from here: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/nice-guys-miami-doritos-splifft-7 and then tell all of your friends about it. We’ll all laugh at your enemies together.
Set-List:
“Gary”
“Whale”
“Rock ‘n’ Roll”
“Freedom”
“Box Fort”
“Pegger”
“Medical Envy”
“Stinker”
“Cop Walk”
I collect Nice Guys set lists like a yuppie collects his Bill Joel ticket stubs. Dorks!
ACLU Benefit – This is my first ACLU Benefit. This isn’t the first time I’ve met Noah (the man behind ACLU Benefit) however. When I first met him he was dressed up as a juggalo at a Halloween show this past fall featuring Fat Creeps, Nice Guys, Guerilla Toss, and Designer. Actually, no wait we met on the train later that evening. Long story short, I had already heard the name ACLU Benefit tossed around these parts like the town whore, but at the time I didn’t realize I was speaking to the benefit himself. The low voice should have given it away. So, that night I looked up his bandcamp and I was correct. I went on to discover one of Boston’s most original voices.
Fast forward to tonight and I am delighted to finally be standing in front of Noah/ACLU Benefit in a musical setting for the very first time. It’s hard to write about his music because it evokes so many different emotions in me. That sounds like an excuse and it is, but I’ll do my best.
Noah stands alone with a guitar and that baritone voice you can hear from a 100 feet away. The crowd is building up, starting to get packed; it’s still pretty early in the fest. Noah introduces himself and begins to play. The performance is chilling, humorous, and all around entertaining in its own little way. Certainly one of the more engaging, inclusive performers I have come across over the last decade.
He has two distinct anthems in which he instructs the audience to sing along with him. In the aptly titled “Beer,” he informs us to sing “BEEEEEER!” after he sings “I’ve got a friend and his name is Beer.” So it goes like this…
Noah: I’ve got a friend and his name is Beer.
Crowd: BEEEEEEEER!
Noah: He loves me cause you’re not here.
Crowd: BEEEEEER!
It’s fun and interactive. There’s another song Noah plays entitled “Love Of My Life” and the performance operates in similar sing along fashion. This time as Noah sings “love of my life” the crowd sings “I’ll never get over you.” It’s one of those you had to be there kind of moments. You reading my description of it obviously doesn’t have the same effect. Case and point, go see ACLU Benefit. You’ll ponder life and wonder what went wrong. Don’t die wondering. http://aclubenefit.bandcamp.com/
Following the set, Glen, Ben, and I shake hands with Noah, complimenting him on a job well done. It’s worth missing the next band.
Funeral Cone – The lodge is rockin’ and the party is off the hook by the time Funeral Cone gets rollin. I saw these peeps at this exact spot here back in September and it left me bleeding. A nice little scar on my arm. A Funeral Cone memento if you will. This set is pretty much the same thing, minus the blood. Constant moshing from the punks, indeed, it’s a punker’s wet dream. Ramonesian tune (they may even cover some Ramones tunes? I’m fuzzy) with flashes of early hardcore punk a la Circle Jerks. With a diabolical keyboard in tow, it makes for a hardcore Okmoniks. Surely, the garage rawk klowns will foam at the mouth over this gunk. Slimy seconds err thirds, I’ll take em’.
P.S. Cory from SKIMASK, Ancient Filth, and Concrete Facelift also plays drums in Funeral Cone!
Gymshorts – This band’s music is as satisfying as their moniker. As I type this I’m comfortably sitting back in my own pair of gymshorts listening to Gymshorts. You know, I’m not really sure where I’m going with this, but trust me you want to hear this band. If you’ve ever trusted me before (I don’t know what you were thinking), trust me on this one. Loads of killer slop rock songs that stick to you for dayssss kidddddd. My new favorite band or at least the best band I’ve heard all year.
I just got into Gymshorts a few months back and from the looks of it most in attendance are unfamiliar with their music. They eagerly stare at the band, bopppin their heads and possibly other things… not really moving too much though, which is a damn shame. That’s ok, it almost makes it that much more hilarious when Sarah (vocals, guitar) bursts into the crowd barreling through a sea of stiffs. They never expect it haha. Regardless, after their set I overheard some kids praising their performance, so Providence’s best shorts have converted some Bostonian heads in the process. Listen to dis shit for weeks: http://gymshorts.bandcamp.com/
Free Pizza – Before Free Pizza begin their set, BUFU Records founder and BUFU Fest organizer, Ben Katzman announces that BUFU Records will be reissuing Free Pizza’s Boston, MA (previously released as a tape on BUFU) on vinyl alongside Feeding Tube Records. When I hear this, I can barely see Katzman’s face because I’m way in the back of the room, though I know it’s him up there because of his distinct voice and tone. The place is packed to the gills, but I have to get up front for this. The band launches into their set and Jesus Vio starts singing “I’m going forwardddd” (“Forward”) as I am literally moving forward to make my way to the front. The crowd eats it up and dances their asses off and it only gets better.
The next song is “Net Babes,” one of my favorites from the group and I’m not alone in this. I start singing along “We have no beaches, but baby we can surf …” and before I can even finish the line I notice Ben Katzman looks back at me, smiles and sings along with me, “but baby we can surf the internet!” Katzman’s enthusiasm is contagious and as I said the crowd is going bananas.
They continue to play some songs off their debut, such as “Freedom Pizza,” “Ducks,” “Porty,” and “Baby Girl” as well as some fresh cuts (I think) like “Keep on Moving,” and “2 Broke.”
The best part of not just Free Pizza’s set, but the pinnacle moment of all of BUFU Fest comes when the band closes with “Boston, MA” the final track off the album of the same name. The song alone encapsulates the feeling of inclusion, unity, rejection of the mainstream, and above all good old fashion fun aka “chilling mad hard” that BUFU Records, BUFU Fest, Free Pizza, and the Boston underground as a whole represent on a daily basis; here is just the perfect microcosm and it hits like an explosion. The band encourages everyone to sing along if they know the words and even if you don’t, it’s all good. A shirtless, sweaty Jesus triumphantly flings himself into the crowd as they dance along and sing into the mic with him “Living in Boston, Massachusetts, BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTSSSS!!!”
Definitely one of the greatest live experiences in my life. The whole set, but in particular “Boston, MA.” A rare feeling I struggle to put into words. If I could bottle it up and ingest it every morning I totally would. For what it’s worth, I’ve never been one for civic pride. It’s just not my style. I’m not ashamed of my town/city/state, but I’ve never felt any direct connection with Boston and it’s surrounding area. With that being said, Free Pizza’s “Boston, MA” is finally a New England anthem I can actually identify with and one that makes me happy and proud to live here. http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/Can’t recommend this album enough.
Juan Wauters – With all of the excitement following Free Pizza’s set I almost forgot I’m seeing one of my favorite artists for the first time, well you could say that. Juan is the lead singer for Jackson Heights, Queens, New York’s The Beets, a band that co-KLYAMER Glen and myself have been fascinated with the past 4-5 years. We’ve seen The Beets a number of times now, but we’ve never seen Juan solo. In fact, before Juan even makes it to the stage/floor, we’re praising the man, shaking his hand, giving him big hugs, offering him beers. He’s overwhelmed by the love and support, I can tell he appreciates it or he’s a bit freaked out haha. Matter of fact, Juan actually interviewed Glen or I should say Gangbang Gordon for Allston Pudding. True story.
It’s all dark and quiet and the Juan begins (following another arousing introduction from Mr. Katzman). I can’t remember what the order is, but Juan and his acoustic guitar bust out some recent fan favorites form his debut solo effort N.A.P. North American Poetry. These include, but aren’t limited to “Water,” “Sanity,” “Continue To Be You,” and “Let Me Hip You To Something.” There are a lot of Juan fans in attendance, all sitting and standing, huddled around the Uruguayan singer. BUFU Records/Fest co-head honcho Chris Collins especially is digging the Juan, he always does. We all do. I’m confident Juan hipped many kids on to something haha, something special.
The Founding Fathers – Now, here’s a fine group of young, upstanding gentlemen that look awfully familiar. Call me crazy, call me wild, but they bear a striking resemblance to another local band you may remember as SKIMASK. Ehh whatever, must be me losing my mind.
Speaking of which, the lead vocalist seems to be off his rocker as well. He shrieks and flails about, barging through the moshers on a warpath, both physical and vocal. He’s an orator. An enigmatic performer of epic proportions. He crashes into the drum kit, he rolls on the floor, tossing his body to and fro in a possessed state of mind. Not wasting a second to rant and rave and proselytize the elks lodge inhabitants, when he’s not tearing the place to shreds. He spares no one, the audience is the target. He runs through the crowd as if he is engulfed in flames and burning to death. He stares into their eyes helplessly like he’s Carrie White covered in period blood, fiercely moving forward amid a chaotic atmosphere. It could all end at any second.
Electronic, spastic alien noise and fast, deafening drums provide the backbone to all of this pandemonium. It’s noise, it’s odd rock ‘n’ roll, and definitely one of the highlights of BUFU Fest.
Guerilla Toss – If any band could keep up with the the frenzy of the previous set then it’s Guerilla Toss. This is also one of my top sets from the entire fest. It’s always a trip, a party, a filthy mess when it comes to Gtoss and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Hundreds of kids are up front, slamming into each other, if you can even move. It’s body to body, no open space. I’m hot as a motherfucker, perspiring all over the place. The crowd is one giant body, a sweatball that bounces back and forth to the band’s self-proclaimed fucked up dance music. It’s fun as always, though I would prefer some room for more hippie dancing/moshing, then again I love when it’s just a crazy mess too. One downside is that I can’t see everything and I can’t even hear everything. Kassie’s vocals seem a bit lower or it’s just me. I’m gone. My eardrums took a serious pounding tonight.
As the set wraps up, Simon Hanes bangs his two fists against his head several times like he’s Jake LaMotta or Andre the Giant or some other human animal. Gtoss is a bestial powerhouse, let em’ bring out the beast in you!
Night Two:
Gangbang Gordon – My homeboy Gangbang Gordon kicks BUFU Fest night two off with a BANG! As GBG and his Northshore barebackers crack into their set the crowd is slowly building up and taking notice.
GBG opens with “Life At The ABC” and “The Breeze” two tunes that will be featured on his upcoming cassette Culturally Irrevelerent coming out this Summer on none other than BUFU Records!
Among other rocking standards such as “Lost Touch With The Youths,” “I Can Testify,” and “Warm Warm Warm” that get some folks headbanging, there’s also a new cut known as “Not Your Average Professor Liberal Arts.” A tune only GBG could imagine.
The sound is a bit all over the place and not everyone sounds in sync with one another, which can be expected at a GBG show, but at least they’re having fun and that’s not always the case with a lot of ‘rock’ bands.
For some of the tunes including the Spanish rap number “Orguello De Rappers” there’s a blinding, seizure inducing disco ball light. They close the set with “Slide Paper,” which sounds like a teenager’s attempt at recreating a Van Halen song. It’s a good riff. http://gbgordon.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Life At The ABC”
“The Breeze”
“Lost Touch With The Youths”
“I can Testify”
“Warm Warm Warm”
“Not Ya Average Professor Of Liberal Arts”
“Orguello De Rappers”
“Slide Paper”
Frank Hurricane – Damn, it’s been years since I’ve seen the one and only Frank Hurricane. Frank can captivate an entire room of gangstas with a few words. Frank aka Hurricanes Of Love will always hold a warm place in my heart, for the first basement/house show Glen and I ever attended was at the Dirty Douglas in Lowell and Frank opened the show. His kind, gentle, and humorous demeanor was the perfect introduction to underground music and the local music scene. That was a little over three years ago. Frank was on tour from Atlanta. He is a constant traveler and tonight he speaks of his various travels.
Frank sits back, plays some acoustic guitar, and rattles off hypnotic tale after tale of one amusing (or sometimes disturbing) anecdote to the next. He is a true raconteur, a rarity. http://frankhurricane.com/
Littlefoot – Littlefoot is a band from Providence that I’m starting to really get into a lot. I first saw them opening for Atlantic Thrills at their album release party at Dusk in Providence. This set had similar, dream pop vibes. Very relaxed, comforting, and insanely catchy. Almost too many people for me to truly enjoy it. I look forward to seeing them more in the future, especially in more intimate settings. http://littlefootlittlefoot.bandcamp.com/
Dylan Ewen & The Sulk Scouts – Ahh one of my favorite local bands. It’s always a fun time when these kids play. They wear sunglasses, Hawaiian shirts, and just let off a breezy, chill attitude. That isn’t to say they can’t rock out, because they most certainly do. Kooky klassics like “Us Girls Got It Tuff,” “Handcuffs,” and D.Ewen OG “Korean Girlfriend” are all on display.
The band also performs Madonna’s “Like A Virgin,” a fitting cover that complements their mixture of coyness and semi-deviance. It’s all for fun.
Set-List:
“*noise intro*
“Us Girls Got It Tough”
“Handcuffs”
“Cool Party”
“Like A Virgin” (Madonna Cover)
“Stoked To Be Sad”
“Korean Girlfriend”
“Fkuu Me”
Fat Creeps – This is the longest I’ve gone without seeing the Fat Creeps since… ever. Last time I saw them was on New Year’s Eve! Crazy, whack, son. Things have changed. They have a new drummer. Mr. Travis Hagan. My dude! You may have seen him in such local rock ‘n’ roll juggernauts as The New Highway Hymnal, Chill City Icon, Wakes, Radskull, and you may recall Travis’ brief stint as the drummer for The Migs. RIP Migs :(. Anywho, he’s behind the kit and he kills it.
If my memory serves me correctly they open with “Secrets” and it’s great to finally hear the song live again after all this time. Most of the set, however, features newer songs These tunes will appear on their upcoming full-length Must Be Nice on Gnar Tapes and Sophomore Lounge Records. I’m looking forward to it to say the very least.
All in all, as I said before great to see the Creeps again and it’s awesome to see a big crowd of kids devouring the various Creeps numbers, both old and new. http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/
Unstoppable Death Machines – This is the last band I remember truly hitting me over the head with their music. Or that may have been their fans haha. It’s a rowdy set for this NYC noise duo, think Lightning Bolt. I’m sure they get that comparison a lot, but that’s what comes to mind for me. There’s still a lot of people in the room, but it seems like less than before. Still a decent chunk, going apeshit to the ravenous sounds of Unstoppable Death Machines. My buddy Brian Hickey and myself are at the front of the pit, smashing into each other and everyone else. It’s lunacy! http://unstoppabledeathmachines.com/
So that’s that. BUFU Fest was an extraordinary experience. One of my top shows ever and definitely the best I’ve seen this year thus far. I can’t wait for next year. I hope you chilled as mad hard as I did. Peace.
Dayemmm! Fat Creeps are heading on tour this Summer with Brattleboro, VT’s The Lentils in support of their upcoming full length debut on Gnar Tapes and Sophomore Lounge, available at all of the shows!
Tour Dates:
Monday, July 14 in Brattleboro, VT at THE FUTURE
Tuesday, July 15 in Buffalo, NY at SPIRAL SCRATCH RECORDS w/ JOHNS and SPACE WOLVES
Wednesday, July 16 in Columbus, OH at ACE OF CUPS
Thursday, July 17 in Chicago, IL at AUXILIARY ARTS w/ JIMMY WHISPERS and THE SUEVES
Friday, July 18 in Chicago, IL at THE OBSERVATORY w/ THE HECKS and WUME
Saturday, July 19 in Louisville, KY at ASTRO BLACK
Sunday, July 20 Nashville, TN at PUSSY PALACE w/ IDLE BLOOM
Tuesday, July 22 in Atlanta, GA at GOAT FARM ARTS CENTER
Wednesday, July 23 in Athens, GA at SECRET SQUIRREL
Thursday, July 24 in Charlotte, NC at RECESS FEST
Friday, July 25 in Boone, NC at BLACK CAT
Saturday, July 26 in Washington D.C. for FRINGE FEST w/ CHAIN AND THE GANG
Sunday, July 27 in Philly, PA w/ BUGS AND RATS at HAZZARD HALL Monday, July 28 in Boston, MA at MIDDLESEX w/ BUGS AND RATS
FB Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/592681867496760/?notif_t=plan_user_invited
Go see them live! Buy the record! Buy the tape! And I know I’ve said this a million trillion fucking times I must sound like a broken record ;) okay bad joke… pick up the Fat Creeps 10″ EP from KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/fat-creeps-10-ep-coke-bottle-clear
Hot damn, look at this line up! So many KLYAM faves!
LINEUP (SET TIMES TBA): 28 Degrees Taurus, Abadabad, Atlantic Thrills, Beware The Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion!, Black Beach, Creaturos, Dinoczar, Doug Tuttle, The Fagettes, Fat Creeps, Ghost Box Orchestra, Gymshorts, Magic Shoppe, The New Highway Hymnal, and The TeleVibes. In bold are my personal favorites. Purple bolded are KLYAM Records bands.
The show is being presented by Illegally Blind, the work of one Jason Trefts, and Trefts is also the man behind a sea of shows in the Boston area including last year’s first annual Fuzzstival, which was a hoot. This year will be even greater.
The whole shabang takes place on Saturday, August 2 at KLYAM’s favorite aboveground venue The Middle East in Cambridge. Upstairs from 1PM-5PM. Downstairs from 5PM- 1:30AM.
For more info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1501237970104061/
In the meantime, while you’re twiddling your thumbs in anticipation, you can read our review of last year’s festival, written just minutes after the festival itself in a shamelessly drunken state of mind: https://klyam.com/2013/08/11/review-boston-fuzzstival-81013/
Or better yet watch this live video shot by fellow KLYAMER Joanna
Fat Creeps have been the KLYAM band for about two years – yes of course you might have noticed with our countless posts, releasing their debut on wax, going to and reviewing as any many shows of theirs as we can. We’re enthralled by the music of Gracie and Mariam, which is groovy and harmonious and noisy and heavy and light and dark. On this very night, they play a set of oldies and newbies gems, ranging from the dance inducing “Secrets” and “Daydreaming” to some 2014-era material like “Comes In Loudly” and a couple others I don’t even know the names of! Gonna have to wait for their Gnar Tapes release. I feel like I hadn’t seen the Creeps (live, I mean, and for the first time with new dawg Travis Hagan) for a long long while so it was quite the pleasure to take it all in, notably these newer tunes that have a more MAJESTIC feel than the more immediate pop luster of times past. So that’s pretty sick! Also, the spirited background dancing of Noah of ACLU Benefit that hilariously accompanied the Creeps set made me grin big during “Loudly” as he would chill for just occasional seconds before going ape shit flailing around, half naked, just like everyone should during a celebratory Fat Creeps occasion.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 