Category Archives: Fat Creeps

Art, Fat Creeps, Free Pizza, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, Show Alert, The Beets

KLYAM Recommended Shows: 11/4/13 – 11/9/13

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klyamrecommended

Monday, November 4, 2013

FAST APPLE Presents: Guantanamo Baywatch @ Charlie’s Kitchen – 9PM – $5 – Portland’s garage surf punkers, Guantanamo Baywatch are hitting up Boston this Monday and speaking of which – word around the campfire is that they have a split 7″ coming out on Suicide Squeeze on December 3 with Natural Child! Several of Boston’s finest are opening this show: Fellow surf freaks, Beware the Dangers Of A Ghost Scorpion!, psych monsters, CreaturoS, and one of KLYAM’s favorite noisemakers, Miami Doritos.

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

pRIMORDIAL sOUNDS Presents: The Middlesex Lounge is hosting its weekly PS nights and this night features the likes of insane doo woppers SKIMASK, anarcho punks Ancient Filth, and Teacher Mother Secret Lover. 10 PM $3

Friday and Saturday, November 8 and 9, 2013

Boston Hassle Fest 5! @ Cambridge Elks Lodge, Cantab Lounge, and Western Front and featuring wayyyy too many rad bands to mention, but if the names Lightning Bolt and The Beets mean anything to you then that alone should make you come out to Hassle Fest. More importantly, over 40 of New England’s greatest bands are playing this fantastic festival. Fat Creeps, SKIMASK, Nice Guys, Guerilla Toss, Free Pizza and so much more! 3PM $15 – $20 Sliding Scale.

For more info: WEBSITE – FB EVENT

Friday, November 8, 2013

Night Beats @ O’Brien’s Pub – 8PM – $10 – Seattle’s experimental garage rockers, Night Beats are returning to O’Brien’s for a fun ass rock ‘n’ roll show. Opening up is one of our local favorites The New Highway Hymnal as well as Thunderbloods and Gymshorts.

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If you think we missed any shows that a tru KLYAM gangsta would vant to see. Hit us up at KLYAMEMAIL@GMAIL.COM

Art, concert review, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Review: Fat Creeps, Dirty Fences, Strict Agnostics @ Roggie’s (9/24/13)

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Roggies
Bands: Fat Creeps, Dirty Fences, Strict Agnostics
Date: Tuesday, September 24, 2013
Venue: Roggie’s (Allston, MA)

Firstly, I have never stepped foot in this place Roggie’s. I’ll take a step back and say I don’t even know if I am pronouncing it correctly. Row geeze? or Raw geeze? OR Rogue eeze, ehh that just sounds lame. Going into this, I am a bit perplexed by the sports bar reputation, though the basement of this place is a different story. It seems pretty legit, I’m feeling Moe’s Lounge/Radio Down vibes, a small, cozy spot. On the other hand, it kind of feels like a wannabe version of that. Either way, I can’t really complain, it’s still pretty chill and I am really digging the 25 oz Busch drafts for $3! Anyway, since when did we become a bar reviewing web site? Fuck it, let’s get to the bands…

Strict Agnostics – Strict Agnostics, my kind of band.  This trio consists of familiar faces in the form of NIce Guys Jake Gilbertson (vocals/guitar), Cam Smith (drums), and the incomparable Kurt Eggheart (bass/vocals) of Miami Doritos and Thigh Masters fame – apparently it is always his birthday, happy birthday Kurt!

Going back to Strict Agnostics being my kind of band, I’m not just stroking their salamis, I really do appreciate the style of music they are embracing and producing, and defecating. It’s off the wall, grimy noise garage garbage punk a la Reatards and Oblivians. Fast, shouted, mumbled vocals with the grit of a garage band and the speed of an early hardcore group.

After spending a not so healthy chunk of my free time with their bandcamp, I recognize most of their fiery adolescent themed anthems on display, such as my favorite, “Huff My Smoke,” why thank you Jake I will. I recently heard some lady lecture about the hazards of second hand smoke, it was pretty boring, but this song was racing through my brain the whole time.

Safe to say, Strict Agnostics are a charming bunch. Listen to their bandcamp here and become a champion: http://strictagnostics.bandcamp.com/

Set- List:
“Pilgrim In An Unholy Land”
“American Chop Suey”
“I Wanna Be A Sociopath”
“My Baby Got Splattered”
New Song
“Analysis Paralysis”
“Huff My Smoke”
“Dingus”
“Destructive Behaviors”
“Weird Life”

Dirty Fences – These dudes hail from New York and Roggie’s is the last stop on their current U.S. tour. Cheers! I’ve actually never heard of Dirty Fences up until this show, so I am pleasantly surprised by what I hear. To me, it’s a combo of 70s’s punk,  smooth garage, and power pop. I liken them to fellow New Yorkers, Ramones and Hector’s Pets. Overall, my one gripe is that  it seems like they stick with that specific punk rock fused power pop sound for most of their songs, but that isn’t a terrible thing either because it’s a sound I enjoy gracing my ears.  http://dirtyfences.bandcamp.com/

Fat Creeps – So, it’s cool to see Fat Creeps as a full band again! I’ll admit upfront that this performance is a little blurry for me, but generally speaking a solid show.  They open with either “Blue” or “He Comes In Loudly” and they roll out at least a couple of newer songs as well.

Some other highlights include “Secrets,” mainly because it’s my bro’s favorite Creeps song and he frenetically slams me on the shoulder to let me know that he LOVES this song, calm down now. I also dig hearing “Cherry” again, since it’s been quite some time since I have had the pleasure of hearing this number during a live show. For this tune Mariam and Gracie switch from bass to guitar, respectively. As a whole, it’s sweet to see Fat Creeps in a little, packed bar without a stage – I guess intimate is the word I am looking for. You could say, it has a basement feel, but I think that may just be a slight exaggeration. So yeah, we’ll stick with intimate for now. http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

Ohh hey and pick up a copy of Fat Creeps 10″ (VINYL) EP from KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/

Art, concert review, Dylan Ewen, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Review: Miami Doritos, Dylan Ewen, Zebu, Fat Creeps @ JP Drive In

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Two Piece
Bands: Miami Doritos, Dylan Ewen, Zebu, Fat Creeps
Date: Friday, August 16, 2013
Venue: JP Drive In

Miami Doritos – I don’t see any Miami or any Doritos, I feel like rioting, I feel like inflicting pain upon each and every one of youuuuu KLYAM readers.  Just kidding mom, I love you.

The Miami Doritos are best appreciated in a basement setting such as this JP Drive In, though I am completely full of shit because I have only seen them in basements, so I have no means of comparison anyway. I guess I just like the intimate feel, which is what typically makes two pieces special to begin with, and tonight the Doritos are kicking off this whole two piece hootenanny.

The Doritos are rough and crunchy, but not difficult to swallow, they go down rather smoothly with a watery beer and a broken heart. In terms of comparisons, well I know I say this often when I see two pieces, but they remind me of KLYAM favorite No Age, mostly in the instrumentation and odd pop sensibility.

I suppose I should also mention that the Doritos consists of Kurt (Thigh Masters) on vocals and guitar and Alex (Nice Guys) on vocals and drums, they are good dudes and if you haven’t checked out those bands then I don’t know what else to say, you better get on that shit brah. And while you’re at it, quit being a pussy and listen to Miami Doritos here: http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/album/scoop-dreams
And hey, also watch this vid of them at Allston DIY Fest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-GJFO_5VrY

Dylan Ewen –  Dylan Ewen, yeah you know Dylan Ewen, in a way you may just be Dylan Ewen. Every teenager and twenty something is – and maybe even some of you thirty somethings. Dylan likes to write songs about bitches and booties and sadness, all topics that have been covered a gazillion times in pop music long before any of us were even twinkles in our daddy’s eyes. Yet, with his brand of garage spunk Dylan brings back a bucket of fresh water from the old stereotypical rock & roll well.

Dylan sings/screams and rages on guitar while a fellow named Chris sings along and brutishly slams the drums behind him. Together they smash through a fuzzy set of Dylan Ewen tunes including “Lead Me On,” (watch the crazy music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl-jSFP_6DY&feature=youtu.be). It’s a catchy little number that will stay with you forever like herpes. I myself was drunkenly singing this song the other night and didn’t realize it until a friend pointed it out,  it’s that powerful. The dudes also unleash a sick ass cover of one of my favorite Ramones songs, “The KKK Took My Baby Away.”

If I may slide down a slippery slopey rant for a few lines, if you would be so inclined… Dylan Ewen is like if Blink 182 sounded garagey and not like pop punk shit. It’s like all of his songs are about things that suck, but they are all fun and happy at the same time. Content wise it’s all frustration and disappointment . And that’s exactly why I dig the joy that comes out of my speakers when I listen to his bandcamp. That’s my argument against all the sad bands that sing about jerking off alone at night – or something else “dark and mysterious,” I don’t know I don’t pay attention. After a while, if I get bored I just make up my own plot. Those bands seem to be not having as much fun and make sad, sad songs. You can still make songs about sad stuff and still have fun, and having fun can be the focal point of the performance. You picking up what I’m putting down? Dylan Ewen does that like a true rock ‘n’ roller. Listen to all of his songs about youth and sex and such: http://dylanewen.bandcamp.com/

ZEBU – So, I saw these two dudes before at their Fat Creeps Split 12″ Release show at the Discovery Zone a few months back and this performance is not too dissimilar.  The pair, which consists of Ted Lee (vocals/drums) and Steve D’Agostino (vocals/guitar), put on a fairly entertaining show that really makes use of the small, intimate basement space tonight. At one point, Steve playfully waltzes through the crowd and pops a squat on a conveniently open chair in the middle of the room. He sits back and relaxes as if the song has to wait for him. It’s antics like this that makes me think a Zebu show in an above ground venue would be comparatively dull or at least lose some of its charm. Either way, their oddball take on pop music (?) is strong enough to endure in any setting.

Zebu also recently toured in Europe, which appears to be a rare feat for most artists of their underground nature. So, kudos to them. Here watch a clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0OHC6Zmt1g
http://zebu.bandcamp.com/

Fat Creeps –  A few years from now when I am an old man, about 27, I will be standing alone at a show, nursing a Narragansett and trying to relieve myself of an ailing hangover, when some young scrawny, pimple faced lad, about 16, will approach me and ask “what were the early Fat Creeps shows like?” to which I will respond, “fuck off, get me another beer junior. Let’s go find your sister.” Fortunately, I am still young and only 70% bitter, so I will enjoy these last few years before the remaining 30% takes over.

Fat Creeps or should I say Fat Dweebz as they are calling themselves tonight round out this two piece shabang. Gracie strums the guitar and sings while Mariam takes care of the drums and sings as well. I’ve never seen them as a duo and I may never again, but it’s pretty cool, a different take on their usual three piece sound. I miss regular drummer Jim Leonard, but Gracie and Mariam do a fine job with some of the Creeps originals as well some sick covers; I swear they play The Vaselines’ “Monsterpussy,” but I haven’t confirmed this.

Both women are decked out in some eye catching spandex suits, it look likes they are competing in American Gladiators or WWF (fuck WWE, it’s still WWF to me).

Check out their tunage here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

And while you’re at it, order their 10″ (VINYL) EP from our very own KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/

Art, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, Video

FAT CREEPS 10″ (VINYL) EP AVAILABLE AT…

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5a040-fat2bcreeps2bcover
YO! Fat Creeps 10″ (VINYL) EP is available at the following kickass institutions…

Deep Thoughts in Jamaica Plain, MA

http://www.deepthoughtsjp.com/

Weirdo Records in Cambridge, MA

http://www.weirdorecords.com/

Armageddon Records in Cambridge, MA

http://www.armageddonshopboston.com/index_boston.php

And of course you can order one directly from KLYAM Records: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/

PICK UP A RECORD NOW, BEFORE THEY’RE GONE!!!

concert review, Fat Creeps, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music

Review: Snow Wite, Secret Lover, Fat Creeps, Miami Doritos @ A Basement

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JULY_2013PAULWELLER 003

Bands: Snow Wite, Secret Lover, Fat Creeps, Miami Doritos
Venue: A Basement In Boston
Date: Friday, July 26, 2013

I think arriving to shows early is a very great thing. I’ve always felt this way. Going to a stranger’s basement to see a rock ‘n roll show early is even better. In that time between when the first band comes on, you can get to indulge yourself in talking to other attendees and the bands, and drink your own beers. This particular show didn’t kick off ’til much later than planned, but when domes came down the stairs, they came in bunches.

I was really excited to hear Miami Doritos, being a fan of previous performances of ThighMasters and Nice Guys…other bands of Kurt and Alex, respectively. Kurt belted out these tunes and Alex crushed drums. I remember being immediately impressed by the jams. It was like seeing the full Ty Segall Band drive forth with brief tantalizing punk tunes. These songs were really catchy – at least to ears that can readily identify hooks underneath loud loud noise. Like other fascinating duos, Miami Doritos made the most out of just a little. For local garage punk, I’d stick these dudes right up there in the ranks. I got a tape of theirs that is bound to be reviewed on this very site soon.

The KLYAM obsessed/debut KLYAM Records signees Fat Creeps played second. I haven’t reviewed them in a while as that has been the forte of Chris, rock ‘n roll’s youngest dirty old man. According To Jim. The 24th time (seeing them live) is the charm. Not to say the other 23 weren’t the charm, oh you bet they were. My eyes had not previously witnessed the Creeps in a true basement setting, Starlab not included. Seeing them at a rate now three times that of the Black Lips – an incredible feat given our steadfast devotion to those dudes – I sort of know what to expect of a Fat Creeps performance. Yet not really. There’s Gracie switching between her three guitars, by all means something we take for granted given the outrageously amazing sonics which I call tasty swells that are procured throughout the set. So you know, tonight brought all the classics of old (like on the EP), several new-ish jams that deserve their own acclaim, and a cover – ‘Sex Beat’ by The Gun Club, which brought back old memories of last summer when I heard the Creeps play it for the first time. I really dug seeing the Creeps in this setting, the unmanned PA system doing its job just as nice as any old sound guy.

Secret Lover gathers their instruments. This Worcester band is one that I’ve seen before. And I’ve listened to them after the fact as well. I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I’m standing inches away from the singer who is making rounds in and around the invisible stage. I say they’re like the Barbaras or Ariel Pink instrumentally with a spooky, Disney Rock n Roller Coaster vocalist. I’m blown away compared to the first time I saw them. I’ll take more time out of my daily regiment to recall this truly bizarre group. Even bizarre doesn’t seem like the right word, it’s just that in this day and age, rock ‘n roll combinations of Secret Lover esque proportions are rare. Maybe the closest modern comparison could be Screaming Females, if only in the singing department.

Last up is the headliner from LA. This is Snow Wite. The logistics of this band, the members more specifically, include three members of Secret Lover as backing musicians to vocalist and guitarist, Andy. Snow Wite’s an interesting character for sure. There’s a legion of what I presume are genuine fans from a distant past (one year, tops) standing at the front, gushing over Andy for the duration of the set. These folks are having what appears to be the time of their lives. On the other side of me is Chris, who is not impressed one bit by Snow Wite. My stance on this issue is sorta like how I was standing: middling. I saw all the music videos before this show and I had some suspicions. It seems too intense to be purely pretentious or jokestery so I didn’t make any superficial judgments (as I try not to). The music itself, for the most part, is a blend of late ’90s mainstream pop rock and classic guitar rock psychedelia. Don’t count me in as a meaningful fan of either of those, but I did appreciate some of Snow Wite, particularly his flashy guitar work.

Art, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Kids Like You and Me, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, radio

Fat Creeps Live On WZBC Tonight!

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Whoa, flashback to last Summer!

Between 5 P.M. and 7 P.M. tonight tune in to WZBC’s “Mass Ave and Beyond” (90.3 FM) to hear Fat Creeps play some tunes among other wholesome activities I imagine.

While you’re at it, pick up Fat Creeps 10″ (VINYL) EP on Coke Bottle Clear and/or White from KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/

OR grab a copy from one of these fine institutions: Deep Thoughts (Jamaica Plain, MA), Weirdo Records (Cambridge, MA), Armageddon Records (Cambridge, MA)!

Art, concert review, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Kids Like You and Me, KLYAM Records, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews

Review: Bleeding Rainbow, Fat Creeps, Nice Guys @ Great Scott (7/2/13)

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Bands: Bleeding Rainbow, Fat Creeps, Nice Guys
Date: Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Venue: Great Scott (Allston, MA)

Nice Guys – When the show was just Fat Creeps and Bleeding Rainbow I was intensely anticipating this evening, but when Co – KLYAMER Glen informed me that Nice Guys were added to the bill, hot damn! Seriously, a great thing to hear when you’re sweating your balls off at work. Speaking of sweating balls off, Nice Guys consistently produce sweaty, screaming, clamorous (KLYAMorous!) sets that jostle the hairs on my sweaty testicles and tonight’s show fits in well with that description.

I have seen a healthy chunk of Nice Guys sets now and most of them have been in DIY settings that tend to lend themselves to looser, wilder behavior. These nice dudes however, don’t let the typical rock venue, performer/crowd barrier get in the way of a good time and they put on one of their most entertaining sets thus far. Guitarists Alex Alexson and Matt Garlick even hop off stage into the crowd at one point during the set.

The foursome play several familiar tunes such as boneshakin’  essentials like “Drunk As Fuck, Stoned As Fuck,” (aren’t we all guys? aren’t we all?) “Pizza Bong,” and my favorite “Cop Walk.” I’ve sucked Cop Walk’s sonic dick (sonic dick, ooohhh I smell a band name!) long enough now, but you know what? I think I’m going for seconds or should I say fifths or sixths, I lost count. When Cop Walker hits those violent bolts of guitar fuzz and sledgehammer drums it’s like those little, involuntary spasms a dude’s dick gets before an orgasm is achieved. Well, the orgasm is achieved tonight at Great Scott. Jesus Christ.

Set – List:
“Free”
“Herb Chambers”
“Unholy”
“New” as in a new, untitled song.
“HD”
“Cop Walk”
“Drunk As Fucked, Stoned As Fuck”
“Pizza Bong”
“Pilgrim”
“Finale”

Make it your life mission to listen to these bad boys, errr I mean Nice Guys right here and for all eternity: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/

Fat Creeps – Local outlaw Ben Tan has created a drinking game in my name in which one of the rules is every time Chris DeCarlo name drops Fat Creeps in a review you take a drink. I would advise you not to play this drinking game, for I see various lawsuits against KLYAM in the near future. Point being, Fat Creeps have been a household name on this site for over a year now and I am proud to say our first release (10″ Vinyl EP) on KLYAM Records! So, it is exciting to catch the band live at Great Scott in the middle of their first major tour ( https://klyam.com/2013/06/19/fat-creeps-bleeding-rainbow-summer-tour/) with Bleeding Rainbow. Congrats guys!!!

The trio kicks things off right with Creeps classics such as “Nancy Drew” and “700 Parts,” which are often, if not always played side by side. The former is an upbeat, jangly pop number while the latter is a slow, murky ballad – both are immediate and showcase the band’s talents better than anything else in their catalog.

The band continues with some songs introduced in 2013 including “Blue” and “He Comes In Loudly.” It’s funny, I always mistake “Blue” for “He Comes In Loudly”  until they play “He Comes In Loudly” and I don’t realize it until they sing “he comes in loudly.” Wow, that’s a lot of he comes in loudlys. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many he comes in loudlys  jam packed into one regular sized paragraph ever before in my life. Now, I’m curious exactly how he comes in loudly.

In addition to Fat Creeps (you know I be pluggin’ that 10″ EP YO!) gems like the surfy hits “Fooled” and “Leave Her Alone,” and one of my favorite album openers “Secrets,” the band also performs a new song entitled, “Having So Much Fun.” I’m not exactly sure how it goes or what it sounds like, but I’m going to keep my eyes and ears open for this newbie at future Creeps shows.

After nearly two weeks of shows, Fat Creeps are still kicking it and sounding fresh as ever, without a single hint of weary. Their lively and fun filled performance is well appreciated as Great Scott attendees sway and bop back and forth to the Creeps’ light noise pop; a sweet soundtrack for a sweet Summer night, brings me back to last Summer when I first started actively listening and seeing these guys on a regular basis. Fittingly, they close their set with a heavy, headbanger known as “Going to the Party!”

Party with the Fat Creeps here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

And pick up  dat 10″ EP (VINYL – Coke Bottle Clear & White) from KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/

Got me another set list!
“Nancy Drew”
“700 Parts”
“Blue”
“He Comes In Loudly”
“Leave Her Alone”
“Fooled”
“Having So Much Fun”
“Secrets”
“Going to the Party!”

Bleeding Rainbow – I don’t know a whole lot about Philadelphia’s Bleeding Rainbow other than checking out a couple of songs before the show, so I am going in with an open mind, expecting to hear some sweet, chill tunes and while I can’t say I am in love with the band, I do enjoy myself. At this point in the evening, I am pretty sauced and Bleeding Rainbow is a smooth, dreamy soundtrack  to my intoxicated state of mind. The only song I recognize is “Waking Dream,” that guitar riff is pretty neat!

Bleeding Rainbow don’t fuck around and they are most likely hitting up your city some time in the not so distant future. Check em’ out: http://bleedingrainbow.bandcamp.com/

Art, concert review, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Kids Like You and Me, KLYAM Records, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, Quotes, reviews

Review: Fat Creeps, Headband, Nice Guys @ Discovery Zone (6/8/13)

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Bands: Fat Creeps, Headband, Nice Guys
Date: Saturday, June 8, 2013
Venue: Discovery Zone (Allston, MA)

As soon as Glen and I enter the Discovery Zone, Allston’s Nice Guys are already kicking out the jams, just inches away from us. The nice dudes are decked out in their beach garb: short shorts and pasty whites and what have ya.

Nice Guys are a truly fun group and they provide some comical on stage (floor) back to back banter. This aspect of the group brings to mind early Smith Westerns (1st album) and early Black Lips, not to mention their garage punk tendencies. There’s something charming about them, like young male bonding or some shit like that, I don’t know anymore, I’ve been doing this for too long (says the twenty something). I have notes, I came prepared I swear, they just never seem to make it to the reviews. ANYWAY…

They appear to be at  home in the Discovery Zone space, after all they have played several shows here before. It’s best to see this foursome in an underground setting such as this as opposed to a club, and this has to be the best set I have seen from the guys. It’s loud, fast, and fuzzy, reminding me to invest in some serious ear plugs in the not so distant future.

Nice Guys certainly have a sharp sound that rattles my bones and mangles my teeth, uh huh, but I feel like the songs could be stronger. They are fun for sure, but they could use more character/personality to fully bring those pizzas, boners, and bongs to life as if they were being placed in my lap. With that being said, “Cop Walk” is a juicy beast and I never get sick of it’s factory like guitar riffage at the beginning and how it just bursts into heavy, spastic jolts of primal rock ‘n’ roll. Up close and personal (I wouldn’t have it any other way), I can feel Jake Gilbertson’s hollering vocals vibrate down my spine, a feature of the band I had overlooked in the past. Dude can scream.

I should also mention that drummer Cam Smithers hops on the mic (mike?)  for what is apparently a cover of an Andy Kaufman song. I didn’t know that Andy Kaufman made music…

Towards the end of the set, Jake and Alex shake things up a bit,  rushing into the crowd with their guitars, even breaking a fan in the process. Just to clarify, when I say fan I mean the kind that provides cool air for all of us, not a human body. After all, these are Nice Guys.

And Matt Garlick is also the man. I just realized that he was the only Nice Guy (and Fagette!) I haven’t mentioned yet. I don’t want him to feel left out, because  he is a pimp, and pimpin’ ain’t easy.
http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/

Set List:
“(I Trusted You)”
“Herb Chambers”
“Street Surfer”
“Draggins”
“Molten Donut”
“Unholy Snack”
“Cop Walk”
“HD Snobs”
“Finale Dead”

The rockin’ and rollin’ grande times ramble on with Headband – a Boston mainstay. To quote one, Jake Gilbertson, “There was a Headband before I could even spell Headband.” Jake isn’t letting his mind run wild; Headband has existed since 1996, damn that’s quite a feat! Most bands don’t last more than a mentos, let alone two decades. Beyond being impressed with their longevity, I am genuinely impressed with some of their music. At times it reminds me of the strange, cave pop of the Box Elders and then at other times, I feel like the music drags or never takes off. They have a wealth of material on their bandcamp. Knock yourself out. http://buzzardrock.bandcamp.com/

Fat Creeps are the last band to play tonight and their performance is nothing short of thrilling. Twenty one Creeps shows deep, I can safely say this is one of their best yet, and that appears to be a popular sentiment among tonight’s attendees. Straight up, being one half of the people that put out the band’s 10″ EP on KLYAM Records, naturally I am an ecstatic fan of the trio, but I don’t bullshit when I write about bands, even ones on my label, so when I say this is one of their best, I mean it. Oddly enough, it’s kind of hard to articulate exactly why this show is finer than most I have experienced in the past. I am going to attribute the high quality of this gig to two features: set and setting. Much like a psychedelic experience, the Fat Creeps evoke an altered state of consciousness in me, one that I feel is shared with everyone in the room.

The set, that is the mindset, as one Dr. Leary labeled it, is a young band performing in front of a sea of familiar faces – a collective group of friends and fans alike, an audience that has grown to know and love the songs that the band has mastered over the past couple of years.

The setting is an intimate, cozy living room space and when combined with the aforementioned set, it creates a serene feeling, an aura if you will. It’s as if everyone is simultaneously appreciating the music of the Fat Creeps all as one consciousness. From the first chords of “Horoscope” the crowd is hooked and the Creeps never let go. Besides playing an outstanding set, part of my joy is simply observing the reactions of others in attendance; seeing kids’ faces light up in anticipation for the do do do doos in “Nancy Drew” or getting pumped for Mariam’s belting line “COME CLOSER I CAN’T HEAR YOU!” in “Secrets.”

The  Discovery Zone setting itself is an impressionable one. I always get a kick out of the ubiquitous, random barrage of bizarre films being projected behind the bands while they play. During the Creeps set however, the video material is familiar, but equally enticing. There is an outburst of cheers as a clip of Beavis and Butthead comes on. This is followed by a Wendy’s commercial during the haunting ballad “700 Parts.” That’s trippy.

Get totally tripped out by the Fat Creeps here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

Even better order the Fat Creeps 10″ EP (VINYL) on Coke Bottle Clear and/or White from KLYAM Records!  http://klyam.bigcartel.com/ ORRR pick up a copy at one of the following Boston area record stores:

Deep Thoughts (Jamaica Plain, MA)
http://www.deepthoughtsjp.com/

Weirdo Records (Cambridge, MA)
http://www.weirdorecords.com/

Armageddon Records (Cambridge, MA)
http://www.armageddonshopboston.com/index_boston.php

Brothers and sisters, don’t stop there! Fat Creeps are currently on a big ass tour with Bleeding Rainbow (http://bleedingrainbow.bandcamp.com/) and they may just be hitting your town any day now. Here are the remaining dates. Boston peeps, they’re hitting up Great Scott on Tuesday July 2!

Fri – June 28: Toronto, ON The Drake Hotel
Sat – June 29: Montreal, QC il motore
Mon – July 1: Winooski, VT The Monkey House
Tue – July 2: Boston, MA Great Scott
Wed – July 3: New Haven, CT BAR 254 Crown St.
Fri – July 5: NEW YORK Mercury Lounge
https://www.facebook.com/events/121765888020343/

In the immortal words of The Doors “The time to hesitate is through.”