Category Archives: Fat Creeps

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

Review: Nice Guys, Fat Creeps, Guilty Party, Steep Leans @ O’Brien’s Pub (3/15/13)

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Nice Guys Fat Creeps
Bands: Nice Guys, Fat Creeps, Guilty Party, Steep Leans
Date: Friday, March 15, 2013
Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)

Steep Leans are a new band and in fact this is their third show ever, which is pretty incredible considering how smooth their set is. If I had to guess I would have thought they had been playing shows for at least a few months. Going into the set, I do have somewhat high expectations because moments earlier Moontower/Spacebum, Tim Cushing delivered some serious accolades for these dudes. Indeed, the Steep Leans put on a good show and Tim’s enthusiasm seems to be shared among most  crowd members. There’s a fair amount of folks upfront  dancing and swaying along to Steep Leans’ mellow, tropical, psych rock. I almost feel like I’m on a cruise, like that sort of music but with a bit more experimentation. I also get some Pink Floyd/prog vibes. Lastly, I particularly dig Wakefieldian, Chris Eddleston’s guitar playing, especially when he plays it lap style like Memphis legend, Will McElroy. Solid start to the show. Check out their bandcamp here: http://steepleans.bandcamp.com/

The second band tonight is Guilty Party and they are a three piece. Guilty Party plays loud, fuzzy garage punk, perhaps even leaning towards metal at times. There’s definitely a loud, headbanging, in your face quality to their music, but it’s not overly sloppy or stripped down either. Overall, pretty good, but not exactly the “garage” I adore, I plan on listening to their music more in the future though.  http://guiltypartyboston.bandcamp.com/

Up next is our homies, Fat Creeps, yes I just used the term “homies,” most likely a first for KLYAM. The great thing about being a fan site, if you will, is that we get to see and write about our favorite bands on a consistent basis. As always, I am ecstatic for this Creeps show and they satisfy my expectations. The set begins with a cover of Devo’s “Gates of Steel,” a past staple for Fat Creeps that has been popping up every now and then in their live shows. I love hearing this as the opener and it gets me even more pumped up for the rest of their performance. I’m a big Devo fan, but I honestly prefer their cover, it’s heavy and almost feels like another Creeps song, because they make it their own. With very little breathing room in between songs they transition to their fastest and heaviest cut, “Daydreaming,” and you can watch its badass music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pP0l0Xg6-ZQ. They continue with more ear spliters such as “Going to the Party” and “Secrets,” which showcase some of bassist Mariam Saleh’s greatest vocals. At one point in the set, Mariam plays the bass on her knees and even on her back. The trio closes the set with the quick, instrumental jam “Back to School.” If you haven’t  heard or seen Fat Creeps live, YOU FAIL AT LIFE! You can start by listening to their self-titled EP: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/album/fat-creeps-ep Stay tuned for its 10-inch vinyl release on our very own KLYAM Records! Release date TBA.

Headlining the show tonight is one of the city’s finest, Nice Guys. The Nice Dudes are fresh off a tour with The Fagettes, which included stops at the legendary (and apparently smokey) 529 in Atlanta, GA, a vibin’ house show in Charlotte, NC, among other sweet spots in Brooklyn, Baltimore,  Philly, and Richmond.  Happy to hear the tour went swell. Now, to this show. I’m excited to see the Nice Guys again, especially since the first time I saw them I didn’t know who they were and the second time I saw them they did a Coachwhips cover set. This time, I am familiar with most  of their songs and I enjoy all of them. Nice Guys have a calculated ramshackle to them. The sounds they make aren’t pretty in the conventional sense, but they sound beautiful to me. My mom says it sounds like the singer is walking on hot coals, maybe, probably not though because that would hurt a lot. This set consists of some crazy Nice Guys tunes like my favorite, “Cop Walk,” which is like Black Flag meets Black Lips. In general, as I’ve stated before, Nice Guys create a sick marriage of garage and early hardcore punk (early 80’s, the only hardcore style I dig). It’s fast, it’s slimy, it’s noisy, and it’s full of slams and shrieks, but best of all it will give your noggin the perfect floggin. Listen up: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/mean-songs-demo

Set-List:
“Herb Chambers”
“Unholy Snack”
“Turdburgers”
“Draggins”
“Pizza Bong”
“Mutant Tonsils”
“Cop Walk”
“Creep Slice”
“Finale Dead”

Art, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, The Fagettes, Tours

LISTEN: Nice Guys//Fagettes Tour Split!

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Nice Guys Tour
Nice Guys and Fagettes are two excellent Boston bands that went on tour recently (https://klyam.com/2013/02/28/fagettesnice-guys-march-beast-coast-tour/) and  here they  have a split tour tape for your listening pleasure.  Listen to Nice Guys from the tour tape here: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/nice-guys-fagettes-tour-split

Nice Guys are playing tomorrow night at O’Brien’s Pub (Allston) with  Fat Creeps, Guilty Party, and Steep Leans. Here’s a link to the Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/events/113943468789134/?fref=ts

Fagettes are playing a Freak Flag show at Radio upstairs (Somerville) on Wednesday, March 27 with one of our favorite bands, Ottawa bubblegum poppers, Peach Kelli Pop as well as local solids, The Scamps and Great Valley. Here’s a link to the Facebook  Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/568494936512234/?fref=ts

Art, Atlantic Thrills, concert review, Fat Creeps, Gangbang Gordon, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Concert Review: Fat Creeps, Atlantic Thrills, Gangbang Gordon, Dividers @ Firehouse 13 (3/8/13)

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Bands: Gangbang Gordon, The Dividers, Fat Creeps, Atlantic Thrills, Thee Itchies
Date: Friday, March 8, 2013
Venue: Firehouse 13 (Providence, Rhode Island)

And the award for best house music goes to…… Firehouse 13!!!! Ahh, we should start doing KLYAM awards, it would knock the grammys flat on its fake, fluffy, fat fucking ass. Firehouse is the place to be though, one of my favorite venues. Place is massive, but has a warm, homey, basement feel to it, good for rock ‘n’ roll. And certainly Eric Aguiar’s playlists help set the mood: Black Lips, The Penguins, Frank Zappa, Nobunny. Eric’s got you covered. Soon enough we slip and slide down the punk slime trail, crashing into the first act: Gangbang Gordon.

Gangbang Gordon kickstarts this Burger Revolution, playing his second show ever! GBG would be the right man to kick off a Burger Records showcase, being a Wiener himself. What’s that? Y’all know. I’m Not A Musician Gangbang Gordon’s debut for Wiener Records, a Burger subsidiary. Pick that shit up, before it goes, they are selling like hot cakes!

Tonight,  Gangbang Gordon is decked out in his kooky three dee glasses and he plays in front of the stage alone with his gee tar and a few other tricks up his sleeve. You can call it outsider, amateur-one man band garage, or just plain old noise, either way GBG is unforgettable. I saw his first show at P.A.’s Lounge and while that was odd and memorable, this time around he sounds much better and I can actually hear most of his vocals.

I recognize fan favorites such as “It’s A Damn Shame,” “Lost Touch (With The Youths),” and my fave “Life At The ABC (Abandon Bear Cages).”

His music is fairly diverse and this shows in his performance which includes a recorder, rap, and a drum machine. Way to go bro!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFbSUmVGj1c

Set-List:
“Blue Jay Road”
“It’s A Damn Shame”
“Lost Touch (With The Young)”
“The Breeze”
“Life At The ABC”
“Shit Geetar”
“I Can Testify”
“Slide Paper”
“Wanna Go”
ENCORE:
“Everybody’s Doing It” (Black Lips)

The Dividers hail from New Bedford and they continue GBG’s trend of garage rock ode. I know, I know I get sick of saying garage too, but I mean this is a Burger showcase. Call it punk slime, if you will. The Dividers champion this style and spirit and they give my ears a fierce pounding. I hear that they have a history with our guys the Atlantic Thrills; it’s fitting. Both bands have played shows together across New England and both bands share the aforementioned slimy flavor of rock ‘n’ roll. The Dividers are fun and they get the people movin’ a little. They kind of remind of The Reatards, so yeah nasty, noisy “garage,” but easy to slam around to ya know? Course you do.  I recommend you check out their music here: http://www.reverbnation.com/thedividers

Set-List:
“Grinder”
“Psych Moshers”
“Contra Band”
“Lester Goodbody”
“Unk’s Jam”
“Smelly Furman”
“White Hot Russian”
“Free Burd! (Robitaile)”
“Justine”
“Winter Weather”

Fat Creeps are our top dogs, so it’s a real pleasure to see them up on the big stage at the Firehouse 13 in Providence. I always love seeing my favorite bands in foreign settings.  The sound is top notch and they dish out several of their classics like “Nancy Drew,” “700 Parts,” and “Secrets.” It’s cool to think that most in attendance proabably haven’t heard these sick tunes before,  and from what I observe everyone seems to dig it, especially one Kelly Riley (Atlantic Thrills). During some of the heavier pop songs like “Daydreaming” and “Going To The Party” I notice Kelly rocking out pretty hard, jumping up and down, reveling in his first Fat Creeps experience. Indeed, this trio is one of the best live acts I’ve seen. They also play a song they don’t play as often with  “Leave Her Alone,” an excellent surfy song,  which  is coming out on their upcoming self-titled 10″ release on our very own KLYAM Records! Listen to the digital version here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/album/fat-creeps-ep

Fat Creeps and Atlantic Thrills are two of our favorite groups, which makes this show real, real special. We’ve seen both  bands separately a gazillion times, but the two have never appeared on the same bill before. Needless to say, I’m extremely pumped to see the Atlantic Thrills in their hometown. The Firehouse is one of the best places to see the Thrillz do what they do best. Whether it’s Dan’s solo, “meat” playing as Glen would say, Josh’s passionate drumming, Eric’s heroic leaps, or Kelly’s manic behavior, the Thrillz are one of the most enjoyable live bands. There’s like this great fun, party atmosphere to them that is rarely matched, and it comes through not just in their physical performance, but also their music. There is an undeniable familiarity to their songs, we’ve all heard this sound before, but the Thrillz are such characters that they shine through any inkling of cliché.

Alas, this show doesn’t have the same crowd reaction (non stop moshing) as the last Atlantic Thrills show I saw at Wilder Zangcraft in Lowell. But , it’s all good, the Thrillz are just as awesome, people dance and have fun. One soul commends them for their “gang vocals,” I’m with you on that one brah. The Thrillz definitely have a particular quality of camaraderie to them, much like a gang or that of the oft-compared Black Lips. The band describes themselves the best: “Four badass muthafuckers who like to drink whiskey and play dirty garage rock”- http://www.reverbnation.com/atlanticthrills

Set-List:
“Give It Back”
“Holy Mountain”
“Booze”
“Beach”
“On My Mind”
“Lies”
“Gatos”
“Light Shines”
“Hold Your Tongue”
“Shotgun”
“Drugs”

I’ll be square with you guys, I don’t recall the last band Thee Itchies too well, my apologies! I’m sure they killed it.

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, 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:

Comedy, concert review, Fat Creeps, Local Music, Music

Review: Kylie and Mark’s Comedy Throw-Up @ Salem Cinema (2/21/13)

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I don’t know what it’s like to talk about comedians in this kind of format, in fact I’ve never really sat myself down to hear one or five in person. I am impressed by the way things went down on this evening. Host Andrew Durso cracked some wise cracks before introducing the comedians – some amateur, some quite reputable around the area. Reputable or not reputable, funny is funny, no matter which way you look at it. And creative, yeah, creative is creative. I give a lot of credit on the most basic level to the comedians for taking the stage. That is a feat. I found myself tearing up on a number of occasions. The variety of comedy, ranging from little skit type of things to brief one-liners, allowed for the versatility of the performers to shine through. I am not bullshitting you, I don’t know how to recap comedy…OK!

Each had their fine moments, never a dull moment, watching someone saying shit that a wide audience can agree is funny. Shout-outs to Gary Peterson, Ian Von Steffen, Riley Knispel, Matt Watson, Mark Gallagher, and Kylie Alexander. You done good.

Did I miss out on THE BFs? Potentially. Hey, it wasn’t my fault. I didn’t drive. I recall The BFs from the other night, hey BFs dude, Joey, I remembered, if you read this, I’m that dude who said yo nice shit at the Cambridge Elks. I must have missed you play on this night, as I would have been congratulatory on the successes of being on the stage and doing rock and roll. Your rock and roll is a good time; I do not see many bands like you these days. I have seen some popish punk in my time, not all of it very entertaining cuz I’m not much a pop-punk guy, but I can get more behind you than those others. Hope you know what I mean.

The Fat Creeps finished things off for the night. I took a seat near the front. Others preferred standing, slobbering around the stage, or not slobbering around the stage, but being around it, dancing even. I haven’t really seen this kind of locomotion at a Creeps show since five days prior at the Elks, when those Lowell guys were mosh pitting during “Daydreaming”. Well, set-wise, it is an exemplary performance, with the usual suspects and a surprise (for me, anyway) of the song that I remember being my favorite from when all I could associate with the Fat Creeps was their Bandcamp. The song is “Leave Her Alone”. They haven’t played that in a while, I mean you haven’t played that in a little bit, if one of the band members is reading this. That’s cool. New favorites such as “Going to the Party” and “He Comes in Loudly” and that other tune that draws a lot of clapping were most definitely in the mix and those other ones I really like. It is hard not to like the Fat Creeps; they are really nice people, but performers, top-notch. The kind that has you coming back for more. KLYAM has definitely indulged in this regard, but when heavenly performances are to be seen, you have to see them. I do like standing up better, just my own preference, so the next night at O’Briens would allow for some truly optimal conditions. I’ll let Chris take over describing that event. Though I could write now.

Good oldies Salem, see you at the next juncture.

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

Concert Review: Fat Creeps @ Cambridge Elks (2/16/13)

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Creeps Elks
Bands: Fat Creeps, Space Bums, Fedavees, The BFS
Date: Saturday, February 16, 2013
Venue: Massasoit Cambridge Elks Lodge (Cambridge, MA)

Fat Creeps–  Hey y’all super cool people out there reading this, if you are in fact reading this, I got a little confession to make. I am a Fat Creeps fan. I know, it’s a shocker, who would have thunk? To say that I am a fan of this band would be a massive understatement, but I don’t want my Fat Creeps fanboyism to clog up this “review’ anymore. I am trying to imagine what it would be like to see them for the first time without having any prior knowledge about their music, ahh sounds awful, but I’ll give it a shot.

FEB_2013 031

Fat Creeps are a three piece consisting of Mariam Saleh on vocals and bass, Gracie Jackson on vocals and guitar, and Jim Leonard on drums. They have taken over Boston by this point and are starting to overflow into Portland, Providence, Worcester, Northampton, Brooklyn, and Bennington, your city will be next. The charming trio of early twenty somethings play a variety of styles that is both familiar and appealing to the ears, but not always easy to classify. Lazy journalists might call it “garage” or “pop punk” or they actually hear those styles, I don’t know. Surely, there’s elements of each, but being somewhat of a connoisseur of contemporary garage and a vehement detractor of most pop punk, I’d say this is painfully misleading.  It just goes to show that the band’s diversity makes them applicable to many genres and they can and have shared bills with all different walks of life from the rampant noise of SKIMASK to the playfully vulgar punk of The Coathangers, and everything in between. It’s all rock ‘n’ roll.

FEB_2013 032

Tonight, the band rips through some fresh cuts as well as some vintage Creeps classics that everyone and their grandmother should know by now. I mean my grandmother probably does, she’s a hip, hip lady, I once caught her listening to Black Flag, strange. “Nancy Drew,” do do do doo, hey Nancy Drew, do do do doo, hey Nancy Drew, do do do doo, hey Nancy Drew, do do do doo, hey Nancy Drew. The song practically sells itself.  You just have to hear it once and you can already sing along to it! Actually, once you hear the first do do do doo or second do do do doos, then you can pretty much sing along to it, unless you’re retarded. But, that’s okay I screw up lyrics all the time myself. “Nancy Drew” is a mini insight into the band’s quirky world. It’s simple, but ever so catchy, you can’t turn your back on it. I’d say this goes for pretty much most of the Creeps songs tonight. The main appeal to me is the memorable quality in all of their tunes, with “Nancy” being a boss example. That is the basic charm, but the band’s prowess as musicians and performers is what really hooks me in to their sound. Up front, Mariam and Gracie execute harmonies that rival the Vivian Girls, while Jim tenaciously assaults his drums behind them. In particular, I dig the way the delivery of their sound can match up with the direct nature of their lyrics  like in “Secrets,”  Mariam roars “Come closer I can’t hear you,” and it really feels like she is yelling at you to come closer.

This show is at the Cambridge Elks Lodge, a place I have never stepped foot inside in my entire life, until now. It’s a sweet spot, not too big, not too small,  but just right, to paraphrase one, Goldilocks (I had to look the correct spelling up, this whole time I’ve been spelling it as Goldie locks). There was no stage and  it was pretty much absent of any extraneous rock club bullshit, so it kind of  felt like a glamorous basement show. Speaking of basement shows, a young chap by the name of Kevin Dacey- a frequent basmenter, is in attendance tonight,  which is swell because I usually don’t see him at Boston above ground gatherings because of the ageist polices of the rock clubs :( Nonetheless, Mr. Dacey is a happy camper and he ignites some fine moshing during the Creeps’ kickass, fast rocker, “Daydreaming,” perhaps the most moshable song in the Creeps catalog. Definitely a highlight of the evening.  http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

The first three bands were all solid as well:

The BFS are a mixture of power pop a la Gentlemen Jesse and His Men/White Wires and pop punk. Check em’ out here: http://thebfs.bandcamp.com/

Fedavees play extended, experimental, psych pop and they’re doing a fine job. Take a gander: http://thefedavees.bandcamp.com/

Spacebums have a similar psych sound, but with more of a fun, rock ‘n’ roll, garage sensibility. Check it out: http://thespacebums.bandcamp.com/

Before and in between some of the band’s sets there were a couple of screenings of bizarre, but humorous videos from “The Gooder Life With Dr. Jesse” and “The Family Factory.” They reminded me of a cross between John Waters, Tim and Eric, and Hollywood Nailz (Hunx’s show). http://www.thegooderlife.com/

Check out this Surfer video featuring the Fat Creeps’ Christmas classic “Bring Us Some Waves”

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

Concert Review: Fat Creeps, Miniboone, Bunny’s A Swine, Pile @ O’Brien’s Pub (1/24/13)

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fat creeps o's
Bands: Fat Creeps, Miniboone, Bunny’s A Swine, Pile
Date: Thursday, January 24, 2013
Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)

Act I: Fat Creeps– We the KLYAM first saw Fat Creeps here at O’Brien’s Pub last April, Friday the 13th to be exact.  Here we are again, nine months later, a lot has gone down in the time since then: touring, an EP release, many shows (much of them KLYAM attended and reviewed), and loads of rightfully deserved media attention. I recall Fat Creeps as being a memorable band with catchy, weird pop songs that reminded me of The Shaggs, Beat Happening, and Vivian Girls.  I wasn’t thinking whoa, this band has totally changed how I look at music! but there was something unique about them. Honestly, I thought they had this sort of outsider thing going on, which is pretty far from their actual “sound.” Overtime, I just developed a greater affinity for their music and it feels like they have grown significantly as musicians and performers in the nine months since my initial live experience. They sound stronger and heavier than ever and yet they still have that odd charm that sparked my interest in the first place.  This performance is the longest Creeps set I have ever witnessed, it feels like I am seeing a national, headlining act on tour.  My brother Justin, who has never seen the band, is in attendance as well and it’s as if I am seeing the band again for the first time through his eyes. I am glad he is here for this show, because they play a wide variety of tunes.  They open with “Horoscope,” a song I haven’t heard live in a couple months, so naturally this is a pleasure.  Of course, you have the other essentials like “700 Parts,” “Nancy Drew,” and “Secrets,” but they also play  a batch of numbers I’ve never heard before (“Blue,” “I’ve Got”) as well as somewhat new tunes like  “He Comes In Loudly,” the instrumental, “Back to School” and “Going to the Party,” which is like Devo meets Dead Kennedys.  At least,  I hear those dark, punk influenced surf vibes.  At this point, most music fans can point to the Fat Creeps and say it sounds like 90s or surf rock or garage or lazy rock (whatever that means), their style has some easily identifiable features, but their actual songs expand far beyond any specific sound. In other words, they have created their own original brand of rock ‘n’ roll, so much so that when people ask me what they sound like, I just want to say they sound like the Fat Creeps, because I could conjure up more obscure references, but I feel like it just trivializes their distinct personality.

Set-List
“Horoscope”
“Blue”
“He Comes In Loudly”
“Nancy Drew”
“700 Parts”
“Fooled”
“Secrets”
“Going To Party”
“Dadweed”
“Daydreaming”
“I’ve Got”
“Back 2 School”

http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

Act II: Miniboone– This is my first time seeing these New Yorkers, I’ve actually never heard of them, but one of the members of the band Earthquake Party! (a kickass band I recommend y’all check out) informs me right before the band plays that they sound like a mix between Talkng Heads, Queen, and Bruce Springstreen. Sounds wild enough, I’ll take it. I can definitely hear arena rock and fast, power pop influences in their perfomance tonight, physically and musically. They are an entertaining band, but they do not blow me away either.  I feel like they have the musical chops and decent songs, but not distinct enough for my ears.  Then again, this is the only time I’ve seen them, and I am not too familiar with their music, so who knows? http://miniboone.bandcamp.com/

Act III: Bunny’s A Swine–  Western Massachusetts’ Bunny’s A Swine describes themselves as “awk pop slops rock,” not sure what that means, but it sounds better than “indie,” that’s for sure.  To me, they sound like Pavement, which I feel like I say a lot, but that’s what I hear. That makes sense, Pavement is kind of awkward, but poppy and a bit sloppy. I don’t necessarily see the sloppiness in this band, they seem to have their shit together.  The band speaks of party hardy times with headliners, Pile, maybe that explains why they have songs like “Pour It Out At Parties” and “Nobody Wants You Here (Sober).” Check em’ out at their bandcamp here: http://bunnysaswine.bandcamp.com/

Act IV: Pile– We missed :(

http://pile.bandcamp.com/