Grave Ideas – For Grave Ideas, I’m standing off to the side, gulping down several Rolling Rocks, just savoring the moment. I’m waiting in heavy anticipation for our dudes in Nice Guys and Miami Doritos, who will be on shortly. It’s satisfying to be able to sit back and chill in one spot and admire the music casually from afar, while there’s still plenty of room for others to go bonkers to the band. I’ll save all my piss and vinegar for the Nice Doritos. So yeah, this is my first time here at Thieves Grotto and it is one of the finer, more spacious basement spaces I have come across in my show attending journey thus far. I’ll slug back some more Rolling Rocks (hey, I like the taste! It’s like rock ‘n’ roll backwards, almost! Kurt Cobain told me that one) before I slide into the Miami Doritos zone. Grave Ideas, aren’t a bad band, but I don’t recall them as being memorable either. I’ll have to check em’ out again some other time. You can just by clicking this link: http://graveideas.bandcamp.com/
Miami Doritos – The Miami Doreets. Damn, they are ever so tasty, I could yank a whole bag of these Doritos right out of your hands and have em’ all to myself! For those that don’t know, MD is a crunchy two piece featuring the likes of Kurt Egghart on vocals/guitar and Alex Aronson on drums. They are quite the two piece. I have a soft spot for two pieces though. Aren’t they just the cutest? I always picture two pieces to be like the best of buddies. They play checkers and eat ice cream together, finish each other’s sentences. It’s like my crazy uncle used to say, “what’s better than one piece? Two pieces.”
By the time these Doreets begin to play I’m feeling fully in love with the world and simultaneously hating it all over, it’s a bizarre juxtaposition I’ve been meaning to get checked out maybe the mighty Miami Doritos can help me with this. They have a song about someone farting or something like that, it gives me a boat load of chuckles that make me raise my beer and say to Kurt “Haha, chararde you are sir, charade you are!” Except, I didn’t actually say that, but I wanted to, possibly. I hate when music journalist fucks lie in their articles. Fuck music journalism! ONLY TRUST ME! OBEY YOUR MASTER!
Laughs are fine and all, but I want gasps. I want bodies slamming into one another like the tides of the ocean. And I get what I want! I do actually, thanks to the rough, garage/noise attack that is the Miami Doritos. I’ve seen the duo before, but the kids at Thieves Grotto know how to throw down and have a good time, and it just helps make a great show for all involved.
Among the many classic, legendary hits that Miami Doritos puke out tonight, there are two primal BANGERS known as “Price 2 Pay” and “Rush Hour/Piss Take,” which can be heard on the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ available via KLYAM Records. Holy seven inches Batman, it’s a Splifft!
Listen up cupcake: http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/
Nice Guys – Boy, I feel stuffed after all those Doritos. Wasn’t I just writing about Nice Guys? I was, I did, I will, therefore I am. If a nice guy falls in the woods and no one is around to pick him up, does he go blind? Yikes! Ok, let’s cut the comedy and get down to business.
I remember the first time I saw Nice Guys (it wasn’t that long ago you schmuck) in a dirty, dusty basement. Jake darted into the crowd, kids went wild. Laughs. Good times. But, here we are now and I can sincerely say that the Nice Guys have grown as a band, they were sick back then, but they are significantly better today. *Quit sucking their dicks says Mr. Cynical Reader.* But, hey this is my youth here and I say Nice Guys fucking rule, they don’t come last!
With such a friendly, upstanding bunch of gents you wouldn’t expect such noise, but these things happen. They bring forth the noise, the rock, and the kids know this, they eat it up. Aside from a few familiar faces, this basement is stacked with kids boppin’ and droolin’ over the Nice Guys. They feel that medical envy, don’t you? I just want to skull fuck the president.
NICE GUYS PLAY MEAN SONGS. FUCK OFF IF YOU’RE NOT A NICE GUY,YOU JUST SUCK ASS AND HAVE ZERO PERSONALITY. YOUR DICK ISN’T EVEN THAT BIG. FUCK YOU. NICE GUYS RULE.
We missed Providence’s Malportardo Kids, next time fellas. From one kid to another, slowly we’ll take over the world. No, let’s do it fast. We’ll get there fast and then we’ll take it slow.
Bands: Hallelujah the Hills, The Dazies, The Fagettes, Nice Guys Date: Friday, February 14, 2014 Venue: Lilypad (Cambridge, MA)
Nice Guys – NICE GUYS! These Nice fucking Guys right here. And they truly are nice guys, that’s not a misnomer. It’s like you tell your buddy, hey you’re going to like this dude, he’s a nice guy, he’s a goodfella.
Christ, if you haven’t heard the Nice Guys by now, I don’t know where the hell you’ve been man. I’m going to break my fucking back, digging you out of that hole you’ve been in these last couple years. You missed out on boxforts, 420 John Freeman parties, and many a Jamaican Vacation. But, it’s okay dawg, your time has come. We’re going to make it through this. That’s what this is all about, it’s supposed to be a catharsis. It’s Friday night, it’s Valentines’ Day (no wait, fuck that), and the Nice Guys are playing Jamaican Vacation.
I get that tingle, you know, when they announce that the next song is called “Jamaican Vacation.” Before they even play, I’m getting a little stiff. I tell my erect buddy to STAY DOWN! STAY DOWN! Let’s not make a scene. Boy, my folks must be real proud right now. “Son, I love when you freeze your reviews to stop and talk to your dick. I’m so proud of you honey!” There’s love in the air. My love for the Nice Guys stretches far and wide. You can hear the smash hit “Jamaican Vacation” and it’s cannabis reeking chum “Medical Envy” on a Splifft 7″ with fellow chart toppers Miami Doritos. You can order one here from KLYAM Records: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/nice-guys-miami-doritos-splifft-7 Do iT!
The Fagettes – After the Nice Guys set, I step outside for a bit, but not for too long, because within just a few moments my ears are dancing to the sweet, serene sounds of The Fagettes’ “When I’m With You – a tune I have been dying to hear live from the group 4eva. Tis in my top two favorite Fagettes numbers (special points for whoever guesses what my favorite Gettes song is. Hint: it’s also a live rarity). “When I’m With You” showcases the band’s softer side and brings to mind Beat Happening and early Best Coast, particularly in Melanie’s vocals. Seriously, it’s a live rarity, so as soon as I hear them playing I have to rush right in to the packed Lilypad space. Before me lies a series of bodies shaking, rocking, and sipping on their PBRs.
For this set, Jake Nice Guy joins the band on bass, reprising his role as a March 2013 Nice Guys/Fagettes Beast Coast Tour champion. Way to go Jake. I’m positive you’re little Valentine’s Day mailbox was always overflowing with Secret Admirers.
Another stand out for me tonight is “You’re Destroying Me,” which features Ryan and Melanie rocking out with the crowd. I think it’s the set closer? Ahh PBR, you’re destroying me.
Hey kids, don’t mean to interrupt your hardcore partying at this hour, I know you already lose an hour of partying tonight anyway, so I’ll keep this short and sweet. Allston, Massachusetts’ finest Nice Guys & Miami Doritos have teamed up for four chart toppin’ hits on this brand spankin’ new 7″ available NOW for pre order from KLYAM Records. Two bands. Four Songs. 1 record. For you. Sludge, Sleaze, and Seven Inches. ORDER NOW http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/nice-guys-miami-doritos-splifft-7 What are you waiting for?
Catch the Nice Guys and Miami Doritos on tour at the dates below:
Nice Guys and Miami Doritos destroyed last night’s tour kick off at Thieves Grotto in Boston, now they are coming for the rest of youuuuu… watch out America!
MAR 01: SYRACUSE, NY:@ HOUSE SHOW
MAR 03: DETROIT, MI:@ Jumbo’s Bar https://www.facebook.com/events/1444439372440520
MAR 04: CHICAGO, IL: @ WALLY’S WORLD
MAR 05: ST. LOUIS, MO. @ PLUSH
MAR 06: MEMPHIS, TN: Lamplighter
MAR 07: NASHVILLE
MAR 08: KENTUCKY
MAR 09: ASHEVILLE, NC
MAR 10: CHAPEL HILL, NC: @ NIGHTLIGHT
MAR 12: ARLINGTON, VA: @ CD CELLAR
MAR 13: BALTIMORE, MD: @ HOLY FRIJOLES
MAR 14: PHILLY, PA: @ THE NUTHOUSE https://www.facebook.com/events/735555776462976/
MAR 17: CAMBRIDGE, MA: @ CHARLIE’s KITCHEN https://www.facebook.com/events/270876093070612/
At all of the above shows you can pick up the brand spankin’ new Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″, the second release from KLYAM Records. Damn straight. They will also be available through the KLYAM online store very shortly. Stay tuned.
If you don’t reside in the Boston area, you may just be in luck, cause both bands are heading out on a two week U.S TOUR starting tonight. Check the dates here: https://www.facebook.com/events/260378950794102
Lastly, I know I know more linkz up yer ass, but you’ll thank me later. The Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ (KLYAM-002) will be available at all of these shows! The record will also be available through our online store VERY SOON, we’ll keep you posted. https://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/album/splifft-7
In 1956, Elvis Presley shook his hips on national TV. Later in 1956, Elvis Presley shook his hips AGAIN, being shot from the waist up. Then for a long time nothing happened… Until now. We bring you the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ out on KLYAM Records on March 3rd and at the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos tour kick off show and subsequent shows on February 28th. For far too long, rock ‘n’ roll has been neutered, packaged, sold, resold, twittered, tweeted, repeated, and cheated again and again. I for one have had enough. This Splifft here is a grenade in your sweaty hands. Use it wisely.
Four fresh, gahridgerawk cutz to terrify the neighbors. Shambling, scuzzy noise. BLASTS!
Nice Guys :
1) Jamaican Vacation
2) Medical Envy
Miami Doritos:
1) Price 2 Pay
2) Rush Hour/Piss Take
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NICE GUYS / MIAMI DORITOS TOUR DATES
February 28th – Boston @ THIEVES GROTTO
March 1st – Syracuse, NY @ HOUSE SHOW
March 3rd – Detroit, MI @ BLACK LODGE
March 4th – Chicago, IL @ WALLY’S WORLD
March 5th – St. Louis, MO @ PLUSH
March 6th – Memphis, TN @ LAMPLIGHTER
March 8th – SOMEWHERE IN KENTUCKY~!
March 9th – Asheville, NC
March 10 – Chapel Hill, NC @ NIGHTLIGHT
MAR 12 – Arlington, VA @ CD CELLAR
MAR 13 – Baltimore, MD @ HOLY FRIJOLES
MAR 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ THE NUTHOUSE
MAR 17 – Cambridge, MA @ CHARLIES KITCHEN
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And whaddya know there is a new music video from the Doritos themselves. Check it out below.
Bands: Nice Guys, Idiot Genes, Community Service, Vundabar Date: Saturday, January 18, 2014 Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)
Idiot Genes – I’m a little too sober right now to be writing about Idiot Genes, but we’ll take a trip back to last Saturday to relive the sloppy mess that was this ‘Too Drunk 2014 event’. Indeed, this here is a fun loving, party hardy band of boys. Slimy, beer chuggin’ ruffians from Allston Rock City. The first and last time I saw them was right here at O’Brien’s chub. They gave me a bit of thee old chub back then and I’m feeling the sensation all over again. Shit, I’m failing to fulfill my New Year’s resolution to cut back on phallic imagery in my writing. Damn you Idiot Genes look what you have done to me!
I’m up front for these dudes, about six or seven beers deep now. The crowd is a bit larger than most of my experiences at this venue, but still building up. Overall, they are generally receptive with headbanging and screaming, but nothing too crazy. The band themselves however prefer to flop and frolic about all over the tiny stage. Lead singer/guitar guy Pete Bayko makes a shout to his daddy who is apparently in the crowd on this fine evening. What up pops? How you doin’?
Among the many choice numbers the group whips out, my favorite is “The Charles Mansion.” A simple, but catchy punk stomper filled with painful, negative emotions that oddly enough make me smile even when I want to cry. Life can’t be taken too seriously all the time. If you’re ever feeling so sorry for yourself you feel like you are going to explode, just remember this: there once was a funny man from the House of Representatives and his name was Dick Armey aka the DICK ARMY. Imagine paling around with this fool on the school yard. Bullies coming up to you, “You and what army?” “The DICK ARMY!” Ah, forgive me and my poor Idiot Genes, I inherited them from my father. Pay more attention to these Idiot Genes here: http://stupidpants.bandcamp.com/album/idiot-genes
Nice Guys – Ohh it only gets sloppier from here on… If there’s another band around these parts that can top Idiot Genes in serenading me into a drunken stupor then it’s Nice Guys. Fuck, it’s been over a month since I’ve seen these dudes in action. It feels great to catch another fresh set from one of my favorite bands. If you ever read this site (which of course you should) then you know Glen and I have been reppin’ the Nice Guys for the past year or more. I just love their gritty, loose, scuzzy sound. If you love this sound so much why don’t you marry it and have 80 million of its kids you may say. And maybe I will. MAYBE, I WILL!
There’s a plethora (haven’t used that word in a while, what can I say it’s just a plethora moment) of vintage Nice Guys tunes on display here tonight. Among the best are “HD Snobs,” my dad’s favorite Nice Guys song, “Boxfort,” a jam dedicated to the Allston underground venue of yesteryear, “Unholy Sacrifice,” which makes me tingle, it’s that unholy, and “Cop Walk,” a slow, but menacing number that sonically knocks you right the fuck out. Even better than those songs, however, are a couple of new sludgey, smudgey cuts for the raging and aging punk rocker in all of us. Even I don’t know how I feel about that last sentence. Anywayyy they are known as “Jamaican Vacation” and “Medical Envy” and they are coming to a theater near you.
Yesemm, these are nice guys, no doubt. But, they have a wacky wild side to them. They like to have FUN and this spirit is alive and well in their recordings and especially in their live performances. I especially dig Alex rocking out in the crowd, shredding on his guitar like a dominatrix tortures her humiliated male customer. Don’t worry, I assure you that guitar had it coming.
So, I’ll be square with y’all I vaguely remember Community Service’s and Vundabar’s sets. Whoops! I may have taken the Nice Guys’ mantra of “Drunk As Fuck, Stoned As Fuck” a little too far. I do remember enjoying myself very much though. Yeahhhh, I wish I had some sort of snappy line to go out on, but I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out ideas.
So, here we are again. 2013 feels like a blur, a fun blur though. It just seemed to truck on by so damn fast. It didn’t feel like it was all that long ago when I was making my year end lists for 2012. I must say, every year gets better around here and 2013 was definitely our best year. We met tons of people and went to more shows than ever before (significantly more). With that in mind, I will leap off into my top ten favorite shows from the greatest year KLYAM has experienced thus far…
Storm or Howl
10) TIE!: Boston Underground Summit VI @ Cambridge Elks Lodge (9/15/) & The Beets @ The Whitehaus (11/26) – I would start a top ten list with a tie. I simply could not leave out either of these shows from my top ten, so fuck it here’s both. Firstly, this was my first Boston Underground Summit and it was a totally unique live experience for me. The show was set up as a round robin in which a band would play one song and then as soon as they were done another band would play a song and so forth until about 9 different bands had played a song, and then it went back to the first band. My head’s getting dizzy just writing this – it was indeed a dizzying experiment; constantly walking back and forth between all 3 spots in the Elks Lodge (where 3 separate bands were each set up). I compare it to an aggressive wine tasting meets a live, physical playlist/mix. In any situation, it was refreshing and broke down any hint of monotony that may have been creeping in on my fairly consistent show going consumption. My favorite bands/performances included Storm or Howl, Funeral Cone (this one left me bleeding!), Dylan Ewen, and R. Nordac’s Crying Lessons.
Holy shit, the mighty Beets. It took us two hours to get to the holy Whitehaus, but we made it just in the nick of time to catch Los Beets who came all the way from Jackson Heights, Queens, New York!! As you may or may not know, The Beets are one of our beloved KLYAM bands and this year we caught them in the flesh twice within two weeks! This was a strange show for several reasons. We were running late and I feared that we would miss The Beets, having journeyed so long for nuffin. When we arrived at the Whitehaus (for our very first time, by the way) there were few if any hellos and it was near darkness – plus we’re half blind anyway. Seconds pass and those smooth, transcendent Uruguayan voices rang through my ears and down into the depths of my bloody soul. All the blood I have puked since I found out I have gas in my veins. When the set finished, we had to flee once again to catch that dirty old train. It all happened so quickly, like a drug, The Beets drug. I know y’all would like a piece of that! REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/11/27/review-the-beets-the-whitehaus/
Nice Guys
9) FIDLAR, The Orwells, Nice Guys @ The Sinclair (10/23) – This was a nice slammer. It’s always fun to see a local favorite (Nice Guys) dazzle an audience of newcomers and it’s all the more exceptional when they are sixteen and rambunctious! The Orwells make my liver shiver and quiver OR that’s all the alcohol? Anyway, we’ve loved these dudes for years and they put on an excellent show. They have this real clean cut exterior to them kind of like The Strokes and Arctic Monkeys, real polished rock ‘n’ roll, but beneath there’s a slimy underbelly that represents some of the bands (Black Lips, Jay Reatard) we grew up and threw up on ourselves. And FIDLAR, I’m just happy you and your fans didn’t break my nose. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/11/15/review-fidlar-the-orwells-nice-guys-the-sinclair/
Shannon and the Clams
8) Shannon and The Clams, The Fagettes, Atlantic Thrills @ Great Scott (11/20) – This list is a testament that we’ve been blessed with a plethora of excellent shows this year, but I can honestly say only a select few are what I would dub a “stacked line-up” and this here is one of them. Our two favorite New England based rock ‘n’ roll bands (The Fagettes and Atlantic Thrills) on the same stage as one of the best in the whole land, the fabulous Shannon and The Clams. I saw the Clams earlier this year and, while that was a great performance, this time around the crowd went a lot crazier and that always makes the difference. The band’s cover of Del Shannon’s “Runaway” alone made my night :). REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/12/29/review-shannon-and-the-clams-fagettes-atlantic-thrills-great-scott-112013/
7) Guerilla Toss, Fat Creeps, Nice Guys, Designer Halloween Show @ Cambridge Elks Lodge (10/19) – Halloween is usually a good excuse for everyone to let loose, get wasted, and eat a shit ton of candy. Oh yeah, and to dress up like their favorite bands and play a set full of bizarre covers. That’s my favorite part. G Toss took to the role of one Meatloaf, Designer dropped down to their skivvies and cranked out a noisy set of Blink – 182 numbers, and Fat Creeps destroyed as the legendary Cramps. My favorite performance by far was the Nice Guys as The Mummies. Being somewhat of a garage junkie, I’d kill to see The Mummies and I felt like this came inches away from the real thang. Alex Mum demolishing his keyboards was priceless. Poor keyboards, they never had a chance. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/11/08/review-fat-creeps-nice-guys-designer-guerilla-toss-cambridge-elks-101913/
Wavves
6) Wavves, King Tuff, Jacuzzi Boys @ The Sinclair (10/1) – Wavves is one of those bands I’ve cherished over the years. One of the few bigger bands I still enjoy. I wasn’t overly enthusiastic with their latest record, Afraid of Heights, but it has grown on me. Studio work aside, this band still kills me live. It’s as if these songs were made to be heard exclusively live. From Wavves’ inception, there’s been a great anthemic feel to their music and this show at Sinclair is enough evidence for me that they can still kick out the jams like the best of them. It was also a pleasure to finally see King Tuff and Jacuzzi Boys, bands we’ve been aching to see for a few years now. And on a personal note, I was happy to chat with Wavves’ members Stephen Pope and Alex Gates about their past (and future) in the magnificent Memphis bands The Barbaras, Girls of the Gravitron, and Cretin Stompers. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/10/04/review-wavves-king-tuff-jacuzzi-boys-sinclair-10113/
A photo of three sexy men
5) Ty Segall @ The Bowery Ballroom (8/30) – What up New York City? We voyage to NYC once or twice a year to see some of our favorite bands. This time it was the man, Ty Segall, the global ambassador for rock ‘n’ roll. If rock ‘n’ roll had a representative at the UN it would be this man. For this show/tour Ty and his bodacious band played an all acoustic set, performing the album Sleeper in its entirety as well as some old classics such as “Girlfriend.” I’ve never seen kids (including myself) mosh and stage dive to acoustic music before and I may never again. Only you Ty, only you. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/10/08/review-ty-segall-bowery-ballroom-83013/
Hunx and His Punx
4) Hunx and His Punx, Hunters, The Fagettes @ Brighton Music Hall (8/23) – Let’s face it we’re fairly predictable around here – but that’s NOT a bad thing! because we are consistently enthralled with gorgeous music, at least I think so. It’s true! Hunx is a long time KLYAM favorite and a must see live band (seriously do it!). Just writing about Hunx gets me all revved up and ready to go. This year the band morphed into ultra punx with the release of their epic, early hardcore punk ode Street Punk, and they brought all the piss and vinegar with them when they destroyed our fair city last August. The set’s most memorable moment actually came from a couple of kinky crowd members, when a young man was accosted by a topless middle aged woman and the two proceeded to slobber over one another for the remainder of the show. I will never be able to listen to “Lover’s Lane” the same way ever again. “Just gotta touch you and squeeze you, and make you mine/I want to hold you til the end of time.” Yeesh, did they have to take it so literally?! Stellar set from Fagettes as always. Hunters were cool too. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/09/09/review-hunx-and-his-punx-hunters-fagettes-brighton-music-hall-82313/
3) Ravi Shavi, The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills “Rock ‘n’ Roll BBQ With Psychedelic Sauce” – We saw quite a bit of shows in Providence, RI this year and every single time we came to see our chief punk slime animals in Atlantic Thrills. Mix them up with fellow Providence soul machines Ravi Shavi and our Boston psych creatures The New Highawy Hymnal and I’m one happy camper. All of this madness was set to the background of the TRIPPY Lysergic Factory Light Show! I don’t think I’ve ever “danced” more in my life, charming some attendees, perhaps frightening most. Those were fucked times, fun times. I woke up the next morning covered in dirt and blood and my dick hurt a little bit (only a little bit). In hindsight, it was the perfect summer night. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/07/27/review-ravi-shavi-the-new-highway-hymnal-atlantic-thrills-in-providence-71313/
2) The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills, Polaroids, The Real Tom Hanks @ Wilder Zangcraft (2/23) – Once again, The New Highway Hymnal and Atlantic Thrills throwing straight up wild shows! This show took place at one of my favorite DIY spaces, a tiny basement in Lowell that was overwhelmingly consumed by 50 or more plastered college kids all accompanied by the perpetual, visual mindfuck that is the Lysergic Factory Light Show. NHH demolished my skin and bones as can be expected at Lowell basements shows. But, on this night my sweet, sozzled eyes have never seen such a fantastic, frenetic show from Providence’s finest, Atlantic Thrills. It was great to sing/scream along to all the songs, slam back pbr after pbr, and smash into my peers for a couple hours. In my primitive state of mind, I think I screamed “Lies” and “Demolicion” at the band about two hundred times. Lunacy at its most depraved. The Real Tom Hanks and Polaroids were both exciting and ethereal in their own rights. A memorable night in my life to say the very least. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/03/08/concert-review-the-new-highway-hymnal-atlantic-thrills-polaroids-the-real-tom-hanks-wilder-zangcraft-22313/
1) Hassle Fest 5 @ Cambridge Elks Lodge (11/7-11/8) – How could this not be number 1? This was/is the pinnacle of local underground music. A two day festival showcasing some of the best, most groundbreaking, and above all invigorating bands both at home and across the nation. So, as I’ve said before, it’s pretty much a microcosm for everything the Boston Hassle promotes all year long. Every single day. And we couldn’t salute y’all enough. I’ve found that several local music fans (some of which played the festival themselves) walked away with similar feelings as my own. I know we KLYAMERS have never seen anything else like it, just a constant barrage of band after band after band. It felt intimate and gigantic all at once. Unforgettable. My favorite sets included Fat Creeps, Guerilla Toss, Lightning Bolt, The Beets, and Kal Marks. REVIEW: https://klyam.com/2013/12/13/hassle-fest-recap-118-913/
So, that’s that. Top albums of the year coming up next.
Bands: FIDLAR, The Orwells, Nice Guys Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 Venue: The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA)
Nice Guys – OMG!!! IT’S NICE GUYS!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
That’s right kids, it’s Nice Guys! And if you feel my exclamation points are extraneous and exaggerated then you obviously haven’t seen the band at the Sinclair among hundreds of screaming sixteen year olds. As soon as the Allston foursome hit the stage the crowd begins to cheer. Jake quickly quips “thanks for clapping for us even though we haven’t done anything yet.” And with that little jab, they launch into their demonic set on the gigantic Sinclair stage. It’s funny how I’m used to seeing these guys play on small stages or no stages or even better in dusty basements and other DIY spaces, so seeing these gentlemen on the Sinclair stage is a trip. The sound is terrific; the Nice Guys’ sound at the Sinclair is so large it could break down the walls of Jericho, which from what I hear are very hard to break down.
I’ve seen Nice Guys about ten times now and in some ways I know what to expect, but with the exception of a few other people in attendance, most of the crowd are newbies. But, the newbies eat it up, moshing and thrashing about and even high fiving the dudes at the end of their set, much to the pleasant surprise of the band members themselves. This has to be the best crowd response I’ve ever seen for a local, opening band or even most opening bands. I saw Jacuzzi Boys and King Tuff here earlier in October opening for Wavves and the crowd didn’t go this bonkers to those guys as they do to the Nice Guys.
Personally, I get a massive kick out of simply watching the young, all ages crowd react to the Nice Guys’ performance. It’s the little things that make the difference. Like seeing little bracefaced girls giggle when Jake announces that the next song is “Pizza Bong” or their perplexed faces when Alex rampantly swings his guitar around like one of those dudes that’s just been infected by the zombies in zombie flicks, like he’s trying to fight it off even though he knows he’s a goner. Game’s over man. I love that feisty energy! Ha yeah so, then there’s my favorite when Matt unleashes some nasty feedback and distortion from his guitar and the kids’ eyes just light up. Woahhhhh. I remember seeing Thurston Moore scrape and mutilate his guitar in similar fashion and being blown away, I know the feeling kids.
Besides impressing kids with their usual set of shenanigans, the crowd genuinely devours the Nice Guys’ fast, aggressive punk sound. A sound that could be or more importantly SHOULD be the soundtrack to kids getting drunk as fuck and stoned as fuck for the very first time. Nice Guys oughta play some sweet sixteen birthday parties…. when their parents aren’t home.
P.S. Cam rocks. I haven’t mentioned his name until now. How could I forget? It’s like my dad used to say “you would forget your dick if it wasn’t attached to you!” Cam slays on drums and eats souls. Keep soul eating brotha. http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/
Set List:
“Gary”
“Herb Chambers”
“Pizza Bong”
“Draggins”
“Drunk As Fuck Stoned As Fuck”
“HD Snobs”
“An Unholy Sacrifice”
“Cop Walk”
“Box Fort”
“Medical Envy”
“Finale Dead”
The Orwells – Our Chicago boys The Orwells, so happy to see these fellas again for the third time in twenty thirteen! This show, however, tops them all. Last time at Brighton Music Hall, the crowd was sparse and still filling up for the headliner Palma Violets. The headliner tonight is FIDLAR, and they bring forth a little bit extra junk in the trunk, so pairing The Orwells with a harder edged bunch of ruffians like FIDLAR pays off. The crowd of youngsters don’t spare a second of The Orwells’ set with moshing and stage diving galore. All of that pent up aggression fresh off your first Nice Guys show, I feel ya kids.
The Orwells feed off the crowd’s energy and they emerge as a true rock ‘n’ roll outfit of epic proportions. In particular, Mario is a beast. He knows how to work a crowd. All he has to do is give one of the girls his signature zoned out, wide eyed, evil glare and they are instantly blushing.
In terms of the set-list, damn, it’s all the songs you would want to hear the band play and then some. “Who Needs You?” “Other Voices,” “Halloween All Year,” “In My Bed,” (which can be seen below), “Mallrats (La La La),” and my favorite “Blood Bubbles” – I really miss the singing black ladies though. See the song’s music video, if you don’t follow. Covers of classic tunes in the rock canon such as “Build Me Up Buttercup” (The Foundations) and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (The Stooges) round out one of the best performances I’ve seen all year.
FIDLAR – I just started listening to FIDLAR recently, so I am not overly familiar with the band’s material. BUT, upon hearing the band for the very first time I felt an instant wavelength with these Californians. Enter the first track off of their self – titled LP and this set’s opener, “Cheap Beer.” “Twenty – three years I’ve been drinking cheap beer,” while I didn’t crack open a PBR as I rolled out of my mom’s womb, I can identify with being a 23 year old cheap beer drinker and being proud of it. And as soon as FIDLAR rolls out “Cheap Beer,” I proudly gulp what is left of my PBR and scream along to the anthemic chorus “I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU! I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU! I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU!”
Like I said, I don’t know most of their songs, but they are all pretty much easy to get in to. The only other song I recognize is a solid cover of Descendents’ “Suburban Home.”
FIDLAR has a fun, teenage crowd that goes even wilder during their set than The Orwells. Every other second, there’s a new set of legs crashing into my head after leaping from the stage. I love the excitement, because stiff crowds suck, but it can also be obnoxious at times too. For example, stage diving during slow songs or even in between songs, which is actually pretty funny to see because the crowd isn’t ready to catch the person; hopefully they don’t get too fucked up though.
Additionally, some of the audience members are simply too knuckleheaded at times. Like one dude keeps yelling at the band to play “Cocaine,”(which they do). Lead singer/guitarist, Zac Carper informs the young man “Dude, cocaine is bad for you. I mean it’s good… but it’s bad for you.” Ahh well, these are minor flaws and it’s okay, I can be a knucklehead too, and hey it’s better to see a rowdy crowd than a well behaved crowd. Plus, FIDLAR’s music tends to be of the shameless, beer guzzlin’ variety anyway. Cheers.
Designer (as Blink 182) – Up until now, I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Designer live. I can’t even say I have listened to their music before. I know, I know, it’s on my never ending to do list. They appear to be the talk of the town and over the last few months or more I have heard their name pop up several times in many a local band recommendation. So, I still have to see what all the hype is all about, but regarding this cover set as Blink 182 the band is a knock out.
Designer are under dressed – shirtless and down to their skivvies, wearing only black masks. They have Blink 182’s reckless, adolescent abandonment down to a tee. I myself am not a Blink fan, but you really don’t have to be to enjoy this set. The Designer dudes subvert Blink’s pop punk flavor, turning the radio friendly hits into nasty bolts of noise that vaguely resemble the originals. I recognize “What’s My Age Again?” “All the Small Things,” and half of “Mutt.”
Nice Guys (as The Mummies) – The Nice Mums – the artists formerly known as Alex, Jake, Matt, and Cam – are covered in toilet paper and dressed in white suits appearing as though they are Mummies, though they look and behave more sinister than that. I’m feeling A Clockwork Orange; they’re up for anything, maybe a bit of the old ultra violence, which they dish out on their instruments and each other but not on the crowd members. After all, these are Nice Guys, excuse me I mean Nice Mums, sorry, Nice Mums.
Alex hollers on lead vocals and torments his keyboards, frequently picking them up and swinging them in the air, sometimes within the middle of the audience. Matt, Cam, and Jake destroy on guitars and drums – also screaming on backing vocals. The crowd eats it up with some of the best moshing I’ve ever experienced at a Nice Guys show. I mean Nice Mums.
The Elks Lodge is a fantastic place to participate in a sweaty garage punk performance. There’s no stage or other goofy big rock club bullshit, thus lending itself to a more intimate atmosphere typically found in a crowded basement. It’s easy for performers to hop back and forth between the audience and the “stage,” breaking down that demonic divide between performer and spectator. With this band, we’re all one or at the very least there’s a feeling of inclusion that should be a focal part of any great punk/DIY show, and more importantly it’s fucking fun!
The whole set is a blast, an aging garage guru’s wet dream. No, I never saw The Mummies in 92′ old man, but I did catch the Nice Mums in October 2013 in all of their filthy, beer soaked, keyboard demolishing glory.
You Done Mummies well. http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/mean-songs-demo
Fat Creeps (as The Cramps) – I got a big kick out of last year’s Halloween show when the Creeps played as one of my all time favorite bands, The Ramones! In terms of Fat Creeps Halloween cover sets, I didn’t think that show could be topped… and honestly I don’t think it has, but this one comes close!
The line up includes Mariam aka Lux Interior, Gracie aka Poison Ivy, and special guests Ben Katzman (bass) and Chris Geller (drums). Mariam slithers and slimes her way around the elks lodge floor, singing, shouting and flailing about in her leopard skin suit. She does an impressive Lux Interior and performs well with her co-conspirators.
Gracie (red wig and all) rocks out on guitar and seductively shakes her head and hips to the music. Chris pounds on the drums in the back like a champ, dressed in all black like all bad ass motherfuckers. Ben races around on bass, shirtless, often hopping into the audience, even crowd surfing at one point. Towards the end of the set, he drops his trousers, wearing nothing at all. Haha ohh boy.
Overall, the crowd is really into the Fat Cramps, in particular one Glen Maganzini tries so desperately to get a good mosh pit going, with some attempts better than others.
Guerilla Toss (as Meat Loaf) – His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson. That’s right, that’s Meat Loaf as Robert Paulson aka Bob with the bitch tits in Fight Club. And that’s about it as far as KLYAM knowledge of Meat Loaf goes. Ohh, he was also in South Park once and had a big selling album or something. But, tonight it is Guerilla Toss who is Meat Loaf, and like all G Toss (are we the only ones that refer to them as G Toss? I hope not) shows this one is spooky, alluring, amusing, and altogether head scratching. Alas, the Satanic lords of the underworld have cursed us with a shitty subway system that leaves Boston incredibly early and we missed at least half of the band’s set (not to mention during the first half, I could barely see over everyone’s heads, I’m only 5’3, help a brother out). Apparently, we missed Simon naked, we always do. I have a feeling there will be more of this though… http://guerillatoss.com/
Enjoy this video from the amazing Avi Paul Weistein below. Avi shot many videos and pictures of this show. You should take a gander at all of them. Here’s the Nice Mums…
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 