Category Archives: Nice Guys

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

concert review, Music, Nice Guys, The Orwells

Concert Review: The Orwells @ TT The Bears (2/27/13)

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Bands: The Orwells, The Kingston Springs, Nice Guys
Date: Wednesday, February 27, 2013
Venue: TT The Bears (Cambridge)

TT The Bears is one of those venues that hosts some real solid local shows on a regular basis that we often recommend, but for whatever reason, it is just not a place that I often find myself going to. The shows I have been to at TTs have been memorable, though. There was that sparsely attended Sunday March 29th 2009 War on Drugs show, an even emptier Tuesday night Growlers show back in February 2010, and finally a more populated event on September 17, 2010 that featured the choice threesome of Those Darlins, Gentleman Jesse & His Men, and The Strange Boys.

On this chilly Wednesday night in Cambridge, it was one of my favorite bands of the past few years – The Orwells – headlining a gig at ‘The Bears. The cool thing about running a site that operates like a fan zine is that the shows we go to and end up reviewing usually feature a favorite on the bill. Well, as it turns out, the power of informing others about bands that rule went full circle on this night. A little more than two years ago, The Orwells reached out to KLYAM, seeing if we would check them out. At that juncture,  they were a little known band from Elmhurst, Illinois without much deserved press coverage. Not to mention that they were still far away from graduating high school. Well, KLYAM gave them the ole Spotlight (https://klyam.com/2011/01/31/band-spotlight-the-orwells/). Not that this did much in the way of introducing shit tons of people to a really great band; it was more of a damn, how are these guys not being mentioned alongside some of the garage greats of the day? Their debut album Remember When, self-released a year before the Autumn Tone backed vinyl, is an insane album that definitely stacks right up with some of the best of the past couple of years and I would say that is a testament to the way these guys achieved a stand-out sound that is probably more the result of extensive listening to Black Lips and Ty Segall than the stuff (’60s garage/psych) that those same dudes were influenced by. It was great to finally meet the band after a long ass waiting period of simply listening to their music. On to the show:

Starting things off were Nice Guys, who I had seen on a few different occasions prior to tonight. Those times contrasted this occasion in more than one way. The last time I caught them was at the Wilder Zangcraft in Lowell with Nice Guys being Nice Whips (all Coachwhips covers) due to the untimely illness of drummer Cam Smith. Well Cam was back behind the kit tonight, and damn right he was, given that the show I mentioned was many months ago. At any rate, the point is that up until this point I had only seen Nice Guys play teeny basement spaces with rampant moshing, oozing beer, and broken instruments. There wasn’t any of that mayhem at TTs, but there were fun times and a fine display of musicianship from the foursome. Their set, the list of which I’m really pissed to say I lost…the one that was personally given to me by always friendly guitarist Matt Garlick, mixed up a bit of Mean Songs material with newer works like the recently recorded jam “Cop Walk”. Dueling guitars, extended shredding and pounding, and a pretty consistent nod to the work of Mr. Jon Dwyer, resulted in nice vibes, some dancing, and simply a good start to a good show. They fooled me a few times at the end of their set with some ‘we’re not done yet’ teasing and – hey – that’s fine by me. [http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/]

Second in order is The Kingston Springs, a group from the South. Tennessee. I had not heard any music from them, prior to the first chords that blared from their amps. They were polished and tight, but not overwhelmingly so as in a Kings of Leon clean boy trying to be “dirty” kind of way, no, not really. The Kingston Springs’ bigger, pop-rock sound was differentiated occasionally with by some more rough around the edges country and garage twang. They definitely seemed to impress the audience as I looked around and noticed a lot of people were really into these guys. I’m not about to say The Kingston Springs’ take on southern rock/blues rock is something I find/found myself extremely into, but for what it is worth, I could see firsthand their passion for their material and how easily they got a whole bunch of people excited to be witness to their performance. Their faster stuff I definitely got behind, namely “Sweet Susie,” which I’m listening to now and enjoying. [http://thekingstonsprings.bandcamp.com/]

Back to the main band, the dudes themselves, The Orwells. Seeing them on stage, doing incredible renditions of tunes from Remember When like “Halloween All Year,” “In My Bed,” “Hallway Homicide,” and “Mallrats (La La La)” – just to name four – there were OTHERS – brought back the memories of when I first heard them and I could literally feel the energy of The Orwells. But there is nothing like seeing singer Mario Cuomo knock down the microphone stand while frantically pacing around the stage (and nearly off of it), all while singing/screaming at the top of his lungs. He’s a character for sure, a naturally manic front-man who never takes a minute off. None of the members take a minute off, though, and hey that’s probably why this was one of the best things I’ve seen all year. Their live pace is more frenetic than on record and with that said, they only played for about a half an hour. But in that time, they jammed in all those aforementioned classics and a smothering of new songs that we should see later this year on a new full-length that is nearly complete. The new songs I can tell are going to be special and why wouldn’t they be? With Orwells being one of the more distinct bands out there today. Some bands are great performers without necessarily having individual songs that are instantly recognizable. The Orwells got both of those things going on. Of course I would loved to have heard another half-hour worth of jams, but in due time. Maybe on a different stage. Maybe on the same. But it shouldn’t be a surprise why these guys are touring a shit load and playing some choice venues around the country. This isn’t 17 year old pop punk Warped Tour shit, this is passionate rock ‘n roll that can be enjoyed by all ages – hence why it was and yeah, the middle aged dude perpetually rocking out next to me seemed to know what was up. See you soon Orwells. [https://www.facebook.com/theorwellsband]

Art, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, The Fagettes, Tours

FAGETTES/NICE GUYS MARCH BEAST COAST TOUR!

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Beast Coast
February 28- Allston, MA @ DISCOVERY ZONE w/ Earthquake Party! + Miami Doritos
March 1- Brooklyn, NY @ DON PEDRO
March 2- Baltimore, MD @ FLORIS TREE w/ Family Tang and Yoko Cover Band
March 5- Chapel Hill, NC @ NIGHTLIGHT
March 6- Atlanta, GA @ 529 EAV w/ Lantern
March 7- Charlotte, NC @ HOUSE SHOW w/ Dave & the Strange
March 8- Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Slutever
March 9- Philadelphia, PA @ DAD’S HOUSE w/ The Eeries and Tight Spot

Damn son, all these fine Boston bands are going on tour this month. Kal Marks and Big Mess:   https://klyam.com/2013/02/21/big-mess-kal-marks-march-tour/ . Pile and Fat History Month: https://klyam.com/2013/02/04/fat-history-month-announce-new-album-tour-w-pile-march-22-april-29/ and now two of the finest rock ‘n’ roll bands in town: The Fagettes  and Nice Guys. If you live in or anywhere near any of these cities, I HIGHLY recommend you  go to these shows. Check out their music below:

Fagettes: http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/

Nice Guys: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/

Info found here: http://www.facebook.com/events/212308925578201/

Art, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk

LISTEN: Nice Guys- “Cop Walk”

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Nice Dudes

Just look at this cute fella, he’s ready to protect and serve you.

Y’all better rest your ears up for this fresh cut from one of my favorite Boston bands, Nice Guys. “Cop Walk” has a dark, surfy, early 80s hardcore vibe to it (the only hardcore I really dig). Think Adolescents, Dead Kennedys.
Check it out: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/

Go see Nice Guys with The Migs and Vegans @ Middlesex Lounge (Cambridge) on Wednesday, February 6!

Art, Bent Shapes, Best Of 2012, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Hunx and His Punx, Kids Like You and Me, King Khan, King Khan and the Shrines, Lists, Local Music, Music, New Highway Hymnal, Nice Guys, No Age, Nobunny, pictures, Punk, reviews, SKIMASK, Slimers, Smith Westerns, The Electric Street Queens, The Migs, The Strange Boys, Ty Segall, Ty Segall Band, White Fence, Yankee Power

My Top Shows Of Twenty-Twelve

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I saw more shows this year than any other (47 total) and all of them were FUN . The following is a list of my top ten (most fun) shows all year:

10) The New Highway Hymnal, Creaturos, Leamers, The Migs, Nice Guys @ Big Stink (10/6/12)
Damn, this was a solid night. I mean with the bands on this bill, how could it not be? Going in to this show I only knew NHH and The Migs, but I came out a fan of local stalwurts, Creaturos and Nice Guys, and our neighbors to the North, Montréal’s Leamers. Kids bashing and bopping around like they ought to. I’ll link you up to the KLYAM review: https://klyam.com/2012/10/09/concert-review-nice-guys-the-migs-leamers-creaturos-new-highway-hymnal-big-stink-10612/

9) The Migs, Nice Guys, Cult Fluorescent, Slimers, Chillcity Icon @ Wilder Zangcraft (11/24/12)
Best Migs show I’ve seen! Nice Guys played a sick set of Coachwhips covers and it was great to see the experimental one mon band Cult Fluorescent again. This show was also my introduction to the mighty Migsian two piece, Slimers and the twisted no wave/noise duo, Chillcity Icon. https://klyam.com/2012/12/06/concert-review-the-migs-nice-guys-cult-fluorescent-slimers-chillcity-icon-wilder-zangcraft-112412/


8) Hunx and His Punx, Heavy Cream, Radio Control @ Great Scott (4/2/12)
I’m a Hunx freak, so words can’t describe my excitement for this show. Having missed the past two Hunx Boston gigs :( I’ve waited for two and a half years to see the band live again. The first time back in October ’09 was opening for Jay Reatard and this served as my intro to Hunx. This time around was even better because I actually knew and loved all of the songs. Throw in Infinity Cat noise makers, Heavy Cream and Somerville rockers, Radio Control and you have one of the finest shows all year. https://klyam.com/2012/04/04/concert-review-hunx-and-his-punx-great-scott-4212/


7) Fat Creeps, Earthquake Party, Fedavees, Fagettes Halloween Show @ Rosebud (10/13/12)
2012 very well could be called the year of the Fat Creeps, especially on this site. We’ve seen a dozen Creeps shows this year, more than any other artist. In fact, I think I’ve seen them more than any other band I’ve seen. Every show has had its own special quality, but for Halloween they played a set of Ramones covers and the crowd ate it up. It was the marriage of two of my favorite bands, and on top of that there were stellar sets from Earthquake Party! (Nirvana), Fedavees (The Wipers), and The Fagettes (Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood).
https://klyam.com/2012/10/16/concert-review-halloween-show-featuring-fat-creeps-earthquake-party-fedavees-fagettes-rosebud-101312/


6) On Broadway Fest 2008 @ Dirty Douglas/Ant Cellar (5/5/12)
I haven’t been to any music festivals, except this one, well and the first On Broadway Fest, but I arrived at night for that one. Therefore, this show was a unique experience. It was a blast seeing 15 or so bands all in one day, especially with memorable performaces from Fat History Month, Big Mess, The New Highway Hymnal (shit water yay!), and Guerilla Toss – I literally felt the Guerilla Toss, woooo. https://klyam.com/2012/06/08/concert-review-onbroadway-fest-2008-5512/


5) No Age, Make It Up @ Chum’s Coffeehouse (3/10/12)
KLYAM and No Age go way back, way back before there even was a KLYAM. The first show we saw at Middle East was No Age, and that took place in 2008. They were one of the first of our beloved, HONORARY KLYAMERS. As popular as No Age is, they still carve out their own DIY aesthetic and playing a little Coffeehouse in Waltham is a testament to that. Some of the best moshing/crowd surfing I’ve seen all year! https://klyam.com/2012/03/12/concert-review-no-age-chums-brandeis/


4) Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, K-Holes @ The Well (9/22/12)
This is one of the few shows I have seen outdoors. I need to experience more of these! Outside on a rainy night in Brooklyn with a thousand or more bodies. I usually prefer smaller gigs, but Ty Segall’s music is so gigantic it feels right in this setting. Of course, this show is also special because this marks my first and only experience with Thee Oh Sees, one of America’s greatest live bands. Can’t wait for the next NYC trip and/or Ty/Oh Sees show. K-Holes, stay solid. https://klyam.com/2012/09/23/concert-review-ty-segall-thee-oh-sees-k-holes-the-well-92212/

3) Ty Segall, White Fence, Strange Boys @ Space Gallery (5/14/12)
Ty it is again! You just can’t stop this guy from popping up on our year end lists. Ahh, our first Ty Segall show ever! An event in heavy anticipation for nearly two years. The Space Gallery is one of the finer venues in the New England area that I have attended: larger capacity without that corporate rock feel, art gallery, steady rock ‘n’ roll, and two dollar PBRs! Yeah, so if the show above at the Well felt like a big time House of Blues event, then this Space Gallery show was more akin to a rowdy, packed Black Lips show at the Mid East Downstairs. And of course, Strange Boys were better than ever!
https://klyam.com/2012/05/15/concert-review-ty-segall-white-fence-strange-boys/


2) King Khan & The Shrines, Hector’s Pets @ Brighton Music Hall (7/23/12)
As far as showmen go, you’d be hard pressed to find anyone that competes with King Khan. We were blessed this year to catch Khan and all the classic Shrines at a sweaty, fun filled show this past July. It’s just one big party y’all. https://klyam.com/2012/07/25/concert-review-king-khan-the-shrines-brighton-music-hall/

Who will be number 1?…..

NO NO NO NO NO!!!
NobunnyTyOhSeesNYCSep2012 009
NOBUNNY!!!!

1) Nobunny, Bad Sports, Xray Eyeballs, Liquor Store @ Living Bread (9/21/12)
For the past three years, the almighty Black Lips have filled the number one slot in this category. Alas, we did not see them this year, they had bigger plans – touring the Middle East. Beautiful, those kids need em’ more. Fortunately, we witnessed somebunny else on stage, this bunny we’ve also consistently seen the past 3-4 years, and he’s never let us down. 5 Nobunny shows deep and this was the best. I felt like I was watching Darby Crash or Keith Morris, but singing bubblegum and garage. I love that feeling, when you look up at a bunnyman in his underwear and say to yourself “this is the only kind of rock ‘n’ roll that matters.” https://klyam.com/2012/09/24/concert-review-nobunny-bad-sports-xray-eyeballs-liquor-store-living-bread-92112/

Ahh what a year, 2012, the best I’d say. In this year I saw the following exceptional/favorite bands for the first time (some of which I noted above): SKIMASK, Bleached, Smith Westerns, Dirty Virgins,  Fat Creeps, The Migs,  Ty Segall, Beach Boys,  Bent Shapes (as Bent Shapes), Colleen Green (two nights in a row!), Thee Oh Sees, Nice Guys, The Fagettes, The Electric Street Queens, Yankee Power.

And now I’m off to bring in 2013 with Fat Creeps,  The New Highway Hymnal, Color Channel, and Yale, MA at Great Scott. Peace.

Art, concert review, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Migs, Uncategorized

Concert Review: The Migs, Nice Guys, Cult Fluorescent, Slimers, Chillcity Icon @ Wilder Zangcraft (11/24/12)

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YEAHHHH
Bands: The Migs, Nice Guys, Cult Fluorescent, Slimers, Chillcity Icon
Date: Saturday, November 24, 2012
Venue: Wilder Zangcraft (Lowell, MA)

Act I: Chillcity Icon – The chillest of city icons, Travis and Kevin are two good heads you can find around the city of Lowell and tonight’s first band. I don’t even know where to begin here: my description will not even come close to doing justice to their performance, you just have to see it for yourself.  But, what the hey, since this is a “review,” I’ll throw in some of my thoughts and reactions. Well, firstly, you have to know about the visual: there’s a table in the middle of Travis and Kevin and upon this table are various objects such as a big bicycle wheel, which the drummers (ohh yeah, I forgot to mention they are both sick drummers) use to get some zounds with their drumsticks. There’s plenty of electronics as well. You could say this is a noise affair, I’m going to say that, despite its quiet, mellow charm. I can’t say that I could watch this over and over again, but for someone that typically doesn’t like 80-90% of music that doesn’t contain immediate pop hooks, I honestly walk away impressed. During the set, I find myself locked in a trance, rarely able to escape it, and that, my friends, usually never happens. It’s cool to watch a performance every now and then that defies the conventional, song begins, songs ends, everyone claps for approval, song begins, song ends, etc. Instead this experience is akin to one colossal vomit session – just hurling out the music until it’s over, feels fresh.  I also really dig how there’s complete silence (or no spoken words) from the two performers until the end when they wish everyone a HAPPY THANKSGIVING! Well, after Chillcity Icon, I feel stuffed for sure.

Act II: Slimers– Some slimy punkers right here – Migs/Mmoss men Keven and Lukas in a two man musical attack on all the senses. The pair are decked out in matching army jackets, it looks like they are fresh off a hunting trip, ahh these two fine lads couldn’t hurt a fly, or could they? They take it all out on their drums and guitars, with Keven shouting vocals and slamming away on the drums and Lukas up front strumming thee olde 12 string and screaming his pipes off as well. If you dig Migs, you will probably be down with Slimers, they have that gah ridge feel like Migs, but the songs are stripped down and a bit more intimate. These fellas know the meaning of punk slime (they ought to, being Silmers), which is great because I have no idea what the fuck that means. Little help? Here’s my grandmother’s favorite Slimers stain, “Spaghetti Ann,” when the band was briefly known as Heroin Mom, ahh those were the days. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=XOdRrox28ew

Act III: Cult Fluorescent– Saw this motherfucker last February at the Dirty Douglas, alongside New Highway Hymnal, Big Mess, and Dirty Virgins. Easily one of the most memorable sets all year. Now Now, you may be thinking that that is some cheesy stock line and granted the syntax and lack of more enticing adjectives may make it appear as so. Let me assure you that’s the truth and several AIM chat convos w/ Gangbang Gordon have occurred since then discussing that very performance; yep we still use AIM, cuz Facebook chat just doesn’t feel right. Why have nostalgia when you could just constantly relive your life experiences over and over again? Well, I’d certainly love to relive that show experience again, and in a way I can and so can you, here take a gander: https://klyam.com/2012/03/13/concert-review-new-highway-hymnal-lowell-7-release-show-dirty-douglas-21712/ Back then he was known as Between Tall Saints and Sinners, and now Brad is back as Cult Fluorescent. Just like last time, he is a unique performer, simultaneously permeating chaotic, yet gentle vibes. This time around, the songs seem more accessible, but still retain the same atmospheric, dreamlike quality I felt before. [My memory is a bit fuzzy, longgg week, then and now] Brad Cult Fluorescent concludes his set by slamming his keyboards to the floor and removing his shirt (or some variation of that, use your imagination). Do something for good once in your useless, moronic life and like him on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CultFluorescent?fref=ts

Act IV: Nice Guys– Holy smokes! Batman, we’re at Act IV!!! NICE GUYS!!! Throw your panties in the air, these upstanding gentlemen deserve it. Nice Guys are the Nice Whips tonight, because they play a set full of Coachwhips covers. Y’all know Coachwhips, right? Well, if you don’t check out a fun video of them playing at a Boston basement in 2004, right here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcgwMO23obA  Nice Guy Matt Garlick was nice enough to post this vid on the event page, what a nice guy! I myself am not too familiar with The Coachwhips, though I know them because of the John Dwyer/Oh Sees connection. I’ve been listening to them a little bit now and they are pretty sick (with Dwyer on board, how couldn’t they be?), so seeing a solid band like Nice Guys cover the Coachwhips is an absolute pleasure. My fellow KLYAMER Glen is a big Coachwhips fan and so he’s as hard as Chinese arithmetic during this set. We both agree the guys’ version of “You Gonna Get It” is a stand out (listen to the OG here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=99w92KScdac). This is definitely the most rocking, pumped up set so far and some moshing ignites during their performance, leading up the explosion of The Migs, the fifth and final act. Got some links for ya to gobble up as a post Thanksgiving Dinner dinner,  be thankful for all these KLYAM bands or I should say KLYAM beloved bands.  http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/ http://www.facebook.com/niceguys666?fref=ts

Act V: The Migs–
“”I’ve seen The Migs six times my boy, six glorious times. Magic really.”
“Mister, I don’t even know who you are.”
Manager walks over…
“Sir, I’m going to have to ask you to leave Chuck E. Cheese immediately.”
Ahh fuck em. No, that didn’t happen. But, I have seen The Migs six times and it’s been like Christmas morning each time. And I’m not just saying that to suck their dicks, if I wanted to suck a dick, I could just lean forward and break my neck performing a little bit of the old autofellatio (hey, that’s a word don’t give me that red squiggle line WordPress!), okay I just looked it up, I guess it’s two words. Auto Fellatio or could be combined as Auto-Fellatio. I learned something today. Haha, I love that word fellatio; its meaning aside, I always thought Bill Shakespeare should have named one of his characters, fellatio. Prince Fellatio. Ohhh well, I’ve dived into yet another digression, “I get so lost inside the rooms inside my mind.” MIGS! That’s where we were heading before all this blowjob business reared its ugly shaft into my review! Goddamn, I’ve been listening to way too much Hunx. Speaking of Hunx, y’all like a sweaty, slimy rock ‘n’ roll set? Migs deliver it. Better than ever, for real, in my experience anyway. The audience reaction and/or participation is top notch as well. The moshing continues and never really stops, not even for a breather. Kids are just bashing around to all the classics, “Follow Me Home,” “You & Me,” “Fuzzy Son,” and more. “Fuzzy'”with its waves catchin’, bird doggin’ appeal particularly captures the ears of one Gangbang Gordon. As I mentioned before, best/funnest Migs show I’ve experienced: pants fall down, shirts fly off, and Keven (in classic Migs fashion) bolts into the crowd with his gee tar, as relentless as ever. They close the show with a cover of “Louie, Louie” (the greatest song of all time according to vocalist/guitarist Lukas), but they ask for a little help with the words. To quote Nice Guys, fuck if I know! My dad- Big Guy or Big G as he’s known in hip hop circles- the guy who’s dick would plop right up if he heard The Migs (read here under Migs section: https://klyam.com/2012/10/28/concert-review-sic-alps-fat-creeps-bent-shapes-the-migs-radio-102512/) he used to play in a band in the mid-late 60s known as The Pacers (before the Basketball team) and they would cover “Louie, Louie” at school dances. He told me as a kid that that was the “baddd song” “the song your principal didn’t want your band to play.” Tonight,  The Migs made it bad again, in a good way.
When all is said and done, Craig, my main man, hands me the set list without me even asking for it. He knows the routine by now. I have a set list fetish – any ladies out there share in this bizarre, quasi psychotic, sexual infatuation? KLYAMERS need love too. So yeah, Craig comes through with the set list, Craig knows best. That should be a show, Craig Knows Best on ABC Family. I’d watch it. That channel could use some subversion.

Set List:
“We’re The Migs”
“Follow Me Home”
“Gravestoned 666”
“When She Says My Name”
“You & Me”
“Pretty Ricky”
“Fuzzy Son”
“Take Take Take”
“Cosmo Nots”

LOOK NEW SHEEEET!!! http://soundcloud.com/the-migs/he-aint-so-great
AND
http://themigs.bandcamp.com/
and for fuck’s sake, here’s da fascist book page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Migs/114318615312674?fref=ts
Now, please put your goddamn wiener back in your pants son, before someone gets hurt!

Art, concert review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, New Highway Hymnal, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Migs

Concert Review: Nice Guys, The Migs, Leamers, Creaturos, New Highway Hymnal @ Big Stink (10/6/12)

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Bands: Nice Guys, The Migs, The Leamers, Creaturos, The New Highway Hymnal
Date: Saturday, October 6, 2012
Venue: Big Stink (Allston, MA)
Comments: Preliminary Activities (For Terri!)- It’s about 8:30 or so when Glen and I reach our desired location. In classic Glen fashion he intentionally adds some wordplay when he inquires, “Is this the Big Pink?” “Big Stink,” replies Mig Keven Lareau. Awesome! Tis our first time entering the Big Stink and I am more than excited to experience an evening filled with five diverse, fun, and entertaining garage bands. The basement here is pretty sick, larger than most I’d say. Per usual, we arrive relatively early, before any of the bands have begun to play. Fortunately, there are plenty of charming characters roaming around this place. The first people we meet are Beef, Sam, and Ethan. Cool dudes! We then run into Matt from the Canadian band Leamers, whom we will witness in action in just  a few short hours! I am glad we have the chance to meet this fine young man, for he stands as a constant reassurance that the music I love is being made for the right reasons- FUN!!! We then have the pleasure of meeting Matt’s co-Canadian conspirators- twins, Rob and Peter of the noise band Shahman (http://shahman.bandcamp.com). Also great, fun loving dudes! As the night grows on we discuss everything from tour experiences to  the astonishingly lower price of liquor in the states to the life and times of G.G. Allin and his mother, and probably a bunch of other stuff I can’t remember.

Act I: Nice Guys– Nice guys finish last… not anymore sucka! These Nice Guys go on first and they are ever so nice. When I hear the first few chords I think of Minor Threat. They certainly have the energy; loud, fast, and straight to the point- don’t give a fuck. It is as if Minor Threat walked in on it’s girlfriend in bed with the first few Black Lips albums. If you are reading this that probably doesn’t make any sense. So, go out and see the band live OR better yet lay back on your worthless, lazy ass and click here on their bandcamp page: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/. Do iT! or else.  Why am I so angry?! Fuck if I know.

Act II: The Migs– Been listening to your Summer Tour Tapes kids? Why, I can’t think of anything better to do. Ahh Migs, would have been the perfect band for a high school prom circa 1965. The kids would dance their asses off and then trash the school, burn it to the ground. That’s the music of The Migs. In fact, would love to see The Migs play in front of a bunch of sixteen year olds and see how they react. Like a controlled experiment. Take away all of their little gadgets and just have The Migs play for them. The kids need an alternative or at least have options…  Anyway, at least they are driving (much older) kids crazy tonight and as soon as they play the crowd goes nuts. As with all Migs performances, it is interactive, physical, sweaty, and chock full of early to mid 60s garage/doo wop/soul flavored punk tunes. Tonight Migs members Keven (decked out in the red , white and blue,) Lukas, and Craig scream their hearts out and frolic and fuck about with the help of New Highway Hymnal’s Travis Hagan on drums- always great to see that guy bash away behind the kit!  The Migs are definitely making some of the best music I have heard as of late, but seeing them live is a MUST. These gentlemen truly are classic entertainers, fixated on making sure each and every person in the house is having a gay olde time. Perhaps my favorite moment of bedlam is when one of the basement’s pillars nearly collapses, leaving me with a fresh taste of wood dust in my mouth. Taste the rainbow with The Migs here: http://themigs.bandcamp.com/

Act III: Leamers– Our neighbors to the North, Leamers are up and ready to go, and after chatting with the band members earlier in the evening, I can’t wait to hear them play. Leamers are just as enthusiastic as the first two bands, if not more. The band consists of Matt on vocals and guitar; his singing reminds me of Lou Barlow’s vocals, and in general the band has a terrific knack for producing powerful garage-pop hooks. Oh and I can’t forget mon ami Martin on bass and Emily-Jayne on drums- both are outstanding. The crowd response is positive and I’m having a blast. Matt and crew are quite appreciative, and he thanks the audience for bouncing around and into each other! I’m still bouncing around now, rocking out to Year Of The Rabbit, check it out! http://leamers.bandcamp.com/album/year-of-the-rabbit Hope you guys (and Shahman too!)  continue to have a fun and gratifying tour!

Act IV: Creaturos– Creaturos, Green Churros, ahh why must you confuse me?! I’m already perplexed as is. Ehh well, confusion aside this band shares the same garage sensibilities as the first few acts and they are able to get the crowd moshing and dancing as well. Creaturos is a band I have heard about a number of times over the past few months or so, glad to finally see them in the flesh. Creaturos deliver a harsh brand of psychedelic pop that I’d wager appeals to the punk slimer in me that needs an extra ummph in his daily punk slime intake. Sort of akin to early, off the wall Ty Segall. Part noise, part garage,  semi-hardcore, all fun. At least that’s what I hear. What do you hear? http://creaturos.bandcamp.com/

Act V: The New Highway Hymnal– Damn, it’s been too long since I have seen these cats, what is even sadder is that we are only able to catch a few songs tonight, because we have to make the train home :(. A damn shame indeed. At least what we do see is solid as I expected. Next time, we will experience a full NHH set, until then we will have to rely on this little ditty: http://thenewhighwayhymnal.bandcamp.com/
P.S. GO TO NEW HIGHWAY HYMNAL’S ALBUM RELEASE SHOW FOR  WHISPERS ON OCTOBER 18 WITH EARTHQUAKE PARTY, INFINITY GIRL, AND RIBS!