Category Archives: Local Music

Ben Tan, Durt Dog The Band, Gangbang Gordon, Honorary KLAYMERS, Kids Like You and Me, KLYAM Presents, KLYAM Recommended Shows, KLYAM Records, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, pictures, Punk, Show Alert

KLYAM SHOW TONIGHT: MIAMI DORITOS, DURT DOG, BEN TAN, GBG @ CLUB BOHEMIA!

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klyam 28
HEY ALL, feeling stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner, eh? NO WAY! It’s Friday night, make extra room for this wild ass punk rock ‘n’ roll, KIDS LIKE YOU & ME (KLYAM) show at Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge basement) in Central Square, Cambridge. Featuring the mighty Ben Tan, Gangbang Gordon, Durt Dog The Band, and KLYAM Records’ own Miami Doritos. Damn, after all that punk slime, if you’re not totally stuffed, then helll, that’s one Punk Slime eater there!!!

FB EVENT HERE, GO!:https://www.facebook.com/events/580285072118132/?ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular

MIAMI DORITOS: http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/
DURT DOG THE BAND: http://durtdogtheband.bandcamp.com/
GANGBANG GORDON: http://gangbanggordon.com/
BEN TAN: http://bentan.bandcamp.com/

Art, concert review, Free Pizza, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews

Live Review: Nice Guys & Free Pizza @ Thieves Grotto (11/21/14)

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Nice 7

Heyyooo hey hey, it’s the Thieves Grotto’s 69th anniversary or something like that. Hats off to those straight shooters and all the memories they have created over the years. I saw the Nice Guys and Miami Doritos tour kick off at this very place some time ago, that was a tasty swell if I ever saw one. Now, here we are November 21, 2014. Crazy to believe it’s twenty fourteen. Wild times. The police are trying to kill me, Ted Bundy’s been laughing at me, Charles Manson’s getting married and I’m not getting laid! It’s not even Thanksgiving and I already feel full. Luckily, there’s a show, several shows on the horizon. Time to kick back and rock and/or roll with some of my favorite bands, local and otherwise.

This is my second time here at Thieves Grotto and tonight is a flashback to my first experience, those equally frigid times circa February 2014. Indeed, I froze my ass off on the walk here, wearing merely my leather jacket and my Cumstain shirt beneath. Ironically, one of my cleanest dirty shirts. I kept the attire on the lower end, having remembered how sweaty this place can be in the midst of all the hysteria. Most basements can get toasty at times, but hell this place is body to body packed, so it gets HOT, especially during the sets.

The Grotto has their shit down pat, a whole crew. Right as you walk in they’re right there at the door for the donations. On top of their shit and rightfully so cause this place is huge in a way. Its as if this is a scene from some hip, mumblecore flick and the director wants to capture a house show. It’s the Great Scott of basements, if you will, housing rosy cheeked, eager students and a series of twenty somethings whining about the work week, desperately missing their own college days of yesteryear.

Upon my arrival, Lady Bones are blasting away and they sound decent. I can’t see much if anything, however, so I virtually miss their set. Apparently, Dinoczar has also played as well. This place takes their set times seriously, on top of their shit.

Fortunately, KLYAM Records’ own Nice Guys are up next. Before they begin, a young gent busts out a few acoustic tunes and some beats including a cover of the Chili Peppers “Under The Bridge,” which riles up the anticipating crowd. I didn’t catch his name, but if you attended the show and know who he is or you are him (what up), then by all means let us know.

Off to Nice Guys! Damn, I love those few seconds before a crazy set is about to begin. It’s like being on a rollercoaster and getting strapped in for the ride. You can see where the ride will take you and it’s about to set off any second, but this very moment is exhilarating all by itself. The moment of anticipation.

The dudes kick it off with a new banger that is as feisty and catchy as ever and as I suspected, the crowd goes ballistic. It’s non-stop, slamming and blamming back and forth to all your favorite Nice Guys hits and one Andy Kaufman number where the Soul Eater shines.  I TRUSTED YOU. The moshing is a lot of fun and it really makes the songs that much more enjoyable. I’ve seen 20+ Nice Guys shows and unfortunately I can’t say all of them are this nuts. That isn’t a knock against the band at all, but even in basements audience appreciation is typically much mellower. Here, you could be tossed from one side of the room to the other and I love it. So do, the Nice Guys themselves, thanking the Grotto on several occasions throughout their performance.

Cheers to more off the wall Nice Guys shows in the future (leans back and pounds 40 ouncer). Now you’ve heard it from me before and you’ll hear it again, pick up the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ from KLYAM Records: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/splifft-7

Free Pizza – Dayemmm son, first Nice Guys, now Free Pizza, dayemmm, devour these mouth watering slices before it’s too late. Yep, Free Pizza, one of Boston’s finest and a personal favorite are leaving us very soon for Miami, FL :( .  Now, there’s teardrops on my pillow and telephone, I cried for four hours last night. As they (and Nancy Kerrigan) say WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? But, it’s alright, at least we have these last few, precious shows. COME ON EVERYBODY, LET’S HAVE SOME FUN! It felt like a caps locks kind of moment.

The Free Pizzas – Jesus, Santiago, and Nick open their set with a cover of Ramones’ “Havana Affair.” Crazy song, crazy lyrics, just reminds me of how fucked up the Ramones really were. At least, it’s not as disturbing as “53rd and 3rd.”

Much like every band that apparently plays at Thieves Grotto, the kids are flippin’ and floppin’ about during Free Pizza. Though, it’s not as rambunctious as it was during Nice Guys or I’m in a less chaotic place in the basement, who knows? I have a nice spot right up front, holding on to one of the amps for dear life.

Songs about Boston, Massachusetts, ducks, and love ensue. Good times had by all. See these slices before they are eaten by that Miami monster I call Ricky Martin. http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/

They’re playing with Nice Guys and The Monsieurs on Friday, December 5th at the Cantab Lounge for The Monsieurs Record Release: https://www.facebook.com/events/542009525942992/  HOLY SMOKES! BATMAN THAT’S A GOOD SHOW!

ACLU Benefit, Big Buck Hunter, concert review, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, reviews

Review: ACLU Benefit, Big Buck Hunter, Nice Guys @ Weenie Hut (11/22/14)

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ACLU Benefit is on stage at the Weenie Hut, nothing new for Noah, whose been playing his bitingly honest music for decades. It’s only in the past year or so that I have had the fortune of discovering and seeing Benefit play. I say fortune because his performances are spectacles. No outrageous antics – more like a community, participatory atmosphere led by a tall, deep voiced dude on electric guitar. He guides fearless sing-a-longs “It’s a lonely lonely world, it’s a lonely lonely world” and “We will hold you when you fall down” and “BEEEERRRRRRRR” and “Everyone is going to die”. Written after the passing of Robin Williams. I typically feel uncomfortable in these situations and so do you, but there’s something about just not caring and enjoying life’s special moments. ACLU Benefit makes it all well and lively. If I had my way, I’d want him to play a set at every show. Every time I write about ACLU Benefit I have deja vu about writing about ACLU Benefit. I’m satisfied with that. This set was my favorite I have seen – the mixture of new songs and old standards and Lil B MIT lecture references. World music fans (not the genre but like everyone), there’s a real gem here.  Old and young, college student or veteran Axis attendee – you’ve been missing out or you’ve been missing in. [BANDCAMP]

Back to their home after a tour with Sun Young…the Big Buck Hunter trio. Nah maybe foursome, thanks to Kurt’s trusty tape player that was somehow perfectly timed with the band’s set. Not really sure how that came to be, but it was a perfect addition. Buck Hunter’s all over the map stylistically speaking, comedic dissonant pop through and through. Something like “Garden” is a real big, big tune. A mover; it never lets you settle down. That’s admirable. Kurt transforms into guitar hero status early and often, economical playing in tough times. Keyboards hold things down for the most part, but even that dude isn’t afraid to venture off on his own. As long as there’s Couch (drums) powering through, always bearing an acute sense of timing and brute. There’s not really a Boston comparison to ’em though Sun Young (who we missed tonight, damn!) are outstanding complements. At times I felt like I was watching the Grateful Dead Pavement Redux and there ya go I never saw either of them, but pretty sure I’d have a good old time. [BANDCAMP]

In a hallway in a basement two nights a row seeing Nice Guys that’s what we do here at KLYAM. They even got a set-list this time. They’re “Legit”. Well, so the night before last, that was Friday Night at Thieves Grotto. I don’t know what they give the kids there, what’s in that magic marker that brandishes you a number upon entry. But for some good reason, it’s always packed and there’s always some serious moshing and fun when these Nice Guys start wailing. They can go up there and cover who knows, Kaufman’s “I Trusted You” with drummer Soul Eater on vocals and everyone goes ape shit all the same. Well, I think that review is coming soon from Chris, so I’ll stick with last night at the weenie hut. A bit more subdued affair at the hut but the sound and passion, the oozin rampant punk it’s slightly addicting if not more. For no bullshizz rock ‘n roll, these guys remain at top of the Pyramid around here. They’ve played a ton in 2014 so the word tight might come up but really anything can happen. No crowd member is ever safe as this is something of a lively bunch, willing to bring the show to your face. [BANDCAMP / KLYAM RECORDS 7″ ]

So we missed Sun Young and Rosie and the Rosies. Click on their hyperlinks

Art, Local Music, Music, Punk, SKIMASK, Video

Live Vid: SKIMASK @ Death By Audio (11/5/14)

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Last week co-KLYAMER Glen saw the man man Ty Segall at Death By Audio; one of the final shows held at the Brooklyn venue before it closes its doors forever. I myself never had the pleasure of attending one of their shows, but at least I can live vicariously through this video of the one and only SKIMASK tearing shit up at DBA a few weeks ago. Shot by Sixdust NYC Music.

Art, concert review, Local Music, Music, Punk, reviews

Review: Meatbodies, Purling Hiss, Krill @ Great Scott (10/28/14)

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Meabodies

Written by Joanna Trachtenberg

I just saw the band that probably had one of my most anticipated albums of the year, The Meatbodies. I knew their frontman Chad from his work with Ty Segall, Fuzz, Mikal Cronan and Pangea. This was their first full tour to the northeast. They were joined by hard hitters Purling Hiss and local rockers Krill.

Krill was up first. I had never seen Krill before but I knew friends that were fans of theirs so I had a feeling that they’d be good. Krill sound like a cross between the Lo-fi indie bands of the 90’s & early 00’s ( i.e. Pavement, Modest Mouse, etc) and 90’s emo. This was back when emo was actually good, not like the dumb emo kids you have today. I liked them and they appear to have quite the following around here. It seemed more crowded when they were playing than when the headliners took the stage.

Purling Hiss muddled this show. From what I’d heard of them prior to seeing them they reminded me of early grunge and Lo-fi punk mixed together. Their new album which they played most of their set from is probably their most mainstream accessible album to date. Live they sounded like a louder, dirtier version of Dr. Dog (whom they have toured with before). No one in the crowd seemed more excited to see them than Sam from Boston Hassle who has booked them before for Hassle shows.

Meatbodies – Now it was Chad and his boys from So Cal’s time to shine. They rocked out just about all the songs from their self titled debut album. One song that they didn’t play was The Master which is probably my favorite song on the album. About midway through the set they had technical difficulties where Chad had to borrow one of the opening band’s guitars. He also had to disconnect one of his pedals because it was not functioning properly and making some awful static. Towards the end of their set they did a cover of The Stooges’ Search and Destroy. They said they were practicing it for an upcoming Halloween cover show. This was the second time this year that I have seen a band cover that particular song. Back in June I saw Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band cover that same song. It was nice to see him show more of a punk side. Back to The Meatbodies now. Their 45 or so minute set of punk slime certainly pleased me and made me want to see them again which I did two days later when they created a shit storm with Diarrhea Planet.

Art, Boston Hassle, concert review, JEFF The Brotherhood, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Monsieurs, Video

Review: JEFF The Brotherhood, Diarrhea Planet, The Monsieurs @ The Sinclair (10/17/14)

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JEFF
Flier by Alina Sabirianova

Written by Joanna Trachtenberg

I knew from off the bat that this show was gonna be wicked. Megashredders JEFF the Brotherhood and Megarippers Diarrhea Planet. Opening were the local power trio The Monsieurs. Their brand of trashy lofi garage punk excited the crowd. Their singer, Andy MacBain had quite the swag as well. They just put out a new album and for sure it will win them a Grammy in 2015. They have a lot more shows around the area so czech them out!

Next up was the band that I will affectionately refer to as the Shittiest Band In America. Yes that’s right it is Diarrhea Planet! This was my first time seeing them which I am kind of surprised because they have come around quite a few times. They have 4 different guitarists riffing it at once. This also makes them super loud. Their stage moves rival Andy MacBain’s for best of the night. During one song their had their friend, photographer Pooneh Ghana play with them on stage and they showed her all the moves. They ended their set by taking us all back to the summer of 1997 by covering Third Eye Blind’s Semi Charmed Life. I must say they totally killed it with their violent diarrhea.

Diarrhea Planet Set List:
Raft Nasty
The Sound of My Ceiling Fan
Separations
Ghost With A Boner
Orange Girls
Lite Dream
Kids
Semi-Charmed Life

DP LIVE VID!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4apmBwWXkA

JEFF the Brotherhood aren’t their normal selves any more. They are no longer a duo (or at least live they no longer are.) They are a four piece band now and they played the whole show as a four piece. Last time I saw them they played half the show as a duo and the other half as a four piece. I miss the simplicity of them just being a duo. I just felt it worked better for them. They still sounded quite tight though. They did a number of my favorite songs of theirs such as Melting Place, Heavy Krishna & U Got the Look. They even threw in a few covers of Beck’s Totally Confused (which appears on their new covers ep Digs the Classics) and Rush’s Working Man (which does not) As always JTB get a great crowd in Boston. For their last song, the aforementioned Rush cover they brought out The Wizard. The Wizard sang as JEFF played. For some reason I knew it was going to be a magical night from the beginning and this just topped it off. Afterwards I shot the shit with a few members of Diarrhea Planet and they told me how they recently got high with Rikky from White Fang/The Memories

JEFF The Brotherhood Set List:
Voyage
Mellow Out
Melting Place
Heavy Krishna
U Got the Look
Black Cherry Ale
Totally Confused
Bummer
Staring at the Wall
Hey Friend
Sixpack
What’s A Creep
The Ripper
Working Man

Guerilla Toss, Local Music, Music

NEW Guerilla Toss “Smack The Brick” (NNA Tapes) / TOUR

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Boston flunk revolutionaries Guerilla Toss have been doing it up solidly for years now, playing near legendary basement shows around the Commonwealth and to further stretches of the centuries old United States. But like the hard workers should be, they have gotten a much deserved boost in status from the larger legions. But like a timeless experimental band, they’re still operating on their own bases and look it we have this Smack The Brick.

Smack The Brick G-Tosses new 4 songer on NNA Tapes is them right now, their new configuration I take it, and it is really something of a listen. As unexpected yet so Guerilla Toss, describing them always escape me. I can usually hear something of references in music, but with this group I really can’t and that is such an sickkk revelation. If I knew what I was doing I’d want to be Guerilla Toss. The creativity of the instruments, the changes in literally how a song sounds, it’s like ya dude you don’t even need to be crazy to listen to this. It’s like you tap the lady next to you’s shoulder, hey Guerilla Toss, hey Madonna, hey Kylie Minogue, hey Eddie Current Supression Ring. No one blinks any eyes or anything. It’s noisy rock ‘n roll and so many other things. The bass and the drum are what you can count on to some degree if you are down for a traditional following-along. If you really wanna get wacky though and I recommend this, it’s keeping up (no actually, actively following along!) with the guitar and Kassie’s vocals. The result is that Which You Can See in the dance movements of the crowd at a G Toss show.

It doesn’t make sense and should it. It makes complete sense. It is the most liberating of today’s music and you didn’t even realize that. “Be the Breeder” takes me back to the year 1997 or 1998 a time when I listened to the latest in hip-hop and R&B. This is that no no I’m not nuts! It’s like they’re pressing knobs, man, hey those are people here, live people, performing music. Smack The Brick is not all that, there are some no confusing moments just groovy, catchy, funky, punky, jabby, spacey times, you got it. Often all at once. With so many satisfying side projects like Jane La Fonda and MEDS (more on this very soon!!!!!), I’d say Kassie dominates the mic like no one else around here. It’s hardly arguable. Listen up

LISTEN HERE: https://soundcloud.com/nnatapes/sets/guerilla-toss-smack-the-brick-cassette/s-v6Thu

BandCamp / Order The Tape: https://guerillatoss.bandcamp.com/album/smack-the-brick

LOCAL DATES
11/6 Hudson NY @ Bard College
11/7 Boston MA @ Hassle Festival 6
11/19 NYC @ Death By Audio

—————–

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER EUROPEAN TOUR
11/22 Budweiss @ Naab
11/23 Strasbourg @ Stimultania
11/24 Amsterdam @ TBA
11/25 London @ Old Blue Last
11/26 Paris @ Instantschavires
11/27 Bilbao @ Mem Festival
11/28 Valencia @ Bar Cure Antidisco
11/29 Alicante @ Sala Magazine
11/30 Benicarlo @ Lion Cafe
12/01 Porto @ Maus Habitos
12/02 Lisbon @ Musicbox
12/03 Madrid @ El Perro De La Parte De Atras
12/04 Barcelona @ TBA
12/05 Marseille @ L’embobineuse
12/06 Lyon @ Grrrnd Zero
12/07 Genf @ Cave
12/08 Berline @ Schokoladen
12/09 Munich @ Cafe Kult
12/10 Hamburg @ Astra Stube
12/11 Köln @ Gold+Beton
12/12 Brussels @ TBA
12/13 Den Hague @ State X New Forms
12/14 Rotterdam @ Poortgebouw
12/15 Halles/S @ Huhnermanhattan
12/16 Pilzen @ Pohoda

Art, Big Buck Hunter, Gangbang Gordon, Kids Like You and Me, KLYAM Presents, Local Music, Music, PHAZE, pictures, Punk, Ravi Shavi, Show Alert

TONIGHT: RAVI SHAVI, BIG BUCK HUNTER, PHAZE, GBG @ CLUB BOHEMIA!

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Club Bohemia GBG

YO! It’s Friday night, don’t waste it away on the couch doing the old one tug. NO! Come out to Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge basement) in Cambridge, where Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) is throwing a wack ass show featuring four crazy rock ‘n’ roll bands. We have Providence soul maniacs Ravi Shavi, Allston noise poppers Big Buck Hunter, smooth 60’s psychedelic garage rockers Phaze, and outsider bedrocker Gangbang Gordon and crew on tap for the evening. Doors at 8, music starts at  9. $7 buckaroos. 21+ sorry kids :(. Come out and play!!!!

FB Event Page, cuz you gotta have one nowadays: https://www.facebook.com/events/633413050113726/

Ravi Shavi: http://ravishavi.bandcamp.com/
Big Buck Hunter: http://bigbuckhunter.bandcamp.com/
Phaze: http://allstontapes.bandcamp.com/
Gangbang Gordon: http://gangbanggordon.com/

Band Recommendation, Local Music, Music, URSULA

BAND Recommendation: URSULA [Boston]

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Saw URSULA for the first-ish time last night at the Black Lodge in Allston, kicking off what would be a memorable night of rock ‘n roll (as most nights are around the Boston underground in the year 2014). I say first-ish ’cause the <real> first time was at Last Haus, but I only caught maybe the last 5 minutes of the set and being squished back couldn’t really see what was going on. Either way I recognized their “cub scout” demo, thought damn this is it!

Yesterday afternoon I was jamming along to the rest of their bandcamp Demos. I connect with this 2sum maybe because of their noisy, amateur aesthetic. Random but not really. I won’t claim I know their secrets. Whatever so there in the fusty Black Lodge netherregions, URSULA is about to play. Kurt Dorito pops on some Delta 5 who I mistake as The Slits or The Raincoats. Alright so I was close enough in time period and style. The key here is the DIY Spirit, not so much the sound although the conversational-yelling vocal varieties and sustained, head boppable beat is reminiscent of those groups. I recognize some of the tunes from the demo, which come in a couple choice flavors (among others) — the first is like a fuzzy power punk, more structured and the other is more experimental, with some guitar playing that I never knew existed. What I’m saying is the motion is like cutting the strings or using them as percussion. Some funky noises came to be, so sweet!

I always get a little more excited seeing something a little different in live performances. URSULA do it for me, much like a couple other bands on last night’s bill – Miami Doritos and Saralee – go about their business uncharacteristically. Atypical rock ‘n roll. Throw early Fat Creeps on there as well for a bit of a point of reference. Well anyway, go at it, you’ve already got the Demo open, just waiting for me to shut up. I gotchu.