Category Archives: Local Music

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

Review: Fat Creeps/ZEBU! Split 12″ Release Show @ Discovery Zone (4/5/13)

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ZEBUBACK_zps017aa89fFATCREEPSCOVER_zpsb22c95f2
Bands: Guerrilla Toss, Fat Creeps, ZEBU! Omnivore, Don Gero
Venue: Discovery Zone (Allston, MA)
Date: Friday, April 5, 2013

It is like running through a maze to get to this place, but thanks to some friendly Allstonites, we finally land on our desired location.  Making our way into the space, I start to hear blistering, ear splitting noise.  This assault on my deafened ears is brought to you by one man powerhouse, Don Gero. Dude smashes the drums with lightning fast precision and has some sort of electronic set up as well.  We come into the set mid way, so I hope we didn’t miss much, but from what we see it is pretty nuts.  He has this siren sounding thing, which adds to the sheer noise that’s still ringing in my eardrums. Towards the end of the set, he provides vocals on one of the songs. Meanwhile, random movies are being projected behind Don Gero (this occurs during each of the band’s sets). I recognize a young Sly Stallone and some actors I’ve seen in John Waters films, but I don’t know what the actual movie is. Looks kooky and campy and most likely the product of vast amounts of cocaine use. In any case, Don Gero is a sweet soundtrack to the images being projected on the screen. I’ve never seen him before or listened to any of his music, but I am going to give it a listen right now. Oh, and I should probably inform you that Don Gero is Zack D’Agostino (of Arvid Noe). Here, read this exciting review from Boston Hassle, they always know what’s up: http://www.bostonhassle.com/tag/don-gero-review/  http://dongero1.bandcamp.com/

Omnivore plays next and it is a bit of a departure from Don Gero and most performers I see live. It’s a quiet, calm experience and nearly everyone is sitting on the floor, gazing up at the woman behind the music, Glenna Van Nostrand. I don’t know too much about this kind of music, but it is heavy in loops and experimental pop, if you dig that sort of thing. In the background, there are shots of nature, animals, waterfalls, and more that appropriately complement Omnivore’s music. Check out her bandcamp here: http://omnivoresounds.bandcamp.com/

ZEBU! is Ted Lee (vocals/drums) and Steve D’Agostino (guitar) and they are the dudes behind Northampton’s Feeding Tube Records, responsible for a vast amount of weird noise rock over the years including their latest release a split with Fat Creeps!  I’ve never listened to ZEBU!, so this is my introduction to them.  I can’t say I’m instantly hooked, but they are intriguing, no doubt. They remind me a lot of fellow two piece, experimental noise poppers and Feeding Tube boys, Great Valley, who I saw for the first time a few weeks back opening for Peach Kelli Pop. This duo shares similar eccentric tendencies and they lean toward the messy side of pop and that’s what I like. But, a lot of the time I feel like the songs get lost in the chaos, which may be appealing to some, but I’d like to hear them pursued. This is still just my first experience though and I don’t know much about the group, so I am curious what I will think after hearing this split record and perhaps other releases. In terms of the performance itself, it was pretty rad, rather physical and entertaining. Ted, I believe, leaps into the audience and tears off his shirt. He also jams the mic in his mouth like a teenage Jay Reatard, ha what a character. Check em’ out they’ve been around for ten years now, that’s quite a feat. http://zebu.bandcamp.com/

At this point, does the world need another Chris DeCarlo Fat Creeps review? *Insert bitch slap from another struggling, young band that wants, perhaps deserves, more attention.* Well, you’re gonna get one! Anywho, it’s cool to see Fat Creeps tonight in a different setting than usual.  This crowded living room is smokey and sweaty, balls sweaty. In the midst of this hot mess, the Creeps blast through a sick set of signature originals and two gut busting covers. In fact, they open with a cover of X’s “Nausea,” which they played at their New Year’s Eve show at Great Scott, if any of y’all recall.  X is a legendary LA punk band for those that are illiterate in nasty rock ‘n’ roll music from the 80’s. It’s a groovy, heavy song that sets the tone for this performance: heavy, sludgy, sweaty. They also perform another vintage 80’s hit with Devo’s “Gates of Steel,” a notable cover in past Fat Creeps sets.  But, enough of those old dudes, to the originals! Like I said, it’s a louder set and keeping in that style they play some of their faster, slimier songs such as “Secrets,” “Fooled,” “Going to the Party,” and “Daydreaming,” which appears on the split with ZEBU! which everyone should pick up; I’m enjoying it very much. http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

Guerrilla Toss closes the show and they destroy like they always do. Well, actually I have only seen them once before, but it was one of the more memorable show experiences in my young life. It was nearly a year ago when I saw Guerrilla Toss at the Ant Cellar in Lowell, it was unforgettable, just read the review: https://klyam.com/2012/06/08/concert-review-onbroadway-fest-2008-5512/. Guerrilla Toss is one of the most notable and original bands in the current Boston scene, but more importantly they put on a kick ass, crazy, amped up show that gets people moving instantly.  Some nice moshing ensues and barely stops. All of the members of G Toss frenetically rock out, but vocalist Kassie Carlson is the best. She stands in the middle of all the bedlam, jumping up and down and passionately screaming as she puts her entire body and being into her performance- unlike anyone else I have ever seen.  Her brutal enthusiasm is exhilarating and just gets me more pumped as a member of the audience. I should mention that G Toss’s music can also be genuinely light and danceable (in a slightly more conventional sense) despite its overall brute character and delivery. For the most part,  it’s just  good old fashion FUN!  Listen to their music now or better yet go see them live, so you don’t look like an idiot to the other kids at recess. http://guerillatoss.com/

Seemingly never ending perspiration and a few bruises here and there are always solid indicators that it was a good show. Great to see drummer Pete from Guerrilla Toss again. With all the shows you guys and gal play I can’t believe you remembered the KLYAM. Though we are such sweethearts, it is hard not to. But, Pete, you the man. That was fun in Lowell, walking down Broadway Street to TLC Liquors, offering us love/girl advice. Good times and good times at this show. Speaking of Pete, motherfucker has just co-opened a record store in Jamaica Plain, known as Deep Thoughts:  http://www.deepthoughtsjp.com/ pay a visit when you’re in town. Speaking of good heads, always a pleasure to turn around and see some dudes you know, specifically, Moontowers Taylor and Tim. Last, but certainly not least, a shout out to my boy Jeff from Yankee Power!!! Totally deserves all of those exclamation points.

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

This Day In KLYAM History…

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On this very day last year, Friday, April 13 2012, KLYAM saw/heard Fat Creeps for the first time. It was at O’Brien’s Pub with Fat History Month, ONSLO, and Big Mess. Great show, I remember being intrigued immediately. Above is a video of “700 Parts” (shot by Mick Murray) from that night. “700 Parts” will be featured on the upcoming Fat Creeps self-titled EP on KLYAM Records!

Two years ago, Wednesday, April 13 2011, I received a phone call from Glen, who had just experienced one of the greatest live performances of his life. It was Glen’s first time seeing Atlantic Thrills and on that night they were opening for Black Lips and Vivian Girls at The Met in Pawtucket, RI. The next night I saw the Lips and Vivs at the Paradise in Boston and met half of the Thrills. Subsequently, like the Fat Creeps, they have become a focal part of KLYAM.


KLYAM Photo from the 4/13/11 show.

Art, concert review, Freak Flag, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, Peach Kelli Pop, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Fagettes, The Scamps

Concert Review: Peach Kelli Pop, The Fagettes, Great Valley, The Scamps @ Radio (3/27/13)

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Freak Flag Presents
Bands: Peach Kelli Pop, The Fagettes, Great Valley, The Scamps
Date: Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Venue: Radio Upstairs (Somerville, MA)

The Scamps – The Scamps are a straight up fun band. KLYAMER Glen likens them to the Meat Puppets and I can definitely see that. Country mixed with pumped up rock and a slight leaning toward the bizarre. As I noted in the past, The Scamps play a fast set, with each tune rolling right through you.  They open with “Stuck On You,” a catchy little ditty that I recall standing out to me last time I saw them all the way back in February of 2012 at the Middle East Upstairs.  That was an intense performance, not so much from the band, but particularly from some diabolical rice krispie treats given to me from KLYAM buds, Atlantic Thrills. Goddamn, I had a love/hate relationship with those suckers (the treats that is). Mini psychedelic experiences aside, I remember “Stuck On You” being highly memorable, so much so that I thought it was a cover of a 70s  hit song that for some reason I really dug. Long story short, The Scamps are a powerhouse band that will sonically punch you square in the balls, when you least expect it. http://scamps.bandcamp.com/

Great Valley – These two chaps from Brattleboro, VT are up next. They are quite different from The Scamps, and well all the bands on this bill. Though, they do have some definite pop elements to them like the other bands. Great Valley is kind of awkward and off kilter, but hey what two piece isn’t? Wait, did I say awkward? I meant off the hook. Certainly, some fun weirdo pop stuff here. They remind me of Sunset Rubdown and High Places in that mellow yet equally deranged sort of way. Unpredictable. Go on a trip with Great Valley here: http://thegreatvalley.bandcamp.com/

The Fagettes– The Scamps and Great Valley are kewl cats, for sure, but The Fagettes are a KLYAM reader’s kinda band. They dish out vintage rock ‘n’ roll that will make your head spin and your hips shake. I’ve been falling in love with their recordings, but the live show is a whole other monster. There’s five of them up on stage (is there a stage? I don’t think so) and it feels overwhelming, like they’re all gonna grab you or eat you, and maybe in a way their music does. Tonight is no different than my previous Fagettes experiences in that it is a sweaty, physical, and visceral performance filled with hit after hit. I know I sound like some jackass for saying “hit,” and you know what I am a jackass, but pop music is pop music to me and when I go to a show I like to hear my favorite songs, which are like pop hits in my little world. For the most part, Fagettes deliver, playing fast punk rock ‘n’ roll numbers like “Water, Tea, and Alcohol,” “Gonna Die Out Here,” and “I Wanna Feel Good,” with the last one really showcasing vocalists, Ryan Major’s and Melanie Bernier’s abilities to scream their lungs out. So glad, Fagettes play along side Peach Kelli Pop on this wonderful evening, since they are perhaps the most fitting Boston band for the bill. They have mastered and in some ways transcended the kind of garage rock, for lack of a better term, that fans of Peach Kelli Pop, Burger Records, Infinity Cat, and similar bands on or affiliated with those labels would seriously dig. That’s your cue to click on the bandcamp page: http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/

Peach Kelli Pop–  Ohh boy, Peach Kelli Pop! I can’t tell you how ecstatic I was when I found out that Peach Kelli Pop was hitting up Boston.  We saw Peach Kelli a couple of years back and it was marvelous. Just look at this video from Melody Matters: (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-OQSlRc0kY). Those were fun times, but tonight is even better. Peach Kelli aka Allie plays guitar and sings with the rest of her band, bashing out a set chock full of bubble gummy rockers from both of  her albums, which I highly recommend.  Classics like “Do the Eggroll” and “Doo Wah Diddy” are instantaneous and fun to dance to – well that can pretty much be said about all of the songs. I loved hearing those songs before and they sound even better this time around.

In general, this performance is superior and I think the sound system at Radio helps out a lot, but I’m sure relentlessly touring over the past couple of years doesn’t hurt either. The set is like a quick injection of sugary pop goodness. Fast, catchy, rock ‘n’ roll; the songs arrive, tackle you, and then vanish. You’re singing along to “Panchito Blues” at one second and before you know it the riff to “ABC” hits your ears. Other stand outs include “Julie Oulie,”  “Dreamphone,” and “Knockout.”
When the band is about to dismantle their equipment, the crowd demands an encore! To wrap up the show Peach Kelli unleashes a somewhat slower tune and a personal fave in “Lover,” I seriously can’t get enough of those “ooooo ooooo” vocals, alright I know it just looks like Froot Loops in writing, but you have to hear it! I can’t imagine not liking Peach Kelli Pop. What kind of sick, depraved individual despises this kind of music? Killjoys, curmudgeons, mean people, cops, metalheads, ehhh whatever I’ll shut up now, just listen:  http://peachkellipop.bandcamp.com/

Normally, I would be posting a set-list here, but some joker took it before me. Doesn’t he know that I’m the guy that grabs set lists in this town?!

Big shout out to the masterminds known as Freak Flag. They put on this shindig and they put on TONS of  nasty happenings in Boston and they’re the coolest DJs. Get yer grimey hands on their newsletter, it’s zick. http://www.freakflagboston.com/

 

Art, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, Peach Kelli Pop, Punk, Show Alert, The Fagettes, The Scamps, Video

ONE WEEK UNTIL PEACH KELLI POP!!!

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Can’t wait for this! In one week, Freak Flag presents: Ottawa’s greatest, Peach Kelli Pop  at the Radio (Somerville) along with stellar opening bands, The Fagettes, The Scamps, and Great Valley.

A great night of rock ‘n’ roll is lurkin’. http://www.facebook.com/events/568494936512234/?fref=ts

Art, Colleen Green, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, music video, pictures, Punk, Show Alert, Video

NEW Colleen Green- “Taxi Driver” Music Video!

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Watch this brand new video for “Taxi Driver” off Colleen Green’s latest album, Sock It To Me (Hardly Art).  You can stream it here: http://stereogum.com/1285392/stream-colleen-green-sock-it-to-me-stereogum-premiere/album-stream/

And for you Bostonians, don’t forget to go see Colleen Green with Fat Creeps, Fedavees, and Ronnie Nordac at Radio on Thursday, April 25! Here’s a link to the facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/599794756703838/632768383406475/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

LISTEN: Nice Guys//Fagettes Tour Split!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Art, Local Music, Music, music video, Video, Yankee Power

MUSIC VIDEO: Yankee Power- “Stray”

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Watch this music video for Yankee Power’s “Stray,” my favorite track off their album Zoo Traffic. I greatly encourage you to listen to it now: http://theyankeepower.bandcamp.com/album/zoo-traffic-2

Also check out their latest single “Bounty”  http://theyankeepower.bandcamp.com/

Art, Atlantic Thrills, concert review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews

Review: The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills, Polaroids, The Real Tom Hanks @ Wilder Zangcraft (2/23/13)

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Bands: The New Highway Hymnal, Atlantic Thrills, Polaroids, The Real Tom Hanks
Date: Saturday, February 23, 2013
Venue: Wilder Zangcraft (Lowell, MA)

Painted Grashopper– We missed this bedroom set :(  Like their FB page : http://www.facebook.com/PaintedGrasshopper?fref=ts

The Real Tom Hanks– For the first twenty two years of my life I was led to believe that this man http://www.hdwallpaperspot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/tom-hanks-1.jpg was Tom Hanks. Sadly, I was mistaken. The Real Tom Hanks is actually Alex Sargent (guitar), Ben Dickinson (guitar), Johnny Gelsomini (bass), and Kevin Dacey (drums); and they are not sorry for ruining your Black Panther Party.  Haha, but seriously these dudes rule. I remember Kevin describing the band to me months ago and I was immediately intrigued. Needless to say, I have been looking forward to this  performance. As I was promised, The Real Tom Hanks play a killer  instrumental set filled with slick, surf-punk tunes that would make a Dick Dale fan’s  eyes light up. It’s hard not to dig this music, it’s catchy, fun, and serves as a solid ode to OG surf of the 1960s garage variety, just the kind of slime I devour. They cover The Ventures’classic “Walk, Don’t Run” and now the song is stuck in my dome forever. The Real Tom Hanks kick ass and set the mood for the evening. Can’t wait to see another fine ass show from these upstanding gents in the near future. Like their page on da fascist book, make it a little less fascist and a better world for you and me. http://www.facebook.com/TheRealTomHanks?fref=ts
http://therealtomhanks.bandcamp.com/

Set-List:
“Beach Boner”
“Walk Don’t Run” (The Ventures)
“Becomes a Barnacle”
“Aunts on the Beach”
“Monkey Man”

Polaroids–  I don’t catch all of Polaroids’ set, but what I do see is impressive. Polaroids features  Tim Oxton and The New Highway Hymnal’s Hadden Stemp and together with guitars and a drum machine they create a dream pop set that evokes Jesus and Mary Chain, Galaxie 500, and a little bit of Memphis cults, Girls of the Gravitron (at least in the vocals). The music is slow, calm, and haunting. Maybe it makes you reflect on your life up until this moment or maybe you just stare off into nothingness. Whichever it is, Polaroids will fuck with your head, just a little bit. http://polaroidz.bandcamp.com/

Atlantic Thrills– I remember the first time Glen Maganzini told me about the Atlantic Thrills. It was minutes, possibly seconds after seeing them live for the very first time. Glen ventured to Pawtucket, RI to see our favorite band the Black Lips  (I would have gone, but I had a conflicting schedule, had to wait until the next night to see them in Boston :( ). Glen called me up, hysterically screaming about this band the Atlantic Thrills that he just saw. “THE ENERGRY! THE EXCITEMENT! THEIR SPIRIT, THEIR EMOTION. THEY’RE CLEARLY INFLUENCED BY LOS SAICOS AND THE BLACK LIPS AND THIS ONE GUY WAS REALLY HAMMERED, HE STUCK THE PIC INSIDE HIS FOREHEAD, IT WAS NUTS!” After hundreds of KLYAM attended shows, I can sincerely say that that sort of reaction is a rarity.  Overtime, we became bigger fans of the band and we got to know these guys, great dudes. The Thrillz simply love and represent the music we love and represent. If I had to point to one local band that comes close to capturing the spirit of the Black Lips, which is the spirit of rock ‘n’ roll, then it is the Atlantic Thrills. Glen and I have seen them several times now and we’re always extremely excited to see Providence’s wildest  rock ‘n’ roll band, but often others in attendance are mellower in their appreciation. In fact in one review I even wrote, “I can’t wait to see the Atlantic Thrills kill it in a packed basement in Lowell, Allston (or anywhere) filled with kids ready to let loose and go wild.” And that’s exactly what happens. The Thrillz blast through all of their classics and a basement filled with drunken youths dance and mosh and sing along. I can’t believe my eyes, I’ve been waiting for this moment  for a long time. I’m not sure how many fans are in attendance, but I feel confident that the quartet convert some, if not many new disiciples, eager to engage in future, rampant rock ‘n’ roll.  I can see kids picking up on the sharp hooks and melodies that the Thrillz deliver. The whoaoooooooo of “Light Shines,” the 60s slimy guiar riffage of “Give It Back”  or my favorite the la la la of “Lies,” all sound better than ever. Well, the sound is fantastic, but I don’t  know if the actual audio is better than ever, but when your having the time of your life with one of your favorite bands, it sounds better than ever. Like I said earlier, the energy tonight is unprecedented in my experience at a Thrillz show. It’s just like a game of catch, the audience and the performers simply toss the ball of energy back and forth between one another. As I’ve noted in the past, drummer Josh Towers revels in the crowd’s excitement and participation, he feeds off of it and you can see it in his performance; when he smacks those drums it’s like he’s having sex. I admire such joy in the music. That’s what it’s all about and the Atlantic Thrills bring the joy, the good times (great times), the party better than anyone else in New England.   http://www.reverbnation.com/atlanticthrills

The New Highway Hymnal– The New Highway Hymnal headline, NOT  The New Highway Hymen as I had to inform a dissapointed gentlemen. Ha! Tonight, NHH are shooting a video for Whispers opener, “Through Stained Glass,” a fine song indeed off an even finer record.  This trio is another band I have seen several times and like the Atlantic Thrills, they put on quite a  show. With New Highway Hymnal, things slither into the darkside of the rock ‘n’ roll experience, a violent, bestial eruption of psych noise ensues. During this set, moshing continues and never stops.  At this point in the night, I’m pretty out of  it, mostly finding a way to survive in this sweaty, smelly, but undeniably fun mosh pit. I’d say this is the craziest I’ve seen at a NHH show (in my experience, which is limited). At one point I notice vocalist/guitartist, Hadden Stemp in the midst of the pit, his visibility in the crowd is a perennial NHH show experience, but this time his emergence seems to come out of nowhere and before you know it, he vanishes, back in front of the mike. He’s a tricky one.

All in all, this set, this show was a bruiser. Anytime I get to mosh with Kelly Riley (Atlantic Thrills) is usually a good time. http://thenewhighwayhymnal.bandcamp.com/

And big ups to The Lysergic Factory Light dudes for making everything look pretty and psychedelic.