Category Archives: Local Music

Art, Local Music, Music, pictures, SARALEE

Listen: Saralee – “So Sorry” and “Soft Sounds”

Leave a comment


Listen to these two famous comp tracks brand new to bandcamp: http://saralee.bandcamp.com/album/so-sorry-soft-sounds

Saralee is a KLYAM fave and one of thee Boston essentials. Saralee is one of those bands I really hate describing to people, just listen to it. If I had to say, what I find appealing about them is their undeniable pop quality and just overall aura. But, there’s something unique about it, it’s like a totally different sound/world. If you haven’t been turned on to their demo, I ought to just waltz right into your living room and turn you on myself. OR you can click this link here: http://saralee.bandcamp.com/album/demo Yeah, I’d click that if I were you.

Kal Marks, Local Music, Music, Tours

Kal Marks Touring In November

Leave a comment


Catch ’em while you can!

11/1 Great Scott (Allston) Tour kick off!
11/2 Bard College NY w/ Arvid Noe & Small Wonder
11/3 Ithaca NY @ Cornell
11/4 Kent Oh. @ Stone Tavern
11/5 Kalamazoo Mi. @ Corner Record Shop w/ Totally Rad, Morseville Bridge.
11/6 Chicago Il. @ 86′ Mets w/ The New Diet, Animal City, Meatwave
11/7 Bloomington In. @ Handmendown house w/ Dust from 1000 years
11/8 Louisville KY. @ Jeff’s house of Sex w/ Tropical Trash, the misfits?
11/9 Athens Oh. @TBA
11/10 Richmond Va. @ Bauhaus w/ Starfish Prime, Gunboat, Heavy Midgets
11/11 Philadelphia Pa. @ Kung Fu Necktie
11/12 Brooklyn NY. Spike Hill w/ Music Band, Big Ups, Dirty Virgins.

Stay current with the TBA’s here: https://www.facebook.com/events/153944518082227/

Band of the Week, Local Music, Music, The Fagettes

Band of the Week: The Fagettes

Leave a comment

The Fagettes – one of Boston’s rock and roll jewels – left a mighty fine impression on us with their latest 7″ If I See Him Again and did the same when they performed covers of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood at the big Halloween extravaganza that went down last weekend.

The band has putting out quality tunes since 2010 — special shout-out to 2011’s The Fagettes, Vol 2 three minutes of brilliance “When I’m With You”. Ryan and Melanie split singing duties and this cool back-and-forth is one of their many highlights – gotta mention, too, the saxophone/harmonica on If I See Him Again!

I agree with what Chris said in the live review, I’m beyond excited to see Fagettes perform again!

Blog: http://thefagettes.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/F-A-G-E-T-T-E-S-USA/286468578066089
Bandcamp: http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/

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

Concert Review: Fat Creeps, Earthquake Party!, Fedavees, Fagettes Halloween Show @ Rosebud (10/13/12)

3 Comments

Bands: Fat Creeps, Earthquake Party, Fedavees, Fagettes
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2012
Venue: Rosebud (Somerville, MA)
Comments:
Act I: Fagettes as Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood– The Fagettes are one of the hottest bands in Boston right now, so naturally I am more than excited to see them live for the very first time! Tonight, however, they are not the Fagettes… instead we are taken back a few decades to a simpler or perhaps weirder time when the music you heard on commercial radio didn’t just flat out reek like a steaming pile of feces. Oh no, one could flip the dial to the soulful, sexy voice of Nancy Sinatra and my main man Lee Hazlewood.  Well, those good times haven’t ended and the band recreates at least some of that good old pop magic of yesteryear. Furthermore, I appreciate the way they inject their own modern day aesthetics into the mix, adding some deviant flavor to an otherwise innocent set. By the way, I can’t forget to mention that while the band (and each band this evening) plays a creepy Horror flick is projected in the background complementing their freakiness. For Fagettes, I believe Night of the Living Dead is playing, but I might be wrong on this one? Overall, I dig this performance and I really love their set up too, which includes saxophones and two (standing!) drummers. Yeah, fuck all those lazy drummers that remain seated whilst performing! Dave Goldberg would be proud… Anywho, I’m getting off topic, but I can now testify that The Fagettes are one helluva a live band and I hope to see them playing original material in the near future. http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/ Yo, check out this badass video and all its badass brothers and sisters on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9-Q7g44-fA

Act II: Fedavees as The Wipers- I have to admit I am not too familiar with either Fedavees or The Wipers, but I have known of the latter since I was a young fella, thanks to Mr. Kurt Cobain, whose band will be making an appearance later. My ignorance aside, Fedavees are nasty and deliver a kickass set that evokes passionate singing in at least a few of the Rosebud’s attendees, so they must be doing something right. For their performance, I believe it is Blade that has the honor of being backdrop # 2 tonight. I’d rather not see Blade again, but I would enjoy attending another Fedavees show. Check out their Bandcamp page here: http://thefedavees.bandcamp.com/

Act III: Earthquake Party! as Nirvana– As soon as I see Earthquake Party hit the stage, it brings me back to August 2011, the first and last time I saw Earthquake Party, until now. I remember these dudes and their sheer, abrasive batch of noise pop tunes. To make things even spookier Evil Dead is playing in the background! EP is definitely a solid band to be covering Nirvana, my early teenage wet dream band. And while I don’t climax on this evening, I am truly invested in their performance, particularly enjoying the various heavier, more aggressive Nirvana cuts such as “Scentless Apprentice,” “Radio Friendly Unit Shifter,” and my favorite Nirvana song “Drain You.” Earthquake Party dish out all the screeching vocals, endless feedback, and lack of concern for the well being of one’s own equipment necessary to fulfill a proper Nirvana set. Personally, I would have liked to have seen a bit more of the band’s own personality shine through the covers, but nonetheless a fun and riveting performance that thankfully forces the crowd into a frenzy. Just check out this video here, in fact the whole set can be seen on You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS18SeNZlA0 Boy, if I just had five minutes alone with that Where’s Waldo motherfucker…. In the meantime, I’ll have to listen to this: http://earthquakeparty.bandcamp.com/

Act IV: Fat Creeps as The Ramones– It’s always beautiful when two great bands come together, like a marriage made in Heaven. Essentially two of my favorite bands have merged on this evening when the Fat Creeps perform as The Ramones! Not to mention one of my all time favorite films, The Shining, is playing in the background. The creepiness begins when the trio blast right into Ramones signature “Blitzkrieg Bop,” and indeed the kids are losing their minds as Joey Mariam gleefully shouts- moshing and bopping and plopping along to the mile a minute classics. “Beat On the Brat”  is next and in fact – with the exception of a few tunes – they play most of the Ramones’ debut album. Arguably, The Ramones are the greatest rock ‘n’ roll band of all time and certainly a long time favorite of mine, so hearing all these songs executed in a nearly flawless fashion hits real close to home. It’s easy to get caught up in Ramones hysteria (and I do), but in many ways this is still a classic Creeps performance; I especially love their harmonies in songs such as “Judy Is A Punk” and “I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend.” With this in mind and just the overall joyful, positive response from the crowd, I think their set is the finest of all tonight. Admittedly, I am excessively biased in my position, but biases aside I am glad everyone is having fun, cause isn’t that what it’s all about anyway? Ahh, I’m starting to sound like a Little League coach now. Seriously though, sickest Fat Creeps show I have ever experienced!
P.S. I dig Jim Leonard’s exclamation: “God Bless George Bush!” I’m sure Johnny would be proud of ya!
http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/

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)

1 Comment


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!

Local Music, Music

The Legend of Lou Miami

Leave a comment

Lou Miami was a local legend in the Boston rock and roll community in the late ’70s and early ’80s. Lou and his band The Kozmetix never released an LP – just four singles and two EPs in their brief 4 year career. I remember digging up the Lou Miami and the Cosmetics EP about two years ago and being blown away. His Boston accent is the most recognizable component of the Lou Miami sound, but his songwriting and the band’s performance on these songs are top notch. In “Vehicle For Love” the drums take reign over the bopping bass and guitar drive while Lou “eye-eye-eye-eye”s to pop perfection. “Dancing With Death” mocks the bland commercialism of the day in an eclectic danceable, repetitive groove. Read through the YouTube comments on that video and it is clear how highly music fans thought of the man back in his day.

In an interview on local TV program 30 GO, Lou described his outlook on live performance:
“A lot of bands just stand there and play, which gets kind of boring. I think the audience wants to be entertained. They want to forget that they work in a factory…that that’s all they do forty hours a week. They want to go somewhere to scream and yell and go crazy. You have to be up there screaming, yelling, and going crazy to get them to do it too.”

The legend of Lou Miami lives on, check out his music if you have not!

Fat History Month, Local Music, Music, reviews

Album Review: Fat History Month – Fucking Despair (2011)

1 Comment


Band: Fat History Month
Full Title: Fucking Despair
Year: 2011
Label: Sophomore Lounge

Allston duo Fat History Month have a knack for crafting minimal, yet catchy, lo-fi jams best enjoyed in a sweaty, crowded basement. The ten songs on their LP Fucking Despair, ranging in length from just over one minute to just under twelve, capture the same stripped down sound utilized in their live sets: sparse, mumbled vocals with loose drum grooves and busy clean guitar riffs filling the space. Singer/ Guitarist Seanhistorymonth perfectly channels the nonchalant attitude and nonsensical lyrics of Pavement vocalist Stephen Malkmus. In the album opener “Free as a Cat”, he softly contemplates the life of a roaming feline, and on “Things I Enjoy” he provides commentary on a carefree existence. While his lyrics and delivery are plenty playful, Sean’s intricate guitar work brings about a contemplative, slightly somber mood reminiscent of early Modest Mouse or sometimes even American Football.  Songs like  “You Can Pick Your Nose, You Can Pick Your Friend’s Nose, But You Can’t Escape Your Horrible Family” feature longer instrumental passages where  his occasionally melancholic melodies are supported by the noodling percussive sounds provided by Markhistorymonth on the drums. On this, their first full length offering, Fat History Month successfully mix moody down tempo basement rock with catchy, sometimes bizarre lyrics that beg for a crowd of broke college students to sing along.

http://fathistorymonth.bandcamp.com/album/fucking-despair