Band: Bent Shapes Release: 2012 Label: Cake Time Records
1. Boys To Men
2. Brat Poison
Comments: This is my first time listening to a Flexi Disc and let me say that it has been a positive experience! It’s a brief vinyl – less than 5 minutes of song – but Bent Shapes make me keep placing that needle back on #1. The first song “Boys To Men” is a magnificently catchy pop song — the melody reminds me of why I enjoyed Uninhabitable Mansions debut record so much (slower tempo rock ‘n roll with intriguing vocals). I’d safely say this has almost instantly become a favorite of mine from the Shapes. “Brat Poison” follows a more eclectic (yet still widely intriguing) road to the mind’s consciousness, sort of flowing like an old school hardcore number, but has me thinking “Rock Lobster” for whatever two word reason. Don’t let the repetitions at the end of the song fool ya, unless you are particularly fond of that sort of stuff. Not judging. Do yourself a favor and pop that needle back on #1 again and repeat. For however long you find fit. I’m curious about Bent Shapes after listening to this (and seeing them put on a great show last night as openers for Colleen Green) even more so after hearing a fellow KLYAMer profess his deep admiration for 2009 Girlfriends track “I Was Here, But I Disappear”. So yeah, great work Bent Shapes!
Artists: Colleen Green, Plateaus, Bent Shapes, Bugs and Rats Date: Sunday, September 9, 2012 Venue: Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge, MA)
Comments: Act I: Bugs and Rats– These motherfuckers diminish what is left of my eardrums, which is great. Bugs and Rats are a powerhouse band, a three piece that is LOUD and guaranteed to wake up the neighbors. They would serve as a terrific alarm clock, I must say. I’ll admit much of the music I listen to is of the “wimpy” variety so I’m not as big into Bugs and Rats, but damn they are a solid band and they rock pretty hard. Their music is easy to head-bang to – in fact I would find it hard not to. Though it’s not necessarily my cup of tea, I can definitely recommend it. I also admire the band’s overall enthusiasm, which makes this performance even more fun. The drummer looks like he is going berserk! Lastly, I notice there is a picture of Anne Frank on the guitarist’s guitar, I do not know why, but I find this interesting. I mean I think it is Anne Frank. Either it is her or I am a fucking idiot.
Go nuts http://bugsandrats.bandcamp.com/
Act II: Bent Shapes– So, y’all know Bent Shapes were formerly known as Girlfriends, right? Alright good. Speaking of which, I haven’t seen this band since they opened for Harlem at Great Scott back in April 2010, so it is a real pleasure to see them tonight. I was always struck by their music before and I have been meaning to see them again for quite some time now, but for whatever reason it just never worked out. Fortunately, tonight is my night and I get a chance to see this excellent band. Bent Shapes definitely has some outstanding pop hooks and they remind me of one of my favorite bands, The Pains of Being Pure At Heart. I also hear a lot of pop punk a la Wavves in their music. Glen concurs on this point. Without a doubt my favorite moment is when they play “I Was Here, But I Disappear,” a favorite of mine. Not just a favorite from the band, but one of my favorite songs of all time. I did not expect them to play this song at all, so this is a real treat. Admittedly, I need to listen to more of their material and I plan to. You should too! http://bentshapes.bandcamp.com/
Set List:
Public
Brat (“Brat Poison”)
Panel (“Panel of Experts”)
Bites (“Bits and Scratches”)
Big M (“Big Machines”)
Space
Bhead?
Disappear (“I Was Here But I Disappear”)
Hex (“Hex Maneuvers”)
Leave (“Leave It Till You Need It”)
Boys (“Boys to Men”)
Act III: Plateaus– Before tonight’s performance I have never heard of Plateaus, but now I am convinced they are a sound band and I plan on checking out their music. Their songs are not as stripped down and catchy as those of Bent Shapes, but they keep up the same power pop/ pop punk sensibility. I am also feeling some strong garage vibes and in this way I can see them fitting well with the kind of music we typically champion on KLYAM. Their set is definitely fun and gets me pumped up for Colleen, even more so than I already was. http://plateausband.bandcamp.com/
Act IV: Colleen Green– Before I start my little babbling, I am going to take a mini trip back to April 2011. April 29, 2011 to be exact. Glen and I had had little exposure to basement venues (a couple of shows in Lowell and that was about it) and so when we arrived at the Starlab in Somerville to see one of Ottawa’s finest, The White Wires, we were a bit perplexed. As I recall we paid the seven bucks or so for admission (which included a stamp of the word “fuck” on my hand) and then we left the venue momentarily to smoke a bowl. One of the dudes running the show caught up with us and said that it was cool for us to smoke inside. So, we did. More importantly, why am I telling this story?! What I forgot to mention was that Colleen Green was headlining this bill, but at the time we had no idea who Colleen Green was, we came to see White Wires as I had mentioned earlier. I remember sitting down Indian style in the basement of the Starlab, waiting for the band to play- actually the dudes from Luau (also on the bill that evening) were setting up their equipment and I began to aggressively converse about G.G. Allin and Charles Manson the way I often do when I’m left unsupervised. Around this time, Colleen approached Glen and me, oh and Dan, damn I forgot that motherfucker came with us, he’s the man! She sarcastically said something to the effect of “You aren’t those guys that are smoking weed are you?” She then politely introduced herself as Colleen and within seconds I began vigorously raving about my favorite bands as I tend to do if given even the slightest opportunity. I stated that my top three current favorite bands were/are 1)Black Lips 2)Deerhunter, and 3) Hunx and His Punx. This led to a brief discussion of the Hunx tune “Cruisin,” a fabulous song indeed. Alas, we weren’t able to stay long enough to catch Colleen’s set that night, but I remember thinking anyone that appreciates greats like Hunx and His Punx is worth checking out. So, I YouTube’d a few songs and live vids and I was instantly hooked. But, between 21+ shows and lack of transportation we KLYAMERS missed out on all the remaining Colleen Boston gigs :( Until now! Ahh shit, it’s 4:20 (I didn’t plan this btw) why am I still writing this? Why am I still up? I need to be awake and alert in a vapid classroom setting within four hours. Oh well. So yeah, tonight is very exciting on the account that not only do Glen and I get to see Colleen Green live for the first time, but with a whole band including members of Plateaus. The Colleen Green Band opens with a cover of the fine Descendents tune, “Good Good Things,” before moving into what may just be my favorite Colleen number “I Wanna Be Degraded,” goddamn that song is catchy! The whole set is spectacular. Colleen can be pure rock ‘n’ roll and totally mellow all at once. It’s like she doesn’t have to shout, but you can hear every little nuance of her vocals. I don’t know what I’m talking about- to quote a friend of mine-“I don’t know art, but I know what I like!” One of my other favorites is “Dance the Night Away,” a killer tune that surely stood out as one of 2011’s finest. Colleen and crew close the set with “Nice Boy (I Want A),” another classic that leaves me in great anticipation for tomorrow night’s performance in Lowell. I can’t wait! http://colleengreen.bandcamp.com/
+ Cave Bears
Photo from Boston Hassle
Midwest look out! Sept 25 NYC Death By Audio
Sept 26 Bard College NY
Sept 27 Pittsburgh- THE VATICAN’T
Sept 28 Cropped Out Louisville KY, just hangin out
Sept 29 Cropped Out
Sept 30 Nashville Tower 2 WTC
Oct 1 Murfreesboro, TN TBA
Oct 2 Carbondale IL SKIHAUS
Oct 3 St. Louis Blank Space
Oct 4 Iowa City- The Mill
Oct 5 Chicago at Situations
Oct 6 Athens OH house show then Casa
Oct 7 NYC TBA
Oct 8 Purchase College, NY
We’ll update this as soon as things our finalized, but I figured I’d give y’all a headstart. If you live in any of these cities, get yer badass out to the show! http://fathistorymonth.blogspot.com/ http://fathistorymonth.bandcamp.com/ http://soundcloud.com/guerillatoss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muFMH-MaO2Y
WOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Now kids across the Northeast can experience KLYAM’s favorite Boston band and one of the most breathtaking live acts as of late. Seriously, if any of you KLYAM readers out there live in Providence, Portland, Northampton, Bennington, New York or nearby, I seriously recommend you go to one of these shows! Check out these badass fliers!
09/21 – Allston, MA @ The Pill at Great Scott 09/22 – Providence, RI @ Ladyfest Providence @ Machines with Magnets 09/27 – Portland, ME @ Matthew’s 09/28 – Northampton, MA @ The Basement 09/29 – Bennington, VT @ Bennington College w/ The Migs 09/30 – New York @ Cake Shop
Artist: Fagettes Release Date: July 17, 2012 Label: Self-Released Track List:
1) If I See Him Again
2) On Drugs
3) My Girl Looks Like Johnny Thunders
Comments: Fagettes! Here’s a band that delivers just what the doctor ordered. It’s raining like a motherfucker right now, so I might as well stay inside my dorm and put on some nice, soothing music. Enter Fagettes. One of the hardest working bands in the Boston underground music scene, Fagettes have been around the block for a few years now and have played with the likes of Hunx and His Punx and Shannon and The Clams; after listening to this EP I can strongly recommend them to fans of those bands and like minded weirdos across the galaxy. “If I See Him Again” is pleasing to my ears, bringing some sunshine to this rainy day. The title track is fun and brings to mind the aforementioned Shannon and The Clams, Velvet Underground, Violent Femmes, The Vaselines, and local heroes, Fat Creeps. “On Drugs” sounds just like what it is, but in the best possible way. Fagettes seem to live in some strange, hazy world and with this tune they do their best to wrap you up real tight and take you with them. I’m turned on. I love the mix of male and female vocals, and this song feels like a grand ode to Beat Happening- with the vocals specifically reminding me of Heather Lewis. Beat Happening, but more savage, slip some acid in dat hot chocolate boy! The band continues in this mellow, almost apathetic approach in the EP’s final song “My Girl Looks Like Johnny Thunders,” and this time they whip out a funky harmonica, which helps make the track stand out on its own. Thunders culminates in some fantastic shrieks from the two lead vocalists, with each ferociously shouting “FEEL ALRIGHT!” Yes, I do feel alright. The weather may be shitty, but after hearing this little ditty, I’m feeling alright. Actually, more than alright, I’m feeling pretty sexy. Listen to Fagettes today, if you want to feel sexy: http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/releases
Hey, hey, by the way! Catch Fagettes playing a Halloween show along with Fat Creeps, Earthquake Party, and Fedavees on Friday, October 13 at the Rosebud in Somerville, MA! Shit just got even spookier…
Check out Anonymous Dog Tapes and Records! They are putting out some fine cassettes for various artists including Boston KLYAM faves Fat History Month (“I Finally Understand What People Mean When They Say Drifting”) and SARALEE(“Untitled”). Click here: http://anonymousdog.com/
Comments: Day One might be Moontowers first official release, but it sounds like the kind of polished effort from a band that’s been across the country and back a few times. I immediately notice how nice the guitars are recorded. I hear three different ones on “Stage,” but they don’t drown out the other instruments, which is cool. “Day One” is a bit more immediate and real groovy. The bass and keys power this track. “Miracle Cure” has been in the band’s live set for a long time so it’s sweet to finally hear the recorded version. There are several reasons why its a helluva track, but the chorus and the piano that follows that and then the ending. It doesn’t really end ’cause I just end up hitting replay. The first time I heard it I got Spacemen 3 vibes. Like that band, Moontowers can generate a hook pretty easily and affectionately. But in the end – literally – we’ve got what I think is my favorite track: “Up the Coast”. It’s the heaviest, the loudest. A true psych-rock powerhouse that recalls some of my favorites of the modern age. The guitar play brings me back to my initial point. It’s weird to hear this EP as just the beginning for these dudes. I’ve generally been finding myself taking a liking to fuzzier, perhaps maybe more ‘thin’ records of late, but when something like this comes along it makes ya think the more intricate side of rock ‘n roll can be just as enjoyable.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 