Category Archives: Music

Art, concert review, Fat Creeps, Honorary KLAYMERS, KLYAM Records, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews

Review: Miami Doritos, Loose Tooth, Crosss @ Whitehaus/Deep Thoughts (5/17/14)

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Loose
Bands: Fat Creeps, Crosss, Loose Tooth, Miami Doritos
Date: Saturday, May 17, 2014
Venue: Whitehaus/Deep Thoughts (Jamaica Plain, MA)

Miami Doritos – I believe the glam goddesses of rock ‘n’ roll flicked me on this planet to see kick ass bands like Miami Doritos in dank, dusty basements such as the Whitehaus. Well, I’m certain I was put here for other reasons as well, but what’s better than a nice, wholesome Miami Doreets set in JP? Nothing else. It’s 200 million thousand times greater than seeing some shitty, schlock rock band in a big, boring stadium that’s for sure. Ha, actually imagine seeing Kurt and Alex at one of those big ass shows. The Miami Doreets just planted in the middle of the Xfinity Center. I’m picturing it now and giggling like a little school girl. Keep laughing buddy.

But, enough of that tom foolery. Miami Doritos are a KLYAM Records band and they are one of the best around town. Of course, I would say that. I have to say that, but even if I didn’t have to say that I still would, because it’s true. Their brand of fiercely intimate, noisy two piece slacker spunk garage rawk brings me back to the days of fellow Boston two piece greats Fat History Month. The Doreets have that same silly, strangely comical, almost awkward quality to them. It’s a massive middle finger to all yee loser indie rock bands that take yourselves way too seriously. These Doreets are above all that and you can tell their just having fun with the music. And everyone else is having fun hearing it.  http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/ And order here for the band’s splifft 7″ with Nice Guys: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/nice-guys-miami-doritos-splifft-7

 Loose Tooth – This band is from Philly and they’re excited to be here. They have this very Pavementy, 90s “indie” rock style to them. It’s fairly relaxed, but still rocking. Most folks are nodding along, 40s and what have you in hand, gently enjoying the music.

At one point, one of the guitarists announces that today is her sister’s 21st  birthday and she feels bad that she is out of town for it. So, she whips out her phone and snapchats (is that the correct term? I’m a luddite and don’t keep up with the times) everyone singing happy birthday to her sister. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! http://loosetoothphilly.bandcamp.com/

Following their set, the crowd takes a pleasant, mid show jaunt down to Deep Thoughts, also in JP, for the remainder of the show.  I’ve shopped at this record store before and the first two KLYAM Records releases (Fat Creeps 10″ and Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″) are in stock here, but I’ve never seen a show here until tonight. It’s spacious and really has potential as a legitimate venue. It’s a big basement, but no stages or anything like that, which is how it ought to be. Well, stages can work sometimes, but I’m liking them less and less. Point being, there’s plenty of room, but it’s still intimate.

Crosss – This is a first for me and I actually haven’t even heard their music before. Though, I have seen one of these Canadian gents perform before in the band Soupcans from Toronto. I almost forgot how tall those fuckers are!

Cross (from Halifax, Nova Scotia) has a heavy, droning sound to them. It’s a slow menace that builds up and attacks you. Part metal, part psych, a pinch of noise. It’s dark and doomy. I don’t find myself falling in love with the band or finding any desire to move myself to the music, but it seems like most people are into it. They have a decent sound and they are talented musicians, but I feel satisfied after a couple songs and after that I don’t feel like I need to hear more. It just all sounds the same.  To anyone that disagrees with me, remember this is only my opinion and there’s a good chance I LOVE bands that you think suck ass. It’s a big fucking world and there’s plenty of room for all of us. http://crosss.bandcamp.com/

Alas, we have to leave early and we miss KLYAM Records’ OGs Fat Creeps :(. Catch them on their upcoming tour with The Lentils this Summer!: https://www.facebook.com/events/592681867496760/

 

Boston Counter Cultural Compass, Local Music, Music

The July Boston Compass Is Available!

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The Boston Counter Cultural Compass does a whole lotta describing: art, film, and show listings that go above (and definitely BELOW if you know what I mean) and beyond any other local resource. Also, inside the Compass you’ll find some Funnies and album reviews! I am very grateful – as are many that pick up the monthly newspaper – that such a thing exists; credit and appreciation goes to the many volunteers of the Boston Hassle, the organization responsible for producing the Compass and sponsoring and supporting many of the events listed within! Boston is a lively city with much to do, see, and hear every single night. If you are visiting, touring through, or even if you live in the area and somehow haven’t heard of the Compass, pick one up or read it online.

CHECK OUT JULY’S COMPASS (#54): http://www.bostonhassle.com/compass/54-july-2014/

Local Music, Music, PHAZE, reviews

Review: Phaze, Shame Thugs, John Flannelly @ Charlie’s (6/30/14)

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Bands: Soft Eyes, Phaze, Shame Thugs, John Flannelly
Date: Monday, June 30, 2014
Venue: Charlie’s Kitchen [Cambridge]

This was SHAMEFUL to admit it, my first Charlie’s Kitchen experience. Don’t get me wrong here, I always see the events, the spectacular musical parties thrown by some of the finest Boston bookers, FAST APPLE, on Monday nights. I was able to make things work, unfortunately not for the entire duration of the show. Very bummed I missed seeing Soft Eyes – the home spun psych ventures of Luke Goudreault (formerly of MMOSS, The MIGS!!!, and New Highway Hymnal) whose live band also includes Rachel Neveu (formerly of MMOSS), drummer Travis Hagan (Fat Creeps, NHH), and possibly some other members that I did not see roaming the venue. Do head over to the SE BC and stream Lazy Life in its mono White Fencian/Migsian chromatic splendor.

John Flannelly of Indiana got things started ground level as he worked on his keyboard and pedals set-up, delivering what sounded like an experimental combo of beats and loop effects. John’s take on music is certainly deeper in the sense that I had not a clue what he was going for and perhaps nobody did except for the performer himself. I found the unpredictability and non-conventional nature of his set-up somewhat more fascinating than the actual rhythmic collage. http://johnflannelly.bandcamp.com/

Next up was the bass/keyboard duo $hame Thug$, also from Indiana and on tour with John Flannelly. I don’t think I will be forgetting their set anytime soon at least not their first song which prominently featured a hip-hop sample of this guy shouting YEAH!. The keyboardist rapped with some voice modulated echo throughout the course of the set. I will say I haven’t really seen any band like SHAME THUGS – the taping of individual keys, the total surreal dreamy r&b mood – though maybe the closest thing to them I’ve heard is Kitty Pryde so take that for whatever, but the Thugs are rawer which I like.

PHAZE get ready KLYAMers, PHAZE is a band you’ll be hearing about a lot more. At least from me and hopefully beyond and beyond. Jesse DeFrancesco is at the helm of this rock ‘n roll band, which, live, we have Nick on drums. PHAZE is riffy rock ‘n roll, bluesy in some spots, anchored in all by Jesse’s prepunk singin and tenacity for going hard and going nuts. On recording PHAZE is chiller (real real neat, just wait and see), but with the drumming, these guys wallop. Being in the audience and hearing PHAZE for the first time was quite like when I first saw The Migs. All excitement, the ‘this is really special, I’m grateful I’m here right now’ feeling. Specially on “Backwards”. Ya know! http://allstontapes.bandcamp.com/releases

Music, Outdoor Vinyl Summer Series, Ty Segall

Outdoor Vinyl Summer Series: Lemons (2009)

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Band: Ty Segall
Year: 2009
Label: Goner Records

Lemons on this 93 degree sunny breezy day takes me to Costa Mesa, California. I don’t think it gets this hot down there but forget about the weather. Costa Mesa is where Ty recorded this raw rock ‘n ripper in January 2009. Speaking of raw, Lemons is not Ty’s first or second jab at garage punk; he’d been playing in this style and styles that approximate this style since 2005, possibly even before that. His fun ass shakers as part of the Epsilons, Traditional Fools, and Party Fowl can be mined on the Internet and on vinyl and tape. So Lemons is considered Ty’s second solo album. SIDE A, particularly the last three songs “Lovely One,” “Can’t Talk,” and “Cents” are cantgetchaouttamymind top tier, extraordinary, I gotta stop using generic adjectives, HITS. 2009 was the year that ‘Garage’ was being infiltrated by the SCION though let’s be real, it was an amazing time for underground rock ‘n roll. Ty was a part of the crispier, bare, sloppy, loveable punk universe that Goner and In The Red had been nurturing for years, though at that time he was a rather new figure.

Anyhow, Ty – specially considering his solo performance (Lemons is in the full band, Ty on everything mold) – shows his colors as a dude with several sides to him, a harbinger of what would be: mellow (see Goodbye Bread and Sleeper) as on “Rusted Dust,” a midtempo tinkerer as on “Die Tonite,” and as a sludgy screamer on “Johnny,” which is in my ears a precursor to 2012’s Slaughterhouse. The assortment of sounds and approaches on Lemons is different from Ty’s more directed material meaning he probably had more solid ideas for the later albums. Regardless, everything he had done prior to this LP, up to it, and including 2010’s Melted (my sure favorite collection of fuzzy tunes) makes for a daunting discography! Ty is so deserving of the attention he’s received over the past few years and you can see he’s so comfortable playing the shit out of rock n roll. This is reflective of his live shows (also high high up there on funnest experiences). If he doesn’t make ya just want to mess around to your liking on your guitar, you might as well bop your head and move about. I know that can be equally exciting.

Art, Black Lips, Bobby Ubangi, Honorary KLAYMERS, Music, Punk, Video

RIP B Jay Womack

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Five years ago today B Jay Womack aka Bobby Ubangi passed away. He was a major inspiration and friend to the Black Lips and many other bands in Atlanta and beyond as well as being a respectable punk slimer in his own right. His song “Greasers’ Lament” is one of the best songs I’ve ever heard EVER. Thanks for the good tunes Bobby. RIP.

Art, Black Lips, Honorary KLAYMERS, Ian St. Pe, Music, News, Punk, Video

Black Lips Bring Back Jack Hines!

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Yerp, that’s good old Jack Hines in that video from May 30, 2003. Jack took over for original Lips guitarist Ben Eberbaugh after Eberbaugh’s tragic death in December 2002. He remained with the band until mid to late 2004, when Ian Saint Pé, the guitarist we’ve all come to know and love, replaced him and has been kicking it with the Lips ever since. Apparently now, however, Jack is back in the band filling in for Ian for a little while or possibly for good?. Damn, I’m going to miss Ian :(, but it will be interesting to see this line up on the upcoming mega Black Lips/KKBBQ tour this Fall. Bring back all that great We Did Not Know The Forest Spirit Made The Flowers Grow slime! I hope all is well with all y’all.

Read more about it in Creative Loafing Atlanta: http://clatl.com/atlanta/black-lips-re-enlist-guitarist-jack-hines/Content?oid=11519416

Art, Back Pages, Honorary KLAYMERS, KLYAM Records, Music, Punk, Video

Back Pages Live @ Uncle Lou’s (6/28/14)

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Feast your eyes on this live video of KLYAM Records own Back Pages slaying at Uncle Lou’s the other night in Orlando.
Catch Part II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNs7zg9mGk0
and Part III: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZA99JAYj1Ng

Above all pick up a copy of Back Pages Singles 13 (Tape) from KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/back-pages-singles-13