In 1956, Elvis Presley shook his hips on national TV. Later in 1956, Elvis Presley shook his hips AGAIN, being shot from the waist up. Then for a long time nothing happened… Until now. We bring you the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ out on KLYAM Records on March 3rd and at the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos tour kick off show and subsequent shows on February 28th. For far too long, rock ‘n’ roll has been neutered, packaged, sold, resold, twittered, tweeted, repeated, and cheated again and again. I for one have had enough. This Splifft here is a grenade in your sweaty hands. Use it wisely.
Four fresh, gahridgerawk cutz to terrify the neighbors. Shambling, scuzzy noise. BLASTS!
Nice Guys :
1) Jamaican Vacation
2) Medical Envy
Miami Doritos:
1) Price 2 Pay
2) Rush Hour/Piss Take
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NICE GUYS / MIAMI DORITOS TOUR DATES
February 28th – Boston @ THIEVES GROTTO
March 1st – Syracuse, NY @ HOUSE SHOW
March 3rd – Detroit, MI @ BLACK LODGE
March 4th – Chicago, IL @ WALLY’S WORLD
March 5th – St. Louis, MO @ PLUSH
March 6th – Memphis, TN @ LAMPLIGHTER
March 8th – SOMEWHERE IN KENTUCKY~!
March 9th – Asheville, NC
March 10 – Chapel Hill, NC @ NIGHTLIGHT
MAR 12 – Arlington, VA @ CD CELLAR
MAR 13 – Baltimore, MD @ HOLY FRIJOLES
MAR 14 – Philadelphia, PA @ THE NUTHOUSE
MAR 17 – Cambridge, MA @ CHARLIES KITCHEN
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And whaddya know there is a new music video from the Doritos themselves. Check it out below.
Bands: Nobunny, The Hussy, The Fagettes, Banditas, Gangbang Gordon Date: Tuesday, February 4, 2014 Venue: Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge, MA)
Gangbang Gordon – “I have two announcements to make. I’d like to wish my father, Papa KLYAM, a happy birthday. He turns fifty-three today. And I want to thank Nobunny, because if it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t be here today. Literally and figuratively.” That’s it, you heard it right from the bunny’s mouth, I mean horse’s mouth. Gangbang Gordon, a mere seven shows deep, is playing on the same stage (well, he’s on the floor actually) as his two heroes: Nobunny and The Hussy. As a fellow KLYAMER and massive fan, this is a distinguished accomplishment. Let’s just take that in for a moment. You play a few shows and then you open up for two of your favorite singers. Except you don’t, unless you’re Gangbang Gordon.
GBG sings lead vocals and strums on guitar, being accompanied by his WTF (Wakefield Track & Field of course) band which includes Brian Hickey on guitar, Dan Gerry on bass, Justin DeCarlo on drums, and Ben Tan on tambourine. While GBG resides on the floor, the backing band holds the fort on stage. Mr. Tambourine Man, Ben Tan, however, often hops back and forth, “dancing” and intimidating the crowd of puzzled on lookers.
Bewilderment is nothing new at a GBG show. That reputation is solidified here as the would be gangbanger careens around the Middle East venue, bopping into the audience, wrapping himself around poles, and singing directly to individual members of the crowd. It’s odd, but it’s still showmanship and I’ll give him that. It’s better than watching someone perform “for the people” as if they are some demagogue, above everyone else. GBG plays with the people, he plays with their minds. He gets his hands dirty, filthy.
In terms of the band, you have a variety of players. Some are seasoned pros, others are amateurs. Throw em’ together playing GBG songs and it can get messy. That being said, this is the best GBG has ever sounded and I will give the WTF band the credit they deserve. It’s a lo-fi, ramshackle that doesn’t care if you are a Boston college student or a teenager in an insane asylum. GBG and his manimal barebackers are here for you and they are here to stay. Catch them before they catch you.
Set-List:
“It’s a Damn Shame”
“Lost Touch With the Youths”
“Life At the ABC”
“Warm, Warm, Warm”
“I Can Testify”
“Last Day of Work”
“Orguello De Rappers”
“Slide Paper”
Banditas – Just about anything that follows Gangbang Gordon is going to seem conventional, but I’d say Banditas are a massive transition. The trio consists of two women on vocals and guitars and one man on drums. This isn’t the first time we’ve seen this band, but it was so long ago, it’s hard to remember specifically what they were like. We saw them open for Mark Sultan at PA’s Lounge, nearly two years ago. It was fun.
Of all the bands on the bill, Banditas are the easiest on the ears, though they still have some garage grit in them too. “When He Comes Home” has its country twang and stands out the most to me. They also perform a sick cover of The Stooges’ “No Fun.” Check out their music here: http://banditasboston.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Whiskey”
“When He Comes Home”
“So Cool”
“Sing About Me”
“Harmony”
“No Fun” (The Stooges cover)
“Number One”
“Mine to Lose”
“Hang Up”
The Fagettes – Fagettes are always an essential band for Boston punk slime shows. When we heard that the bunnyman and the hussyman were heading our way we knew the Gettes had to be playing alongside em’. If they weren’t, there would be riots in the streets I tells ya!
The dudes and dudette open with a newish cut entitled “Street Queens in Heat.” It’s fine and dandy, and the packed crowd of new and old faces are digging it. The next song is “On Drugs,” one of the quintessential Fagettes numbers. Just makes me feel sick in a very, very satisfying way. Just look at the lyrics. “Take me back to your place girl and I’ll show you the atomic bomb. ON DRUGS.” Love it!
They conclude the set with another vintage tune known as “I Wanna Feel Good.” As do I fellas, as do I. Ryan hops off the stage and walks through the crowd, staring through all of our souls. Eerie. http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Street Queens in Heat”
“On Drugs”
“Chilly”
“Bad Catholics”
“Tsunami”
“Stems & Seeds”
“Gonna Die Out Here”
“I Wanna Feel Good”
The Hussy – That’s Bobby (vocals/guitar) and Heather (vocals/drums), and don’t forget it. The Hussy are a two beast – a rock ‘n’ roll two piece from Madison, Wisconsin that sends most two pieces crying for their mothers. The Hussy have toured their Mid Western asses right off, releasing a shit ton of records and tapes along the way, but this here tonight is their Boston debut and they destroy! Bobby even burns his guitar apparently. I don’t know how I could have missed this, but according to Glen it happened. Where is my mind?
What I do remember, however, is The Hussy rocking my socks OFF! For the first half of the set, the crowd is a bit stiff, sort of just doing the headbob and perhaps some headbang. Then not too long after “Undefined” the Bostonians start to move and dance and slam and bam about.
Quite the debut from Madison’s finest. I’ll kill to have another Hussy onslaught come my way again in the near future. Let’s do it.
Nobunny – NOBUNNY!!!!! KLYAM are Nobunny freaks and it looks like we aren’t the only bunny freaks in attendance. Among the sold out crowd, there are somebunnies lurking around wearing their cute, little bunny masks. Yep, everyone loves Nobunny, unless you’re a killjoy. But, fuck those guys.
This is our sixth time seeing ‘that bunny fuck’ as one attendee likes to shout out ha! Yes, the bunny fuck, the bunny man, our masked hero represents the dirty, slimy, balls out fun (quite literally) rock ‘n’ roll that we champion. He is our shining king, an ambassador for love, peace, and non stop horny bunny fucking. Non Stop. Won’t stop, can’t stop. For the love of rock ‘n’ roll. Shock ‘n’ Troll. Twenty – Fourteen. Sweet Sixteen, ain’t so pristine. No Bunny, No Problems.
So yeahhhh, The Hussy come back for more, those crazy fucks. They back up Nobunny alongside another long, blonde haired gent. The quartet kick it all off with Secret Songs (2013) opener “Bye Bye Roxie.” And I’m always getting highhhhhh awww yeahhh! The set list varies with blasts from the past – Love Visions (“I Am A Girlfriend,” “Chuck Berry Holiday,” “It’s True,” “Mess Me Up,” “Nobunny Loves You,”), First Blood (“Motorhead With Me,” “Gone For Good,” “Live It Up,” “Blow Dumb”), and my favorite, thee olde seedy, slutty, Sneaky Pinks anthem, “I Can’t Wait.” I don’t think I ever screamed along so hard to the lyrics of a song at a show before. I just feel the pain. I identify with the words the bunny spits when he sings his song. I too cannot wait for forbidden love. Ahhahahahahaa, I swear officer, she told me she was thirty six!
In addition to all of the wacky, wonderful songs Nobunny cums out, he also shoots out a load of theatrics, which are actually just simple off shoots of his personality. He can’t help but pull down his undies and moon all of us. And honestly, why can’t one’s under garments serve as a mic stand? Why not???
BUNNY FREAKS FUCKING FOR LIFE!
EPITAPH:
The world is a fucked up place, I can’t change that. It’s a terrible place really. I don’t blame people that kill themselves or want to kill themselves, I’ve been there. But, maybe we can start by making the world a better place for them to live in first. We can make a better world (laughs from the reader). I’m serious though. Dead serious, so help me God. A great song to me is a perfect place, a place where I can escape for a little while. These are the only songs I am interested in hearing. Nobunny makes trashy rock ‘n’ roll, but we live in a trashy world. Think about that.
I guess this is the part of the review where I tell you what I’ve learned so far. I am confident in myself and all I can say is that rock ‘n’ roll should…
Bands: Atlantic Thrills, Ravi Shavi, Gymshorts, Littlefoot Date: Saturday, February 1, 2014 Venue: Dusk (Providence, RI)
“Hey, you’re the titties sucking guy!” Ahh, it’s that warmth I’ve come to know and love in Providence. Everyone seems to be so kind and friendly here. Glen, Paul, and I drove up from Wakefield, MA to come and celebrate an event we’ve been greatly looking forward to for years: Atlantic Thrills debut album release. Not to mention, another visit to Caserta Pizza to devour a full course of their mouthwatering cheese pizza. We don’t venture out to Providence very often, but when we do it’s always a blast and usually consists of a wild, debauched party featuring the music of Atlantic Thrills and fellow Providence, revolutionary rockers Ravi Shavi. Additionally, two more excellent Providence rock bands fill out the bill with Gymshorts – a group we’ve been seriously digging as of late and Littlefoot, whom make their KLYAM debut tonight.
Yes sir, Mr. DJ Studs Jerkel, thank you for reminding me of a fond memory from the canon of KLYAM attended punk slime shows. Last time we stepped foot in this city was indeed a wild, debauched, titties sucking hootenanny accompanied by the rampant music of the Thrillz and Ravi on a lovely, lush, and unforgettable Summer night. Summer ends. Work sucks. School sucks. Most vividly, New England weather sucks. I’m freezing my nips off in the cold, so I look to Dusk to seek out that warmth I’ve come to know and love here in Providence.
This is our first time here at Dusk, although I have heard the name pop up on a number of occasions in local listings and just general conversation over the years. I know it’s one of the hot spots for local music in Providence and one of the times KLYAM Records’ own Fat Creeps played in Providence they played here. Needless to say, I’m curious. It’s a cool spot with a big bar area and a fair amount of space for the audience to stand and see the bands, and hopefully much more rambunctious activity.
Littlefoot – The evening begins with Littlefoot and of all the bands they are the most serene and surreal. The music is very mellow and gentle. It places me in a ethereal state of mind. The music warms everyone up for the rest of the bands, which are all more of the heavy, garage variety. That isn’t to say that Littlefoot doesn’t have any rock to them. They are very dream pop and there’s elements of early rock ‘n’ roll. They remind me of Dum Dum Girls, Polaroids, and The Smashing Pumpkins at their softest. My favorite tune is set closer “Worry Doll,” which makes me think of headliner Atlantic Thrills’ “Foreign Lands.” It just has that classic 50s, early 60s slow chord progression to it. Makes me want to lay back on the grass and stare off into the stars. http://littlefootlittlefoot.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Backwards Lullaby”
“Night of the Living Dread”?
“Fever Dream”
“Head in the Clouds”
“Bleak”
“Maps and Hands”
“Worry Doll”
Gymshorts – Here’s a band we’ve been getting into a lot recently. I wish they were from Boston, so we could see them on the reg, but you do what you can. We saw them on a sick bill in December with Nice Guys and The TeleVibes at the Middle East ZuZu. This set is similar to that one and the band is pretty dirty and heavy. It’s the muddier, less attractive version of garage rock. It’s not cheery bubblegum, that’s for sure.
About half way through the set one of the guitarists condemns the crowd of stiffs, “Did you guys all come out here just to stand around.” Well, that set the fireworks off, and the stiffs start to loosen up and slamdance like they oughta. I’m pretty much out of it by this point, if you want to know the truth. In a split second, I’m flung from one side of the room to the next, barely able to stand. And I do the same to other patrons, you know how these things go.
“Hey Mom, Hey Dad” is my favorite from the night. Lead vocalist/guitarist Sarah’s vocals are delivered in ferocious, devilish yalps that bring to mind Kim Gordon, except Gymshorts are much more fun.
Another highlight includes “Bed (Stuy).” It’s hilarious when everyone is moshing and the band is going like 90 mph then SLAMS on the breaks and stops playing for a moment and everyone stops moshing. Then they start playing again and the moshing starts up again, and it’s just start, stop, start, stop. It’s really hilarious. Like they are dictators and we are all robots. I could live under a Gymshorts dictatorship. http://gymshorts.bandcamp.com/
Ravi Shavi – The mighty Ravi Shavi, my second favorite Providence band (Thrillz are number one). I haven’t seen these fellas as much as the Thrillz, but I have seen them several times in Providence and I’m more than excited to add another exhilarating Ravi Shavi show to the books.
As the band prepares to launch into their set, I overhear two gentlemen behind me discussing the American Revolution. The roar of inebriation washes over me and I clutch both their hands, proclaiming “let’s start the next revolution tonight!” With that I jump back and forth, bashing into them among other peers, the music kicks off and from then on it’s a non-stop frenzy.
Ravi Shavi is quite different from the first two bands on the bill; not as delicate as Littlefoot, but not as ravenous as Gymshorts. Their brand of soulful, vibrant power pop allows you to dance to them in both conventional and unconventional manners, I prefer the lather. Either way, it’s going to be sweaty.
The best part of Ravi is the build up to the final song “Accidental.” The crowd knows their Ravi Shavi well and all together there is a slow hum – “OHHHHHHHH” it’s like a fucked up, primal, tribal orgasm. At first, I’m like huh? But, I notice the band reacting to this and I realize it is in fact the beginning of my favorite Ravi Shavi song, so I join in the lunacy. It’s the band’s strongest/highest point, the pinnacle, the best way to close a stellar set. Listen to Ravi Shavi here and better yet go seem them live! http://ravishavi.bandcamp.com/
Atlantic Thrills – “This is three years in the making.” Glen says this to me as the foursome are setting up to play. Atlantic Thrills have been kicking it for 3+ years and the first KLYAM attended show was nearly three years ago, so this show and specifically this album has been a long anticipation for us, and one that’s been worth the ride. The songs on the band’s self-titled debut, with a couple of exceptions, have not been available anywhere else. If you wanted to hear “Light Shines” or “Drugs In It” then you had to get off your lazy ass and go out and see the band in the flesh. This is what separates them from most other contemporary groups and definitely makes the release of this album that much more substantial. Speaking of which, tonight the band plays the new record in its entirety.
Before we even hear the first few chords of “Problems,” drunken pandemonium shifts into first gear. Silly string and beer cans fly across the room as a hurricane of eager bodies and a poor, stuffed unicorn mascot swing to and fro. Eric, Dan (wearing a mighty fine sombrero may I add), Kelly, and Josh do what they do best, blasting through a set filled with hit after hit. Glen and I hop on and off the little stage from time to time to sing along to the various garage fueled, doo wop drenched anthems we know by heart. Whether it’s the “ohhhhhhhh oh oh oh ohhhhhhh” in “Boozin’ All Night” or the ” Lie lie lie lie lie lie won’t you lie lie to me” in “Lie to Me,” we never miss a beat.
This set also marks the debut performance of “Blind Lead the Blind,” a politically tinged sermon of sorts. Still, most of my joy stems from hearing and singing along, and hysterically dancing my white ass off to all the classics. I am certainly not alone in this fanaticism, as I look around and see naked fans, crowd surfing, and a demolished brontosaurus unicorn.
I haven’t mentioned this yet, but originally this show was set to be an underground party, but some pesky porkers stepped in and nearly ruined everything for everyone. Fortunately, the party was moved to Dusk. Initially, I was still pumped for the show, but thinking damn, that underground party would have been really sick. Honestly, by the end of this show I could care less. This is not only the best/most chaotic Atlantic Thrills show I have seen, but one of the gnarliest shows EVER! At least as far as we’re concerned.
I walk outside the Dusk to a cool breeze, still just wearing my Fat Creeps shirt, almost forgetting my jacket and the fact that it is probably 20/30 degrees or less outside. With my clothes soaked in beer, my body jostled and mangled up, I stare at my newly purchased Atlantic Thrills record (yeah, get that shit from Almost Ready Records!) looking down at each song and thinking about how rare a show like this comes through, and how awesome it is to hear all of these nuggets in one setting. I can’t wait to listen to this animal when I get home. Of course, if I can I still stand up straight.
ATLANTIC THRILLS: http://atlanticthrills.com/
So, you made it through this long winded and, if I say so myself, amusing review. Good for you. Thanks. More importantly, do in fact check out all the bands up to and including Atlantic Thrills. If you are a Boston peep go see them Saturday, February 15th @ Tasty Burger (Cambridge). https://www.facebook.com/events/254030581431595/
And for the rest of you, the Thrillz are heading out on a 33 day tour in support of their debut album. GO!: https://www.facebook.com/events/480886382022874/
Bands: Potty Mouth, Malatese, Kal Marks, DB Cooper Date: Friday, January 31, 2014 Venue: Craft House/ Crab Haus (Medford, MA)
We KLYAMERS scramble around Tufts University looking for this place for a good while until we finally see a big van with musicians unloading equipment outside of it. This is the place. I love these little clues when you’re searching for the right house that’s holding the show. I remember one time I overheard some dude respond to the doorman’s donation request with “hey man, this PBR 40 is all I have on me.” That always killed me, cause I knew right away this is the place.
I’ve never been to a show here before, but it looks like a lot of fun. A living room is packed with college kids, blowing off steam after a long, hard week of working and/or partying. It’s a relatively decent space and in fact there’s a camera set up on a tripod in the back of the room, catching all of the evening’s activity. I feel like this space is a much cleaner version of what the Die Slaughterhaus (Atlanta house venue, early double ohhs) must have been like. Ohh God, I would have killed to have caught just one Black Lips basement show in 2001 or 2005 or whenever. At least, I am here now and that’s all that matters. I am just going to sit back, wet my whistle, and let DB Cooper do all the work.
DB Cooper (formerly known as Dumpster Banana) – DB Cooper. Never heard of him or them before, but supposedly he or they are local Tufts legends. Before the show started I was informed that DB has elements of Husker Du in em’ and I can kind of see that, perhaps earlier, more hardcore driven Du, for there is plenty of fast, testosterone droolin’ grit to the DB Cooper band. I’ll point to fellow Minneapolis, alt rock losers ( and by loser I mean winners) The Replacements as a means of comparison. There’s that party hardy, loud, fast punk element, but there’s also a softer side with a heart to them. In fact, one of the songs is introduced as their “Replacements song.”
DB surely keeps the kids rocking as a tornado of smelly, perspiring bodies slam back and forth into each other at a rapid pace, crashing right into me as I stand in the back of the room on a tiny couch, trying to knock back as many bud lights as I can; I’m trying to catch up with you kids, but don’t knock over my damn beer! Makes me sad, I am no longer in college :(.
I have mixed feelings about DB Cooper. A part of me likes that Husker, Replacements vibe and just the sheer animal quality of their performance. Then again, I feel like, it’s sort of emo, death metaly high school stuff I am not too fond of, it could go either way. It’s fun, but not something I’d go out of my way to see again.
Kal Marks – Kal Marks is just the band I came to see. I fancy myself somewhat of a garage punk nut, though I don’t claim to be an expert or anything, but Kal Marks is one of the few contemporary bands I really dig that doesn’t fall under that category. Their songs may be bleak and brutally honest, but the band still rocks with so much vigor, it’s hard not to get excited when they play. Most of the songs are also quite catchy, but not in a cutesy or bubbly way. It’s all genuine, powerful, and ultimately profound.
For Kal’s set, I make sure I get a nice spot right up front, just inches away from the performers. It’s a packed crowd and like the first band, there’s a solid crowd response with lots of moshing and such. I’m actually surprised I’m able to stand up front the whole time without flying straight into the drum set.
As far as the songs go, there’s a lot of terrific material on display, much of which appears on their latest and greatest release Life is Murder. My favorite tonight is album opener “Love is a Song, Not an Answer.” Check out the whole album here: http://kalmarks.bandcamp.com/
Malatese – Malatese are on tour from Harrisonburg, Virginia and they are playing a couple of shows with their good buddies in Kal Marks. Tonight here and tomorrow night at Death By Audio in Brooklyn. Some day, I will attend a show there.
I didn’t get a good grasp on Malatese, but they were interesting to say the very least. Definitely far out and more experimental in nature than any of the other bands on the bill. Some say they are no wave and noise. I feel y’all on both accounts. If you’re into weird, but still rockin’ music, check out Malatese here: http://malatese.bandcamp.com/
Potty Mouth – I’ve heard a lot of folks rave about Northampton’s Potty Mouth, but I’ve actually never listened to them myself. Sometimes, seeing a band live for the first time is the perfect introduction. The band sounds decent with some tight, noisy, 90’s flavored rock, but for most of their performance I’m unable to actually visibly see the band play. There are too many bodies in front of me and I am simply too lazy to move up further at this point. To be frank, I am not sure if I stuck around for their entire set. Those bud lights finally caught up with me. Check out Potty Mouth here: http://pottymouth.bandcamp.com/
This show was presented by the good folks over at Apple Jam Productions. Let’s do it again sometime.
Bands: Ben Tan, Alex Marantz, Jason Zavala, Yankee Power, Só Sol Date: Saturday, November 23, 2013 Venue: Smokey Bear Cave (Allston, MA)
So yeah, as you can probably tell by the date above, this is EXTREMELY LATE. However, as you may or may not know, it’s okay, we here at KLYAM try to write about every single show we attend. Lately, we have been sucking at this! Too many shows, too much booze, too much school, too much work, and then not enough booze. Alas, I won’t waste anymore of your time droning on about our woes. Just dance to the music, and for a good cause might I add. This show here was a party to raise money for those suffering and starving in the Philippines. So bear with me (no pun intended) while I begin a series of dust blowing mini reviews and here we go…
Só Sol – Só Sol. So sick is more like it. They kill it. They kill it dead. Which, I haven’t decided how I feel about that phrase. It seems redundant. If you kill it, can’t we assume that it is already dead? But, in this instance, the usage simply feels right. That extra confirmation that Só Sol in fact killed “it” and that “it” is in fact dead. What is it? It is any hint of monotony, tranquility, or apathy. On a freezing November night, this Latin, folk based trio permeate sweaty, sexy, sultry vibes and dance throughout the crowded, yet still comfy basement space. I’ve seen these cats once before at P.A.’s Lounge, but this place is a lot cooler. Then again, most places hosting music is superior to P.A.’s Lounge. Either way, catch these people anywhere you can, including PA’s. http://sosol.bandcamp.com/
Yankee Power – Ahh Yom Kipour, the holiest. I mean Yankee Power, so holy. Radically different from Só Sol, but just as sexy. This is a change of pace for these yankees. I am more accustomed to seeing these gentlemen in above-ground settings such as Middle East, Rosebud, and Precinct. It’s certainly a different experience and an enjoyable one at that. They rock just as hard, but this time around I am not actually looking up to them on a stage or anything. There’s less breathing room. Bassist/vocalist Mark Fallon can attest to that as vocalist/guitarist Jeff Gallagher shreds on his guitar and shakes his booty in classic Jeff fashion, slowly planting himself on top of an uneasy Mark, with nowhere to go. They’re a fun bunch and my favorite song from this evening is “Because It’s Hard,” a Mark tune that always reminds me of Thanksgiving dinner at my house, which is a mere fours days away. Also, on this very night I bought myself a copy of the group’s bodacious rock beast: Zoo Traffic. And I got it on vinyl ooh la la, aren’t you jealous? Well, you can be just as cool as me starting today, starting right now: http://www.theyankeepower.com/
Jason Zavala – I was promised that Jay Z was playing this shindig and I won’t leave until Jay Z plays! I actually don’t even like Jay Z, but if I did then maybe I would belligerently shout this. Maybe. Jason Zavala, on the other hand, is a one man folk machine unleashing songs with his powerful, impassioned vocals. He truly is naturally gifted, which I can’t always say is true about most performers I see up to and including many of my own personal favorites. That aside, this sort of stuff isn’t exactly my thing, it’s too conventional and mainstream for my tastes. Some, if not all, of the songs are political in nature, but frankly half way through the set I find myself more enamored with the socialist, quasi lecture/rant my fellow Wakefieldian Chris Morrill is delivering elsewhere in the house. Still, here’s a shout out to Jason: http://jasonzavala.bandcamp.com/
Alex Marantz – This fucking guy, this fucking guy here. Haha, I don’t know why I just wrote that. It just felt like a “this fucking guy” moment. Often, you’re cocked and twisted and you point at some motherfucker from across the room and you say “this fucking guy.” It’s a swine’s way of saying “hi, this is Alex. Alex, so and so. So and so, Alex.” Alex is a prolific singer-songwriter dude, a professed “lover of tape recordings and lo-fi bliss,” a fume hood, and a future day. That is to say he is a member of the bands Future Days and Fume Hood, both of which I have seen live. But, this is a solo effort and it’s a bit poppier than his work in those outfits. The set is relatively calm, soft, and dream like. Spacey – musically and lyrically. It’s accessible and not particularly controversial in any way. You could take your mother to see him, if she was hip. Yep, Alex does his thing and does it well, he’s still no Jeremy Piven though. http://alexmarantz1.bandcamp.com/
Ben Tan – Last and if you think least then I’ll knock you right square in the nads TWICE… BEN TAN!!!! Ben Tan, one of my best buddies and a talented multi-instrumentalist closes the show. One man pop guru. He cranks out BBT (Big Ben Tan) classics such as “Marielle,” “Upper Lower Middle Class Blues,” among others. Sadly, most at the party are not present for most of Ben’s performance and there is only a few of us remaining. This has nothing to do with Ben’s music itself, but rather the fact that by the time he goes on it’s nearing 3 AM. The set skids its way into a peculiar jam session and better yet an impromptu Revivalists reunion. The Revivalists were a high school band in my hometown (Wakefield) featuring Chris Morril, Liz Sullivan, Brian Hickey, and of course Mr. Ben Tan. Check out Ben’s solo work here: http://bentan.bandcamp.com/album/inside-out
EXCITING NEWS! – KLYAM Records’ own Fat Creeps are releasing their full- length debut via Gnar Tapes this Spring! Gnar Tapes, the sick ass Portland, OR based label run by Erik Gage (White Fang/The Memories), y’all know. Below, you can hear the first single, “Comes in Loudly,” a Creeps live standard for a while now. WAY TO GO GUYS!!!
Bands: The TeleVibes, Atlantic Thrills, Vundabar, Kid/Astro Date: Wednesday, January 22, 2014 Venue: Middle East Upstairs (Cambridge, MA)
Kid/Astro – Originally, The Guru was slated to play this show, but unfortunately they couldn’t make it. No need to worry, Kid/Astro steps in as a last minute replacement and I can already hear them blasting away as I scuttle my way through the Middle East restaurant. By the time I make it to the upstairs venue space, the band’s set is nearly finished; at least, I’m able to catch a couple of tunes. They have a noise pop quality to them, reminding me of No Age and early Wavves. I’ll keep an eye out for them in the future. http://yokidastro.bandcamp.com/
Vundabar – This isn’t the first time I’ve seen Vundabar, but it feels like this is the first time I’ve seen Vundabar. I actually first saw the band perform at the Wilder Zangcraft in Lowell (The TeleVibes and Atlantic Thrills were on that bill too, y’all run with good crowds!) and that was way back in August, so my memory is a bit blurry. The second time I saw the dudes was in fact just last Saturday at O’Brien’s Pub. But, brother, boy ohh boy, I don’t have the foggiest….
In spite of my wayward shenanigans, oddly enough, when the Vundabars play I recognize most of their tunes. This is astonishing to me, because it usually takes me a while to remember how a song goes and the funny thing is I’ve never actually looked up their music on bandcamp or whatever. It’s like the group’s songs pitched a tent and camped out in the bowels of my subconscious, finally rising to the surface tonight at the Middle East. This is a rare feat and is a testament to the band’s ability to write a strong, distinct pop song.
With all that being said, I’d prefer it if the jams were sloppier and rougher. It’s too clean for my tastes; I liken them to Interpol, Editors, and The Walkmen – and those are all great bands, so if you dig that stuff you may just want to gobble up a Vundabar. All in all, a solid band/show. http://vundabar.bandcamp.com/
Atlantic Thrills – Don’t even get me fucking started here. You think I need to tell you about Atlantic Thrills again? Well, apparently I do. I don’t know where you have been this whole time, but that’s okay. At least you’re here now. Last Summer, you should have spent a day at the beach with Dan Tanner, dropping acid and feeling titties while his song was on the radio. I know, you missed out. Again, it’s okay. You’re just in time for Atlantic Thrills s/t debut via Almost Ready Records. And I assure you, there will be plenty of acid and titties, more than your little mind’s eye can imagine.
It is a real exciting time for Providence’s finest. With a full- length album on the cusp of it’s official release and a month long tour (including a trip to SXSW) on the horizon, it seems anything is possible for the Thrillz. Fourteen shows deep for this guy and I can safely say it’s not enough! Glen and I have really grown to love and appreciate these songs over the years.
Tonight’s set is splattered with nearly all album cuts, those very songs we have held so close to us since 2011/2012. I can remember standing in this very spot, in front of the stage at the Middle East Up and being stoned out of mind as I first heard the 60’s slow dance ballad, “Foreign Lands” and thinking it sounded like Against Me!’s “Baby, I’m An Anarchist.” Or better yet hearing my favorite Thrilz number, “Lie to Me” (or “Lies” as we traditionally know it) and feeling like someone took the Black Lips and the King Khan & BBQ Show and hucked them in a blender. So yes, I’ve been to my fair share of Thrillz shows and this is one of the best, from the band and the crowd. Though, these dudes always kill it, but the crowd response varies in the sense of movement anyway. For this show, there’s plenty of dancing and some fun moshing, especially during set closer, “Acid Rain,” yeah that dirty one will do the dirty trick.
P.S. I love Dan’s Back to the Future reference! YOU KNOW THAT NEW SOUND YOU’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR, WELL LISTEN TO THIS! http://www.atlanticthrills.com/
Set-List:
“Problems”
“On My Mind”
“Light Shines”
“Give It Back”
“Lie to Me”
“Drugs In It”
“Day At the Beach”
“Boozin’ All Night”
“Foreign Lands”
“So Long”
“Holy Mountain”
“Mind’s Eye”
“Acid Rain”
The TeleVibes – You vibin’ hard or hardly vibin’ at all? Well, The TeleVibes (or The Tellies as I like to call them, no band is safe from my obnoxious nick names!) will take care of you, fix you up real nice. Perhaps, a hot towel, some reading material, and their brand spankin’ new EP Washed Up available on cassette via 456 Records.
Yes sir, these kids are busting out heavy, psych POP with a knack for savage SURF ROCK. It just makes my cold blood tingle and my ass jiggle. That kind of rhymes, ehhh…. I can’t help but feel sorry for anyone that hasn’t heard this band yet. We see a lot of bands, but there’s only so many that make us want to keep coming back for more and more, until we are completely stuffed and barfing all the way down Central Square, terrifying uptight, working class hipsters that want to remain clean, what a little puss. The TeleVibes are rock ‘n’ roll done right or wrong, which makes it right or wrong, I don’t know, I lost myself at vibin’.
A big shout out goes to the trippy, multicolored beast known as the Lysergic Factory Light Show, making everything look pretty and far out for all the bands, making them look even prettier. This is especially true for the Tellies, adding more flavor to their joyous rock ‘n’ roll show. My favorite moment is when Scott Loring (bass) and Charlie Northern (guitar/vocals) hop off the stage and onto the floor to rock out with the crowd of demented moshers. Good times. Meanwhile, Christian Hardy bashes away at the skins like they said something derogatory about his mother.
Favorite song? The titular “Washed Up” is my pick. Damn, that bastard will haunt you. That fucking guitar riff is priceless, it will creep up on you like a spider that crawls all around your balls sack, sliming it’s way into your asshole. All you can do is twitch and moan, twist and shout “GET HIM OFF ME! GET HIM OFF ME!” If you’re not vibin’ by now, I’m gonna have to sick that damn spider on you. Listen up: http://thetelevibesofficial.bandcamp.com/
Last big shout out to Jason Trefts/ Illegally Blind, you put on some fine ass shows sir!
KLYAM Records’ own Fat Creeps were just recently included in a BDC Wire article on Boston female-fronted punk rock bands! Here’s what they had to say:
“This trio popped up in late 2010 with a handful of short releases and a grittier breed of what bands like Best Coast and Dum Dum Girls were doing, and have since been recognized as kind of the original gangstas of Boston’s new wave of garage girl punk. There’s plenty of pop charm to its tunes, whether it’s the three chord progression of “Horoscope” or the surf shuffle of “Leave Her Alone.” There’s also a dire psychedelic haze behind the trio’s leading harmonies that puts a clean stamp on the band’s sound and keeps things mysterious.” – Perry Eaton (BDC Wire).
Bands: Nice Guys, Idiot Genes, Community Service, Vundabar Date: Saturday, January 18, 2014 Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)
Idiot Genes – I’m a little too sober right now to be writing about Idiot Genes, but we’ll take a trip back to last Saturday to relive the sloppy mess that was this ‘Too Drunk 2014 event’. Indeed, this here is a fun loving, party hardy band of boys. Slimy, beer chuggin’ ruffians from Allston Rock City. The first and last time I saw them was right here at O’Brien’s chub. They gave me a bit of thee old chub back then and I’m feeling the sensation all over again. Shit, I’m failing to fulfill my New Year’s resolution to cut back on phallic imagery in my writing. Damn you Idiot Genes look what you have done to me!
I’m up front for these dudes, about six or seven beers deep now. The crowd is a bit larger than most of my experiences at this venue, but still building up. Overall, they are generally receptive with headbanging and screaming, but nothing too crazy. The band themselves however prefer to flop and frolic about all over the tiny stage. Lead singer/guitar guy Pete Bayko makes a shout to his daddy who is apparently in the crowd on this fine evening. What up pops? How you doin’?
Among the many choice numbers the group whips out, my favorite is “The Charles Mansion.” A simple, but catchy punk stomper filled with painful, negative emotions that oddly enough make me smile even when I want to cry. Life can’t be taken too seriously all the time. If you’re ever feeling so sorry for yourself you feel like you are going to explode, just remember this: there once was a funny man from the House of Representatives and his name was Dick Armey aka the DICK ARMY. Imagine paling around with this fool on the school yard. Bullies coming up to you, “You and what army?” “The DICK ARMY!” Ah, forgive me and my poor Idiot Genes, I inherited them from my father. Pay more attention to these Idiot Genes here: http://stupidpants.bandcamp.com/album/idiot-genes
Nice Guys – Ohh it only gets sloppier from here on… If there’s another band around these parts that can top Idiot Genes in serenading me into a drunken stupor then it’s Nice Guys. Fuck, it’s been over a month since I’ve seen these dudes in action. It feels great to catch another fresh set from one of my favorite bands. If you ever read this site (which of course you should) then you know Glen and I have been reppin’ the Nice Guys for the past year or more. I just love their gritty, loose, scuzzy sound. If you love this sound so much why don’t you marry it and have 80 million of its kids you may say. And maybe I will. MAYBE, I WILL!
There’s a plethora (haven’t used that word in a while, what can I say it’s just a plethora moment) of vintage Nice Guys tunes on display here tonight. Among the best are “HD Snobs,” my dad’s favorite Nice Guys song, “Boxfort,” a jam dedicated to the Allston underground venue of yesteryear, “Unholy Sacrifice,” which makes me tingle, it’s that unholy, and “Cop Walk,” a slow, but menacing number that sonically knocks you right the fuck out. Even better than those songs, however, are a couple of new sludgey, smudgey cuts for the raging and aging punk rocker in all of us. Even I don’t know how I feel about that last sentence. Anywayyy they are known as “Jamaican Vacation” and “Medical Envy” and they are coming to a theater near you.
Yesemm, these are nice guys, no doubt. But, they have a wacky wild side to them. They like to have FUN and this spirit is alive and well in their recordings and especially in their live performances. I especially dig Alex rocking out in the crowd, shredding on his guitar like a dominatrix tortures her humiliated male customer. Don’t worry, I assure you that guitar had it coming.
So, I’ll be square with y’all I vaguely remember Community Service’s and Vundabar’s sets. Whoops! I may have taken the Nice Guys’ mantra of “Drunk As Fuck, Stoned As Fuck” a little too far. I do remember enjoying myself very much though. Yeahhhh, I wish I had some sort of snappy line to go out on, but I’ve tried nothing and I’m all out ideas.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 