Three new tunes from Orlando’s youngest rock ‘n’ roll beast Back Pages! These new cutz all display the same piss and vigor we’ve come to know and love with each past Back Pages release – the mighty KC Allen has released a killer trio of songs each month since August. If you dig fast, fiery, intensely catchy bedroom assaults then check out Back Pages.
P.S. Happy Birthday to Back Pages’ KC Allen himself! Hope you had an excellent bday man.
Every time Colleen Green returns to her native Massachusetts we’re always jumping for joy and this time is no exception. Colleen’s hitting up Middle East’s ZuZu next Monday, December 23rd and she’s bringing along her pal Cassie Ramone (Vivian Girls, The Babies)! Be there or be somewhere else astronomically less amazing.
If you really can’t make it, then you can redeem yourself by popping into the Worthen in Lowell to see Ms. Green on Friday, January 3rd with Mannequin Pussy and TKC. Do iT! You have no excuses.
More upcoming Colleen Green shows!:
Jan 4 – Brooklyn, NY @ Death By Audio w/ Cassie Ramone
Jan 5 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ Mannequin Pussy
Jan 6 – New Brunswick, NJ @ Circuit City
Jan 18 – El Centro, CA @ Booze Houndz w/ Audacity
Jan 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Touch Vinyl
Fed 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour (Animation Block Party) w/ Blackbird Blackbird
Photo by Mick Rock from Rolling Stone
Damn, it isn’t every day that you hear your favorite band is releasing a new album! Our favorite dudes Black Lips are releasing a new country/southern rock droolin’ LP on March 18th entitled Underneath the Rainbow. Oh and if you haven’t heard (where the fuck have you been?) Black Keys’ drummer Patrick Carney produced some of the thang. Check out the track list below:
1. “Drive By Buddy”
2. “Smiling”
3. “Make You Mine”
4. “Funny”
5. “Dorner Party”
6. “Justice After All”
7. “Boys in the Wood”
8. “Waiting”
9. “Do the Vibrate”
10. “I Don’t Wanna Go Home”
11. “Dandelion Dust”
12. “Dog Years”
Now, we just need to get Cole, Jared, Joe, and Ian to come back to Boston!
Poster by Mickey Z
Bands: Way too many to name.
Date(s): Friday-Saturday, November 8 and 9, 2013
Venue: Cambridge Elks Lodge
Every year the good people over at Boston Hassle throw a big ass music festival featuring over 40 local and national bands. Essentially, they do what they do best year round, just in the most gigantic way possible. This is the fifth Hassle Fest (formerly known as Homegrown) and the first ever attended by us, the KLYAM and we had a shit ton of fun! We are forever grateful for having the Boston Hassle around us and all of the great music they promote on a daily basis, much of which was on display at this year’s Hassle Fest. We have never experienced anything quite similar. Simply one band after another, with no breathing room in between. Exhilarating. Overwhelming. Punk Slime All Of The Time – at least in spirit. So yeah, I set out to write about every single band. This quickly became impossible due to work schedules, train schedules, and our general black out status over the course of the weekend. The following is a recap of some of the bands we saw that left me with the best impression and/or I remember best.
Zebu! – The Zebu! dudes always put on a good show and interact very well with their audience. They use up their twenty minutes bashing out a string of noise rock fused jams including a cover of The Vaselines classic “Molly’s Lips,” which they twist into “Molly’s tits.” Hehe.
Per usual in Zebu! shows, Ted walks through the crowd, shirtless, singing and shrieking about. He parades all the way to the back, until he is practically in the next room.
The band announces that they are happy to be celebrating their tenth anniversary and that they are releasing a greatest hits album on BUFU Records. Damn, pick that shit up. http://zebu.bandcamp.com/
Kal Marks – I’ve been digging Kal Marks for a while now and I’ve seen them with various line-ups over the years, but this is definitely the finest performance I’ve seen from the band thus far. Lead singer Carl has an undeniably distinct voice that just reverberates throughout the room and rests inside your ear drums for weeks to come. It’s like an odd, mumbly/grungy, southern drawl that one either finds appealing or nauseating. Most fall under the former category.
Besides Carl’s voice, the band has really come a long way since I last saw them (though, they were a rare two piece that night, so I’m not the best one to be judging), particularly with the addition of drummer Nick Egersheim (Big Mess). I’ve long been a fan of Nick’s powerful, sledgehammer drumming and I can’t think of a better fit for Kal Marks.
As a whole the band has a ginormous ROCK sound to them, very epic, very big deal. The guitars jostle back and forth producing incredible build ups and break downs. It’s almost intimidating, overwhelming, and strangely accessible, which isn’t a terrible word. Listen to Life Is Murder here: http://kalmarks.bandcamp.com/ It’s one of the best records you will hear all year.
Ed Schrader’s Music Beat – Here’s a band people have been recommending to me/us for at least a year and a half now, and I can certainly see why. This being our first Ed Schrader experience, I am flabbergasted. The place is roaring to the sweet, sublime sounds of Ed Schrader’s Music Beat. Glen comments that he was inspired by Ed before he even heard him!
Ed Schrader delivers a loony bass heavy sonic blast that drills my ears even way in the back of the Elks Lodge. The place is packed to the gills with Ed Schrader nut bags. I specifically love how Ed switches up between soft, serene Frank Sinatra drenched vocals to fast, pummeling screams. Ed makes it a point to make a special shout out to the Profit$ and how awesome it is to have him in our city. There ya go. The set crashed to its conclusion with a sick little cover of KISS’ “Rock and Roll All Nite,” which must have shoved old Ben Katzman into paroxysms of ecstasy. Check out Ed Schrader’s Music Beat here if you want to be shoved into paroxysms of ecstasy: http://edschradersmusicbeat.bandcamp.com/
The Beets – YIPPEE KI YAY MELON FARMER, IT’S THE BEETS! The Beets from Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, back in beautiful Boston for you and me. And I’ve never seen so many enthusiastic Beets fans all in one room before. It is fabulous to see the Elks filled to the brim with hundreds of kids of all ages, well maybe not all ages (in theory there could be!), all surrounding Juan Wauters (vocals/guitar), Tall Juan Zaballa (vocals/bass), and their Amerikan flag proudly hoisted behind them. Alas, no Chie Mori (vocals/drums) this time around :(, but two beets beat it off just fine, no fumblin’, no foolin’ around. There’s work to be done dawg. Despite the large crowd, this Beets set still feels just as warm and fuzzy as ever. Glen and I snag a nice lil spot up front, so close to the band that we are probably freaking them out, no way!
We first saw The Beets at a secret show at Wellesley College (opening for No Age) back in April 2009. I remember thinking they were a strange combination of Black Lips meets Beat Happening. At the time, I didn’t truly appreciate it though and about a year and half passed by before I started listening to The Beets again. The fall of 2010, a time when folks could find me listening to Spit In The Face of People Who Don’t Want To Be Cool (2009) on repeat, especially the song “Broken English.” Boy, did I love that song. I used to turn up the speakers all the way – I eventually broke them – blaring The Beets and tossing a tennis ball against my dorm room walls, annoying the hell out of all my fellow dormatory chums. I guess they just didn’t want to be cool.
Later that summer (2011) we caught The Beets again on a bill with Slumberland’s Brilliant Colors at a basement show in Allston (Problem House). While that show was fine and cozy, I don’t recall kids going apeshit for The Beets, at least not in serious numbers. Tonight is a different story. As I mentioned earlier there are many enthusiastic Beets fans in the house.
Aside from Glen and myself, Hassle Fest organizers Chris Collins and Ben Katzman are among these Beets zealots, rambunctiously dancing and singing along to each and every Beets song. It’s damn near hard not to; with just a couple of guitars these Queens kids can start a riot if they wanted to. The dudes open with Spit opener “Happy, But On My Way” and they play a satisfying mish mash of material from all three of their distinguished albums. My favorites on this evening include “What Did I Do” and “Why Should I Live If I Won’t Fit.” The latter is a fantastic anthem for all of us outsiders, and if you’re a Beets fan you probably are an outsider or maybe you’re an insider, but an outsider at heart or an outsider, but an insider at heart. The Beets can be puzzling. Make you contemplate life while you dance. Keep your mind moving just as fast as your hips, I dig. Lastly, at the request of the audience The Beets plink out “Friends of Friends.” Tis a great show.
Set – List:
“Happy, But On My Way”
“Let Clockwork”
“Now I Live”
“What Did I Do” (written as “Why Did I Do”)
“Watching Television”
“In Your Head”
“I Don’t Know”
“Why Should I Live If I Won’t Fit”
“Knock On Wood”
“Go Away”
“Friends of Friends”
Lightning Bolt – Lightning Bolt headlines the first night of Hassle Fest and rightfully so. The legendary noise duo formed nearly 20 years ago and have been deafening the youth over and over again ever since. I first heard of Lightning Bolt at the recommendation of a hip college professor in 2009. I was reading The Catcher In The Rye and this young, hip college professor suggested I listen to Lightning Bolt and Hasil Adkins. It was a fun day. Since then, Lightning Bolt has been on my list of “bands to see before I die.” I’ve seen chaotic videos of the pair (Brian Chippendale – drums/vocals and Brian Gibson – bass) in wrestling masks (as they appear tonight) playing on the floor while a crowd of crazy kids pile all around them. It looked amazing and I wanted in.
Last I heard of Lightning Bolt till now was that they were playing and even selling out the Paradise Rock Club, a large venue, not exactly what I expected from the band. Glad to see they have made it to a bigger level and still retain their gritty, abrasive nature, but I am so happy that my first Lightning Bolt show is here at the much smaller Cambridge Elks Lodge. And as I predicted, the place is full of vast amounts of Lightning Bolts fans, all tucked away in this tiny spot, and balls out bedlam ensues.
I’ve/we’ve never experienced anything quite like a Lightning Bolt show. It’s LOUD as fuck (thankfully I threw on some earplugs, about the second or third time I have ever done this) and it’s just a non stop mosh pit. The ear splitting, constant barrage of noise coming from the Brians’ drums and bass is the perfect soundtrack for mayhem. It’s like a 30-40 minute tornado. Kids even crash into the drum set and it topples over from time to time. By the end of the set, I’m drenched in sweat and I remain soaked for the next two hours. So yes, go see Lightning Bolt if you get a chance. Footage shot by Sixdust/NYC Music
Night 2…
Fat Creeps – KLYAM Records’ own Fat Creeps are among the most anticipated bands to play the Hassle Fest and by the time they hit the stage (or lack thereof), a solid crowd is built up around them.
Tonight’s set consists of some of the band’s louder, noisier tunes and the whole performance is one of the heaviest I have seen from the trio. Songs include the pop gems like “Fooled” and “Secrets,” which feature some nasty, extended vocals – “I Can’t hear youuuuuu!” as well as some fast punk rockers like “Going to the Party” and “Daydreaming.”
I notice a lot of new faces at this show, I can see that many of them are taking a shine to the Fat Creeps. The seemingly younger crowd produce a healthy, fun loving mosh pit during “Going to the Party,” something that typically doesn’t occur at most Creeps shows.
All in all, one of the best I’ve seen from the band in months. Check out their music here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/ and pick up a copy of their self-titled 10″ (VINYL) EP from KLYAM Records! http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/fat-creeps-10-ep-coke-bottle-clear
Spacin’ – Spacin’, some dudes from Philly, some seriously spacin’ dudes. These fellas are fun, laid back, dare I say psychedelic. It’s an overused description, but for all intents and purposes, we’ll stick with psychedelic for now. No need to get into all the hairy, in depth, emotional details. What do I look like their fucking biographer? So yeah, it’s jam, bluesy psych stuff. They’d pal around with the likes of Moontower and Future Days if they were around these parts; a bit dirtier than those folks though. Not downright filthy either.
A pair of hoolgians grab the band’s mic and sing into it while the band continues to solo as if nothing is going on. They all spaced out. Maybe. Space out with Spacin’ right here: http://spacin.bandcamp.com/album/1-1-11-demo
Guerilla Toss – There’s been a lot of commotion surrounding Guerilla Toss lately and they’ve earned it. I mean there’s always commotion surrounding Guerilla Toss. It’s that primal, incomparable rawness that sets them apart from just about every other band I have ever seen and most other bands you will see too. I’m not going to pretend like I understand the technical sophistication that makes up the music of Guerilla Toss. I don’t know much about no wave or free jazz or whatever, but I know what I like and I like Guerilla Toss.
So, instead of throwing out names like Boredoms or another noise/experimental/avant garde band I don’t actually know anything about as a means of comparison, I’m going to stick with what I know: my own gut feeling and Jay Reatard. Huh? yes, I am probably the only person that will compare Guerilla Toss to Jay Reatard. But, I can only speak from personal experience. When I see Guerilla Toss, I get that same, uncertain, somewhat uncomfortable feeling in my stomach that I got all those years ago when I saw Jay all revved up on stage before he passed away far too young. While the late musician played comparatively far more straight forward rock ‘n’ roll than Guerilla Toss, both artists share a similar brutal aesthetic that is particularly amplified during a live show. With Tard and Toss the music serves as a gigantic bulldozer that rolls over you with little to no care for your preservation. There is no conventional verbal interaction with the audience. There is no applause after each song to serve as an ego boost for the artists. There is no time check, time is suspended. In a few simple words, Guerilla Toss is the most confrontational band I have seen since Jay Reatard; the band and the audience together behave as they ought to at a rock ‘n’ roll show, like primitive, savage animals.
Give Guerilla Toss’ new record Gay Disco (NNA Tapes) a listen and check out everything else G Toss here: http://guerillatoss.com/
All around Hassle Fest was a mesmerizing experience, a constant assault of excellent music – both foreign and homegrown. Can’t wait for next year.
Footage shot by our guy Melody Matters
Christmas is two weeks away and you’re shitting your pants right now because you don’t know what to get your loved ones this holiday season… No need to fear KLYAM’s got you covered! Pick up Fat Creeps 10″ (VINYL) EP from KLYAM Records today! You can find the EP at the following local record stores:
Weirdo Records in Cambridge, MA
Armageddon Records in Cambridge, MA
And if you don’t want to freeze your ass off in this crazy weather or you don’t live in the Boston area then you can simply order a copy directly from us at KLYAM Records: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/
Bands: JUICEBOXXX, Extreme Animals, Secret Lover, Fat Creeps, Thick Shakes, Fume Hood
Date: Saturday, November 2, 2013
Venue: Lilypad (Cambrige, MA)
This is a review of two different shows that took place one after another on the same night at the same venue (Lilypad).The first is a review of Fume Hood, Thick Shakes, and Fat Creeps and the second is a review of Hassle Night # 9 featuring Secret Lover, Extreme Animals, and JUICEBOXXX, though we missed Juice :(.
Fume Hood – It’s my first time here at the Lilypad. It’s a sweet little spot; art gallery, no stage, tiny bar, there’s something charming about it that I haven’t put my finger on yet. Not the best space I’ve seen for a crazy rock ‘n’ roll show per se, but a fairly comfortable, fun, fitting place for an underground music show, if you will. Glen says it reminds him of the 119 Gallery in Lowell, but I disagree. I think he was too fucked up to remember what the 119 Gallery looked like the last time we were there – it’s okay, I was equally shitfaced myself, but that’s a whole other story. We’re here now at the Lilypad and Fume Hood is playing (pretend that they are playing in front of you, use your wonderful imagination).
The first and last (up until now) time we saw Fume Hood was at the Boston Underground Summit this past September at the Cambridge Elks Lodge. With that show we only got a taste of the Fume Hood, we got teeny flashes of the fume because it was a round robin set – up, so we only heard one song at a time, ya dig? Tonight’s show is a standard back to back performance. I have to say I preferred them last time and this could be attributed to the fact that they are missing their lead singer. Or, I just have a really short attention span. A solid combo of both.
Fume Hood is fairly strange and psychedelic for lack of a better word. A bit experimental, artsy at times. Perhaps music that’s better if you’re really high, but then again what kind of music isn’t better when you’re high?
Fume Hood’s set also includes some special guest vocals from Gracie Jackson (Fat Creeps). Is dis a sign of future collaborations? We’ll just have to wait and see.
Listen to Fume Hood here: https://soundcloud.com/fumehood
Thick Shakes – It’s been a while since we’ve seen our local Thick Shakes. Last show was at the Precinct in the Summer of Twenty Twelve. What a grande olde tyme. But, we go even further back with the Thick Shakes. Nearly three years ago we caught the Thick Shakes at the Dirty Douglas in Lowell, in fact that was our first basement show. A straight up surreal introduction to this weird, wonderful world of underground rock ‘n’ roll. Even more fitting is Thick Shakes’ grasp on garage rock ‘n’ roll; they lean towards the dirtier, noisier side of the rock ‘n’ roll spectrum and that’s what we love.
I honestly haven’t listened to Thick Shakes in a long time, so I am not all too familiar with their songs. But, my memory serves me right and they are still the same old garage punk band as I remembered. Fast, head banging, hip shaking, slimy punk jams. Though, they are missing an organ player, a key ingredient in the Thick Shakes plate.
Thick Shakes are a genuinely fun band and overall I dig their performance, but I would prefer it if there was a bit more of an edge to them. I don’t feel the same wild, reckless vibes I feel when I see other garage animals. I still would recommend them to people that dig the aforementioned style of music, especially Bostonians, since they play around town all of the time. Check it out: http://thickshakes.bandcamp.com/
Set – List:
“Dead Out”
“Nobody’s Girl”
“Glass Mask”
“Neighbor’s Goods”
“I Said So”
“Polyommatus Blues”
“Jaywalker”
“Go Back to New York”
“Banned From the Laundromat”
“Friends Like These”
Fat Creeps – I really wish I was drunk right now to write the rest of this. I’m just not feeling it anymore. I wish I was as drunk as I was when I saw this show. I’m sure they played “Nancy Drew” and “700 Parts” and a bunch of other songs, and I’m sure we all had a blast. You can thank Mr. Melody Matters for capturing the lovely, feed backy, “Going to the Party” on video below.
Fat Creeps have a new drummer named Chris Geller and he does a sound job with all of the Creeps tunes. Give him a great big kiss when you see him at the next show.
Oh and buy the band’s ten incher from two sexy Italian men here: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/
So, that’s the end of the first show…. Now to Hassle Night #9:
Secret Lover – I seem to be seeing Worcester’s Secret Lover a lot lately. I usually see them in basements, but the Lilypad works just as well. I can imagine no setting would be too big or small for lead singer Sally.
Sally is one of the most exciting performers I have come across. I just adore the way she delicately darts out into the crowd and passionately sings every word. You can tell she loves what she’s doing and loves to get people dancing.
Give Secret Lover’s sensual, grave yard pop some ear time here: http://secretlover.bandcamp.com/
Extreme Animals – Extreme Animals hail from New York and they are on tour with JUICEBOXXX. I like me some rap/hip hop for sure, but this just isn’t my style. It’s heavily electronic and just makes me feel like I’m at a robotic, mainstream dance club. I’ve been clubbing before and it sucks. I don’t know how others felt, but the crowd seemed kind of awkward, just didn’t feel like the right audience for this type of music. Still, Extreme Animals may be your thang. Check it out here: https://soundcloud.com/extreme-animals
JUICEBOXXX – Unfortunately, we missed this :(. Enter the thunder zone here: http://juiceboxxx.com/blog/
Cover art by Amelia Gormley
The New Highway Hymnal are cracking skulls yet again! The Reverb Room EP is a whacked out, psych trip that solidifies their status as the ultimate Boston psych freak out machine. Yet, this release isn’t all macabre, there’still plenty of satisfying Americana charm, charm that will get your mothers dancing and tripping all over the place. The Winter Of Love has arrived.
Side A:
1) By the Pool
2) Isolation
Side B:
1) Reverb Room
Vanya Records. VAN007
Ohh and you can stream The New Highway Hymnal playing LIVE from Red Star (Cambridge) right now. I’m talking RIGHT NOW… http://www.vanyaland.com/2013/11/21/live-stream-ghost-box-orchestra-new-highway-hymnal-live-redstar-cambridge-8-11pm-est/
Bands: King Khan & The Shrines, Hellshovel, The Monsieurs
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Venue: Brighton Music Hall (Allston, MA)
The Monsieurs – Here at KLYAM we are suffocated by “garage rock” and “garage punk” and don’t even get me started on “garage psych.” At this point, we could drown in our vomit’s worth of garage. You may ask, “do you ever get sick of listening to this same style of music with bands ripping off bands that ripped off bands that ripped off bands that ripped off some poor black guys? The answer is yes and no. Yes, hearing garage all the time can be tedious and can surely make it difficult to warm up to fresh, young blood. But, no we are far too young to be cynical to say that “it all sounds the same” and sometimes it just takes a special band to make everything all right. The Monsieurs are one of those bands and they are ever so special. As one Cory Bell (SKIMASK, Funeral Cone, Ancient Filth) predicted, KLYAM seriously digs The Monsieurs!
The Monsieurs are a Boston based three piece – Andy Macbain on vocals, Hilken Mancini on guitar, and Erin King on drums (King stands up and smashes at her bass less kit a la Melanie and Peaches from Fagettes). Andy’s a real bad ace, we’re talking one kewl cat, I mean woahhhh daddy damn. He looks like a pimp (and could be) straight out of a blaxploitation flick (though he is white) – black shades, fur coat, funky hair, chewing gum, and pacing around the room like a caged cheetah that’s finally been let out and ready to rock like it’s no one else’s business.
Andy claws around, singing/screaming in everyone’s face and carrying a mic stand with him the whole time. Since I’m standing in front of the stage, he nearly knocks me out with the damn thing on several occasions. Andy spends much of this set on the floor, rocking around the somewhat empty crowd (at this point in the show, the audience is still building up and various patrons are just arriving, grabbing a drink at the bar, etc.). Glen thinks the band would fair better in a smaller, up close, and personal setting. I concur. Though, I got plenty up close and personal with The Monsieurs. Andy even kneels down and whispers sweet nothings in my ear at one point during the show.
As far as that good old fashioned, 60s garage/bubblegum pop styled rock ‘n’ roll goes, The Monsieurs are some of the best dishing it out around town. In particular, “Kari Ann” stands out to me tonight. It’s quite the ditty. Listen to all the ditties here on their album Rock the Night. Trust me, this one’s a keeper. http://themonsieurs.bandcamp.com/album/rock-the-night-8-song-digital-album
Hellshovel – Hellshovel is currently on tour with King Khan & The Shrines, although I have never heard their music before. Though, I have heard that Hellshovel is one of King Khan’s new favorite bands. Makes sense, given that Hellshovel is led by Demon’s Claws’ front man Jeff Clarke – a long time friend and collaborator of King Khan’s. A fellow Kukomonga, a death culter.
Hellshovel has a similar garage aesthetic as the other two bands on the bill, but they are a lot more laid back and mellow. It’s actually bizarre psych garage music. Spacey. It’s cool, but doesn’t burn a fire in my heart like The Monsieurs did. Still, I recommend you check out their stuff here: http://slovenly.bandcamp.com/album/hellshovel-hated-by-the-sun-lp
King Khan & The Shrines – Ahh the build up before King Khan is like no other. All the Shrines are out on stage, decked out in all black, wailin’ away as the crowd cheers loud and louder until the King finally arrives. Dressed in black and gold, the King summons his sensational shrines and the band bursts into perennial show opener “Land of the Freak” OWWWWWWW!!!.
This is our fourth time seeing King Khan & The Shrines, so we know what to expect, but the show still remains magnificent. And in terms of the set, it’s precisely what you want from the grandaddy of them all. A sweet mixture of all the vintage Shrines tunes spiced up with some fresh cuts from the band latest effort Idle No More (Merge).
I’m as ecstatic as ever to hear my favorite King Khan & The Shrines songs, but I really dig the way King introduces each hit with a tiny hint as to what the band will play next. “This next one is for all you big girls” (“Took My Lady to Dinner”), “This one is for all you poor people,” (“Welfare Bread”), and best of all a new ballad for those rabid animals we lay to rest, especially Jay Reatard and Lou Reed (“So Wild”). You forgot Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel) King! So wild. RIP to all.
I may simply be forgetting – it’s been so many shows now – but, this may be the first time I’ve ever heard the band play the slow, doo woppy love song “Fool Like Me,” one of my favorites and a real pleasure to finally hear live.
Per usual, King Khan & The Shrines puts on one of the best shows you will ever experience, but the crowd could be a lot better. Sure, people are dancing, but there is not enough movement, not enough hysteria. This is King Khan people! On the other hand, when King Khan returns for the encore – in cape – the disciples start moshing and bashing back and forth to the sounds of “Born to Die” (a newbie from Idle No More). Next is “No Regrets,” and finally we leave with the classic “Live Fast Die Strong.” LIVE FAST DIE.
Following the show, we share some kind words with the almighty defender himself. He remembered Gangbang Gordon! You may not however, you may have never even heard of him, but you will some day. When you least expect it.
Video by John Doherty
This month we’re looking at a new record, Rang Tang Ding Dong from The Ding Dongs – that is Mark Sultan + Bloodshot Bill out on the legendary Norton Records. Be excited.
Bands: FIDLAR, The Orwells, Nice Guys
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Venue: The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA)
Nice Guys – OMG!!! IT’S NICE GUYS!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
That’s right kids, it’s Nice Guys! And if you feel my exclamation points are extraneous and exaggerated then you obviously haven’t seen the band at the Sinclair among hundreds of screaming sixteen year olds. As soon as the Allston foursome hit the stage the crowd begins to cheer. Jake quickly quips “thanks for clapping for us even though we haven’t done anything yet.” And with that little jab, they launch into their demonic set on the gigantic Sinclair stage. It’s funny how I’m used to seeing these guys play on small stages or no stages or even better in dusty basements and other DIY spaces, so seeing these gentlemen on the Sinclair stage is a trip. The sound is terrific; the Nice Guys’ sound at the Sinclair is so large it could break down the walls of Jericho, which from what I hear are very hard to break down.
I’ve seen Nice Guys about ten times now and in some ways I know what to expect, but with the exception of a few other people in attendance, most of the crowd are newbies. But, the newbies eat it up, moshing and thrashing about and even high fiving the dudes at the end of their set, much to the pleasant surprise of the band members themselves. This has to be the best crowd response I’ve ever seen for a local, opening band or even most opening bands. I saw Jacuzzi Boys and King Tuff here earlier in October opening for Wavves and the crowd didn’t go this bonkers to those guys as they do to the Nice Guys.
Personally, I get a massive kick out of simply watching the young, all ages crowd react to the Nice Guys’ performance. It’s the little things that make the difference. Like seeing little bracefaced girls giggle when Jake announces that the next song is “Pizza Bong” or their perplexed faces when Alex rampantly swings his guitar around like one of those dudes that’s just been infected by the zombies in zombie flicks, like he’s trying to fight it off even though he knows he’s a goner. Game’s over man. I love that feisty energy! Ha yeah so, then there’s my favorite when Matt unleashes some nasty feedback and distortion from his guitar and the kids’ eyes just light up. Woahhhhh. I remember seeing Thurston Moore scrape and mutilate his guitar in similar fashion and being blown away, I know the feeling kids.
Besides impressing kids with their usual set of shenanigans, the crowd genuinely devours the Nice Guys’ fast, aggressive punk sound. A sound that could be or more importantly SHOULD be the soundtrack to kids getting drunk as fuck and stoned as fuck for the very first time. Nice Guys oughta play some sweet sixteen birthday parties…. when their parents aren’t home.
P.S. Cam rocks. I haven’t mentioned his name until now. How could I forget? It’s like my dad used to say “you would forget your dick if it wasn’t attached to you!” Cam slays on drums and eats souls. Keep soul eating brotha.
http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/
Set List:
“Gary”
“Herb Chambers”
“Pizza Bong”
“Draggins”
“Drunk As Fuck Stoned As Fuck”
“HD Snobs”
“An Unholy Sacrifice”
“Cop Walk”
“Box Fort”
“Medical Envy”
“Finale Dead”
The Orwells – Our Chicago boys The Orwells, so happy to see these fellas again for the third time in twenty thirteen! This show, however, tops them all. Last time at Brighton Music Hall, the crowd was sparse and still filling up for the headliner Palma Violets. The headliner tonight is FIDLAR, and they bring forth a little bit extra junk in the trunk, so pairing The Orwells with a harder edged bunch of ruffians like FIDLAR pays off. The crowd of youngsters don’t spare a second of The Orwells’ set with moshing and stage diving galore. All of that pent up aggression fresh off your first Nice Guys show, I feel ya kids.
The Orwells feed off the crowd’s energy and they emerge as a true rock ‘n’ roll outfit of epic proportions. In particular, Mario is a beast. He knows how to work a crowd. All he has to do is give one of the girls his signature zoned out, wide eyed, evil glare and they are instantly blushing.
In terms of the set-list, damn, it’s all the songs you would want to hear the band play and then some. “Who Needs You?” “Other Voices,” “Halloween All Year,” “In My Bed,” (which can be seen below), “Mallrats (La La La),” and my favorite “Blood Bubbles” – I really miss the singing black ladies though. See the song’s music video, if you don’t follow. Covers of classic tunes in the rock canon such as “Build Me Up Buttercup” (The Foundations) and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (The Stooges) round out one of the best performances I’ve seen all year.
FIDLAR – I just started listening to FIDLAR recently, so I am not overly familiar with the band’s material. BUT, upon hearing the band for the very first time I felt an instant wavelength with these Californians. Enter the first track off of their self – titled LP and this set’s opener, “Cheap Beer.” “Twenty – three years I’ve been drinking cheap beer,” while I didn’t crack open a PBR as I rolled out of my mom’s womb, I can identify with being a 23 year old cheap beer drinker and being proud of it. And as soon as FIDLAR rolls out “Cheap Beer,” I proudly gulp what is left of my PBR and scream along to the anthemic chorus “I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU! I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU! I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU!”
Like I said, I don’t know most of their songs, but they are all pretty much easy to get in to. The only other song I recognize is a solid cover of Descendents’ “Suburban Home.”
FIDLAR has a fun, teenage crowd that goes even wilder during their set than The Orwells. Every other second, there’s a new set of legs crashing into my head after leaping from the stage. I love the excitement, because stiff crowds suck, but it can also be obnoxious at times too. For example, stage diving during slow songs or even in between songs, which is actually pretty funny to see because the crowd isn’t ready to catch the person; hopefully they don’t get too fucked up though.
Additionally, some of the audience members are simply too knuckleheaded at times. Like one dude keeps yelling at the band to play “Cocaine,”(which they do). Lead singer/guitarist, Zac Carper informs the young man “Dude, cocaine is bad for you. I mean it’s good… but it’s bad for you.” Ahh well, these are minor flaws and it’s okay, I can be a knucklehead too, and hey it’s better to see a rowdy crowd than a well behaved crowd. Plus, FIDLAR’s music tends to be of the shameless, beer guzzlin’ variety anyway. Cheers.
Video by Juan Daniel Torres
Video by Dalton Patton
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 