HEY ALL, feeling stuffed after Thanksgiving dinner, eh? NO WAY! It’s Friday night, make extra room for this wild ass punk rock ‘n’ roll, KIDS LIKE YOU & ME (KLYAM) show at Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge basement) in Central Square, Cambridge. Featuring the mighty Ben Tan, Gangbang Gordon, Durt Dog The Band, and KLYAM Records’ own Miami Doritos. Damn, after all that punk slime, if you’re not totally stuffed, then helll, that’s one Punk Slime eater there!!!
Heyyooo hey hey, it’s the Thieves Grotto’s 69th anniversary or something like that. Hats off to those straight shooters and all the memories they have created over the years. I saw the Nice Guys and Miami Doritos tour kick off at this very place some time ago, that was a tasty swell if I ever saw one. Now, here we are November 21, 2014. Crazy to believe it’s twenty fourteen. Wild times. The police are trying to kill me, Ted Bundy’s been laughing at me, Charles Manson’s getting married and I’m not getting laid! It’s not even Thanksgiving and I already feel full. Luckily, there’s a show, several shows on the horizon. Time to kick back and rock and/or roll with some of my favorite bands, local and otherwise.
This is my second time here at Thieves Grotto and tonight is a flashback to my first experience, those equally frigid times circa February 2014. Indeed, I froze my ass off on the walk here, wearing merely my leather jacket and my Cumstain shirt beneath. Ironically, one of my cleanest dirty shirts. I kept the attire on the lower end, having remembered how sweaty this place can be in the midst of all the hysteria. Most basements can get toasty at times, but hell this place is body to body packed, so it gets HOT, especially during the sets.
The Grotto has their shit down pat, a whole crew. Right as you walk in they’re right there at the door for the donations. On top of their shit and rightfully so cause this place is huge in a way. Its as if this is a scene from some hip, mumblecore flick and the director wants to capture a house show. It’s the Great Scott of basements, if you will, housing rosy cheeked, eager students and a series of twenty somethings whining about the work week, desperately missing their own college days of yesteryear.
Upon my arrival, Lady Bones are blasting away and they sound decent. I can’t see much if anything, however, so I virtually miss their set. Apparently, Dinoczar has also played as well. This place takes their set times seriously, on top of their shit.
Fortunately, KLYAM Records’ own Nice Guys are up next. Before they begin, a young gent busts out a few acoustic tunes and some beats including a cover of the Chili Peppers “Under The Bridge,” which riles up the anticipating crowd. I didn’t catch his name, but if you attended the show and know who he is or you are him (what up), then by all means let us know.
Off to Nice Guys! Damn, I love those few seconds before a crazy set is about to begin. It’s like being on a rollercoaster and getting strapped in for the ride. You can see where the ride will take you and it’s about to set off any second, but this very moment is exhilarating all by itself. The moment of anticipation.
The dudes kick it off with a new banger that is as feisty and catchy as ever and as I suspected, the crowd goes ballistic. It’s non-stop, slamming and blamming back and forth to all your favorite Nice Guys hits and one Andy Kaufman number where the Soul Eater shines. I TRUSTED YOU. The moshing is a lot of fun and it really makes the songs that much more enjoyable. I’ve seen 20+ Nice Guys shows and unfortunately I can’t say all of them are this nuts. That isn’t a knock against the band at all, but even in basements audience appreciation is typically much mellower. Here, you could be tossed from one side of the room to the other and I love it. So do, the Nice Guys themselves, thanking the Grotto on several occasions throughout their performance.
Cheers to more off the wall Nice Guys shows in the future (leans back and pounds 40 ouncer). Now you’ve heard it from me before and you’ll hear it again, pick up the Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″ from KLYAM Records: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/splifft-7
Free Pizza – Dayemmm son, first Nice Guys, now Free Pizza, dayemmm, devour these mouth watering slices before it’s too late. Yep, Free Pizza, one of Boston’s finest and a personal favorite are leaving us very soon for Miami, FL :( . Now, there’s teardrops on my pillow and telephone, I cried for four hours last night. As they (and Nancy Kerrigan) say WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? But, it’s alright, at least we have these last few, precious shows. COME ON EVERYBODY, LET’S HAVE SOME FUN! It felt like a caps locks kind of moment.
The Free Pizzas – Jesus, Santiago, and Nick open their set with a cover of Ramones’ “Havana Affair.” Crazy song, crazy lyrics, just reminds me of how fucked up the Ramones really were. At least, it’s not as disturbing as “53rd and 3rd.”
Much like every band that apparently plays at Thieves Grotto, the kids are flippin’ and floppin’ about during Free Pizza. Though, it’s not as rambunctious as it was during Nice Guys or I’m in a less chaotic place in the basement, who knows? I have a nice spot right up front, holding on to one of the amps for dear life.
Songs about Boston, Massachusetts, ducks, and love ensue. Good times had by all. See these slices before they are eaten by that Miami monster I call Ricky Martin. http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/
They’re playing with Nice Guys and The Monsieurs on Friday, December 5th at the Cantab Lounge for The Monsieurs Record Release: https://www.facebook.com/events/542009525942992/ HOLY SMOKES! BATMAN THAT’S A GOOD SHOW!
I knew from off the bat that this show was gonna be wicked. Megashredders JEFF the Brotherhood and Megarippers Diarrhea Planet. Opening were the local power trio The Monsieurs. Their brand of trashy lofi garage punk excited the crowd. Their singer, Andy MacBain had quite the swag as well. They just put out a new album and for sure it will win them a Grammy in 2015. They have a lot more shows around the area so czech them out!
Next up was the band that I will affectionately refer to as the Shittiest Band In America. Yes that’s right it is Diarrhea Planet! This was my first time seeing them which I am kind of surprised because they have come around quite a few times. They have 4 different guitarists riffing it at once. This also makes them super loud. Their stage moves rival Andy MacBain’s for best of the night. During one song their had their friend, photographer Pooneh Ghana play with them on stage and they showed her all the moves. They ended their set by taking us all back to the summer of 1997 by covering Third Eye Blind’s Semi Charmed Life. I must say they totally killed it with their violent diarrhea.
Diarrhea Planet Set List:
Raft Nasty
The Sound of My Ceiling Fan
Separations
Ghost With A Boner
Orange Girls
Lite Dream
Kids
Semi-Charmed Life
JEFF the Brotherhood aren’t their normal selves any more. They are no longer a duo (or at least live they no longer are.) They are a four piece band now and they played the whole show as a four piece. Last time I saw them they played half the show as a duo and the other half as a four piece. I miss the simplicity of them just being a duo. I just felt it worked better for them. They still sounded quite tight though. They did a number of my favorite songs of theirs such as Melting Place, Heavy Krishna & U Got the Look. They even threw in a few covers of Beck’s Totally Confused (which appears on their new covers ep Digs the Classics) and Rush’s Working Man (which does not) As always JTB get a great crowd in Boston. For their last song, the aforementioned Rush cover they brought out The Wizard. The Wizard sang as JEFF played. For some reason I knew it was going to be a magical night from the beginning and this just topped it off. Afterwards I shot the shit with a few members of Diarrhea Planet and they told me how they recently got high with Rikky from White Fang/The Memories
JEFF The Brotherhood Set List:
Voyage
Mellow Out
Melting Place
Heavy Krishna
U Got the Look
Black Cherry Ale
Totally Confused
Bummer
Staring at the Wall
Hey Friend
Sixpack
What’s A Creep
The Ripper
Working Man
YO! It’s Friday night, don’t waste it away on the couch doing the old one tug. NO! Come out to Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge basement) in Cambridge, where Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) is throwing a wack ass show featuring four crazy rock ‘n’ roll bands. We have Providence soul maniacs Ravi Shavi, Allston noise poppers Big Buck Hunter, smooth 60’s psychedelic garage rockers Phaze, and outsider bedrocker Gangbang Gordon and crew on tap for the evening. Doors at 8, music starts at 9. $7 buckaroos. 21+ sorry kids :(. Come out and play!!!!
Electric Street Queens – Live From your Dreams, We’re The… (KLYAM-004) & Back Pages – Singles 13′ (KLYAM-003) tapes are now available at the following Boston area record stores!:
These stores are all housing these bad babies as well: Fat Creeps S/T 10″ EP
Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″
You can also find the Splifft 7″ at the following record store across the country: Goner Records (Memphis, TN), People’s Records (Detroit, MI), Hello Records (Detroit, MI), Bric A Brac Records (Chicago, IL), Apop Records (St. Louis, MO), CD Cellar (Arlington, VA), and Celebrated Summer (Baltimore, MD).
OR OR OR you could simply hit us up at a show (or wherever really) and we can sell you one in person. Whatever twerks. You have so many options. No excuses.
Well look what we have here. An evening of local Rock ‘n’ Roll slime prime time on Friday, October 24th at Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge basement) in Cambridge.
Some of the juiciest of slime is smeared all over this show. We’ll be popping our Big Buck Hunter cherries, a must see. Perhaps, you have seen them before OR you can pop yours with us too. So much popping going on here. http://bigbuckhunter.bandcamp.com/
The chilll psych pop waves of Phaze is in the house. It’s a mixed cocktail of dream pop, garage, and psychedelia to keep you twirling into the night. http://allstontapes.bandcamp.com/
The demented outsider Rolling Rock kitsch of Gangbang Gordon is always a trick or treat to fill your little bellies. http://gangbanggordon.com/
Ravi Shavi, one of Providence’s finest, will headline and steal your soul with their sizzling, revolution rock. Put your ass to the floor. http://ravishavi.bandcamp.com/
And ohh hey, look at this the mighty Big Buck Hunter is going on tour with Sun Young sometime following this show. You better hit em up on their magical journey.
Wowzer, our Band of the Week/Month/Year Memphis’ NOTS is heading out on tour from November 8th to December 1st. Alas, they’re not striking Boston on this tour :(, but everyone else catch one of the sickest bands to explode in recent memory. Meanwhile we will sit back and projectile vomit gallons of green envy in your general direction.
Tour Dates:
11/8 – Memphis, TN @ Buccaneer (Album Release Show)
11/11 – St. Louis, MO @ CBGB’s
11/12 – Kansas City, MO @ Minibar
11/13 – Omaha, NE @ Sweatshop w/ Digital Leather, Coaxed
11/14 – Minneapolis, MN @ ShitBiscuit w/ Solid Attitude, Claps
11/15 – Madison, WI @ Turkey Fest w/ The Hussy, Digital Leather
11/16 – Milwaukee, WI @ Circle A w/ Olives
11/17 – Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle w/ Dream Police
11/18 – Indianapolis, IN @ GPC
11/19 – Detroit, MI @ Painted Lady (Timmy’s Taco Night)
11/20 – Cleveland, OH @ Now That’s Class w/ Obnox, Kill the Hippies
11/21 – Brooklyn, NY @ TBA
11-22 – New Brunswick, NJ @ House Show
11/23 – Jersey City, NJ – WFMU ON THE AIR
11/23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Palisades w/ Degreaser
11/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Bourbon & Branch w/ Abandos
11/26 – Baltimore, MD @ Windup Space
11/28 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 w/ Zoners, Slugga
11/29 – Oxford, MS @ Cats Purring Dude Ranch
12/1 – Memphis, TN w/ Blind Shake
OHH YA, listen to this ditty “Decadence,” the lead single off their forthcoming debut LP We Are Nots out on Memphis’ pride and joy Goner Records on November 11th.
Bands: Ty Segall, La Luz, Boytoy Date: Friday, September 19, 2014 Venue: Great Scott (Allston, MA)
Boytoy – I’ve never heard nor seen these knickerbockers before, but apparently at least one of the members is originally from Boston or at least was a part of the Boston music scene some time ago. Alright, we’ll give them that. I would have preferred seeing a local band such as one Nice Guys, but it’s all good, Ty Segall is playing tonight!
I get my typical spot right up front and center for Boytoy. I wouldn’t have it any other way. I spend most of the set mildly rocking out, if you will. Swaying a bit to and fro, doing the headbob. Most of the crowd looks like they could use a big buck of water splashed upon them; I guess like myself everyone is just waiting for Ty to hit the stage.
I like Boytoy’s set as a whole. Poppy, easy to get into, but doesn’t cut too deep for me. Reminds me a little of Boston’s Mean Creek and I have similar feelings for them. Not too shabby, but not something I’m in love with either. In any case, check them out here: http://boytoy.bandcamp.com/
La Luz – Alas, I missed most of La Luz’s set and what I did see I was way in the back for. I’ve heard a lot of positive things about this Seattle band from reputable sources i.e. friends and musicians, whose taste in music I respect. Based on what I’m listening to now on their bandcamp, it sounds like they have a soft, surf/dream pop feel to them. Brings to mind Dum Dum Girls and local favorites Littlefoot. Give it a listen: http://laluz.bandcamp.com/
Ty Segall – The full band arrives on stage. The classic line up, y’all know. Emily Rose Epstein on drums, Charlie Moothart on guitar, Mikal Cronin on bass/vocals, and of course the man man himself Ty Segall on vocals/guitar. These aliens/glam rockers, I mean glam rockers are pretty much aliens anyway, are introduced by a gentleman in a white cowboy hat and suit known as Jimmy Longhorn. Jimmy speaks of Boston glam legend Lou Miami (early 80s) to an antsy and puzzled crowd. You mean to tell me you fuckers don’t know LOU MIAMI?!Ahh I probably wouldn’t either if it wasn’t for Papa Georgio. Okay, back to the present.
Ty is the global ambassador for rock ‘n’ roll. Mmmhmm. At the UN, he represents rock ‘n’ roll. He stands proudly, shredding his guitar and bringing peace and unity across all the countries. Maybe not… yet.
For one thing, he has a legion of followers or let’s say dedicated fans. Followers makes it sound like we’re all ass kissing wannabe cult freaks. Needless to say, Ty’s done well for himself and he’s pretty fucking big at least by my standards. He may not be mainstream, but he’s up there and at this juncture in his career I honestly would have never thought I’d see the dude headlining Great Scott, a 24o capacity venue. He could sell out Middle East Downstairs, The Sinclair, Brighton Music Hall, Paradise, hell even *cringes* the Royale no problem. On a Friday night to boot! I saw this guy and his cronies sell out Great Scott on a Monday night last year in his band FUZZ.
At this level, Ty playing Great Scott as a regular tour stop seemed unthinkable. Unfair even. There’s at least a few hundred more fans that missed out on his performance, because Great Scott is a relatively small venue. With that being said, I’m grateful to be seeing the dude and his band in such a comparatively intimate setting. I’ve seen him a few times before including a visit to Brooklyn’s outdoor venue, The Well, and that was a behemoth, a thousand or more fans in attendance. So yeah, you get the picture, being up front here with the small stage, mere inches away from the band is an entirely different experience.
Without digressing, I also want to mention that this is the band’s first time back in Boston since playing the Homegrown Festival four years ago. Welcome back sir! Ty even acknowledges this absence and apologizes for it. I don’t know why, it’s been so long, but who cares you aliens are here now and that’s all that matters.
From beginning to end, the set is a banger. Ty, Mikal, Charlie, and Emily never waste a second, rarely interacting with the audience, instead letting the music speak for itself. The crowd goes nuts as one can expect. A constant barrage of moshing, crowd surfing, stage diving, the whole nine. As a pint size punker (ehh, I’m not really a ‘punker’ I just love alliteration) I find it difficult to maintain my front and center spot, but I manage. A friend even comments on this following the show, asking how I was doing, “you took a few blows,” ahh nothing I can’t handle at this point.
I’ve found that Ty typically plays newer material at his shows and that’s perfectly fine with me. While Melted (2010) will probably always be my favorite Ty record, I’m more than excited to hear the freshest dish of raw, guitar grit he has to offer from his latest LP Manipulator. Indeed, the bulk of the set is music from the latter album and one of my favorite moments is when he plays the song “Feel,” ohh we feel it Ty.
Naturally, I go berserk (in the best possible way) when he whips out some of the vintage cuts such as “Standing At The Station,” “Skin,” “Girlfriend,” “Imaginary Person,” “You’re The Doctor,” “Thank God For The Sinners,” and an unexpected highlight in “The Drag,” a personal favorite.
Anyway you can take it, Ty is king. At the same time, he’s just another dude like you and me. Err, I mean kid like you and me ;). Ok, ok, I”ll wrap this up real quick. Point being, he’s not too cool to stop and chat with hundreds of fans including one Gangbang Gordon haha.
Until we meet again, thanks for one of the best shows all year and simply ever…
If you weren’t here, then you missed out! At least you can check out this video from youtube user FrontRow Poster:
Hey there! Get yo’ ass down to Deep Thoughts in Jamaica Plain: The freakiest and friendliest record store (not to mention a personal favorite of yours truly) in all of Boston and perhaps the world over, perhaps. And guess what??? It just got a little kinkier, because we got some new KLYAM Records tapes up in that beattch! KLYAM-003: Back Pages – Singles 13′ & KLYAM-004: Electric Street Queens – Live From Your Dreams, We’re The…
“You’d like us if you were in Junior High.” These words appear on Robot Death Kites’ bandcamp page. I’m thinking… yeah, I would totally dig these dudes if I heard them in Junior High. Their music is extremely angst fueled and like so many of my peers I was pissed off all the time. Bullies, asshole teachers, gym class, math I dunno you get my point. Times sucked and I used music as an outlet to get through all that hideous shit. Robot Death Kites sing about bigger bullies and assholes. Evil corporations, sycophant yuppies, and Starbucks fiends. Depraved souls.
These fellers hail from Brooklyn, New York and I first heard of em’ two years ago when I too was roaming the street of Brooklyn, hungry. Seriously though, that wasn’t just a cute metaphorical phrasing. I actually was hungry, I hadn’t eaten in hours and it was around dinnertime; I was in town for a Nobunny show.
So waltzing down some lonely street in Brooklyn I bumped into a man in a chicken suit wearing boxing gloves. He led me to an odd, little restaurant known as Mama Joy’s. Long story short, the chicken turned out to be Dylan aka Snuggles. We bonded over tales of Gay Gardens shows and mutual tastes in music. He revealed himself as the bassist for this here band Rainbow Dream Kittens better known as the mighty ROBOT DEATH KITES.
Now, that brings us to the present day. Robot Death Kites are back in Boston and they’ve brought a tape with them – Yuppie Nightmare – their latest and greatest effort. The recordings are crisp and cool. You may catch yourself dancing along to the music at home alone, giving your junk the old plunk, the old one, two tug. Smash a few holes in the wall, empty another case of PBR. But, that’s not as fun as seeing these ruffians in the flesh dangling in front of you and more than likely resting their sweaty skin on top of your wee body.
Before the set begins vocals guy Otis aka Sunshine runs outside to rally the troops and round up as many men, women, and children as he can. About twenty or less bodies are present before Otis, Jon aka Artichoke (guitar), and Vinny aka Booboo (drums) rip through their set.
Robot Death Kite is pure spectacle. Otis is dressed in his mum’s Sunday best, a real top notch black number (he eventually slimes down to his skivvies), holding a red telephone as his microphone. Dylan’s face is covered in a set of fine pantyhose. Scrumptious. Don’t be misconstrued now. These guys have the guns to back up the glamour and they fire off a string of skull cracking tunes that gets the small, but enthusiastic crowd all riled up and ready to blow off some steam.
These miscreants really do put on a fun show. Their songs are angry and angst ridden, but the performance is anything but; if anything it’s an excuse to go ballistic, like you needed one, right? It’s Atlantic Thrills meets Guerilla Toss meets Rage Against The Machine if they were a basement band. Speaking of which, a basement is the perfect place to see Robot Death Kites, I can’t imagine it any other way. There’s just something about knocking back two PBRs and clutching your third in the midst of a mosh pit, whilst a convulsing Dylan Death Kite leans back and shreds his guitar in the middle of the pit on the cold basement floor.
Definitely a must see. We’ll have to get these fine, upstanding gentlemen back in Boston again sometime soon. It’s a pleasure to finally meet some of you dudes and bring home a few bruises in the process. Fuck it, you don’t want to leave this world without any scars.
Does anyone have any videos from this enchanted evening? I’d love to see them. Give the dumbasses that didn’t attend a chance to see what they missed out on. Ahh well, here’s a vid from Boston Hassle of the band’s set at Gay Gardens (RIP) the last time they were here. Enjoy.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 