Category Archives: reviews

Just Wrote About: HIEROPHANTS – “Parallax Error” (GONER/AARGHT)

10/08/2015 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Kickin off Parallax Error with some ole ’50s, ’60s Bo Diddley guitaring but that ain’t half of it. If it’s from Australia and it’s on AARGHT and GONER it’s gonna be pretty off and it’s gonna be pretty much the best shit you’ve listened to all year. Happened last year with me and the Ausmuteants. Great thing too is you can jump in after the fact, you know after their first few singles and/or album, and still feel OG because what they doing never loses its realness quotient. So with the Hierophants, I see ma boy Jake is in the band, in fact this was recorded behind his old house. Sounds pretty legitimate to me, but I’m the last to know about production.

For all I know these Australians could be fly by nighters, forming and disbanding just to confuse us Americans, right more than a few of us try too hard to sound ‘right’ or something like that. This Hierophants album, mostly, is that fine mesh of synth and vocal kinkiness – music to anyone’s ears who knows what I’m talking about – and bass/drum groove funkiness. I kinda fell off the new wave old wave synth wave black wave thing somewhere between Devo and the Lost Sounds (fucked up, didn’t I?, but place this down with a soft cushion in between those eras. Those epochs.

And I can’t tell the difference between guitar and synth. Everything is so mechanical, but unpredictable and doesn’t that vibe with rock ‘n roll legends in bands previously mentioned? I’ve realized it’s dumb to comment on songs versus provocation and why things are exciting while I listen and type. Cause it’s weird. But the music is fairly nerdy too. This is the dance music of somewhere. If the Hierophants are a top spin in a modern DJ’s collection, damn, come on please transport me there and allow me to spend some vacation days. They don’t let things get too f’ed and they intelligent too.

Music, reviews, The Garden, Tijuana Panthers

Show Review: Tijuana Panthers & The Garden @ Great Scott (1/6/15)

02/13/2015 dutchtown Leave a comment

Review by Joanna Trachtenberg

Ok everyone! First show of the year and it was a good one. Tijuana Panthers & The Garden were bringing some west coast love northeastward for a short joint tour. Opening up were local boys The Pits. The Pits consist of a couple of Idiot Genes and a Dirtnap or two. As I would have thought they played loud fast punk rock similar to their other bands. I even saw the other Idiot Genes in the crowd cheering them on. Not it was time for the So Cal boys to provide some heat on a very very cold winter’s night. I had seen The Garden a few months earlier supporting The Growlers. The Garden do not play any actual guitars on stage. The guitar they use is a bass for those deep throbbing riffs. You can call it Vada Vada because that’s what The Garden wants you to call it. I call it fun music to bounce to. They have this cool androgynous style to them. To be honest the first time I saw them I wasn’t sure that they were both male. They started with a block of fast punk thumpers. Then midway into their set I saw Wyatt put down his bass and Fletcher get up from his drum throne. You know what time it is! RAP BREAK! The beats were turned on and the Shears Bros started jumping and flailing around the stage as they delivered their sick rhymes. At one point one of them tried hanging from the pipes. Okay now it was back to rawking which they did with a bunch more loud fast thumpers. Here’s their setlist (or at least what it said on their setlist. I don’t know for sure if they played all these songs.)

Express/27
Cells Stay Clean
Crystal Clear
Slice Em’
I’ll Stop By Tomorrow Night
Rainbow
*rap break*
Hologram
Jester’s Game
Everything Has A Face
I Want That Nose
Cloak
*end rap break*
Vexation
We Don’t Need Em’
New Song
Surprise
I’ll Be Right Here
Woman
This Can Build Us a Home
What We Are
You’re Down
Apple/Vada Vada
Grass

It was now the Tijuana Panthers’ turn to power up. TP did a great job at power punking. They remind me a lot of fellow garage poppers The Soft Pack & Jacuzzi Boys. I’d say that they are more garagey than The Garden and more about the straight forward rock. Not rap breaks from them. They played songs from their latest album such as Sooner or Later & Cherry Street. The best part was when they played “Fired” because I requested it before the show. They even thanked me for the request and gave me a shout out. At the end they did a two song encore (their first one on the tour as they said) It included an older track “Crew Cut” from back when they sported crew cuts. Their last song was a cover of The Buzzcocks’ Everybody’s Happy Nowadays. They covered it well. These guys are just genuine down to earth rock n rollers and that’s what I love about them.

Art, Ben Tan, CHARLIE, concert review, Future Spa, Honorary KLAYMERS, KLYAM Presents, KLYAM Recommended Shows, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, The TeleVibes

Show Review: The TeleVibes, Future Spa, CHARLIE, Ben Tan @ Cantab Lounge (1/16/15)

01/24/2015 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

Bands: CHARLIE, Future Spa, The TeleVibes, Ben Tan
Date: Friday, January 16, 2015
Venue: Cantab Lounge/Club Bohemia (Cambridge, MA)

KLYAM is back at the old Cantab Lounge, specifically the basement known as Club Bohemia, where all the action and then some happens. It’s dark, it’s dank, and looks like a leftover from the 70s, but that’s just the way we like it. As Carl on The Simpsons says, “The dank Moe, the dank!” You’re never going to get rid of the dank, don’t even think about it. It’s in the basement where all of the best stuff is born and wreaks havoc. Case and point, this evening’s show.

CHARLIE – CHARLIE is a three piece consisting of Dan on vocals and bass, Tim on vocals and guitar, and Steve on drums. I haven’t seen these dudes since last April’s BUFU Fest or possibly at a rambunctious Robot Death Kites basement show last Summer, twas so rambunctious, both beer cans and brain cells have been diminished. Suffice it to say, it’s been too long.

“MAXIMUM VOLUME YIELDS MAXIMUM RESULTS” – CHARLIE’s bandcamp. Very true. CHARLIE lives up to this motif in their music and that is especially true live. I usually like to stand as close to the bands as possible, but I held back a little for this set. I want to preserve whatever is left of my eardrums, I lost my ear plugs to boot. I’m one deaf bastard and these are LOUD MOTHERFUCKERS. I love it. Even though, it’s so heavy, it’s not noise. It’s tough for me to describe these fellas. You can hear the vocals quite well, actually everything, every nuance of each instrument. It’s different.

If I had to compare them to somebody I’d liken them to Shellac, but with some more grooves in there. They’ll throw in those grooves and weird ass soundz to spice it up. My bro compares Dan’s vocals to those of the dude in Dillinger Escape Plan. I haven’t thought about that band since 9th grade or something like that, so maybe. I’m positive I would have dug this band as a ranting, pimply faced, anarchisto angst driven teenager. There’s definitely a healthy amount of aggression in CHARLIE, an undeniable aggression, but it’s also calm and controlled at the same time. And maybe schizo like their potential namesake, Mr. Charlie Kelley. This may be the kind of music people huff glue to, dunno, that was never my thing. They did cover a Flipper song though. I’ll be seeing CHARLIE again very soon.
http://charlieisgnarly.bandcamp.com/

Set-List: Titled “CHARLIE Rok ‘n’ Roll Set” and written in sharpie on the back of the cover of Linda Ronstadt’s Heart Like A Wheel record…
“Peru”
“Recall (Total”
“Mothers”
“Ha Ha Ha” (Flipper cover)
“Daved Linch”
“CHARLIE”
“Hard Carpet”

Future Spa – Oh yeah pal, KLYAM goes way back with Future Spa. We first had the pleasure on a cold evening in the basement of the Starlab. Mark Sultan was in town that night and we were ready to take off into his cursed world. Future Spa played before the BBQ and as I recall I was impressed with their jittery, snotty take on garage punk. It was like a garage band actually in the garage, practicing Black Lips and No Age tunes. I’ve seen them a couple of times subsequently, they’ve grown substantially. It’s still muddy though and that’s the way I like it. In fact, actually the last time they played and the last time I saw them was six months ago at Starlab Fest. Alas, I only caught a couple of songs of that performance, but here we are now and I’m ready to go.

Some of the dudes are decked out in costumes with bandannas and afros and other shit. Contrary to their own claims, Future Spa doesn’t suck and they garner some of the best crowd reception all night. They play a batch of old and new tunes including a haphazard, but lovable cover of Roy Orbison’s “Oh, Pretty Woman.” The newer songs definitely have some psychedelic taste and add a bit more of a pop sense to the loony garage mish mash. And by newer I mean like seven or more months old. I lost all sense of time. I hit my head on the DeLorean and now I don’t know if it’s 2015 or the alternate 1985.

Fortunately, it doesn’t matter what year it is, because the sounds are coming from all over the ages and beyond. Future Spa is certainly an underrated Boston band and one that is keeping the punk slime flowing around these streets. Catch them lurking around Somerville or your town or on here: http://futurespa.bandcamp.com/

The TeleVibes – Yes, definitely one of my favorite bands around town. Here’s a band that just puts you right in the mood to freak up and fuck out. It’s all that time spent on Salisbury Beach or the lean streets of Rowley; we could use some sweet Summer night music in the midst of the icy cold January. Short story: riveting, smooth, yet heavy psychedelic pop cradled with modern day garage punk. If you dig Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, and any surf band, then you need to hear this. Long story: the rest of this “review.”

If the music didn’t speak for itself already, The Lysergic Factory Lightshow amplifies the sensations of enormous 60s psychedelia. As the Tellies play flashes of every purdy color you can think of is projected behind them. You know it. To the right of me, Mr. Charlie Loring is smoking one of those E Cigarettes or Vapes or whatever. Haha, I thought at first they added a smoke machine, until I moved up closer to the front of the room. Indeed, with the light show and smoke and people starting to move and groove a little, the night shifts into a euphoric atmosphere resembling the 60s in some fashion.

But, it is 2015, I think and The TeleVibes are playing. The Tellies. I jolt back and forth between their proper moniker and my vaguely established nicknames. Admittedly, I am not exactly a professional writer, but I am a professional. I just don’t like writers. I wouldn’t even call this a review, except I don’t know what else to call it. A reader, a critic may gripe “don’t you think it is wise for a young man to stick to one topic instead of bouncing from one to another to another?” Perhaps, but the show must go on. I know what I’m doing, I just haven’t steered the boat in it’s direction, let me steer the boat in it’s direction and we’ll arrive safely back to shore, the Northshore, where The TeleVibes await us.

They are an animated bunch, but not in a ridiculous way. I feel you could definitely bring these kids home to mom and dad and they would be cool with it. “Ohh, you play in a band? That’s great.” But, maybeee something else is up. They’re not quite hippies, but they look like they could be on the road (no pun intended) to becoming hippies. Scott’s beard, Charlie’s frosted hair, oh and the music. That’s probably the dead give away.

Whatever it is, this trio, ohh yes they are a trio in case you wanted to know: vocals, guitar, bass, and drums, you gotit – whatever it is, this band generates a feeling of warmth deep down in the bowels of my dirty soul. Splash to and fro in these waves, let them engulf you, you won’t drown here. http://thetelevibesofficial.bandcamp.com/

Ben Tan – My main man, Mr. Billy Joel. OHH GOD NO! Thankfully, Billy Joel couldn’t make it and I’m currently dating Christie Brinkley. More importantly, my buddy Ben Tan is closing this evening’s festivities and he brought along a pal of ours, Brian Hickey on drums. I’ve seen Ben several times now and this is the first time he’s been accompanied by a drummer. Ben is seated, masterfully plucking away at the keyboards like Brian Wilson or any other madman. Brian is a steady drummer, always great, but I feel the drumming doesn’t work as well with some of Ben’s softer pop numbers. This isn’t a knock against Brian as I feel this would be the case with any drummer. But, with some of the speedier tempos (not too speedy though) the drums are fitting. Regardless, it’s still a pleasure to see Brian behind the kit tonight.

As with every Ben Tan show, the gentleman busts out a random hit or two, past or present. I think he mutters “TURN DOWN FOR WHAT!” So, it must be that song. I don’t really know that one, but I’ve heard it in passing. It gets some of the crowd moving though, even a mini break dance competition. We went from Woodstock to 24 Hour Party People, where has the time gone? Huh?

Next time, I’m going to request, NO, DEMAND, Ben plays “You Light Up My Life.” That song gives me shivers and makes me feel sick in a very awesome way. http://bentan.bandcamp.com/

A MASSIVE THANKS TO CHARLIE, FUTURE SPA, THE TELEVIBES AND BEN TAN FOR PLAYING, LYSERGIC FACTORY LIGHT SHOW FOR MELTING OUR MINDS, ALL OF YOU SWEETHEARTS THAT ATTENDED, AND TO THE CANTAB LOUNGE/CLUB BOHEMIA, MICKEY BLISS AND CREW! WE’LL BE SEEING ALL OF Y’ALL VERY SOON…

NEXT KLYAM SHOW IS TONIGHT!!!: https://www.facebook.com/events/813886121991254/?ref=70

Art, Atlantic Thrills, Back Pages, Best Of 2014, Black Lips, BUFU Records, Burger Records, CD Review, Entertainment, Fat Creeps, Free Pizza, Goner, Gymshorts, Honorary KLAYMERS, KLYAM Presents, KLYAM Records, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, Nice Guys, NOTS, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Back Pages, The Electric Street Queens, The Orwells, Ty Segall

My Favorites Albums From 2014

01/16/2015 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

I’m going to do my best to just stick to full length albums. Here we go in ABC order..

Atlantic Thrills – Atlantic Thrills (Almost Ready) – I’ve been a life long fan of music, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I became enamored with local music. Atlantic Thrills was one of the first bands I gravitated towards and it’s not hard to see why. They capture the punk slime sound we crave better than anyone else in New England and that is fully on display on this long awaited debut LP. Besides the music itself and the commaraderie that comes with it, one of the other great things about seeing a favorite band over and over again is becoming accustomed to their signature songs, so when you finally hear their album it sounds like a greatest hits collection – trust me I mean that in the best way possible. For what it’s worth, the alphabet just happens to work this way, but I’m glad this album is up here first because it is indeed my favorite album of the year. #1. I will say Free Pizza’s Boston, MA is a close second though, but we’ll get there when we get there. Top Song: “Lie To Me”

Ausmuteants – Ausmuteants (AARGHT) – Yes, I’m aware this is an album from 2013, but I first heard it in 2014, so I said fuck it why not just slap it on there. This will happen at least one more time. Top Song: “Tinnitus”. LISTEN:
http://ausmuteants.bandcamp.com/album/amusements

Ausmuteants – Order Of Operation (Goner/AARGHT) – I just couldn’t get enough of these Aussies. This is just fun, funny garage pop with some vicious keyboards. It sounds like an 80s new wave band that got mixed up in the garage punk scene. You’ll be singing along to these gems all year. In addition to the kickass music, as with the first record, subject matter always slays me. Just listen to “Publicity Stunts.” Top Song: “Freedom Of Information” http://ausmuteants.bandcamp.com/

Fat Creeps – Must Be Nice (Sophomore Lounge/Gnar Tapes) – Your favorite Creeps are at it again and they’re heavier than ever on their debut full-length LP. I’m naturally biased, so the EP will always be my #1, but this is a solid follow up that won’t disappoint FC fans. Top Song: “Daydreaming” http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/album/must-be-nice

Free Pizza – Boston, MA (BUFU/Feeding Tube) –The title track says it all. This was/is a local anthem for Boston, specifically the Boston underground music scene. I’d never thought I could embrace any notion of civic pride, but this song actually did it for me and it’s always a pleasure hearing it live. Sad to say these slices recently waved good bye to us for their hometown of Miami :(. At least, we have the music and the memories. Top Song: “Boston, MA” http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/

Gymshorts – No Backsies (Self-Released) -This was my kick you in the balls, lay back and smoke, chug a 40 in the alley way, fuck you dad album of 2014. Yes, yes eat all of their gymshirts. Fill those little bellies. Top Song: “HEY PARENTS!” http://gymshorts.bandcamp.com/

Juan Wauters – N.A.P. North American Poetry (Captured Tracks) – Let me hip you to something, this kewl kat known as Juan Wauters, you may have seen/heard/spiritually merged with the man before in his previous happening, Jackson Heights, Queens, NY’s #1 The Beets. If you doug (ehhhhhhhhhh) The Beets, then you’ll love Juan solo, you’re wack if you don’t. Dude channels The Beatles, Piero, and Los Mockers – the last two are groups Juan hipped me to. It’s like soft, serene Ramones too, if you’re still not convinced. Gotta rep Queens, even though I’ve only been there three or four times. Top Song: “Sanity” http://juanwauters.com/

The Lemons – Hello, We’re The Lemons (Burger/Gnar Tapes/Tripp Tapes) – Holy shit, definitely one of my new favorite bands. It’s hard to not be happy when you hear/see The Lemons. You’re submerged in this little, Lemons world that’s all gooey and yummy it’s like a Cheerios commercial from 40-50 years ago. There’s no bad feelings. SHORT SHORT songs about lemon limes, candy girls, jelly beans, ice cream, kool aid, Chubby Checker! Picture The Archies, The Monkees, The Partridge Family, I think. Perhaps the sweeter more innocent version of their Gnar brethren, The Memories. It’s all that and it’s super sweet and super short. A little injection of sugary pop. It’s so quick you want it to keep going, but it leaves as quick as it came. It’s that fast high, that five second orgasm, that day you discovered you had five bucks left in your pocket. When life hands you lemons, eat em’ up, eat all the sweets up and get those cavities, it’s worth it.
Believe the hype! Top Song: “My Candy Girl” http://thelemons.bandcamp.com/

Littlefoot – Night Of The Living Dreams (BUFU) – 2014 was the first time I saw or even heard of Littlefoot. I can remember it like it was just last year. I remember seeing them open the Atlantic Thrills album release show and screaming to Glen HEY! they have that sound I love, it’s like Earth Angel and shit! All of those odes to golden oldies are heavily on display here, Erica is on top of it, she’s done her homework and the extra credit assignment. Surf on some dreamy pop waves with this album. Top Song: “Worrydoll” http://littlefootlittlefoot.bandcamp.com/

The Marty Kings – XVII (Self-Released) – Yeah, yeah, yeah, this isn’t from 2014. I told you this would come up again and I’m a man of my word. Well, I first heard this thang just this October and it’s too fucking fantastic for me not include it. I was cruising around with those sweet ass Nice Guys and I thunk what the funk is this? It’s so bubblegummy and poppy, but in that raw, off kilterish way I always luv. Those boys informed me that this was the mastmerind Andy Macbain, the man behind Tunnel Of Love and another band you’ll be seeing on here very shortly… Top Song: “Little Arthur” http://themonsieurs.bandcamp.com/album/xvii

The Memories – Hot Afternoon (Burger/Gnar Tapes) – I had/have a huge boner for last year’s Love Is The Law and it’s lasted longer than four hours. Here we are again in 2014 and the vibes are still groovin’. It’s the same spirit, a bit funkier and even more laid back. If Love’ was the 60s, then Hot is the 70s. Do it up. Top Song: “Dad’s Not Home” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aE_vAq1wRO4

The Monsieurs – The Monsieurs (Black Gladiator/Slovenly) – This is pure, primal rock ‘n’ roll slime with a splash of punk and a pinch of pop. Real pop, bubblegummy in your tummy fun. Innocence… well not so innocent. It’s fun to be bad and this is about as badass as it gets. Various Boston garage legends here maintain their reputation and lurk the streets of beantown to fight again and again and again. Top Song: “Kari Ann” http://slovenly.bandcamp.com/album/the-monsieurs

NOTS – We Are NOTS (Goner) – You can never go wrong with Goner. Some kids way back said Memphis was dead, but damn it sure as hell is alive on this record. NOTS is straight up no holds barred fun with violent keyboards to add fuel to the fire. It’s one of those bestial sounds that makes me climb on top of the refrigerator and hop off like I’m five years old again, much to the chagrin of the folks downstairs. TOP SONG: “Insect Eyes” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Yvjewj28wU

The Orwells – Disgraceland (Atlantic/Canvasback) – I’ve heard a lot of talk about this being too clean and commercial in comparison to their previous LP Remember When. Fair, but honestly it’s not that much cleaner and as far as I’m concerned The Orwells have always been mershy, radio friendly in a way, in a FABULOUS way. These feel like radio songs. Hit songs. One after another (some definitely stronger than others). Even when these dudes were fourteen and trying to sound like Black Lips and Back From the Grave comps, they still sounded rather accessible. You could see what they were going for and how they completely drove past it. That isn’t to say I think they’re better than the Lips or whoever, it’s just that even when they were a garage band they didn’t really sound like one. Whatever it is, they hit it right and they have the songs, the talent, and the live show to back it up. TOP SONG: “Blood Bubbles” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g87QQ4RX_KU

Ty Segall – Manipulator (Drag City) – Ty again, big surprise buddy! Yes, Ty is back on my year end lists. There are no surprises here, there shouldn’t be. We rep the shit we love all year long and admittedly most of them fall under similar genres, hail from the same regions, and appear on the the same or similar labels. I’m okay with that, while I always love expanding there is such little time on this planet I intend to spend it with the music I love. As much as I dug Ty’s all acoustic effort in last year’s Sleeper, I’m really happy to see the dude rocking out once again. This is his longest monstrosity to date and while it’s not the same fuzz of early Segall, he maintains his true flavor and destroys. TOP SONG: “Feel” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4VA-b5ORxI

Now hold up, before y’all pack up your shit and leave, I must give a massive shout out to all of the KLYAM Records releases we love and are insanely proud to have put out in 2014. More cumming in 2015….

KLYAM-002: Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″

http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/splifft-7

KLYAM-003: Back Pages Singles 13 TAPE

http://klyam.bigcartel.com/product/back-pages-singles-13

KLYAM-004: The Electric Street Queens – Live From Your Dreams, We’re The Electric Street Queens TAPE

http://electricstreetqueens.bandcamp.com/

All releases available here: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/, at the the following Boston area record stores: Deep Thoughts in Jamaica Plain, Weirdo Records in Cambridge, and Armageddon Records in Cambridge, and at all KLYAM Presents shows.

That’s all folks!

ACLU Benefit, Almighty Defenders, Art, Atlantic Thrills, Ausmuteants, Back Pages, Ben Katzman's Degreaser, Big Buck Hunter, Black Beach, Black Beach, Black Lips, BUFU Fest 2014, BUFU Records, Cole Alexander, concert review, Cumstain, Durt Dog The Band, Dylan Ewen, Entertainment, Feral Jenny, Feral Jenny, Frank Hurricayne, Free Pizza, Fuzzstival, Gangbang Gordon, Guerilla Toss, Gymshorts, Honorary KLAYMERS, Illegally Blind, Jared Swilley, Juan Wauters, King Khan, KLYAM Presents, Lists, Littlefoot, Local Music, Mark Sultan, Miami Doritos, Music, Natural Child, New England Patriots, Nice Guys, Nobunny, PHAZE, pictures, Punk, reviews, Robot Death Kites, The Fagettes, The Hussy, The King Khan & BBQ Show, The Orwells, Ty Segall, URSULA

My Top Ten Favorite Shows of 2014…

01/03/2015 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

I know this sounds like bullshit and I do say it every year, but each year gets better. I’d be lying if I said 2014 was the best year of my life, but as far as KLYAM goes it was definitely the best year for KLYAM. Every year does get better, just look at our label. We put out three more releases that we’re very proud of – Nice Guys/Miami Doritos Splifft 7″, Back Pages – Singles 13, and The Electric Street Queens – Live From Your Dreams, We’re The… and we have more on the way. Just look at our calendar, we went to more shows than ever this year. I counted 85 shows I attended this year, I know for some people that’s nothing, but considering I’m not in a band, I don’t have a car, I’m broke, and don’t live in the city, I’d say that’s pretty good. But hey, it’s not quantity, it’s quality (though we got both!), so here’s my top ten favorite shows from 2014:

10) The Orwells & Twin Peaks @ Great Scott (3/4) – Our dudes, The Orwells always put on a fantastic show and we saw them three times this year, but the Great Scott set was by far the best. Right up against the stage where the action is, no douchebag security guys or broseph stalins, just straight up fun. Oh and who could forget Mario hucking the mic stand into the crowd. Classic. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/04/05/review-the-orwells-twin-peaks-great-scott-3414/

9) TIE: Nice Guys & Miami Doritos Tour Kick Off w/ Malportardo Kids and Grave Ideas & Nice Guys, Free Pizza, Ladybones, Dinoczar, both @ Thieves Grotto (2/28 & 11/21, respectively) – This is just one big shout out to the Grotto and Nice Guys. Nice Guys are honorary klyamers and so are Miami Doritos, and we love Free Pizza, we’ll miss those Miami boys. Ahh so much Miami! Guys, pizza, doritos. All the bands are named after food! Haha, but ya Thieves Grotto throws the most insane basement shows and it’s always a party. I wish every show was like these shows. KLYAM Review (2/28): https://klyam.com/2014/03/22/review-nice-guys-miami-doritos-tour-kick-off-thieves-grotto-22814/ & (11/21): https://klyam.com/2014/11/26/nice-guys-free-pizza-thieves-grotto-112114/

8) Cumstain, Free Pizza, Gangbang Gordon (BUFU Tape Release), White Pages @ JP Drive In (8/24) – I still haven’t gotten over this show, not even just the show itself, but the very fact that it happened. Call me crazy, call me wild, call me a cocksucker, I don’t give a fuck. I’ve been waiting to see this band for four years now, I still can’t believe it. It was awesome to finally meet the stains themselves as well. This show is also significant because it was the first KLYAM Presents show in nearly a year and it was my homie, Gangbang Gordon’s BUFU tape release show. Cheers buddy. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/09/20/review-cumstain-free-pizza-gangbang-gordon-tape-release-white-pages-jp-drive-in-82414/

7) Nobunny, The Hussy, The Fagettes, Banditas, Gangbang Gordon @ Middle East Upstairs (2/4) – NO NO needs NO introduction. It’s always a blast seeing the bunnyman in action, especially in front of a rowdy, sold out Boston crowd filled with tons of my friends. Solid set of openers including one of my favorites, The Hussy, whom made both their Boston and KLYAM debut. A highly memorable show that brought us some joy and warmth in the middle of a shivering, cold ass winter. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/02/15/review-nobunny-the-hussy-fagettes-banditas-gangbang-gordon-mid-east-upstairs-2414/

6) Black Lips & Natural Child @ Paradise (4/19) – Of course, my favorite band, Black Lips, of course you’d see them here and you’ll see them again my friends. At last, I can finally put them on my year end lists again; we haven’t seen the flower punkers live since 2011. WHATT?! This was also my first time seeing Natural Child, yet another band I’ve been anticipating seeing for years. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/05/31/review-black-lips-natural-child-paradise-41914/

5) Black Lips, The King Khan & BBQ Show, Coke Weed @ Port City Music Hall (9/27) – I always love seeing a show at a venue I’ve never been to before, even if it’s a traditional music hall, it’s still new to me. I haven’t been in Portland (Maine) for a while, so that’s an added bonus. More importantly, this is a KLYAMER’s wet dream bill. Two giants of contemporary garage slime, straight up Rock ‘n’ Roll all in one night. Definitely some of best I’ve seen from the Lips and KKBBQ in years. No KLYAM Review, because my dog ate it. Do kids still say that?

4) Ty Segall, La Luz, Boytoy @ Great Scott (9/19) – At this point in his career, Ty Segall can and will sell out large clubs, but that wasn’t the case this time. The show was sold out, of course, but it was at Great Scott, a relatively small venue. This is Ty here. I never thought I’d see him on that small stage. It was nuts. A vicious set with tunes from all over his career. Why can’t all my favorites just stop here? No bigger clubs (except Middle East). Ty’s the face of our rock ‘n’ roll and this show is a testament that Boston loves him. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/10/06/review-ty-segall-la-luz-boytoy-great-scott-91914/

3) Black Lips, The King Khan & BBQ Show, The Kominas @ Paradise (9/28) – Christ, what a Black Lips whore. You knew what you were getting into when you started reading this. Night II of my Black Lips/KKBBQ Rock ‘n’ Roll Weekend and as you can probably tell the superior of the two nights. In particular, the Lips shined through cranking out golden oldies such as “I’ve Got A Knife” and “Ain’t No Deal” among other classics from all over their fifteen year reign of terror. These Atlantans were as feisty as ever (including newcummer/oldcummer Jack Hines, welcome back Jack!). Speaking of bodily fluids, never thought I’d see Cole peeing in his mouth again, damn I thought that was over after 2006 haha. Best of all, the Lips and KKBBQ merged as one and performed as the gospel supergroup, The Almighty Defenders. I SAW THE LIGHT. Oh and we got to enjoy a beer with some of the guys backstage, also something I’d never expect at the Paradise. I told Jared that I lost my virginity while The Spooks were playing in the background, which is true, he said “Well, cheers to that!” Yes, cheers.

2) Atlantic Thrills (Album Release), Ravi Shavi, Gymshorts, Littlefoot @ Dusk (2/1) – Providence consistently dishes out the wildest shows and this was total debauchery, one of the craziest shows I’ve ever seen. While, I don’t think anyone was hurt (though I had several bruises) I do mean crazy. The word gets tossed around all too often, but this one is up there. Pandemonium. At the very least, just good old fashioned fun. Whether it was all the nudity, moshing, silly string, beer flying, or simply singing along to all the songs we’ve come to know and love, it was a special little feeling you don’t get often and if I could trap it in a bottle and sell it to all of ya’ll, I’d be a billionaire. And we KLYAMERS have really been waiting for this record to come out, three years now. An epic show with stellar opening sets might I add. What we call in my line of work a “stacked line up.” Keep up the craziness in 2015 and beyond. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/02/10/review-atlantic-thrills-album-release-show-w-ravi-shavi-gymshorts-littlefoot-dusk-2114/

1) BUFU Fest @ Cambridge Elks Lodge (4/25 & 4/26) – I’ve been to a few local music festivals now, but this one tops them all. Easily the closest to what a KLYAM Fest would look like (Fuzzstival is a close second though). A wide variety of acts being thrust in your face. One moment you’re rocking out to the Nice Guys, the next you’re singing along to ACLU Benefit’s one man show, then the next minute you’re shouting about “living in Boston, Massachusetts” with Free Pizza or you’re caught in a mosh with Guerrilla Toss. I’m ready to do it all over again this year. KLYAM Review: https://klyam.com/2014/06/14/bufu-fest-recap-425-2614/

So, that’s that. As I said before, there were a ton of excellent shows I/we attended this year, I could make an honorable mentions list, but the list would go on and on. At the very least, here’s a list of my favorite bands I saw for the first time in 2014 in chronological order: Littlefoot, The Hussy, The Sulk Scouts, Buttercup, Tacocat, Durt Dog The Band, Natural Child, Juan Wauters, ACLU Benefit, The Ar-Kaics, Beach Toys, Robot Death Kites, Black Beach, The Lemons, Cumstain, (New England) Patriots, Ben Katzman’s DeGreaser, Good Nature (formerly known as Phaze), Ausmuteants, Ursula, Show Me The Body, Buck Gooter, Big Buck Hunter, and Feral Jenny.

Art, Concer t Review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews, The TeleVibes

Show Review: Vundabar, The TeleVibes, Nice Guys, Midriffs @ Overlook (12/13/14)

Link 01/01/2015 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

Bands: Vundabar, The TeleVibes, Nice Guys, Midriffs
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014
Venue: The Overlook

DAN! DANNY BOYYYY!!! Glen and I race over here to the old Overlook like a couple of Jack Nicholsons; freezing, drunk, and losing what’s left of our minds, no baseball bat though. We just came from the Lastfest over at the old Lasthaus. That was an extravaganza, lots of angsty, awesome bands. Tough competition, hard to follow or so we’ll see at the old Overlook. Let’s back up, this Overlook isn’t old though, it’s in fact a new spot – unless I’m hearing wrong or I’m drinking some bad liquor or something, but this is apparently the Overlook’s first show. Well sir, I’m happy to be a part of it. Let’s back up our sweet asses even a few more steps. I LOVE The Shining, if you couldn’t already tell. And if you’ve seen The Shining then you know that the Overlook is a monstrosity, a maze you won’t find yourself escaping from anytime soon. Well sir, house names sure are peculiar, funny little gems and this one is no exception, except it is. The title is fitting, cause this place is a huge motherfucker.

I ain’t kidding you though about the place being massive. As I’m walking in I stop by the Nice Guys merch table to say some hellos, shake hands, kiss babies, etc and this is in the foyer, if you will, the rest of the basement space where all the attendees are is around the corner. So, I walk around the corner expecting a bigger basement, but HOLY SHIT I didn’t expect it to be this huge. The room is very long, narrow. It’s just body after body after body of excited, partying college kids. I can’t even see the band, which by the way is Midriffs and they’re pretty rad. I can only hear them though. It’s so damn packed. Check out their sheet here: http://midriffs.bandcamp.com/

Set-List:
“Swamp Don’t”
Taboo Tattoo”
“Fresh”
“White Washed”
“Death Beach”
“Sunday Morning Cigarettes & Orange Juice”

Nice Guys – The last time I wrote about a Nice Guys show I fell a little off the old wagon. To be frank, I may have had too much Haddenbear and booze in me and by may I mean absolutely. Here have a look, if you feel so inclined: https://klyam.com/2014/12/14/show-review-the-monsieurs-record-release-free-pizza-nice-guys-club-bohemia-12514/ Stumbling on my own words. Inadvertently, however, I did raise a few points about their music. You won’t find a Nice Guys love ballad or a Nice Guys song about the alienation of the modern age. Maybe, they need more of this, maybe not. Either way, they’re the perfect band for a place like the Overlook. It’s packed to the gills, but we manage to make our way to the very front and like many other Nice Guys sets, it’s a rollercoaster from start to finish. We’re practically falling over, on top of the band, mic stands are falling down, it’s a wild affair. Alas, we’ll have to wait another month or so before we can enjoy another wild affair from these Allstonites. Eat up their bandcamp here: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/

The TeleVibes – Love me some TeleVibes, tellies as I say. This is my first time seeing the crew in a long while, I think. Once again, kids moshing and sloshing, just as much as there was during Nice Guys’ set if not more. There’s even some crowd surfing, all in this basement with a low ceiling. Everyone is having a rambunctious old time, it’s pandemonium. Perhaps the craziest basement show I’ve ever seen. Not best, but perhaps craziest.

The TeleVibes are one of my favorites in Boston right now. They’re a little smoother than the frenetic noise of Nice Guys, but they share similar vibes, if you will. It’s fun, rock ‘n’ roll, the exact kind we encourage and extol on this site. “Fun, rock ‘n’ roll” can be pretty vague, I admit. I know what it means to me and it might mean a totally different thing to you. In the case of The TeleVibes, it’s possessed punk slime surfing on the edge of a nasty acid trip. And these boys know a thing or two about surfing or at least the beach. Contrary to popular belief, the whole band IS NOT from Rowley, they also from Salisbury Beach. Get your shit straight wack ass music journalists scumfucks. Though, most likely Glen or I popularized this myth, I’d have to check the archives. Either way, it’s the Northshore. It’s the NOTSURE KID. Well son, I’ll give you something to be sure about, The TeleVibes. http://thetelevibesofficial.bandcamp.com/ Grab a beer, a babe or a dude however you roll, roll a splifft, and lay back and listen to this sheeet. Give you those warm, summery (tele)vibes in the dead of winter. Trust me, you’ll need em’.

Vundabar – “WHAT DID YOU COME HERE FOR? TELL ME WHAT YOU COME HERE FOR.” Well mister, I’ll tell you what I came here for, I came here to get my mind blown by these various local rock musicians, that’s vat I came here for. I too love the German language and using Vs in places of Ws. It’s been a vunderful night thus far Vuy not end vith a band like Vundabar? I’ve seen them a few times now and while I prefer things to sound trashier, I can admire their music and I find much of it to be catchy. You can actually dance to it in both conventional and unconventional ways. I can best compare them to the “Post-Punk Revival” ilk of the double ohhs such as Interpol and Editors. http://vundabar.bandcamp.com/

Art, concert review, Entertainment, Feral Jenny, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, Punk, reviews, URSULA, Video

Show Review: URSULA, Feral Jenny, Trophy Knife @ Lasthaus (12/13/14)

12/18/2014 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

Bands: LAST FEST featuring: Speedy Ortiz, IAN, Couples Counseling, Dent, The Sulk Scouts, URSULA, Feral Jenny, Trophy Knife, Ellen-Siberian Tiger, Trashbaby
Date: Saturday, December 13, 2014
Venue: Lasthaus (Allston, MA)

There was an all day music festival held on this day known as LAST FEST organized by Casey Herz among others. These are the bands that KLYAM saw at the fest…

Trophy Knife – Trophy Knife is Mona Maruyama on “vocals n floor tom” and H. Rose Parry on “guitar n loops.” Mona wears a ski mask and shrieks and smashes the floor tom while Rose shreds each chord. Together, the sound is harrowing and deranged, appropriately complementing the music’s disturbing subject matter. All or most of the songs seem to be in reference to sexism, rape, and general violence against women.

At one point in the set Mona initiates the whole crowd in chanting the word “YES.” She goes on to say “That is the sound of affirmative consent. This next song is about Bill Cosby.” She often sings and speaks directly to audience members and the set as a whole is equally exciting as it is uncomfortable. The band is locked in the performance and they have the people under emotional arrest. This is also one of their first shows I believe (correct me if I’m wrong) and I look forward to seeing where they go from here. http://ttrophyknife.bandcamp.com/releases

Feral Jenny – I was recently having a conversation with my good buddy Anthony about our favorite current bands and Anthony mentioned Feral Jenny, a band I had never heard before. He saw them play a show at Church with IAN (who is playing their last Boston show later tonight), Flat Swamp, and Gracie a little while back and was apparently blown away. Soon thereafter, co-KLYAMER Glen started listening to Feral Jenny and echoed Anthony’s notions, so I finally said let’s give it a go. Needless to say, I’ve been listening to the Feral Jenny bandcamp ever since, anticipating seeing the band for the very first time tonight.

I’m glad my first time seeing Feral Jenny is at a house space such as one right here at the Lasthaus. Feral Jenny’s set helps give off those warm, fuzzy feelings that I often feel in this kind of atmosphere. The band itself features Jenny on vocals and guitar and she’s backed by two other chums on bass and drums. They have some garage rock leanings with a fair amount of dream pop. It’s like if Elliott Smith, Jay Reatard, and Bradford Cox had a baby. Wow, that would be an interesting night.

I’m still somewhat of a newbie to the Feral Jenny, but I’m really digging “Say The Word” and “Law & Order,” both of which are played tonight. For the last song or second to last song, I can’t remember, the band does a switcheroo and everyone trades instruments, with Jenny on the drums. Check out Feral Jenny here: http://feraljenny.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Do Right By Me”
“Say The Word”
“You Let Me Fall”
“Let It Rot”
“Law & Order”
New Song
“It Makes Me Sick”

URSULA – Glen and I are massive URSULA fangirls. It’s hard to describe our excessive fandom, it sometimes freaks out lame people. URSULA comprises of Sonam on drums and Caity on vocals and guitar. Thus far, we’ve seen them only in Boston basements, such as this place and I’ve seen them here three times now. The pair tear through a sheering, slimy set filled with songs about watching Home Alone and something about your fucking mother. I particularly adore Caity’s ravenous yalps. Always get me.

Sonam gets everyone singing MOTHERFUCKER MOTHERFUCKER MOTHERFUCKER from their monster hit “Cavegrrl.” Motherfucker, that’s a funny word when you think about it. Like goldfish and Milwaukee.

There’s an odd, off kilterish vibe to their music. It’s sort of simple and rough around the edges, but that’s part of the charm. It’s minimal and messy. They’re a young band and you can feel the magic (which I usually can’t) and the ambition you can only find when a project is in its infancy. It’s exciting. http://ripursula.bandcamp.com/

Hey some videos shot by the man himself Ethan LLoonngg:

Art, concert review, Free Pizza, Honorary KLAYMERS, Illegally Blind, KLYAM Records, Local Music, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews, The Monsieurs

Show Review: The Monsieurs (Record Release!), Free Pizza, Nice Guys @ Club Bohemia (12/5/14)

12/14/2014 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

Bands: The Monsieurs, Free Pizza, Nice Guys
Date: Friday, December 5, 2014
Venue:Club Bohemia (Cantab Lounge basement) in Cambridge, MA

Nice Guys – Sheeet, I’ve never seen Club Bohemia (the Cantab Lounge basement) so packed, it must be sold out. People are using their heads for once in this crazy old world. Coming out to support a killer local rock ‘n’ roll show. This here is easily three of the best rock ‘n’ roll animals in the land of Boston on tap. Kicking it off right is our KLYAM Records bad boiz, Nice Guys, so I guess they actually aren’t bad boiz or maybe they are because everything is backwards in this crazy old world. Good means bad, stop means go, thou shalt not kill… unless you really, really feel like it. But, these guys here, they wouldn’t kill a fly, unless it flew into one of their bongs ahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah. SHUT UP!

Nice Guys errr ahhh here we go, these cats, these guys rumble. A swift kick in the nads. That’s their music. If you wanted a description, that’s what you’re going to get. That feeling you get when you get kicked square in the nads, it’s like that, but pull back a little. It’s that full on attack, but without the pain and misery. Needless to say Jake, Matt, Alex, and Cam make it personal. They get right in your grill. They get it right.

Lord knows what the fuck I am talking about at this point, but it’s all about the emotion. Stuttering fucking Stanley. The fucking emotion. It’s all there and yet it’s not sappy at all or sensitive in any way. In fact, so much music isn’t the Nice Guys, that it feels great when you hear the Nice Guys, because it’s like a vacation from all the other shit. With Nice Guys, it’s about the rockin’, the sockin’, and maybe a bit of thee olde shockin’. You don’t take a Nice Guys song and win back your girlfriend by plinking it on acoustic guitar. Buttt, there is far more to life than just smoking and fucking and partying. True. Well, actually is there? Yes, there is, I suppose. Christ, I’m so indecisive. Maybe, if we all just got really fucked together, we’d all be okay. It’s a thought.

I have to catch myself before diving too far into a nonsensical rant. Nice Guys is where we left off, those cream muffins. They sing and scream about bad cops. “Fuck the Police, fuck racist cops” says vocalist/guitarist Alex as they rock into “Cop Walk.” True that brother. Alex is a ruffian and he makes his way into the crowd and all around the place, even literally playing “in a hallway in a basement.” Yeah!

The dudes play my favorite Nice Guys song “Jamaican Vacation,” which Glen and I have been waiting to hear for quite some time. Not just because it’s on the piece of wax we put out, but because it’s one of the heaviest and angriest in their set and it lifts right off – it’s a tickling riff. FAST FUN FUCKING NOISE! Thanks for playing it and being Nice Guys, you fucks. Listen to this shit: http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/splifft-7

Free Pizza – Sadly, yes y’all must already know our beloved Free Pizza is leaving us and if you don’t know, then now you do.

Free Pizza, along with Nice Guys and Monsieurs, are top tier Boston rock ‘n’ roll and I want you to know that. If you miss their show before they head back to Miami,FL, then you missed out son.

For their song “Freedom Forty,” they always grab a punk from the crowd to sing guest vocals. This time it’s our bad boi Timothy Manns and he belts out the vocals hardcore style like a pro. That’s Tim and that’s Free Pizza, for the people, we are the people. I hugged Free Pizza Santiago and told him he was my rock ‘n’ roll comrade. It’s true, you all are. Nick and Jesus too. I know I’ll see you guys again, but here’s a shout out: http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/

The Monsieurs – And now the main event. THE MONSIEURS ARE HERE. Yo, and it’s their self-titled record release! Yeah, pick up that puppy from Black Gladiator or Slovenly. I’ve been eagerly waiting to hear this monster, I’m gushing with excitement. This is the cream of the crop as far as Boston rock ‘n’ roll goes. They’ve got the sludge, the slime, and all the hooks to back it up. The band on record is a blast to the balls, for sure, but the live show is a whole new beast. I’ve only seen the band twice for some reason, once at the Brighton Music Hall (opening for King Khan & The Shrines) and another time at Church for Illegally Blind’s Boston En Masse. Both times, they sounded sweet, but the crowd was sparse and mellow. Tonight, it’s a different story.

Andy Macbain (vocals, also of Tunnel Of Love/Marty Kings), Hilken Mancini (guitar, also of Shepherdess/Fuzzy/Marty Kings), an Erin King (drums, also of Where My Beat Be At) all together are a menacing machine of mighty punk slime proportions. It’s a KLYAM man’s kind of band. Erin and Hilken rock out on the tiny Club Bohemia stage, as Andy Macbain (shirtless, reppin’ a black leather jacket though) prowls his way into a sea of bodies. He often does this with the whole mic stand in hand, it’s his weapon, as he takes on the world. Man, never cracks a smile, he’s on business. Like GG says “My mind is a machine gun, my body is the bullets, the audience is the target.” AIM! Andy is like GG, if GG never actually went through with all the messy stuff. If GG just put the vibe out there, but never went through with his antics. He’s a force, the rock ‘n’ roll animal.

Initially the crowd is stiff, but as Andy slithers around, he ignites a mosh pit. He even crowd surfs; it’s probably the most successful crowd surfing I’ve ever seen. Teamwork. Most of the time people fuck up.

Well, well this show really hit the spot and I walk away jovially carrying my new Monsieurs record! If you haven’t heard this thang or seen the band live, you have some serious homework to attend to. Don’t make me tell you twice. http://themonsieurs.bandcamp.com/

ACLU Benefit, Art, concert review, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Music, pictures, reviews

Live Review: ACLU Benefit, Bong Wish, Willy Mason, Goat Of Arms @ Lilypad (11/29/14)

12/11/2014 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

Bands: ACLU Benefit, Willy Mason, Bong Wish, Goat Of Arms
Date: Saturday, November 29, 2014
Venue: Lilypad (Cambridge, MA)

ACLU Benefit – Mr. Benefit is one of our favorite guys around Boston, no shit. I don’t mean to ass kiss, but it’s true. We’ve had the pleasure of catching him two weeks in a row. Last week was at Noah’s (Mr. Benefit) favorite venue in Boston and possibly the whole world, the Whitehaus. That show was superior (more environmental, can’t compete with ACLU in a basement), but this doobie is on the level.

Everyone is seated, gazing as Noah in sweat pants (I think) starts to strum his guitar. He invites anyone up to the front and Glen and I make our way, why not? Noah’s voice calmly roars – an oxymoron that is amazingly accurate. Ahh those deep baritone vocals start to serenade the audience. He’s got the “mmmmmmmm” down pat, rivaling Calvin Johnson, Adam Green, Leonard Cohen, and that Crash Test Dummies guy. I’m way too lazy to actually look his name up, come on now.

The set begins with “Love Your Family,” one of the dude’s strongest hits. It should be a hit and Noah could play in front of thousands, but then it wouldn’t be as fun. It would lose those campfire, sing along vibes that are a vital part of any ACLU Benefit set and is what largely separates the man from most other singers and performers.

Audience participation is key and as Glen mentioned in his review last week or whenever that was, you feel the desire to sing along more here than you typically would in other performances. Often, singers will ask everyone to sing along or say this word/phrase over and over again or clap or tap or do this or do that and I just don’t feel it. It feels like they’re just trying to get a crowd going and that’s fine, but it doesn’t feel like a real moment for me, it’s not really about me or anyone else in the crowd, it’s about the singer, it’s about the band. When Noah asks the crowd to sing a line or clap their hands together (which is minimally requested and he also suggests stomping, which I prefer!) it matters.

Many of his songs are seemingly written with an audience in mind, meaning a physical group of people singing a certain part, otherwise the songs don’t work. A chief example is the classic (alright, alright I’ll do my best to lay off the ass kissing) “Love Of My Life.” Noah instructs us to sing “Love of my life, I’ll never get over you” the entire song while he sings his own thing, eventually joining us in what becomes the chorus “Love of my life, I’ll never get over you.” It’s hard to articulate it in print, but trust me it’s riveting. You’ll just have to see it and sing it for yourself at an ACLU Benefit show coming soon to you.

A more professional writer would have gone out on that last line, but I’m not a professional writer. Thank God. “Don’t worry about professional, worry about it being good” – Ian Mackaye. Thanks Mr. Mackaye. Anywho, another terrific and distinguished quality to an ACLU show is Noah’s constant interaction with the audience. This is in addition to all of the sing along instructions and so forth. Before, in the middle, and after songs, Noah converses with the crowd, often recounting stories that led to the creation of the song, and not in a boring lecturey way or corny “unplugged” way, God I hate that shit. He tells a different story each time he plays and in this way you never see the same ACLU Benefit show twice. With most bands (even the best I’ve seen) they end up doing the same stuff practically every time, it’s only natural, and even Noah isn’t totally free of this, no one is. Here though, hearing these amusing little anecdotes and seeing how they bounce off the crowd makes for a fresh experience.

ACLU Benefit provides a range of emotions, ultimately uplifting. There’s a striking amount of humanity in Noah’s music and in particular in the performance, where the songs really come to life. I know that sounds hackneyed, but in this instance for the reasons stated in previous paragraphs, it’s true. These songs aren’t just Noah’s, they’re for everyone in the room. He’s the Bill Hicks of music, transcending their given medium and reaching out into the audience and becoming one. It’s a catharsis. More on this Bill Hicks comparisons in future “reviews” I assure you. I’m a nut.

I vowed to not suck too much cock in this review and I failed. I’ll think of something negative to say. He closes with a new song called “Everyone Will Die,”(not exactly the most life affirming in his catalog, but not the most depressing either) a number he claims is an awful closer. I agree. A good tune, just not a great closer. That’s all I got for now. KLYAM LOVE. http://aclubenefit.bandcamp.com/

Willy Mason – I didn’t realize until now Willy Mason has made quite a name for himself over the last decade. He’s a big deal apparently. On Virgin and EMI and shit. I had never heard of the man or his music until tonight. Willy plays guitar and a woman delivers backing vocals. He plays a bluesy, folksy country set and tells tales of touring and travelling. About halfway during the set, Willy is accompanied by Noah Bond on guitar and Jesse Gallagher on drums. In the words of Forrest Gump, that’s all I have to say about that. http://www.willymasonmusic.com/

Bong Wish – This is my first Bong Wish, though this certainly isn’t my first time seeing Mariam Saleh rock out on guitar. I’ve seen Mariam a million times before in Fat Creeps and she’s brought along a friend, a Bongette, Ana Karina Dacosta of local groups, 28 Degrees Taurus and Slowdim. It’s a slower, mellower set, though from what I am told they usually have a full band or something like that. They even throw in a Fat Creeps jam, “Last To Know,” an oldie I had actually never heard live until now. http://bongwish.bandcamp.com/

I only catch a couple minutes of Goat Of Arms, before I have to depart. Ahh well. A pleasure as always at the Lilypad.

Art, concert review, Free Pizza, Honorary KLAYMERS, Local Music, Miami Doritos, Music, Nice Guys, pictures, Punk, reviews

Live Review: Nice Guys & Free Pizza @ Thieves Grotto (11/21/14)

11/26/2014 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

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!

Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM)