Category Archives: Uncategorized

What I’ve Been Listening To (April 2026)

The Lurkers

April 2026:

  1. The Undertones – The Undertones (1979)
  2. Louis Jordan – Somebody Up There Loves Me (1956)
  3. V/A – The Virgin Suicides OST (1999)
  4. Condumb – Condumb (2025)
  5. Genre is Death – Talk (2024)
  6. Beat Happening – Music to Climb the Appletree By (2003, recorded 1984-2000)
  7. X – LIVE – January 10, 1981 Club 88, Los Angeles, CA (1981)
  8. VHS and the Babies – S/T (2004)
  9. Alice Donut – Dry Humping the Cash Cow – Live at CBGB (1994)
  10.  Fleatbite – TTYL EP (2015)
  11.  Miss World – Keeping Up With Miss World (2018)
  12.  Aquarian Blood – A Love That Leads to War (2019)
  13.  Charlie Parker – Boppin’ Bird (2025 Compilation, 1949, 1953)
  14.  The Sleeveens – S/T (2024)
  15.  Cullen Omari – New Misery (2016)
  16.  The Beach Boys – Sunflower (1970)
  17.  Brainwashed Victims – S/T Cassette Tape (2026)
  18.  Peter Grudzien – Hunky Honky (1994)
  19.  Honey Bane – You Can Be You EP (1979)
  20.  The Lurkers – Peel Sessions (1978)
  21.  Lunachicks – Babysitters on Acid (1990)
  22.  The Feederz -Ever Feel Like Killing Your Boss? (1983)
  23.  Departmentstore Santas – At the Medieval Castle Nineteen 100-Year Lifetimes Since (2015)
  24.  The Bluestars – Bluestars Comp (1965-1967)
  25.  The Breeders – Pod (1993)
  26.  Pagans – Everybody Hates You (Live) (1994)
  27.  Sheer Anxiety – If You Want Blood You’ve Got It (2026, recorded 2018-2025)
  28.  Lupo Citta – Inverno (2026)
  29.  Muddy Waters – Folk Singer (1964)
  30.  Ramones – Too Tough to Die (1984)
  31.  Michael Jackson – Off the Wall (1979)

I know I’ve said this before and I will probably say it again, when I do these monthly posts it always feels like I just did the previous one. Where did the month go? Where does time go? A wise man once said “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” True. With my precious time, I’ve spent much of it listening to music both new and old. I am a sucker for my old favorites, but I make an effort (as indicated here) to listen to things I’ve never heard before. Honestly this month not too many albums floored me, but most of these releases have at least one song if not several that I believe are phenomenal. If anyone who knows me reads this they may be surprised at what I have never actually sat down and listened to (or at least not to my recollection). Like the last two albums listed. Especially the Ramones. It may sound like sacrilege, but as I suspected, much of the mid-later Ramones albums only contain a few bangers, but the rest is not great. The first few albums are amongst the best recordings ever made. Not as much as you go further down the discography in my humble opinion. Still, Joey’s voice always kills me. I find it harder to finish a recording and be totally blown away by all of it the more I listen to. Not so much as a criticism of the artists, but more my own reaction. I’ve been making a point to put quality (whatever that is) over quantity. Not try to listen to too many things. What’s the point if you don’t retain most of it? It’s a balancing act! On one hand, I don’t want to lose touch and wish to keep an open mind. On the other hand, sometimes you just want to listen to your favorites. There’s only so much time. The holy Pagans, The Lurkers, and The Feederz (found them in an April-May 1984 Maximum Rock N Roll issue purchased at the Hassle Flea! May have heard before, but can’t recall!) blew me out of my tree this month. Enough rambling for now. On to May…. – Chris

BEN TAN BENEFIT!!!

Flyer by Kathy Snax!

Ben Tan is someone who is extremely near and dear to KLYAM. In fact, it was his idea for us to name it Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) in reference to lyrics from the song “Bad Kids” by our favorite band Black Lips. I can’t imagine what we would have dreamt up for a name! Ben has been one of our best friends since we were lads. He has been fighting cancer hard and we hope to raise some dough to at least help with the expenses and support him and the fam during these difficult times. Ben has always been there for others and is a pillar of the music community. Now it’s time to show him some love!

Doors at 3:00pm

Show at 3:30pm

ALL AGES

$15 cover

**cash only venue**

Event page:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1635915637326134

Johnnie and the Foodmasters
https://johnnieandthefoodmasters.bandcamp.com/


Noah Britton
https://noahbritton.bandcamp.com/


Sound Machine Dream
https://m.soundcloud.com/thepetpsychics

Delons
https://delons.bandcamp.com/album/call-sign

What I’ve Been Listening To (March 2026)

March:

  1. Carbonas – Your Moral Superiors: Singles and Rarities (2018)
  2. The Coathangers – The Coathangers (2007)
  3. Asian Women on the Telephone – So Wot (2018)
  4. Lithophones – Demos (2026)
  5. Sexaphone – Lost Connections: 2004-2025 (2026)
  6. Times New Viking – Dig Yourself (2005)
  7. Fang – Land Shark! (1983)
  8. The Showcase Showdown – Permanent Stains (1999)
  9. The Showcase Showdown – All the Presidents’ Heads (1994)
  10. The Showcase Showdown/The Twerps Split 8 Inch (1997)
  11. Puke Pisstols – Street Demos (2026)
  12.  Miles Davis – Bitches Brew (1970)
  13.  Al Green – Let’s Stay Together (1972)
  14.  Itches – Itches (2020)
  15.  Men + Volts – Cape Cod Sessions (1985)
  16.  GG Allin and The Criminal Quartet – Carnival of Excess (1995)
  17.  Rites of Spring – Rites of Spring (1985)
  18.  Tales of Terror – S/T (1984)
  19.  Marine Girls – Beach Party (1981)
  20.  The Wrecks – Teenage Jive Demo (1982)
  21.  Liquids – “January 2026” (Lots of Songs/Covers) (2026)
  22.  The Clash – Polydor Demos (1976)
  23.  Birth Rejects – Demo (2026)
  24.  Public Error – Internet Blues (2026)
  25.  The Misfits – Many Tapes Vol. 1 (1977/Released 2025)
  26.  Panty Raid – Erotic Drama Demo Tape (1999)
  27.  Institute – S/T 7” (2026)
  28.  Foams – Gay Boys EP (1981)
  29.  Bad Times – Chicago, IL – May 21, 2005 at The Empty Bottle (2005)
  30.  No Justice – Still Fighting 7” (1999)
  31.  U.A.V. – Self-Titled Tape (2026)
  32.  Janitor Scum – S/T (2016)
  33.  Yankee Bastard – Seongun EP (2026)
  34.  DMZ – The Lost Studio Sessions (1978 recorded, 2026 released)
  35.  Sick Shooters – Super Sonic Rock Saga (2026)
  36.  Bikini Mutants – Let’s Mutate (1982 recorded, 2026 released)
  37.  G.B.H. – UK Punk Demos (1980)
  38.  Twerp – Digital Distorsion EP (2026)
  39.  Peter Grudzien – Doing My Time/Gospel Time (1992)
  40. The Mentally Ill – Can-NiBal (1982)

March flew by! Already digging into some new tunes for April. But before we get there, above is what I listened to in March. A couple Boston heavy hitter Garage Punk demos from new/oldcummers Lithophones and Puke Pisstols. I caught The Showcase Showdown opening for Dropkick Murphys. Their first show since 2000 and my first time seeing them! Hey, I’m not a fucking dinosaur and I guess I wasn’t a hip child. Sue me. They were great! I had already heard one of their albums before and some of their EPs/45s, but I listened to the others in preparation for the show. Catchy songs that you can hear once and remember forever. Haven’t felt that way about a band since our darling Fat Creeps many moons ago. I have caught Showcase members Tom and Victoria in more recent years in their sick goth band Gossip Collar. Boston legends. Speaking of Boston legends – yes a GG Allin acoustic album was one of my faves this month (sue me again!) but no, I wanted to discuss a new release from a different group of Boston legends. DMZ. I have been a fan of their stuff and it’s pure Rock and Roll/Classic 70s Punk/Garage Rock. So much fun! The holy Crypt Records released a lost studio session from 78 with different takes of DMZ classics fans should recognize. Until next time. Gritty and Nervous Guys are hitting the road; maybe I’ll have some stories! Cheers! – Chris

What I’ve Been Listening To (February 2026)

February:

  1. Pain Teens – Destroy Me Lover (1993)
  2. Dope Yeti – Junkie Sunbeam (2022)
  3. $2 Romance – Wicked Lobster (2023)
  4. Ornette Coleman – The Shape of Jazz to Come (1959)
  5. V/A – He’s Bad! 11 Bands Decimate The Beats of Bo Diddley (2021)
  6. Bo Diddley – Have Guitar Will Travel (1960)
  7. Nicole Kidman – Nicole Kidman (2009)
  8. Jeff Unfortunately – Sitcom Songs (2025)
  9. The Car Thieves – Everybody’s Going Ape! 7” (1993)
  10.  Only God Forgives – Extra Strength (2025)
  11.  Jaguar 777 – Jaguar 777 (2026)
  12.  W-9 (demo) (2026)
  13.  Itchy and the Nits – Greetings From… (2026)
  14.  Adam Green – Chop Off Heads with Me (2026)
  15.  Rotten Apples – “as is” (2011)
  16.  Virgin Mega Whore – The Doorknob of San Diego EP (2005)
  17.  Sex Cult – Plain Jane 7” (2012)
  18.  Snare & The Idiots – Recycled Garbage EP (1985)
  19.  Riff Randells – S/T 7” (2000)
  20.  Clorox Girls – Baby 7” (2003)
  21.  Junior Varsity – Pep Rally Rock! 7” (1997)
  22.  The Brentwoods – You Broke My Heart (I Broke Your Jaw) 7” (1995)
  23.  The Pagans – Six and Change 7” (1977)
  24.  Jeanie & The Tits – Slut Fame 7” (2007)
  25.  Wristwatch – III (2026)
  26.  The Cramps – Stay Sick (1989)
  27.  Gavin Caine – Is Lemons (2025)
  28.  Straight Arrows – Middleman/Do the Sloth 7” (2026)
  29.  Wicked Witch – Unreleased LP (1978)
  30.  BZDET – Dwa Wymiary (2026)
  31.  DBR – “Unbearable” (2026)
  32.  Various ‎– Anxious Color: 60’s Garage Rock Psychedelic Moody Bands RARE Music Compilation ALBUM LP (2014)
  33.  ZULO – El Álbum Blanco (2026)
  34.  Nitwitz – First 7” EP (1980)
  35.  Billie Holiday – Great Women of Song (2023)
  36.  Tiny Tim – God Bless Tiny Tim (1968)

Dayemmm, I know February is the shortest month, but that flew by! I don’t like to speed up time, I like to linger, but fuck, get me out of this snow. At least the tunes have kept me warm. I like to think of myself as a head, but then sometimes I don’t. I’m not one of those see/saw kids or whatever the fuck, I can’t keep up with y’all! I want to focus more on quality over quantity. I started something new this month. I’m putting my favorites in bold. My favorite contemporary release was the impressive debut/demo from New Orleans’ W-9! A lot of punk can get stale and boring sometimes, but this one whipped my ass and it did before I even finished my beer! It’s a fun racket. Noisy and dirty, but I can hear everything smoothly. They just had their first show and it looked splendid. I’d love to see them live! Here’s their bandcamp: https://w-9music.bandcamp.com/album/w-9-demo

You’ll notice a series of older releases in bold as well. I found all of those on Sean Lynch’s You Tube channel. Amazing! So much good shit! Lots of weirdo Punk (block your ears if you’re squeamish and uptight), Power Pop, Old School Hardcore, and more! And I barely scratched the surface! Peep it here. https://www.youtube.com/@TelevisionTrash

Well, this was fun, but onto March. Seeing The Spits and Snooper (among others!) in NYC and Boston next week. Pumped! Peace. – Chris

What I’ve Been Listening To (January 2026)

January:

  1. Formaldehyde Junkies ‎– …Are A Total Wreck EP (2005)
  2. Subjects – Self-Titled Tape (2025)
  3. Happy Farm – Demo (2025)
  4. Hot Chicks – Reloaded (2025)
  5. Science Man – Monarch Joy – Part 3 – or The Laughing Hour (2025)
  6. Wasted Pido – Same Shit Eveywhere (2025)
  7. Puke Pisstols – The Lost Recordings (2026)
  8. Thee Amazing Andy California – Stomp EP (2026, older recordings)
  9. Beatniks – Beatniks EP (2016)
  10.  Bobbyteens – I Wanna Go 7” (1998)
  11.  Supreme Dicks – The Unexamined Life (1993)
  12.  Phil & The Spectras -Every Night 7” (2026)
  13.  Hurts & Noises #19 Johnny Sick Mixtape (2025)
  14.  Sick Thoughts – Goner LP Demos (2019)
  15.  Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments – Bait and Switch (1995)
  16.  Teengenerate – Audio Recording (1993)
  17.  Teengenerate – Savage!!! (1996)
  18.  Mala Vista – Snub Nose .38 7” EP (2025)
  19.  Beer – Beer III EP (2025)
  20.  Pisaur – SZKODLIWY NIZ ZNAD POLSKI 7” (2025)
  21.  Ultimatum – Demo (2025)
  22.  Flippeur – Elastique (2025)
  23.  Tee Vee Repairman – Goner and Total Punk 7” (2025)
  24.  D.I.V.A. and Jacket Burner – Split (2025)
  25.  Big Hog + Resource Network Split (2025)
  26.  Rearranged Face – Rear Ranged Face EP (2025)

Unfortunately, my list didn’t save in Microsoft Word, so I am probably missing some stuff here! I was able to list off the above based on my queues.

Boston’s Puke Pisstols’ debut “The Lost Recordings” is the best thing I heard this month! The latest rock and roll juggernaut from Andy Macbain/Hilken Mancini/Johnny Sheeran/Simon Simard. Supergroup! It has that classic Macbain blown out sound. I don’t know how he gets it! The whole gang is great though. And hey, we the KLYAM get a shout out on “Year of the Rat.” Holy shit!

There’s also a new Andy California release (older songs).

Lots of good shit, current and old, and a handful that were fine, but probably won’t receive a second listen!

Happy Farm had a sick demo! Weird ass, screechy vocals the way I love them! Maybe you’ll see them on a Best of 2025 list if I ever actually get around to that…..

See you soon suckers! – Chris

What I’ve Been Listening To (December 2025)

December:

  1. Split System – No Cops in Heaven/Pull the Trigger 7” (2025)
  2. Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band – Gorilla (1967)
  3. Larry & the Jerks – Kicked in the Head by Joe Devola (2024)
  4. Citric Dummies – “Split With Turnstile” (2025)
  5. The Paris Sisters – Sing Everything Under the Sun (1967)
  6. Angel Face – Out in the Street (2025)
  7. Premier Lawn Service- Pissed Off EP (2025)
  8. Half – HALF Live Demo (2025)
  9. Candypants – Candypants (2000)
  10.  Glueman – Glueman III (2025)
  11.  Outside View – 2025 Cuts (2025)
  12.  Spooky Visions – Unraveled EP (2025)
  13.  The Chocolate Watchband – The Inner Mystique (1968)
  14.  Country Christmas with Buck Owens, Glen Campbell, Ferlin Husky, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Sonny James, Roy Rogers & Dale Evans (1967)
  15.  Ray Conniff and the Ray Conniff Singers – We Wish You a Merry Christmas (1962)
  16.  Dean Martin – The Dean Martin Christmas Album (1966)
  17.  Baby Tyler – Sucker with a Dream (2025)
  18.  Freak Phone – Demo (2025)
  19.  Shitcontrol – Hungriga, Frusna och Lamslagna (2025)
  20.  Proglottid – Bodies Change to Dust (2018)
  21.  Electric Light Orchestra – A New World Record (1976)
  22.  DISPO – “Idüll” (2025)
  23.  Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments – Negative Guest List (1994)
  24.  Laughing Corpse – Beyond Recognition 7” (2025)
  25.  Cheap Fix – Re-animator Blues 7” (2025)
  26.  Giustino DiGregorio – Sprut (1995)
  27.  Tive – 恥部 (2022)
  28.  Coffin Lids – Live Trash (Abbey Lounge Records) “The Nice Price” (2005)
  29.  Sabrina Carpenter – Man’s Best Friend (2025)
  30.  Bang! Bros – Hard Rocks Volume 1 (2012)
  31.  Itches – House Animal Included (2025)
  32.  Les Rallizes Dénudés – Heavier Than a Death in the Family (2002)
  33.  Institute – Salt EP (2014)
  34.  Hickey – Us vs Them 7” (1995)
  35.  Enuf – Demo (1988)
  36.  Doc Corbin Dart – Patricia (1990)

I don’t have a year ender for you yet! I’m still compiling that; stay tuned! In the meantime, this is what I listened to for the first time in December. Lots of Christmas music! I got a few new records this year. Dean Martin, Ray Conniff, a sweet Country compilation, in addition to all the usual classics I enjoy!

Angel Face’s Out in the Street was probably my favorite! No surprise with members hailing from the legendary Japanese Garage Punk outfit Teengenerate! I thought it was better than their previous releases. Not as fiery and messy as Teengenerate, but some sick, impressive Power Pop. Gritty and I saw them at Gonerfest in 2024 and we actually met them at the airport. Super kind! Thomas Jefferson Slave Apartments is a band I’ve been meaning to listen to forever and have only done in bits and pieces over the years. I finally listened to a whole album! It was awesome! What have I been smoking this whole time? New Bedford icon Mike Mountain’s favorite! Scuzzy, not quite right, but fees too good to be wrong noisy rock and roll comparable to fellow Ohioans Pagans as well as Pussy Galore. To quote Marge Simpson “I Just Think they’re neat.” Freak Phone is a newer local band (Portland, ME) I have my eye on! I’ll see them at Midway on 1/31 and I hope to book them myself in the new year!

Happy New Year fuckers, suckers, bozos, jokers, smokers, uppers, downers, dinos, winos, dryjanuaryers, and keeping wet dreams alive. I’ll be posting my year enders soon enough. Maybe even a movie year ender????? Who knows?! Cheers! – Chris

What I’ve Been Listening To (October 2025)

October has come and gone… way too fast! I often listened to a Halloween mix I made 5 years ago as I do every October!

Anyways, below is stuff I listened to for the first time ever. Lot of new shit, Lot of punk shit. Got into Schizos again. Not sure if I ever listened to their stuff before besides a Live at Hi-Tone record in which they were thrown out of the Hi-Tone venue! I was there! It was a Gonerfest after party. It was a crazy show and then I saw them again there a year later. They somehow managed to sneak their way in under an alias. At THAT show I got a concussion. Records can’t do justice, but they come close enough! Another stand out for me was an album I never thought I’d ever actually see or hear or whatever.  Incoqnekro – Incoqnekromicon (2006). I read about this years ago on the Black Lips’ Wikipedia page, but either it wasn’t linked there before or I’m just a fool. But former Black Lip Joe Bradley apparently produced this Atlanta Hip Hop album and lent his own raps in the mix too! As one G. Gordon Gritty also noted, it sounds like proto 200 Million Thousand (2009) for you Lips fans out there! Give it a listen here. Solid, fun rap album! And pretty damn obscure. I can’t find it from a Google search and can’t find much on it beyond a Myspace page via wayback machine. https://incoqnekro.bandcamp.com/album/incoqnekronomicon

October:

  1. Tall Juan – Raccoon Nights Demos (2025)
  2. Science Man – Monarch Joy Part 2 (2025)
  3. Black Flag – Panic Demos (1978)
  4. Joe Glass – Slither (2022)
  5. Nape Neck – Nape Neck (2020)
  6. Nape Neck – Look Alive EP (2022)
  7. Nape Neck – The Shallowest End (2025)
  8. R.M.F.C. – Ecstatic Strifeby (2025)
  9. The Slash – Demo (2025)
  10.  Life Stinks – Life Stinks (2013)
  11.  The Unknowns – Looking From the Outside (2025)
  12.  The Thought Criminals – Hilton Bomber (Full 7” released 1978, reissued 2025)
  13.  The Reatards – Plastic Surgery 7” (2005)
  14.  Ramones – Subterranean Jungle (1983)
  15.  C4 – Payback’s A Bitch (2025)
  16.  I.C.B.M. – A Nation Ends (2025)
  17.  The Kinks – Muswill Hillbillies (1971)
  18.  Picniclunch – snaxbandwitches (2025)
  19.  Black Lips – Season of the Peach (2025)
  20.  Quintron and Miss Pussycat – Crystal Crunchy EP (2025)
  21. Schizos – Fuck Iggy Pop (2016)
  22.  Schizos – Schizos (2019)
  23.  Schizos – Come Back With A Warrant (2021)
  24.  Grimly Pleased – Here For Pleasure (2023)
  25.  Incoqnekro – Incoqnekromicon (2006)
  26.  Dead Prez – Let’s Get Free (2000)
  27.  Echo, Bravo – Der Tod und das Mädchen (2024)
  28.  Cody Switch – Straight for Pay (2022)
  29.  The Thermals – Parts Per Million (2003)
  30.  Normativ – Demo_1 (2025)
  31.  Atomic Candy Creeps – II (2025)
  32. 1-800 Mikey/Gee Tee – Split (2025)
  33.  Ryan Kidd – Rock N Rule (2025)
  34.  Adam Green – Falling Around EP (2025)
  35.  Shadowing – Body Neutral EP (2025)
  36.  No Peeling – No Peeling 7” (2025)
  37.  Buzzcocks – UK Punk Demos (1976)
  38.  Pack – S/T (1978)

Already working on November! – Chris

What I’ve Been Listening To (June 2025)

First post in a long, long time! – Chris

Below is my best efforts to keep track of music I am listening to that is new to me! In other words, I am listening to them for the first time with the occasional exception! LPs, EPs, Comps, etc. Would be too many to list if I included just individual songs! First album may surprise you!

2025:

June (starting June 5th):

  1. Captain Beefheart – Safe as Milk (1967)
  2. Slags – Lick It (2025) EP
  3. No Victim – Self-Titled Tape (2025)
  4. At the Party! 16 Rompin’ Stompin’ Lease Breakin’ Tunes (1986 – songs from 50s, 60s or at least 60s!)
  5. Cult Crime – Self-Titled (2025)
  6. Liquids – Tennessee Rose EP (2025)
  7. SexFaces – Young Team Demos (2023)
  8. SexFaces – Bad Vibes OST LP (2025)
  9. Lightning Bolt – Student Center 1994 1st Show (released in 2025)
  10.  Gay Mayor – Don’t Tread on Pete (2017)
  11.  Tombs – No Fucker (2023)
  12.  King Blood – Eye I Aye Ivy (2025)
  13.  Jean Mignon – Dirty Mean Fast (2024)
  14.  Atlantic Thrills – III (2025)
  15.  The Boys – The Boys (1977)
  16.  The White Wires – WWI (2008)
  17.  Artificial Go – Hopscotch Fever (2024)
  18.  Snorkler – Sleven Songs (2025) *heard before I think! *
  19.  The Intelligence – Live in SF (2016)
  20.  The Hunches – Dance Alone EP (2002)
  21.  The Hunches – Same New (2018)
  22.  The Hunches – The Hunches (2016)
  23.  Gino and The Goons – Gino and the Goons (2025)
  24.  Blacula OST (1972)
  25.  Heavenly Bodies – TAPE (2020)
  26.  Twisted Teens – S/T (2024)
  27.  Cause Commotion – It’s Time! Singles and EPs (2005-2008)
  28.  Patrol – S/T (2024)
  29.  Fib – Heavy Lifting (2025)
  30.  The Swankys – Very Best of Hero (1985)
  31.  The Samples – Demo EP (1981)
  32.  DFX – Four Songs EP (2024)
  33.  The Kirks – Get Out EP (1997)
  34.  Magic Juan – Will Power (1993)
  35.  L’il Bunnies – S/T EP (1995)

Catching Up With M R from Picniclunch & Eric Baylies Before 4752 Fest

4752 Fest is almost here! We can’t sing its praises enough over at KLYAM. In case you missed it: Saturday afternoon/evening (OCTOBER 23) in Downtown New Bedford – 13 bands of various persuasions will play at 6 different (mostly nontraditional) venues starting at 2:30 PM. Experimental and DIY meets the small business entrepreneurial spirit. There isn’t anything like it in New England – or even the United States. Maybe? Maybe this will be the start to people from all over the world coming through to the hidden gem that is New Bedford. A la Gonerfest? Maybe.

In the spirit of 4752, I caught up with Mike Ribeiro of Picniclunch and Eric Baylies of Baylies Band. Both are playing. Check the full lineup and details at the end of this post.

Mike Ribeiro (PICNICLUNCH) – an oral history:

My family moved to New Bedford in 1984, when I was about to turn 10. After graduating high school I went to college in Boston, dropping out after two years, then spent a couple years in Baltimore before coming back. Talking, 1996. So, outside of those 4 years and my early childhood, I’ve been here most of my life. I picked up bass in high school, and even sang in a band with some of my friends for a bit, but it wasn’t until I got back from Baltimore that I really got into performing. I played in a couple, mostly recording, projects—including one with Devin Byrnes, our bassist and sometimes singer, called Steer Beyond Pink—before starting a band with my friend Jon DaCosta we dubbed Acrylic Anatomy. This ended up morphing into The Visa Mastercard Liars when my sister Rozana joined as a vocalist, and we played together for a good five years, mostly performing in and around New Bedford, which was a lot of fun. Splitting up sucked big time because I really loved our sound—very cacophonous and careening—but there had been some tension building, and getting things together had become very tough. I had put out a solo recording as M.R. (“Cornrows On the Desert Storm”, 2001) while still in VML, so when we broke up I just went full on with it, self-releasing an EP (“Loose Advocacy, 2005) and another full length (“Title Evoked”, 2007). Due, I think, to the abrasiveness of my guitar work, and possibly the lyrical content, it wasn’t always easy getting shows. And I really do love to play out, so this was frustrating. Seeking out open mics was practically the only way I could perform. But it was rarely ever gratifying in that I was basically forcing my material on an audience expecting the usual acoustic, mellow stuff, and feedback was at best things like, “Hey, keep at it, buddy, you’ll get better,” haha, when I’m thinking, “This is exactly how I want to sound, folk loser.” So after six years of this, I really wanted to get a band going again, both to collaborate again, and for access to other, more receptive venues. Devin was game, so we found a drummer, and that’s how Picniclunch started, and we’ve been at it—with a three year lapse while I went back to school from 2010 to 2013—since 2009. As to how it all relates to New Bedford itself, I’m not totally sure. I will say that, though it’s not always overt, New Bedford has consistently been referenced in my lyrics, so I’ve always considered what I do as being regional. Another way it might relate is the fact that it’s always seemed to me that metal and cover bands are the only kind of music that’s given any attention around here. So I have to give myself credit, along with long-time veterans of our scene like Eric Baylies and Carl Simmons, and Mike Montagano when he was around, for so stubbornly offering an alternative to that all this time.

Wow, that’s a lot to respond to, haha. Definitely think those open mic audiences would agree with you about me “killing songs” with my guitar. I’m very much in love with that description. That “attack” is very much a direct influence of several post-punk bands of the 70s and 80s I totally immersed myself in in my twenties, including The Fall, Gang of Four, and Sonic Youth, not to mention precursors like Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band and the Velvet Underground. And yeah, Minutemen and Burma are definitely in there, too. That visceral feeling these groups exuded really grabbed me, and continues to do so. Free Jazz and, as you mentioned, No Wave are another two huge aesthetic influences. What’s so exciting to me about those two genres is the musicians’ intense tenacity, hanging onto a note or idea as if letting go of it would mean death. And maybe that’s why you find what we do so danceable: we’re all trying to do our own individual thing—me, Devin, and our amazing drummer Mac Williamson—while doing our damnedest to hold down the rhythm, and that dynamic just sucks you in, and gets you moving. It’s our simultaneous joy and anxiety you’re dancing to, haha.

Yes, I did the flyers, and with Devin’s feedback, designed the festival t-shirt. So, yes, I’m a visual artist as well, and have done all the band’s album artwork—though I’d like to change it up a little, and get some guest artwork on the next lp. I also do animation, something I majored in at MassArt ten years ago. Outside of some animated visuals for a live streaming show we did at AS220 in Providence last December, I haven’t produced anything lately. Hoping I can get my act together soon and finally put together a video for one of our songs, which the guys have been encouraging me to do for a while. Dont wanna overpromise and underdeliver, so we’ll just have to wait and see….

Eric BayliesWHATCHU BEEN UP TO?

Played a few festivals since we been back in somerville and providence, good to be getting back into swing of things. Looking forward to nov 5 columbus theatre w vapors of morphine ( surviving mem of morphine) and dec 4 the met w start making sense – talking heads tribute. Done 4 tryouts for the show – hope to start filming pilot episode next month. Looking forward to first nb show in 2 years, lottsa great stuff that day. Fav record is always the next one but right now irs KAFKAESQUE- kinda shape shifting record for is as we stayed weird but in a different way- more towards captain beefheart and pere ubu than the noisy swans and sonic youth styles that served us so well

Line up for 4752

230- 345 (fiber optics center, 23 centre street)

230-Scapeghost315-Sugar death whistle

4 to 515 (communal space, 246 Union street)

4-Myles Goulart445-Wreath

515 to 630 (Destination soups,149 union)

515-Blood feeder6-Picniclunch

630 to 745 (the madlila, 741 Purchase st)

630-G.Gordon Gritty715-Bridge of flowers

8- 10 Mcfee gallery (104 William st)8-Baylies band845-Urojets915- Loud hearts1

10 to 11 30 No problemo (813 Purchase st)

10- Black beach1045-Landowner

BOSTON AREA INDEPENDENT VENUES STATUS

ATWOOD’S TAVERNCAMBRIDGE – Undergoing a renovation indoors – live shows to return late summer/fall

DEEP THOUGHTS JAMAICA PLAIN – Live shows came back in June

THE JUNGLESOMERVILLE – Live shows came back in June

LILYPADCAMBRIDGE – Live shows came back in June

THE MIDDLE EASTCAMBRIDGE – Shows in August and beyond

MIDWAY CAFE JAMAICA PLAIN – Live shows came back in June

O’BRIENS PUB – ALLSTONShows in July and beyond

ONCE – SOMERVILLE – Outdoor venue at 101 South Street with shows in July and beyond

PLOUGH AND STARSCAMBRIDGE – Live shows came back in June

THE PORCHMEDFORD – Live shows came back in June

EMAIL US at KLYAMEMAIL@GMAIL.COM FOR UPDATES ON ABOVE / IF WE FORGOT ANYTHING!

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The question we asked all of our podcast guests was always: WHEN WILL SHOWS RETURN?

In Boston – at least – the correct answer was June 2021.