Bands: Potty Mouth, Malatese, Kal Marks, DB Cooper Date: Friday, January 31, 2014 Venue: Craft House/ Crab Haus (Medford, MA)
We KLYAMERS scramble around Tufts University looking for this place for a good while until we finally see a big van with musicians unloading equipment outside of it. This is the place. I love these little clues when you’re searching for the right house that’s holding the show. I remember one time I overheard some dude respond to the doorman’s donation request with “hey man, this PBR 40 is all I have on me.” That always killed me, cause I knew right away this is the place.
I’ve never been to a show here before, but it looks like a lot of fun. A living room is packed with college kids, blowing off steam after a long, hard week of working and/or partying. It’s a relatively decent space and in fact there’s a camera set up on a tripod in the back of the room, catching all of the evening’s activity. I feel like this space is a much cleaner version of what the Die Slaughterhaus (Atlanta house venue, early double ohhs) must have been like. Ohh God, I would have killed to have caught just one Black Lips basement show in 2001 or 2005 or whenever. At least, I am here now and that’s all that matters. I am just going to sit back, wet my whistle, and let DB Cooper do all the work.
DB Cooper (formerly known as Dumpster Banana) – DB Cooper. Never heard of him or them before, but supposedly he or they are local Tufts legends. Before the show started I was informed that DB has elements of Husker Du in em’ and I can kind of see that, perhaps earlier, more hardcore driven Du, for there is plenty of fast, testosterone droolin’ grit to the DB Cooper band. I’ll point to fellow Minneapolis, alt rock losers ( and by loser I mean winners) The Replacements as a means of comparison. There’s that party hardy, loud, fast punk element, but there’s also a softer side with a heart to them. In fact, one of the songs is introduced as their “Replacements song.”
DB surely keeps the kids rocking as a tornado of smelly, perspiring bodies slam back and forth into each other at a rapid pace, crashing right into me as I stand in the back of the room on a tiny couch, trying to knock back as many bud lights as I can; I’m trying to catch up with you kids, but don’t knock over my damn beer! Makes me sad, I am no longer in college :(.
I have mixed feelings about DB Cooper. A part of me likes that Husker, Replacements vibe and just the sheer animal quality of their performance. Then again, I feel like, it’s sort of emo, death metaly high school stuff I am not too fond of, it could go either way. It’s fun, but not something I’d go out of my way to see again.
Kal Marks – Kal Marks is just the band I came to see. I fancy myself somewhat of a garage punk nut, though I don’t claim to be an expert or anything, but Kal Marks is one of the few contemporary bands I really dig that doesn’t fall under that category. Their songs may be bleak and brutally honest, but the band still rocks with so much vigor, it’s hard not to get excited when they play. Most of the songs are also quite catchy, but not in a cutesy or bubbly way. It’s all genuine, powerful, and ultimately profound.
For Kal’s set, I make sure I get a nice spot right up front, just inches away from the performers. It’s a packed crowd and like the first band, there’s a solid crowd response with lots of moshing and such. I’m actually surprised I’m able to stand up front the whole time without flying straight into the drum set.
As far as the songs go, there’s a lot of terrific material on display, much of which appears on their latest and greatest release Life is Murder. My favorite tonight is album opener “Love is a Song, Not an Answer.” Check out the whole album here: http://kalmarks.bandcamp.com/
Malatese – Malatese are on tour from Harrisonburg, Virginia and they are playing a couple of shows with their good buddies in Kal Marks. Tonight here and tomorrow night at Death By Audio in Brooklyn. Some day, I will attend a show there.
I didn’t get a good grasp on Malatese, but they were interesting to say the very least. Definitely far out and more experimental in nature than any of the other bands on the bill. Some say they are no wave and noise. I feel y’all on both accounts. If you’re into weird, but still rockin’ music, check out Malatese here: http://malatese.bandcamp.com/
Potty Mouth – I’ve heard a lot of folks rave about Northampton’s Potty Mouth, but I’ve actually never listened to them myself. Sometimes, seeing a band live for the first time is the perfect introduction. The band sounds decent with some tight, noisy, 90’s flavored rock, but for most of their performance I’m unable to actually visibly see the band play. There are too many bodies in front of me and I am simply too lazy to move up further at this point. To be frank, I am not sure if I stuck around for their entire set. Those bud lights finally caught up with me. Check out Potty Mouth here: http://pottymouth.bandcamp.com/
This show was presented by the good folks over at Apple Jam Productions. Let’s do it again sometime.
Couple nights ago at Uncle Lou’s, perpetual Band of the Week / teenage rock ‘n roll scholar Back Pages slaughterhoused with his spicy ‘rage-punk. Check out this video of his performance. Keep ya eyes peeled for an upcoming BP tape release on our very own KLYAM RECORDS.
Gotta watch your No Age kids!. Old school KLYAM favorites, No Age deliver a stellar performance of “C’Mon Stimmung” off their latest album An Object on David Letterman last night. They literally played the song on top of Letterman’s old, worn out body. Don’t believe me? Then you’ll just have to see for yourself.
Hey No Age, come back to Boston/New England pleaseeeee!
Well, look what we have here. The new music video for the Black Lips‘ “Boys in the Wood” off of their upcoming country fried album Underneath the Rainbow. Get a teeny taste of the rainbow with this video. It’s a wacky one, not exactly my dish, but I’m not too big into music videos anyway. I loved me some “Fad” though, hot damn!
I know I’m a little late on this and I already ran my mouth off in my last post regarding my top shows of 2013, so I’ll do my best to keep this one short and sweet. Here we go…
10) Dylan Ewen & The Southern Gospel Gangbusters – Country Fried, Southern Pride (BUFU Records) – Gangbusters? More like Gangbangers! I really got into a lot of Dylan Ewen this year in his various projects and out of all of them this was my favorite. For my money, this has Dylan’s rawest, most in your face lyrics with a nasty, bad ass gangsta edge that puts him up there with Cube, Dre, and Mr. Big. So wild. AND it’s all set to a full backing band (drums, guitar, bass, viola, banjo, mandalin, harmonica, you name it) busting out southern gospel, bluegrass, and country. I had the pleasure of catching the band live in the heart of JP last month and I errr uhh nearly wet myself. TOP SONG: “500 Days of Bummer” http://dylanewen.bandcamp.com/album/country-fried-southern-pride
9) Bent Shapes – Feels Weird (Father/Daughter Records) – I just received this record as a Christmas gift and I’m loving it. As a long time fan of Bent Shapes/Girlfirends this is a terrific mix of classics and some solid new jams. Every track is strong. On one hand, it feels like a greatest hits compilation and then on the other it comes across as a completely new entity. It works both ways. TOP SONG: : “I Was Here, But I Disappear”
8) Shannon And The Clams – Dreams In The Rat House (Hardly Art) – Shannon and The Clams is a big favorite of mine, so this album was a serious treat this year. This one falls in line with all of their previous work: rock ‘n’ roll at its purest. 50’s doo wop, garage rock, Ramones styled punk rock, and some of the best voices you will ever hear. It may not be the most original music, but it’s rock ‘n’ roll. This is the plateau, this is the ideal, this is the benchmark. TOP SONG: “If I Could Count”
7) Idiot Genes – S/T (Self-Released) – The third (but not final!) Boston band on this list, Idiot Genes are one of the most recent bands I have listened to in 2013. I first caught them at a show at O’Brien’s Pub last August and I was enamored with their oddball sense of humor and surly, apathetic punk attitude. Subsequently, I hopped on their bandcamp and I was blown away by what I heard. I related to the band’s sloppy, lethargic, wasted narrative. The feeling of being fucked and fagged and shagged. I was frustrated and hearing the Idiot Genes reminded me why I hold rock ‘n’ roll so near and dear to me in the first place. It is my elixir, the temporary cure to all of life’s problems. They are almost like a different kind of party band, an after party band, a hangover band. This all sounds like one miserable hangover, and by miserable I mean extraordinary. Makes me want to drink too much and then regret some of it the next day, especially when the hangover doesn’t go away by 5 /6 PM like it usually does, so then you just drink more, until the next day after that when you’re even more hungover AND still a little drunk. So, what do you do? you crack open a beer and drink some more and then you listen to Idiot Genes, one of my new favorite rock ‘n’ roll elixirs for that temporary cure. Drunk Consistently. Listen here and join me in a nightcap. Cheers. TOP SONG: “The Charles Mansion” http://stupidpants.bandcamp.com/album/idiot-genes
6) Colleen Green – Sock It To Me (Hardly Art) – Sock it to me? Ok. Ms. Green is one cool cucumber with all her Richard Nixon and True Romance references on her latest album Sock It To Me. Much like Shannon and the Clams, with this album Colleen maintains the same rock ‘n’ roll flavor she’s always had, it’s just stronger than ever. Just a great example of how pop music doesn’t have to be a big mass machine product, instead it can be as simple as a guitar, a drum machine, and passionate vocals. TOP SONG: “Number One” (The Queers cover)
5) The Monsieurs – Rock The Night (Self-Released) – Damn son, this past October I had the enormous fortune of cumming across my legs when I came across The Monsieurs at the Brighton Music Y’all opening up for the holy King Khan & The Shrines. I’ve heard plenty of great garage spunk this year, but this new release from The Monsieurs was/is a real dessert, a dish best served cold. A cold, sudden punch right in the nads that is. Seriously though, these dudettes and dude really fucking rock and pack in the punches. This band has all the bells and whistles and bubblegum and grit that you and your buddies get off on every time you listen to Hunx and Nobunny and hopefully Fagettes at home on your dad’s worn out stereo, BUTT Monsieurs turn it up to 11. From the first few seconds of “Shadow” to the last gasping breaths of “At the Hop,” this record is garage pop on steroids. Lead singer Andy Macbain is a beast, a force to be reckoned with, and his vocals are out of control, off the wall. It’s all sludgey and thuddy and LOUD. If you like rock ‘n’ roll with a rambunctious ummphhh up your ass then here ya go – yet, it’s still as sweet as a little old lady taking 20 hours to cross the street with her little old cane? So sweet it helps that sludge go down smoother… I see big things for The Monsiuers in Twenty Fourteen. In 2014, let their album Rock the Night become your musical lubricant! TOP SONG: “Kari Ann” http://themonsieurs.bandcamp.com/album/rock-the-night-8-song-digital-album
4) King Khan & The Shrines – Idle No More (Merge) – It’s always a great year whenever one of our Honorary KLYAMERS releases an album and King Khan is among our top OG’s. You could say he helped make us who we are today to paraphrase a line in the tune “So Wild,” a song dedicated to the late, great Jay Reatard. RIP Jay forever and ever. For once your wild spirit may rest in peace… the chaos of the world so foreign, yet so familiar, you feel this tone on King Khan & The Shrines’ Idle No More, their first album since 2007. It’s a very personal album, the most mature to date. Highly spiritual as ever, yet it still maintains that fantastic Khan spirit of ubiquitous joy. Love. And coming back to the KLYAM, that’s one thing I love about rock ‘n’ roll (as we see it), all the bands we rep, and this record. No matter how torturous the world can be, there’s still a light. Khan and his crew take the misery, the darkness, and they turn it on its ugly head, ultimately receiving a boisterous, fun filled album as ever been conceived by the Shrines. TOP SONG: “Bite My Tongue”
3) Nobunny – Secret Songs (Goner) – Nobunny continues the trend on this list of artists releasing albums that preserve their raw, rock ‘n’ roll character and yet augment their craft at the same time. Secrets Songs is stacked with smash hit after smash hit haha; every tune is a blast, no filler. Love Visions will probably always be my favorite, but I have to send my accolades to Mr. Bunny here. This LP has the most variety ever on a Nobunny record lyrically, musically, and aesthetically. There’s several fast poppers, screeching hardcore punks odes, and a batch of soft gentle numbers for the ladies and in particular for the Birthday Girl. NO NO 4 LYFE! TOP SONG: This is a toughie, but for now I’m going to go with “Bye Bye Roxie”
2) Peach Kelli Pop – Peach Kelli Pop II (Burger) – I know this came out in 2012, but I heard it in its entirety in 2013 and I loved it so damn much that I just couldn’t leave it off the list! This is one of the greatest pop records I have ever heard. Like I said earlier regarding Colleen Green, pop music doesn’t have to be mass produced and this certainly applies here. I was in love with PKP’s first album and I didn’t think it could be topped at the time. What was I thinking?! As awesome as her debut is, it doesn’t have anything on its sequel. Holy shit, this thing is incredible. PKP II is like Terminator 2, if it was a movie. A full blast of immediate, catchy pop songs from start to finish is what we have here. Peach Kelli Pop – Allie Hanlon channels bubblegum, garage, and 60’s Girl Groups in all of these short, but ever so sweet songs. It’s like injecting yourself with bubblegum pop music and feeling that instantaneous sugary high! This record always puts me in the best mood. Cheers. TOP SONG: “Red Leather”http://peachkellipop.bandcamp.com/
And the weiner is…
1) Hunx and His Punx – Street Punk (Hardly Art) – I know, I know I’m a Hardly Art whore. Haha, that should be a marketing trend. Labels should pick up on this. I can picture it now “I’m a Burger Whore!” or “Be a Burger Whore!” Shirts, pins, posters, let’s do it! I say this all with love. Anywhooo, since the dawn of KLYAM five years ago, Hunx and His Punx is one of the only, if only (possibly?) band that has consistently put out new, exceptional releases each year. With this album, Hunx and his cronies have snarled their way into the bowels of the rock ‘n’ roll/garage/punk landscape. I just adore and admire the way the band mixes up early hardcore punk (Germs, Misfits, Black Flag) with their classic garage rock style. Half of me says it’s an affectionate satire and the other says this is the real deal, this is the music itself. It feels like Circle Jerks or whoever comes to mind. When Hunx says he wants to beat you with a baseball bat, his screams are terrific and serve as a true homage to the aforementioned punk legends, but let’s not forget he’s saying this all because of his BAD SKIN! That’s part of the fun. I’m glad someone finally made (I could be wrong here and I very well may be missing out on loads of great, similarly styled albums) a piece of work that connects the dots in these various styles of pure rock ‘n’ roll music, which is not very pure to begin with. It’s so satisfying. I’ve always felt like that early wave of hardcore punk was like garage rock’s weird, fucked up cousin. It’s all coming from the same place essentially. It’s all about total and agonizing frustration and partying your ass off to cure that frustration. Hunx and His Punx get it. By the way, some of Shannon Shaw’s finest vocals! TOP SONG: “Mud In Your Eyes”
So, that’s it. That’s my list, but before I depart I have to give some mo’ shout outs. Here are some honorable mentions. Ben Tan – Inside Out, The Memories – Love Is The Law, Kal Marks – Life Is Murder, Saralee – S/T, The Gabba Ghouls – S/T, Kaviar Special – S/T, and last but certainly not least Lust Cats Of The Gutters – S/T , an album that was released in 2012, but nonetheless one of the best albums I heard all year.
2013 was also the first year of our record label KLYAM Records. We were/are extremely proud that our first release was one of our favorite records from 2012: Fat Creeps S/T EP
I chose not to include it on this list, because A) It was one of our own releases, B) It was originally released in 2012 and that’s when we heard it and loved it, and so forth, and C) It’s an EP and this is a list of my top LPs. Still, I couldn’t go without repping this record in a year end list of top records. Furthermore, if you haven’t picked up this album yet, then do yourself a favor and grab one now before it’s too late You can order it from KLYAM Records here: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/ The record is also available at Weirdo Records and Armageddon Records, both in Cambridge, MA.
We look forward to 2014 as we have more records and shows and reviews then can be imagined! Stay tuned, then turn on, and then drop out, and we’ll meet up and listen to records or something.
Yo! Portland, OR’s perpetual stoners White Fang are touring across the USA this April/May and they are hitting up Boston on none other than 420! That’s right, White Fang at the Middle East Upstairs onSunday, April 20, 2014. Nashville’s Denney and the Jets are opening. Check out all the dates below.
White Fang Tour Dates:
Wed 4/2 Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit
Fri 4/4 Dallas, TX @ Three Links
Sat 4/5 Austin, TX @ Mohawk Inside
Sun 4/6 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s
Mon 4/7 day off to party in New Orleans, LA
Tues 4/8 New Orleans, LA @ Circle Bar
Wed 4/9 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe
Thurs 4/10 Atlanta, GA @ 529
Fri 4/11 Tallahassee, FL @ Club Downunder
Sat 4/12 Jacksonville, FL @ Burro Bar
Sun 4/13 Gainesville, FL @ Hi Dive
Mon 4/14 Wilmington, NC @ Orton’s Bar & Billiards
Tues 4/15 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
Wed 4/16 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter
Thurs 4/17 Baltimore, MD @ The Goldbar
Fri 4/18 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
Sat 4/19 Brooklyn, NY @ Glasslands Sun 4/20 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Upstairs
Tues 4/22 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
Wed 4/23 Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
Thurs 4/24 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
Fri 4/25 Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge
Sat 4/26 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
Sun 4/27 Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Tues 4/29 Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Wed 4/30 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
Fri 5/2 San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside
Sat 5/3 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo
Sun 5/4 Santa Ana, CA @ Constellation Room
And if u r peeing, then the dudes are playing in Europe in March!
Check out this home made video of Back Pages‘ KC Allen playing drums along to his song “Darkness Creeps Over.” This kid is amazing, a must for fans of Jay Reatard, Ty Segall, and all around badass rockers.
We’ve been spoiled! Boston fans of Chicago’s The Orwells that is. These fellas have been in us, Boston that is, three times in 2013, and now at least two more times in 2014! On Thursday, February 6th, the dudes are opening for Arctic Monkeys and Deerhunter at Agganis Arena. In the following month, they are heading out on a month long tour all across these here United States sir; making a stop at Allston’s Great Scott on Tuesday, March 4th!. Check for your city at the tour dates below.
The Orwells Tour Dates:
March 4 Allston, MA Great Scott
March 6 New York, NY Bowery Ballroom
March 7 Philadelphia, PA First Unitarian Church
March 8 Washington, DC U Street Music Hall
March 10 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade – Hell Stage
March 11 New Orleans, LA One Eyed Jacks
March 19 Phoenix, AZ Rampage Fest
March 20 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory
March 21 San Diego, CA Che Café
March 22 Los Angeles, CA Troubadour
March 23 San Francisco, CA Slim’s
March 25 Seattle, WA Neumos
March 26 Portland, OR Star Theater
April 1 Chicago, IL Lincoln Hall
April 2 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
RIP Jay Reatard (1980 – 2010). Four years to the day. Still seems crazy to think that we’ll never see this guy perform music ever again. Jay was an incendiary performer and I had the privilege of seeing him live three times within the last six months of his life. I would have killed to have seen more shows, especially in the more intimate settings such as a basement. Vicariously relive Jay with me through the above video of a classic Reatards set in Reno, Nevada in 1999, in a basement.
HEY HO! LET’S GO! NOBUNNY 2014 TOUR!!! Boston creeps note Tuesday, February 4th @ Middle East Upstairs, it’s less than a month away!
NOBUNNY Tour Dates:
Wed Jan 15th San Francisco, @ El Rio*
Thurs Jan 16th Santa Rosa, CA @ Skirt Chaser*
Fri Jan 17th Eureka, CA @ Ink Annex*
Sat Jan 18th Chico, CA @ Duffy’s*
Sun Jan 19 Sacramento, CA @ Press Club (Early Show)*
Tues January 18 Madison, WI @ TBA
Wed January 29 Chicago @ TBA
Thurs, January 30 Columbus @ Ace of Cups
Fri, January 31 Cleveland @ Now That’s Class
Sat, February 01 Detroit @ Lager House
Sun, February 02 Toronto @ Horseshoe Tavern Tues, February 04 Boston @ The Middle East (Upstairs)
Wed, February 05 Brooklyn – Baby’s All Right
Thurs, February 06 Middletown, CT @ Wesleyan
Fri, February 07 Philadelphia @ Underground Arts
Sat, February 08 Baltimore @ Golden West
Sun, February 09 Richmond @ Strange Matter
Mon, February 10 Durham @ Duke Coffee House
Tues, February 11 Wilmington @ Calico Room
Wed, February 12 Atlanta @ Drunken Unicorn
Thurs, February 13 St. Augustine @ Nobby’s
Fri, February 14 Orlando @ Wills Pub
Sat, February 15 Miami @ Gramps w/ Blowfly
Sun, February 16 Gainesville @ Atlantic
Tues, February 18 New Orleans @ Siberia
Wed, February 19 Birmingham @ Bottletree
Thurs, February 20 Chattanooga @ JJs Bohemia
Fri, February 21 Knoxville @ Pilot Light
Sat, February 22 Nashville @ The End
Sun, February 23 Memphis, TN @ Goner 21st Bday
March 22/23 – Santa Ana @ Burgerama III*
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 