Watch the Black Lips SesioneS performance in Mexico from last year. It’s a lot of fun. Quit jerking off and watch it. Or jerk off and watch it. We don’t care, we won’t judge you.
Category Archives: Video
Review: King Khan & The Shrines, Hellshovel, The Monsieurs @ Brighton Music Hall (10/29/13)
Bands: King Khan & The Shrines, Hellshovel, The Monsieurs
Date: Tuesday, October 29, 2013
Venue: Brighton Music Hall (Allston, MA)
The Monsieurs – Here at KLYAM we are suffocated by “garage rock” and “garage punk” and don’t even get me started on “garage psych.” At this point, we could drown in our vomit’s worth of garage. You may ask, “do you ever get sick of listening to this same style of music with bands ripping off bands that ripped off bands that ripped off bands that ripped off some poor black guys? The answer is yes and no. Yes, hearing garage all the time can be tedious and can surely make it difficult to warm up to fresh, young blood. But, no we are far too young to be cynical to say that “it all sounds the same” and sometimes it just takes a special band to make everything all right. The Monsieurs are one of those bands and they are ever so special. As one Cory Bell (SKIMASK, Funeral Cone, Ancient Filth) predicted, KLYAM seriously digs The Monsieurs!
The Monsieurs are a Boston based three piece – Andy Macbain on vocals, Hilken Mancini on guitar, and Erin King on drums (King stands up and smashes at her bass less kit a la Melanie and Peaches from Fagettes). Andy’s a real bad ace, we’re talking one kewl cat, I mean woahhhh daddy damn. He looks like a pimp (and could be) straight out of a blaxploitation flick (though he is white) – black shades, fur coat, funky hair, chewing gum, and pacing around the room like a caged cheetah that’s finally been let out and ready to rock like it’s no one else’s business.
Andy claws around, singing/screaming in everyone’s face and carrying a mic stand with him the whole time. Since I’m standing in front of the stage, he nearly knocks me out with the damn thing on several occasions. Andy spends much of this set on the floor, rocking around the somewhat empty crowd (at this point in the show, the audience is still building up and various patrons are just arriving, grabbing a drink at the bar, etc.). Glen thinks the band would fair better in a smaller, up close, and personal setting. I concur. Though, I got plenty up close and personal with The Monsieurs. Andy even kneels down and whispers sweet nothings in my ear at one point during the show.
As far as that good old fashioned, 60s garage/bubblegum pop styled rock ‘n’ roll goes, The Monsieurs are some of the best dishing it out around town. In particular, “Kari Ann” stands out to me tonight. It’s quite the ditty. Listen to all the ditties here on their album Rock the Night. Trust me, this one’s a keeper. http://themonsieurs.bandcamp.com/album/rock-the-night-8-song-digital-album
Hellshovel – Hellshovel is currently on tour with King Khan & The Shrines, although I have never heard their music before. Though, I have heard that Hellshovel is one of King Khan’s new favorite bands. Makes sense, given that Hellshovel is led by Demon’s Claws’ front man Jeff Clarke – a long time friend and collaborator of King Khan’s. A fellow Kukomonga, a death culter.
Hellshovel has a similar garage aesthetic as the other two bands on the bill, but they are a lot more laid back and mellow. It’s actually bizarre psych garage music. Spacey. It’s cool, but doesn’t burn a fire in my heart like The Monsieurs did. Still, I recommend you check out their stuff here: http://slovenly.bandcamp.com/album/hellshovel-hated-by-the-sun-lp
King Khan & The Shrines – Ahh the build up before King Khan is like no other. All the Shrines are out on stage, decked out in all black, wailin’ away as the crowd cheers loud and louder until the King finally arrives. Dressed in black and gold, the King summons his sensational shrines and the band bursts into perennial show opener “Land of the Freak” OWWWWWWW!!!.
This is our fourth time seeing King Khan & The Shrines, so we know what to expect, but the show still remains magnificent. And in terms of the set, it’s precisely what you want from the grandaddy of them all. A sweet mixture of all the vintage Shrines tunes spiced up with some fresh cuts from the band latest effort Idle No More (Merge).
I’m as ecstatic as ever to hear my favorite King Khan & The Shrines songs, but I really dig the way King introduces each hit with a tiny hint as to what the band will play next. “This next one is for all you big girls” (“Took My Lady to Dinner”), “This one is for all you poor people,” (“Welfare Bread”), and best of all a new ballad for those rabid animals we lay to rest, especially Jay Reatard and Lou Reed (“So Wild”). You forgot Marcia Wallace (Edna Krabappel) King! So wild. RIP to all.
I may simply be forgetting – it’s been so many shows now – but, this may be the first time I’ve ever heard the band play the slow, doo woppy love song “Fool Like Me,” one of my favorites and a real pleasure to finally hear live.
Per usual, King Khan & The Shrines puts on one of the best shows you will ever experience, but the crowd could be a lot better. Sure, people are dancing, but there is not enough movement, not enough hysteria. This is King Khan people! On the other hand, when King Khan returns for the encore – in cape – the disciples start moshing and bashing back and forth to the sounds of “Born to Die” (a newbie from Idle No More). Next is “No Regrets,” and finally we leave with the classic “Live Fast Die Strong.” LIVE FAST DIE.
Following the show, we share some kind words with the almighty defender himself. He remembered Gangbang Gordon! You may not however, you may have never even heard of him, but you will some day. When you least expect it.
Video by John Doherty
Music Video: Shannon and the Clams – “Rat House”/ Show Tonight @ Great Scott!
Check out the new video for Shannon and the Clams‘ “Rat House” and then go see them live tonight at the Great Scott with our top dawgs, Atlantic Thrills and Fagettes! Remaining tour dates listed below.
Tour Dates:
11.21.13 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
11.22.13 – New York, NY – Mercury Lounge
11.23.13 – Brooklyn, NY – 285 Kent
11.25.13 – Toronto, ON – Silver Dollar
11.26.13 – Oberlin, OH – Dionysius Discotheque @ Oberlin
11.27.13 – Detroit, MI – Trinosophes
11.29.13 – Indianapolis, IN – Do317 Lounge
11.30.13 – Chicago, IL – Subterranean
12.01.13 – Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club
12.07.13 – San Francisco, CA – The Bay Brewed @ Public Works
SOTD: Sneaky Pinks – “I’m Punk”/7” Out Now On Almost Ready
Life’s a party. A Sneaky Pinks party. Sneaky what? That’s right, Sneaky Pinks have a new (or just a release of older material?) 7″ from Almost Ready Records. “I’m Punk” b/w “Puke Pudding.” Get your grimy hands all over it.
And if you’re saying to yourself, “fuck you dude I already know this, this 7″ came out like last week, old news.” Ohh well fuck you super savvy rock ‘n’ roll douche. This one is for the unconverted. We at KLYAM may not post everything in a timely fashion, but at least one time we posted the Sneaky Pinks East Coast tour video from 2006! Time was never our friend.
Grab the seven incher here: http://www.almostreadyrecords.com/arr.htm It’s worth a click just to read the funny ass description. “Nazi Punk Kiddie Porn for collector faggots and the working class hipster. ” Haha.
And why not set you up real nice with some “Puke Pudding”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OugW6FQ3Es
Music Video: Bent Shapes – “Behead Yrself Pt. 2”
Check out the new music video for “Behead Yrself Pt. 2” from one of Boston’s best Bent Shapes. Video directed by Avi Paul Weinstein! Dude’s videos are always popping up on KLYAM.
You can hear Behead Yrself on Bent Shapes’ LP Feels Weird available at Father/Daughter Records: http://fatherdaughterrecords.bigcartel.com/
Or better yet, you can catch the band currently on tour with John Vanderslice. Remaining tour dates below:
11/19 – Rhythm Room – Phoenix, AZ (w/ John Vanderslice)
11/20 – Soda Bar – San Diego, CA (w/ John Vanderslice)
11/21 – Bootleg Bar – Los Angeles, CA (w/ John Vanderslice)
11/22 – Bottom Of The Hill – San Francisco, CA (w/ PAPA)
11/24 – Lost Lake Lounge – Denver, CO
11/25 – Slowdown – Omaha, NE
11/26 – The Burlington – Chicago, IL
And for mo’ Avi Paul, go here: http://avipaulweinstein.com/
New DING-DONGS LP Out On Norton
This month we’re looking at a new record, Rang Tang Ding Dong from The Ding Dongs – that is Mark Sultan + Bloodshot Bill out on the legendary Norton Records. Be excited.
Girls of the Gravitron …
We’ve spread the gospel of Memphis’ Girls of the Gravitron before and yet you still didn’t listen. What are you waiting for? The time to hesitate is through…
And just to give you a triple dose of Girls of the Gravitron, here’s a film entitled HOLY LAND (directed by Kentucker Audley) starring Girls of the Gravitron’s lead singer/songwriter, Cole Weintraub. GEE WHIZ!
Hunx and His Punx – “Born Blonde” Live/Super 8 In Toronto
Review: FIDLAR, The Orwells, Nice Guys @ The Sinclair
Bands: FIDLAR, The Orwells, Nice Guys
Date: Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Venue: The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA)
Nice Guys – OMG!!! IT’S NICE GUYS!!!! HOLY SHIT!!!
That’s right kids, it’s Nice Guys! And if you feel my exclamation points are extraneous and exaggerated then you obviously haven’t seen the band at the Sinclair among hundreds of screaming sixteen year olds. As soon as the Allston foursome hit the stage the crowd begins to cheer. Jake quickly quips “thanks for clapping for us even though we haven’t done anything yet.” And with that little jab, they launch into their demonic set on the gigantic Sinclair stage. It’s funny how I’m used to seeing these guys play on small stages or no stages or even better in dusty basements and other DIY spaces, so seeing these gentlemen on the Sinclair stage is a trip. The sound is terrific; the Nice Guys’ sound at the Sinclair is so large it could break down the walls of Jericho, which from what I hear are very hard to break down.
I’ve seen Nice Guys about ten times now and in some ways I know what to expect, but with the exception of a few other people in attendance, most of the crowd are newbies. But, the newbies eat it up, moshing and thrashing about and even high fiving the dudes at the end of their set, much to the pleasant surprise of the band members themselves. This has to be the best crowd response I’ve ever seen for a local, opening band or even most opening bands. I saw Jacuzzi Boys and King Tuff here earlier in October opening for Wavves and the crowd didn’t go this bonkers to those guys as they do to the Nice Guys.
Personally, I get a massive kick out of simply watching the young, all ages crowd react to the Nice Guys’ performance. It’s the little things that make the difference. Like seeing little bracefaced girls giggle when Jake announces that the next song is “Pizza Bong” or their perplexed faces when Alex rampantly swings his guitar around like one of those dudes that’s just been infected by the zombies in zombie flicks, like he’s trying to fight it off even though he knows he’s a goner. Game’s over man. I love that feisty energy! Ha yeah so, then there’s my favorite when Matt unleashes some nasty feedback and distortion from his guitar and the kids’ eyes just light up. Woahhhhh. I remember seeing Thurston Moore scrape and mutilate his guitar in similar fashion and being blown away, I know the feeling kids.
Besides impressing kids with their usual set of shenanigans, the crowd genuinely devours the Nice Guys’ fast, aggressive punk sound. A sound that could be or more importantly SHOULD be the soundtrack to kids getting drunk as fuck and stoned as fuck for the very first time. Nice Guys oughta play some sweet sixteen birthday parties…. when their parents aren’t home.
P.S. Cam rocks. I haven’t mentioned his name until now. How could I forget? It’s like my dad used to say “you would forget your dick if it wasn’t attached to you!” Cam slays on drums and eats souls. Keep soul eating brotha.
http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/
Set List:
“Gary”
“Herb Chambers”
“Pizza Bong”
“Draggins”
“Drunk As Fuck Stoned As Fuck”
“HD Snobs”
“An Unholy Sacrifice”
“Cop Walk”
“Box Fort”
“Medical Envy”
“Finale Dead”
The Orwells – Our Chicago boys The Orwells, so happy to see these fellas again for the third time in twenty thirteen! This show, however, tops them all. Last time at Brighton Music Hall, the crowd was sparse and still filling up for the headliner Palma Violets. The headliner tonight is FIDLAR, and they bring forth a little bit extra junk in the trunk, so pairing The Orwells with a harder edged bunch of ruffians like FIDLAR pays off. The crowd of youngsters don’t spare a second of The Orwells’ set with moshing and stage diving galore. All of that pent up aggression fresh off your first Nice Guys show, I feel ya kids.
The Orwells feed off the crowd’s energy and they emerge as a true rock ‘n’ roll outfit of epic proportions. In particular, Mario is a beast. He knows how to work a crowd. All he has to do is give one of the girls his signature zoned out, wide eyed, evil glare and they are instantly blushing.
In terms of the set-list, damn, it’s all the songs you would want to hear the band play and then some. “Who Needs You?” “Other Voices,” “Halloween All Year,” “In My Bed,” (which can be seen below), “Mallrats (La La La),” and my favorite “Blood Bubbles” – I really miss the singing black ladies though. See the song’s music video, if you don’t follow. Covers of classic tunes in the rock canon such as “Build Me Up Buttercup” (The Foundations) and “I Wanna Be Your Dog” (The Stooges) round out one of the best performances I’ve seen all year.
FIDLAR – I just started listening to FIDLAR recently, so I am not overly familiar with the band’s material. BUT, upon hearing the band for the very first time I felt an instant wavelength with these Californians. Enter the first track off of their self – titled LP and this set’s opener, “Cheap Beer.” “Twenty – three years I’ve been drinking cheap beer,” while I didn’t crack open a PBR as I rolled out of my mom’s womb, I can identify with being a 23 year old cheap beer drinker and being proud of it. And as soon as FIDLAR rolls out “Cheap Beer,” I proudly gulp what is left of my PBR and scream along to the anthemic chorus “I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU! I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU! I DRINK CHEAP BEER, SO WHAT? FUCK YOU!”
Like I said, I don’t know most of their songs, but they are all pretty much easy to get in to. The only other song I recognize is a solid cover of Descendents’ “Suburban Home.”
FIDLAR has a fun, teenage crowd that goes even wilder during their set than The Orwells. Every other second, there’s a new set of legs crashing into my head after leaping from the stage. I love the excitement, because stiff crowds suck, but it can also be obnoxious at times too. For example, stage diving during slow songs or even in between songs, which is actually pretty funny to see because the crowd isn’t ready to catch the person; hopefully they don’t get too fucked up though.
Additionally, some of the audience members are simply too knuckleheaded at times. Like one dude keeps yelling at the band to play “Cocaine,”(which they do). Lead singer/guitarist, Zac Carper informs the young man “Dude, cocaine is bad for you. I mean it’s good… but it’s bad for you.” Ahh well, these are minor flaws and it’s okay, I can be a knucklehead too, and hey it’s better to see a rowdy crowd than a well behaved crowd. Plus, FIDLAR’s music tends to be of the shameless, beer guzzlin’ variety anyway. Cheers.
Video by Juan Daniel Torres
Video by Dalton Patton
Review: Fat Creeps, Nice Guys, Designer, Guerilla Toss @ Cambridge Elks (10/19/13)
Bands: Guerilla Toss, Fat Creeps, Nice Guys, Designer
Date: Saturday, October 19, 2013
Venue: Cambridge Elks Lodge
Designer (as Blink 182) – Up until now, I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing Designer live. I can’t even say I have listened to their music before. I know, I know, it’s on my never ending to do list. They appear to be the talk of the town and over the last few months or more I have heard their name pop up several times in many a local band recommendation. So, I still have to see what all the hype is all about, but regarding this cover set as Blink 182 the band is a knock out.
Designer are under dressed – shirtless and down to their skivvies, wearing only black masks. They have Blink 182’s reckless, adolescent abandonment down to a tee. I myself am not a Blink fan, but you really don’t have to be to enjoy this set. The Designer dudes subvert Blink’s pop punk flavor, turning the radio friendly hits into nasty bolts of noise that vaguely resemble the originals. I recognize “What’s My Age Again?” “All the Small Things,” and half of “Mutt.”
Check out Designer’s original tunes here: http://designer1.bandcamp.com/
Nice Guys (as The Mummies) – The Nice Mums – the artists formerly known as Alex, Jake, Matt, and Cam – are covered in toilet paper and dressed in white suits appearing as though they are Mummies, though they look and behave more sinister than that. I’m feeling A Clockwork Orange; they’re up for anything, maybe a bit of the old ultra violence, which they dish out on their instruments and each other but not on the crowd members. After all, these are Nice Guys, excuse me I mean Nice Mums, sorry, Nice Mums.
Alex hollers on lead vocals and torments his keyboards, frequently picking them up and swinging them in the air, sometimes within the middle of the audience. Matt, Cam, and Jake destroy on guitars and drums – also screaming on backing vocals. The crowd eats it up with some of the best moshing I’ve ever experienced at a Nice Guys show. I mean Nice Mums.
The Elks Lodge is a fantastic place to participate in a sweaty garage punk performance. There’s no stage or other goofy big rock club bullshit, thus lending itself to a more intimate atmosphere typically found in a crowded basement. It’s easy for performers to hop back and forth between the audience and the “stage,” breaking down that demonic divide between performer and spectator. With this band, we’re all one or at the very least there’s a feeling of inclusion that should be a focal part of any great punk/DIY show, and more importantly it’s fucking fun!
The whole set is a blast, an aging garage guru’s wet dream. No, I never saw The Mummies in 92′ old man, but I did catch the Nice Mums in October 2013 in all of their filthy, beer soaked, keyboard demolishing glory.
You Done Mummies well.
http://niceguys666.bandcamp.com/album/mean-songs-demo
Fat Creeps (as The Cramps) – I got a big kick out of last year’s Halloween show when the Creeps played as one of my all time favorite bands, The Ramones! In terms of Fat Creeps Halloween cover sets, I didn’t think that show could be topped… and honestly I don’t think it has, but this one comes close!
The line up includes Mariam aka Lux Interior, Gracie aka Poison Ivy, and special guests Ben Katzman (bass) and Chris Geller (drums). Mariam slithers and slimes her way around the elks lodge floor, singing, shouting and flailing about in her leopard skin suit. She does an impressive Lux Interior and performs well with her co-conspirators.
Gracie (red wig and all) rocks out on guitar and seductively shakes her head and hips to the music. Chris pounds on the drums in the back like a champ, dressed in all black like all bad ass motherfuckers. Ben races around on bass, shirtless, often hopping into the audience, even crowd surfing at one point. Towards the end of the set, he drops his trousers, wearing nothing at all. Haha ohh boy.
Overall, the crowd is really into the Fat Cramps, in particular one Glen Maganzini tries so desperately to get a good mosh pit going, with some attempts better than others.
Definitely a sick set. Check out Fat Creeps’ original material here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/
Guerilla Toss (as Meat Loaf) – His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson. His name is Robert Paulson. That’s right, that’s Meat Loaf as Robert Paulson aka Bob with the bitch tits in Fight Club. And that’s about it as far as KLYAM knowledge of Meat Loaf goes. Ohh, he was also in South Park once and had a big selling album or something. But, tonight it is Guerilla Toss who is Meat Loaf, and like all G Toss (are we the only ones that refer to them as G Toss? I hope not) shows this one is spooky, alluring, amusing, and altogether head scratching. Alas, the Satanic lords of the underworld have cursed us with a shitty subway system that leaves Boston incredibly early and we missed at least half of the band’s set (not to mention during the first half, I could barely see over everyone’s heads, I’m only 5’3, help a brother out). Apparently, we missed Simon naked, we always do. I have a feeling there will be more of this though…
http://guerillatoss.com/
Enjoy this video from the amazing Avi Paul Weistein below. Avi shot many videos and pictures of this show. You should take a gander at all of them. Here’s the Nice Mums…
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 