Johnnie and the Foodmasters

Johnnie and the Foodmasters Gigography!

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Johnnie and the Foodmasters recently celebrated 10 years of mayhem! Below is a list of every gig (even if they were debatable!) we ever played to the best of my recollection!

Johnnie and the Foodmasters Gigography:

2015:

  1. July 4 – 1st Annual Lower Allston Rock ‘n’ Roll Speedtrials featuring Nice Guys, Miami Doritos, Dinoczar, Black Beach, Charlie, Drug Dogs, Grave Ideas, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Axe Horders
  2. October 3 – Kids Like You & Me Present: The Shallow End Divers, Drug Dogs, Johnnie and the Foodmasters (first club show!), KLYAM DJ Set – Cantab Lounge/ Club Bohemia DECARLO AND C SOLID 1ST SHOW!!!
  3. October 31 – Gritty’s Grandmother’s 90th Birthday/Halloween Party! – Crystal Community Club (Wakefield, MA)
  4. November 20 – Kids Like You & Me and Bob Records Present: Future Spa (“Girl” CD EP Release Show!), The Double Buscemis, The Rococo Bang, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Out of the Blue Too Gallery
  5. November 21 – Kids Like You & Me Presents: The Lonely Machines,Future Spa, Squash, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Wilder Zangcraft
  6. December 14 – Kids Like You & Me and Rad Castle Present: Gravel, The Nude Party, Adam PC, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – ZuZu

2016:

  • January 14 – David Bowie Tribute Night: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Sun Young, Band Without Hands, Dead Elect, Jarva Land, A. Campbell Payne, Spirit Level, JoJo, Burlesque Poetress, Sophia Belle and Valentin Prince, Sam Apotheker, hosted by Jenny French – Out of the Blue
  • January 30 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Cavemen,Birthing Hips, Steam Traktor, Candy Miami – Black Lodge
  • February 6 – Sleeper Radio Presents: Sleeper Sampler: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Dinoczar,Burglary Years, Wydyde, Black Hatch, Poor Posture – PA’s Lounge
  • April 1 and 2 – Out of the Blue Fools Fest: The Barbazons, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Midriffs,Puzzle Mansion, Magic Shoppe, IAN, The Channels, Sound of Ceres,Pick a Piper, Earthquake Party, Steep Leans,Vanishing DMC, Flaming Dragons of Middle Earth, Sam Gas Can, Procedure Club, Neolibz, Arkm Foam, Horse Jumper of Love, Rosie and the Rosies, Frank Hurricane, Secret Lover, Mardi Kings, Horsehands, Jarva Land, Birthing Hips, Sun Young,Every Kim Parcell, Sunshine, Bat House, Só Sol, Dyr Faser, The Forgotten Jam, The 7th House, Audrey Harrer, John Cushing Trio, Patchouli Mist, Candy Miami, Fat Shuggy – Out of the Blue Too (Foodmasters played on April 2)
  • April 28-30: KIDS LIKE YOU & ME’S RAMA LAMA DING DONG!
    April 30 – Guerilla Toss, Ursula, The Barbazons, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Beware the Dangers of a Ghost Scorpion, Electric Street Queens – Middle East Upstairs LINDIE’S FIRST SHOW!!!
  • May 12 – B.J. Snowden, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – The Plough ‘n’ Stars
  • May 21 – Porchfest/Hassle Party – The Temple
  • May 28 – Squash, Eliza and the Organix, Rabbithole, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – uncharted

2017:

  1. February 4 – Kids Like You & Me Presents: Johnnie and the Foodmasters (return show!!!), Thee Cavemyn, Jim Leonard, Peach Ring – Club Bohemia
  2. February 20 – Streight Angular (EP Release show), Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Viennagram,Jarva Land, Cute Uterus, The Dead Air, Deathhand, Surprise Party, Brian Gordon – P.A.’s Lounge
  3. March 27 – Kids Like You & Me and Rad Castle Present: Birthing Hips, -1, Body Meat, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – ZuZu
  4. April 1 – Kids Like You & Me Presents: A Mouth Is a Mouth Noise Fest Part III featuring Fat Shuggy, Sam Rog, April & the Foolmasters, Picniclunch, Tom Ashton, vbit 32, >>>>>>>>>>> – Trixie’s Palace
  5. May 29 – The Cavemen, Hot Tramps, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Cult Fiction – ZuZu
  6. June 16 – Kids Like You & Me’s Rama Lama Ding Dong featuring The Monsieurs, Creaturos, Littlefoot, Germ House, Jim Leonard, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Middle East Upstairs
  7. October 6 – Kids Like You & Me Present: Johnnie and the Foodmasters (2nd Anniversary), _highlightreel, Picniclunch, Dylan and the Ded Beets – Club Bohemia
  8. October 20 – Andy California and Mr. Airplane Man Record Release w/ Johnnie and the Foodmasters and Sticker Shock – The Jeanie Johnston
  9. October 28 – The Shangri-las (Littlefoot), Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers (Steep Leans & Friends), Pulp Fiction (Johnnie and the Foodmasters), Eminem (James Coarse) – The Farm
  10. November 4 – A Mouth is a Mouth Noise Fest Part IV: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, James Coarse reading from “American Light Beer,” Poacher, Chill City Icon, G. Gordon Gritty, >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> – The ratsnest
  11. December 22 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters Holiday Party with American Whip Appeal and an impromptu performance from Request Freebird – Lindie’s Place
  12. December 31 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, American Whip Appeal, New Aura, Phlegm, Scum – The Farm

2018:

  •  March 10 – Burger Revolution RI featuring Johnnie and the Foodmasters, The Monsieurs, Atlantic Thrills, Harvey Garbage, Strange Fuzz, Super Natural II, Cherry Pit, Clever Girls, Night Nurses – News Café
  •  April 14 – Kids Like You & Me and Dann Lawrence Present: Bashful Slasher, Request Freebird, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, The Glue, Someone Else’ Blood – The Farm
  •  June 23 – Kids Like You & Me Presents: RAMA LAMA DING DONG! featuring The Monsieurs, Nice Guys, Rene Chambers (Jim Leonard – “A Brief History of Slime re-release”), Love Strangers, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, James Coarse reading – Cambridge Elks Lodge
  •  July 13 – Kids Like You & Me Presents American Whip Appeal (“Live in NY” KLYAM Records tape release), Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Bashful Slasher, The Glue – The Farm
  •  October 6 – A is for Awesome 1 featuring Andy California, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Harvey Garbage and the Flowers, Detroit Rebellion, Tall Teenagers, Song Birds – The Parlour (Providence)
  •  December 21 – Kids Like You & Me Presents: Love Strangers, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, American Whip Appeal, The Glue – Dorchester Art Project

2019:

  • February 16 – Kids Like You & Me presents: Mr. Airplane Man, Sticker Shock, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Club Bohemia
  • March 16 – Kids Like You & Me presents A Mouth is a Mouth Noise Fest Part VI featuring Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Evicshen, Birthday Ass, Thighs, Pain Chain, Eric Baylies, Healers, KLYAM Haus Band – Trixie’s Palace
  • June 8 – Kids Like You & Me Presents: Mickey Bliss with Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Life Partners, Love Strangers Duo (LSD) – Club Bohemia
  • June 29 – KLYAM Presents: Booji Boys, Idiot Genes, Sticker Shock, Johnnie & The Foodmasters – Ted House
  • July 5 – The Cavemen / TVO / Johnnie and the Foodmasters – O’Brien’s Pub
  • Rama Lama Ding Dong 2019:
    July 13 – Unnatural Axe, Nice Guys, Atlantic Thrills, Andy California, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Cambridge Elks Lodge
  • July 17 – Gull Boy, Dave Allison, Diamonds, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Sally O’Brien’s
  • August 1 – KLYAM Presents: Andy California, The Swettes, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Hong Kong
  • August 31 – KLYAM Presents: Mavis The Dog, American Whip Appeal, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, F – Dorchester Art Project
  • September 7 – KLYAM Presents: Mickey Bliss, Gull Boy, The Mystery – Club Bohemia
  • October 19 – 4752 Festival – New Bedford – Baylies Band, Life Partners, Bunnies, Carl Simmons, Hill Haints, Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Scarecity, Lazertuth, Leap the dips, Moist Boy, Heavy Gaze, Talvez, Picniclunch – Solstice Skateboarding, Destination Soups, Paradise McFee Gallery, Alison Wells Gallery, Circa, No Problemo (Foodmasters played at Destination Soups)
  • November 16 – KLYAM Presents: M.O.T.O, Electric Street Queens, Sticker Shock, Johnnie & The Foodmasters – Club Bohemia
  • December 20 – KLYAM XMAS FREAKOUT/HOLIDAY HANGOVER PARTY W/ Johnnie & The Foodmasters, The Swettes, American Whip Appeal & The Glue, and Children of the Flaming Wheel – Dorchester Art Project

2021:

  • June 26 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Club Bohemia (Winthrop)
  • September 18 – Kids Like You & Me Present: Somerville Underground Pop Arts & Performance Showcase: Picniclunch, Margaret Garett, Thighs, Sidebody, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Lincoln Park (Somerville)
  • October 5 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Tysk Tysk Task, What Famine – The Jungle
  • November 13 – Rama Lama Ding Dong ft. Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Kathy Snax, The Swettes, Silver Synthetic, and Unnatural Axe – O’Brien’s Pub
  • December 17 – KLYAM Presents… Hungover For The Holidaze Party featuring Colleen Green, Children of the Flaming Wheel, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Kremlin Bats w/ KLYAM Spinning Vinyl! – Club Bohemia

2022:

  • April 18 – Nervous Guys, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, At Stan’s Bris, Dew Myron – Furry Frat (impromptu!)
  • May 16 –, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, The Alaskas, Guppy – O’Brien’s Pub
  • May 26 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters (not whole band) – Gloucester Elks?
  • June 27 – KLYAM Presents: Rong, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Pledge Pins – Charlie’s Kitchen
  • July 23 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters – Club Bohemia (Winthrop)
  • August 27 – KLYAM Summer Series @ Morse Kelly Courtyard (Somerville) w/ Mickey Bliss, Kremlin Bats, Strega Strega, Estradiol
  • September 17 – KLYAM Summer Series – SOMERVILLE UNDERGROUND POP ARTS AND PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE (SUPAPS) @ Lincoln Park (Somerville) w/ Lupo Citta, Picniclunch, Bridge of Flowers, and Johnnie and the Foodmasters
  • September 29 – Bradford Barker & Unwavering Beacon of Righteousness, Mairead, Alasksas, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – The Jungle
  • November 12 – RAMA LAMA DING DONG! Germ House, Children of the Flaming Wheel, Father Hotep, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, KLYAM DJ Doo Wop – O’Brien’s Pub
  • December 18 – KLYAM HOLIDAY PARTY – Nice Guys, Adult Learners, The Swettes, Johnnie and the Foodmasters, KLYAM DJ – State Park

2023:

  • February 11 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters – Cantina La Mexicana (Somerville)
  • March 31 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Gimmick, Merry Merry, Con Tex @ American Legion, Jamaica Plain
  • April 14 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Princess Bleach, Starbath @ News Cafe, Pawtucket RI
  • April 15 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Mill, Amatoxis, Wallfacer, GT Arpe @ Caffeine Underground, Brooklyn NY
  • April 16 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Bungler, Emmett Drueding, Phil Spector’s Gun @ Tincan Bar, Philadelphia PA
  • April 17 – Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Bridge of Flowers, Ian St. George @ 10 Forward, Greenfield MA
  • July 8 – KLYAM Presents: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Dilemma Rose and the Wailing Milfs, Noah Britton, Tiny the Bear, Merry Merry – Powderhouse Park (1-5PM)
  • August 5 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Tyler and the Names, Persistent Fools – Club Bohemia (Winthrop)
  • August 15 – Banana, Skeeter De Milo, Johnnie and the Foodmasters – O’Brien’s Pub
  • September 22 – Andy California, Jack of Heart, Pledge Pins, Johnnie & The Foodmasters – Idlehands (Malden)
  • November 11 – KLYAM Presents Rama Lama Ding Dong 2023 featuring Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Balaclava, Gossip Collar, Nurse Joy, Orange Whip – O’Brien’s Pub
  • December 18 – KLYAM Holiday Party featuring Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Dilemma Rose and the Wailin’ MILFs, Delons – Silhouette

2024:

  • February 25 – KLYAM 2nd Annual Winter Party / Egg vs. Chain Punk Showcase w/ Johnnie & The Foodmasters, Lupo Citta, Loretta, Gossip Collar, Freak – Cambridge Community Center
  • March 16 – KLYAM Presents: Johnnie and the Foodmasters Party w/ Devil Honey (1st show!) and Jarsch! – Lilypad
  • April 12 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Atlantic Thrills, Orange Whip – Myrtle (Providence)
  • April 13 – KLYAM Presents: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Motorhawk, Red Herrings – Deep Thoughts
  • April 14 - Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Ian St. George, Fragile Rabbit – The Rat Trap (Holyoke, MA)
  • April 15 – KLYAM PRESENTS Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Private Lives, White Knuckle – Casa Del Popolo (Montréal)
  • June 17 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Nurse Joy, K.O. Queen, War Machine – O’Brien’s Pub
  • July 21 – KLYAM Presents: KIDS LIKE YOU AND ME 15TH ANNIVERSARY PARTY!!! Featuring Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Kremlin Bats (special solo set of hits!), KLYAM DJ – State Park
  • August 2-4: Pissmas! August 2 -Adblocker, Slobbercake, Girl Plower,k DJ Gender – Glue Factory; August 3 in collaboration with Cuck – K.O. Queen, Nurse Joy, Fae Feral, Jarsch, Mae Flux, Panonica, The Front Three, Good Judgement, Dry Talker – Spontaneous Celebrations; August 4 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, The Infinite Wet Secret, Abyss, Qu33rbait, Shinedown2, Besotted, Peekaboo, Drag performance of Moonstruck – Mycelium (Foodmasters played August 4th at Mycellium)
  • October 19 – 4752 Festival (New Bedford) – Johnnie and the Foodmastes @ Play Arcade!
  • October 25 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Casa Del Sicomoro
  •  November 9 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Film and Gender, Slow Job, Signal Chain – Distant Castle (Worcester)
  •  November 16 – KLYAM Presents: Rama Lama Ding Dong! w/ Johnnie and The Foodmasters, Gossip Collar, Adult Learners, KO Queen, and Feeling Figures – O’Brien’s Pub
  • December 20 – KLYAM Holiday Party ft. Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Whyte Lipstick, Puke Pisstols – Lilypad

2025:

  • January 29 -CUCK Presents!: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Hink, The Manglers, Nick and the The Adversaries – Tiki Rock
  • March 14 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Lurchiana, Future Suzie – Jeanie Johnston
  • March 22 – KLYAM PRESENTS: SPRING BREAK PARTY! featuring Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Fugue State (album release show!), Intac, Deuce Club – O’Brien’s Pub
  • May 9 – KLYAM PRESENTS: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, PV, Memory Lame – Ralph’s Rock Diner (Worcester)
  • May 10 – Somerville Porchfest: Johnnie and the Foodmasters – Casa Del Sicomoro (4-6!)
  • May 23 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Grommets, Grimly – Jeanie Johnston
  • June 27 – Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Jersey Calling, Double Star, Futon Lasagna – O’Brien’s Pub
  • August 14 – KLYAM Presents: Johnnie and the Foodmasters’ 10th Anniversary!/Tour Kickoff! with K.O. Queen and Electric Street Queens – Deep Cuts
  • August 15 – KLYAM Presents: Johnnie and the Foodmasters, Theee Retail Simps – P’Tit Ours (Montreal)

95 total!

UPCOMING!:

NOVEMBER 22 – RAMA LAMA DING DONG! w/ Film & Gender, Germ House, Devil Honey, Lithophones – O’Brien’s Pub

DECEMBER 21 – KLYAM HOLIDAY PARTY!!! – Midway Cafe (3PM!)

Books, reviews

Book Review: Brian

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Brian by Jeremy Cooper
A Review by G. Gordon Gritty

I read a review or a short blurb of Brian in the New Yorker a few months ago. The description immediately caught my eye – a lonely British man takes up going to the cinema on a daily basis. Or something like that. It was a compelling description; enough for me to immediately try to acquire a copy, but no luck. All sold out. 

Since I’ve become fascinated with Jim E. Brown and more recently Prime Mutton – the concept of somebody doing anything out in the world and publishing it for the world to see is compelling. Certainly, I realize, that bar is quite low. I’m doing it right now. But it is a book like Brian – which I found online over a week ago and immediately ordered – that hits on all creative cylinders and is in short wildly moving and inspirational. 

I knew I was going to like it based on the plot, which in addition to the New Yorker blurb, is also summarized on the back of the actual book itself. And now that I think about it, whoever wrote the New Yorker blurb may have pulled a large part of their description from the back of the book or some uniform press release. Not that that matters. I get it. 

Writing about the book, I feel a kinship to both Brian and the author Jeremy Cooper. Cooper writes about Brian and at multiple points I felt as if Brian was writing about himself. The detailed descriptions of Brian’s movie viewings and feelings toward each movie plus the mechanical diary of Brian’s simple daily life of work-cafe-movies are in the same spirit. It is like the narrator and Brian are in a self-awareness competition. The narrator takes an early lead, able and willing to point out Brian’s social ineptitudes, or solitary lifestyle (to put it more kindly). As the years go by and we get deeper into the book, we see Cooper showing Brian’s increasing freedom, which is made possible by a life circumstance known as retirement. Freedom comes with the territory. 

Back to what makes Brian so fascinating creatively is that I went into the whole ordeal as a casual reader, ready to take on the book as any other. I skipped the reviews and praise, which there is a lot. Sounds like something Brian would do. I came out on the other side feeling charged up and ready to create. Just like all of the filmmakers and actors mentioned. But I also felt a bit like Brian – ready to consume. For creatives, there is a cycle of creation and consumption. For Brian, there is only the consumption. And he delighted in being a buff, a lover of film. He became so swept up in the daily film routine that like a monk, he took up a monastic life of film. We are constantly reminded of this throughout the book. Helpful reminders. 

Brian likes routine. Brian does not like change. Why does Brian behave like this? We learn of his tough childhood; it appears that there is a strong case to be made that Brian is on the autism spectrum – undiagnosed. Back to consumption. I loved that Cooper (or Brian) remarks at length on the films – the genres, stylistic choices, and all that. I found myself wanting to compile a long list of the films. And I still might. Again, very much in Brian style. But it is this obsessiveness of Brian that is rarely, if ever, annoying. In fact, in the context of the book at large, we need all the nerdy film stuff to spice things up. As a mumblecore devotee, I don’t need much – the monotony of Brian’s life doesn’t leave me wanting more. I’m thinking of someone who has trouble accepting the nature, whatever that is, of this book.

That Brian created a certain level of obsession in me – to read it whenever I had the chance and, now, to remark on it? And more stuff in the future…probably? Maybe I am the target audience. Again, it’s challenging to make a sweeping critique of Brian, society, whatever. But one can and that is something. For me, it comes down to the creative vs. consumption situation and the balance of it. I saw so much potential in Brian – I (and I’m sure many other readers) were just waiting for him to make his movie or write his screenplay. Brian’s existence could have been sadder or more evil. We see a progression of both as he ages and, though hard to admit with true conviction, elements of personal growth. I’m happy with Brian and I recommend it!

Music

What I’ve Been Listening To (August 2025)

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August:

  1. Abe and the Shits – Demo 3 (2025)
  2.  Dead Moon – Unknown Passage (1989)
  3.  Ryan Kidd – Remote View/Cracked 7” (2025)
  4. LiveFastDie – Bandana Thrash Record (2006)
  5. Jacket Burner – Tonite EP (2025)
  6. 208 – Nearby (2022)
  7. 208 – Enough Enough! (2019)
  8. 208 – Possession (2024)
  9. Pet Cop – Artificial Stupidity (2024)
  10.  King Khan – Mother Nature’s Plan (2021)
  11.  Bloodshot Bill – So Fed Up (2025)
  12.  Sick Thoughts – Another Piece of Plastic (2025)
  13.  Bottle Rocket OST (1996)
  14.  Justin Lally – We Eat the Doom (2025)
  15.  The Cookies – In Paradise (1954)
  16.  The Crystals – He’s a Rebel (1963)
  17.  Piss Tape – Pissmas 2025 Pelvic Floor Compilation! (2025)
  18.  Fugue State – In the Lurch (2025)
  19.  G. Gordon Gritty/Nervous Guys Split Tape (2025)
  20.  Hunx and His Punx – Walk Out On This World (2025)
  21.  Mr. (Redacted) – Transmission (2025)
  22.  Eurythmics – Greatest Hits (1991, music from 1982-1989)
  23.  Wavves, Zach Hill & Andy Moran – Babes (2009)
  24.  La Isla Electronica – S/T (2025)
  25.  Plusser – citrine (2025)
  26.  Osees – Abomination Revealed At Last (2025)
  27.  Gnomocop – S/T (2025)
  28.  Alley Girl – Peregrine Rambler (2025)
  29.  Registrators – Terminal Boredom (1996)
  30.  Gerinc – REKLAMÁCIÓ (2025)

Lots of great stuff here! I was blown away by Mr. (Redacted)! A Punk/Hardcore band with a tambourine player! That’s how we do it!

Looking forward to September! Gonerfest is right around the corner and we’re getting pumped!

Music

What I’ve Been Listening To (July 2025)

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Damn, another slow month! Not a fault of any artists out there, in fact there’s too much! Nevertheless, below is a list of music (beyond individual songs) I listened to for the first time. Here’s to August!

  1. Crush Fund – New Fixation EP (2024)
  2. Closet Fairies – No Idea (2015 – recorded 2008 or 2009)
  3. Jarsch – The Going Gets Tough (2025)
  4. Elle Barbara – Délice Créole / Peach Purée (2021)
  5. Elle Barbara – Word on the Street (2025)
  6. Dipzit – Fast Demo (2025)
  7. New Bomb Turks – Pissing Out the Poison compilation (1995)
  8. Black Sabbath – The Master of Reality (1971)
  9. ARSE – COMPLETE (2025)
  10.  Fuckin’ Lovers – Crucifixion of the Masses 7” (2025)
  11.  Artificial Go – Musical Chairs (2025)
  12.  Tunnel of Love Tape (early, unreleased recordings tape personally made for me! 1998-2001 including Power to Kill EP?!)*
  13.  The Langley Schools Music Project – Innocence & Despair (2001 – recorded 1976/1977)
  14.  Pre-1977 Punk and Proto Punk Playlist (185 Miles South Podcast 2025)
  15.  1979 Hardcore and Punk Playlist (185 Miles South Podcast 2025)
  16.  Black Sabbath – Volume 4 (1972)
  17.  New Bomb Turks – Information Highway Revisited (1994)
  18.  New Bomb Turks – Scared Straight (1996)
  19.  New Bomb Turks – Rope’s End (1998)
  20.  Young Adults – Demo (2010)
  21.  Young Adults – Black Hole (2010)
  22.  Waylon Thornton – Hat Made of Hair (2025)
  23.  Waylon Thornton – Sunshine Vampire (2025)
  24.  Waylon Thornton – Screwballs Trip Folly (2025)
  25.  The Space Lady – The Space Lady’s Greatest Hits (2013)
  26.  Finale – Vision de Futuro (2020)
  27.  Hole – Live Through This (1994)
  28.  German Measles – A German Joke is No Laughing Matter (2010)

*Singer Andy Macbain personally made me this tape of early, unreleased Tunnel of Love recordings and it’s ferocious! I’m forever grateful! Sounds amazing as always! One of those bands where you stop dead in your tracks and think fuck, no one else is doing anything like this at least I haven’t heard it! A quality I aspire to have, because let’s face it, I can’t hack in the real world. But, who the fuck wants to live there?

Love,

Chris

Uncategorized

What I’ve Been Listening To (June 2025)

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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)
Local Music, Music

Looking Back: Boston Underground Music – Summer 2010

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It is summer 2010 in Boston. The college students are gone – a seasonal shift finely described by Richie Parsons of Unnatural Axe in the classic song Summertime. For those who remain, specifically the many local musicians and underground music heads from Allston, JP, Somerville, and surrounding areas, there is a lot to be excited about. There is a showpaper called the Boston Counter Cultural Compass – a monthly guide to the obscure and the unknown in music and the arts. In the Compass, you will read about upcoming shows at Butcher Shoppe (or B Shoop – same place, if you know you know), Gay Gardens, and the Problem House. These three Allston basements are fixtures in the DIY underground music scene. They offer refuge for fans and musicians; the homey environment helps create community for punks and a fun alternative to dominant culture and aboveground happenings. And of course there are other Allston basements, with their fun names and inevitably short lifespans. Across the river in Cambridge there’s a storied radio station – WMBR 88.1 out of MIT. Some WMBR DJs have been spinning punk since the 1980s. DJ Jeff Breeze brings in local musicians to play live in the studio on his show Pipeline, which he has hosted since 2003. This summer the bands on Pipeline range from pop rock groups written up in the alternative weekly paper/website the Boston Phoenix like McAllister Drive and Static of the Gods to more experimental and psych acts like Many Mansions and MMOSS. There’s not much of a basement scene in Cambridge, but there are plenty of DIY spaces and bars/clubs that are friendly to local music. On Mass Ave, there is Weirdo Records – the tiniest of record shops that somehow also hosts shows (usually avant garde and noise) and the all ages Democracy Center that hosts benefits for social justice oriented causes. The DIY art space Lilypad – formerly the Zeitgeist – is nearby in Inman Square. As far as dive bars and clubs go, Cambridge has many options for the local head. Monday night? Charlie’s Kitchen in Harvard Square. Trying to land your first non-basement show? Try Club Bohemia in Central Square run by Mickey Bliss. Local bands with a draw or who get lucky may play at the nearby Middle East Upstairs (or the much larger Downstairs opening for touring bands). PA’s Lounge in Union Square, Somerville seems to be picking up the garage/punk void left by the recently shuttered Abbey’s Lounge. Closeby in Union is the Starlab – a recording studio that also hosts shows. If you’re looking to dance or listen to a DJ – check out River Gods, especially the recurring IMPERIALISM nights. Heading back to Allston Rock City – the 250 capacity Great Scott hosts touring indie/punk/alternative musicians, local bands of all varieties, and a weekly indie dance night called The Pill. The little sibling to Great Scott is O’Briens Pub – mostly a punk/metal dive bar for touring and local bands. JP and Brookline? There is an abundance of weird. Let’s start with DIY. The Whitehaus Family Record is a collective of musicians and artists who host Happenings and shows at their home, the Whitehaus. The Temple Sound & Stage hosts shows and will be home to Homegrown Fest in the fall – booked by Bodies of Water Arts and Crafts. Brookline Access TV is new and putting on shows!

Bands: Abram Taber, Ambitious Tugboat, Angela Sawyer, Animal Hospital, Apollo Sunshine, ARVID NOE, Banditas, Big Bear, Big Digits, Blevin Bectum, Blister Pack, Bobb Trimble’s Flying Spiders, Bone Zone, Brian S. Ellis, CEREAL, The Cold Beat, Comma, Debo Band, Devil Music, Dick Heaven, DOOMSTAR, Double Awake, Drug Rug, Duck That, Easy Boy, Ehnahre, Fat History Month, Four Eyes, Fuxa Natra, Girlfriends, Gracious Calamity, Graph, The Great Valley, Hands and Knees, Happy Jawbone Family Band, Heathan Shame, Horse Spirit Penetrates, Human Hairs, Hyena, Jack Callahan, Joe Turner & The Seven Levels, Kid Romance, Kurt Weisman, Lawrence Welks, Life Partners, Lord Jeff, Loup Garou, Maine Coons, Manners, Many Mansions, Metal and Glass Ensemble, Mind Yeti, MMOSS, Mouse Queen, Needy Visions, Neptune, New Yoga, Ophibre, Peace, Loving, Preggy Peggy and the Lazy Babymakers, Prince Bedtime, Prince Rama of Ayodhya, Quilt, Rat City Three, RENE, REPORTS, Roh Delikat, Rotten Apples, Skimask, Spring Totems, Thick Shakes, Toby Aronson, Tooth Ache, Truman Peyote, TULSA, Varsity Drag, The Vomit Arsonist, Wolves and the Radio, The Woodrow Wilsons, Young Adults, The Young Leaves

Notables: On June 8, there is a free concert at Downtown Crossing featuring Needy Visions, Hands and Knees, and Thick Shakes. On June 11, Future Islands of Baltimore play at a new venue, Brookline Access TV. The Whitehaus holds a HOOT on June 26. Artbeat Festival, an outdoor fest in Davis Square, is July 17. Needy Visions and Hands and Knees play. DIY Fest takes place on July 24 in Allston. On August 8, Deep Heaven Now, a psychedelic rock/ambient festival, will take place at Precinct and PA’s Lounge. Campout Fest is happening on August 28 at Camp Stanica in Palmer, MA and features the likes of Debo Band, Jason Anderson, Prince Rama, Needy Visions, Happy Birthday, Many Mansions, and many others.

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Note from the writer: In 2020, I began researching Summer 2010 in the Boston underground/DIY music scene. KLYAM despite being a year old wasn’t yet involved in the Boston underground scene, although we had seen some shows that included local supporting bands that were definitely involved in the scene(s). In February 2011, we saw our first basement show at the Dirty Douglas in Lowell and that Spring more DIY shows at the Starlab in Somerville and Problem House in Allston. I’m sure I missed tons of venues (both DIY and actual) so the above write-up is not an all encompassing history, but rather a small taste of what was happening. If you were around in the 2010 Boston music underground – does this ring true at all?

If you are reading this in 2025, you’ll notice a lot has changed. How many of the bands and venues from 2010 are still around or meaningful to Boston underground music? Notably, O’Briens and Lilypad are not only still around, but seem to be thriving considering the shortage of small capacity music spaces in the city. House spaces suffered a major setback in the mid 2010s with stricter noise law enforcement, but they eventually came back under different names and with new hosts. Post-pandemic the basement scene is very active. Pre-pandemic and especially in the early to mid 2010s there seemed to be more of an alignment between the greater indie scene (‘hype’) and the Allston/general basement scene. There are various reasons for that. One that stands out is the DIY touring band network in Boston was friendlier back in the day and certain genres had their own sub-scenes. Clubs like Great Scott and larger underground festivals like Homegrown supported a mix of better known acts and obscure locals. Once corporate booking agencies entered into the mix locally, bigger show opportunities (even at Great Scott) decreased. There isn’t as much money to be made! As for genres – hardcore punk aside (not to diminish it, I’m just not as familiar) – noise punk and experimental rock followed by garage punk and psych rock were recognized as part of the ‘indie’ milieu from Pitchfork or locally on The Phoenix. So a lot of newer local bands were inspired by these genres that were being covered at large and certain record labels were developing a reputation for their output.

Local Music

Show Booking Tips (Steal These!)

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I don’t know where these came from, but here you go. There’s no secret or copyright. Maybe it’s obvious. No paywall or other BS!

#1 – SLIDING SCALES WORK – i.e. $5-10 or $10-15/

#2 – A packed basement full of people paying $5/head and drinking their own beer is better than an empty bar show with a $10 cover

#3 – Get younger bands involved – they make things happen!

#4 – The free show deal – paying bands out of the bar usually works out great. More people come in drawn in by the illusion of a free show but they usually spend a lot on drinks anyway. And you get walk ins off the street.

Local Music, Music

An Oral History with KLYAM Chris (2014)

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The following is an oral history – me (G. Gordon Gritty) guiding a discussion with Chris from KLYAM. The year is 2014. KLYAM was thriving on all cylinders – we released some fine record and tapes, and were posting quite a bit of content (including show reviews) right on this very website. Facebook events still ruled the world. I’m sure we intended to revisit this discussion.

So you’ve been to 174 shows in the past three years.
You could go back to June 2009. The first show I ever attended as KLYAM (though at the time KLYAM was music, entertainment, television, current events, cultural events, daily happenings, impressions of life, funny things happening. It was really weird. KLYAM went beyond the Wakefield Etudiant. We started focusing more on music in February 2012 – this is when we started seeing more local music and going to those shows. KLYAM snowballed into what it is.) was the Jay Reatard, TV
Smith, and Pretty and Nice. Harpers Ferry. July 3, 2009. With that show, we weren’t there as KLYAM. I didn’t know Jay or any of the bands at the time. You just told me about it. He was wearing red gym shorts and a red shirt. I thought it was cool AND total bullshit that it was only 30 minutes, including the encore with TV Smith. He was pissed off because it was lackluster and nobody was dancing. I thought it was cool, but I wasn’t super into it. I only recognized “See Saw.” I just heard of him that day. I thought he was kind of an asshole, but I could see why he would be pissed. It was a Friday night, the day before the Fourth of July. I
remember he spit out beer and said “you guys are boring motherfuckers” and then went into one of his songs. I remember Stephen Pope spitting everywhere. It was really odd. All I was thinking of was business class. It was weird.

At that show, you bought Matador Singles ’08 from Stephen
Pope.
I remember that day listening to it for five or six hours. We had relatives over. I kept listening to the album and then going back outside to hang out with company. Then I would go back and play the album. My dad was pissed. He was wondering where I kept going. I was hooked into it. Besides you telling me about Jay, I saw a Black Lips interview where Jared said his crew was Deerhunter, King Khan and BBQ, and Jay Reatard. I didn’t know Jay or Deerhunter. That got me to check them out as I was a huge Black Lips fan. It was kind of all coming together. I
knew what garage rock was in the ‘60s – not a lot – I knew about the Nuggets compilation. When I heard these bands, I knew what they were referencing, but I thought this kind of rock ‘n roll was over. It was an awakening. It took me a few years to appreciate it.

What were some pivotal moments in your discovery of this kind of rock ‘n roll?
When I started listening to more of it. It made me reject more of the stuff I used to like. I thought this was a totally different kind of sound. Good art, by existing, criticizes other pieces of art or entertainment. No other bands were as fun as the Black Lips. For the first time, I finally ‘got it’. In a personal way, it made sense. In the past, I enjoyed stuff, but I couldn’t picture myself being a part of it. I loved how Black Lips could shotgun beers, make jokes, laugh around. And still be intelligent. In We Never Learn, the guy from Dwarves would critique more of the
serious, political themed bands. You do a job then you rock ‘n roll and have fun. A lot of the political bands were half-baked. I’m gonna sing songs about fucking and being fucked up. Songs about the back seat of the car, fucking in the back seat of the car, is all I can do. That’s where I live.

Let’s talk about The Migs.
It was 4/20 when I saw them. It was the first Wilder Zangcraft basement show. I never heard of them before. New Highway Hymnal, Empty Phrases, and Friendship were on the bill as well. I don’t know how many people knew who they were, but they totally had the ‘60s thing down. It was crazy. Everyone was really drunk and high. People were dancing around. No one went into the crowd quite like Keven. He was playing to each person. Doing his little thing. It was a lot of fun. I thought they were gonna hurl their semen into my eyes. It was a plus that they didn’t do that. I saw them again at the Wilder Zangcraft with the Fat Creeps. That was more of a chill show. We saw them at Radio Down for Fat Creeps EP release. They did theirMigs thing. ‘We’re the Migs’. I could tell you thought they were amazing.

The Migs, the Atlantic Thrills, those shows were something else.
The music speaks for itself. You start to hear the songs. It is music for going wild. Either way, it’s going to be fun.

Reflection on Black Lips
I don’t get the same feeling as I used to at the first few shows. I like intimacy and community. At a basement or a small venue. Above all, I probably changed.

Is that from you going to more smaller shows?
I had more fun at Thrills at the Zangcraft than Sinclair. I had more fun seeing Thrills at Dusk or all the bands at BUFU Fest than seeing the Lips at Paradise this year. The first time seeing King Khan and the Shrines at the Paradise was crazy. They seemed larger than life. Over time, you realize these bands are on tour. The crowd plays a huge role, too.

Was No Age the first live band you saw that started things?
Before that (July 2008 at Middle East Downstairs), we had seen bigger bands at bigger venues. That show was an introduction to a smaller club. It opened a door to that. After that, we kept going to smaller stuff. Slowly. 2009 had some of the best shows I had ever seen.

KLYAM Presents, KLYAM Recommended Shows, Local Music, Music

KLYAM Spring/Summer Program 2025

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Announcing the KLYAM Summer Program -2025 edition.

SATURDAY MAY 31 @ PANOPTICON
*New Location, get in touch with us for address!*
1 PM START


SUNDAY JUNE 1 @ STATE PARK (CAMBRIDGE, MA)
KLYAM QUEER NIGHT – KLYAM & MOPHEAD DJ – MAE FLUX LIVE!
8 PM START

SATURDAY JULY 19 @ LINCOLN PARK (Somerville, MA)
SOMERVILLE UNDERGROUND POP ARTS & PERFORMANCE SHOWCASE (SUPAPS)
Sponsored by the Somerville Arts Council
1 PM START


THURSDAY AUGUST 14 @ DEEP CUTS (Medford, MA)
JOHNNIE & THE FOODMASTERS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
W/ KO QUEEN AND ELECTRIC STREET QUEENS
7 PM DOORS

Boston based shows/fests – DIY, punk, noise