Tag Archives: Boston

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

My Favorites Albums From 2014

01/16/2015 Chris DeCarlo Leave a comment

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KLYAM-003: Back Pages Singles 13 TAPE

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

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

http://electricstreetqueens.bandcamp.com/

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

That’s all folks!

Art, concert review, Local Music, Music, Punk, reviews

Review: Meatbodies, Purling Hiss, Krill @ Great Scott (10/28/14)

11/14/2014 dutchtown Leave a comment

Written by Joanna Trachtenberg

I just saw the band that probably had one of my most anticipated albums of the year, The Meatbodies. I knew their frontman Chad from his work with Ty Segall, Fuzz, Mikal Cronan and Pangea. This was their first full tour to the northeast. They were joined by hard hitters Purling Hiss and local rockers Krill.

Krill was up first. I had never seen Krill before but I knew friends that were fans of theirs so I had a feeling that they’d be good. Krill sound like a cross between the Lo-fi indie bands of the 90’s & early 00’s ( i.e. Pavement, Modest Mouse, etc) and 90’s emo. This was back when emo was actually good, not like the dumb emo kids you have today. I liked them and they appear to have quite the following around here. It seemed more crowded when they were playing than when the headliners took the stage.

Purling Hiss muddled this show. From what I’d heard of them prior to seeing them they reminded me of early grunge and Lo-fi punk mixed together. Their new album which they played most of their set from is probably their most mainstream accessible album to date. Live they sounded like a louder, dirtier version of Dr. Dog (whom they have toured with before). No one in the crowd seemed more excited to see them than Sam from Boston Hassle who has booked them before for Hassle shows.

Meatbodies – Now it was Chad and his boys from So Cal’s time to shine. They rocked out just about all the songs from their self titled debut album. One song that they didn’t play was The Master which is probably my favorite song on the album. About midway through the set they had technical difficulties where Chad had to borrow one of the opening band’s guitars. He also had to disconnect one of his pedals because it was not functioning properly and making some awful static. Towards the end of their set they did a cover of The Stooges’ Search and Destroy. They said they were practicing it for an upcoming Halloween cover show. This was the second time this year that I have seen a band cover that particular song. Back in June I saw Kenny Wayne Shepherd and his band cover that same song. It was nice to see him show more of a punk side. Back to The Meatbodies now. Their 45 or so minute set of punk slime certainly pleased me and made me want to see them again which I did two days later when they created a shit storm with Diarrhea Planet.

Ausmuteants, reviews

Review: Ausmuteants @ Barack’s Barracks (10/1/14)

10/07/2014 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

NO I DONT WANT TO TOUCH. Australia’s Ausmuteants (Goner Records/Aarght Records) came through to 1500 Penn Ave on October 1 as part of their first US tour. They had just hit up Gonerfest 11, making for contemporary rock ‘n roll history, and here they are now in a packed cozy basement playing for interested brass.

Well before the actual playin and stuff, I saw these guys loading in. They gotta grab some Blanchard brews and I introduce myself and go with them. Some were familiar with my playing over “Kicked In The Head By A Horse,” and do I love that song. Yeah I do. Well a couple a hours later there they are up on the non-stage cranking out chart toppers from their first LPs and their most recent Order of Operation CD/tape – though the vinyl is coming girls and guys. I found myself feelin as if I was seeing a favorite band for the second time. That’s a nice feeling. Rest assured it was my first time, but I’m telling you these Aussies play strict pounders. There are some blunt force punk hits, no synths. Like “Kicked” and “Felix Tried To Kill Himself,” so demented so sweet. But Jakes’ synth does definitely stand these guys out a part from a lot of the straight away garagers of today. Part of this group are tunes like “Tinnitus” where they made the money (ya I watched the live Gonerfest stream), “No Motivation,” “Wrong” and set closer, “Boiling Point” from their latest. Like I said, just being here, specially in this choice environment, was incredible. I never got to see Jay, the Lips, and so on, bands of like-minded noisy catchiness in a spot like this. Anyway, nearly all Ausmuteants take turns singing and hollering, they got their own ways of doing things. Particularly ruling things, maybe cause I wasn’t expecting him to start singing, was Shaun. On “Freedom of Information,” the lead-off track from Order of Operation, the delivery of the tune is that DEVO maybe more like Lost Sounds shout and repeat after me post Social Media rampage. It’s positively funky not funk – imagine if these guys were from around here. Be on some serious see ’em every chance possible grind. It’s a pleasurable, at times funny, grind and we wish ’em safe travels and hot jams across the United States, back in Australia, and everywhere else.

While you’re at it, go along and check out some Australian recommendations that Jake gave me: the label ANTI-FADE which is run by drummer Billy, and the bands TV Colours, Velvet Whip, Wet Blankets, and Yoghurt Blood.

Catch ’em on their remaining dates:

10/7 – Minneapolis, MN @ Hexagon w/ Real Numbers
10/10 – Portland, OR @ Dante?s w/ King Khan & BBQ Show
10/11 – Seattle, WA @ The Crocodile w/ King Khan & BBQ Show
10/15 – San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
10/17 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Smell

Burger Records, concert review

Review: Pangea, Mozes And The Firstborn, Zip-Tie Handcuffs @ Great Scott (2/15/14)

03/07/2014 dutchtown Leave a comment

Written By: Joanna Trachtenberg

I just saw Apart Pangea (Actually just plain Pangea. Just so you know I refuse to call Pangea “Together Pangea” because I have known them and loved them since they were only known as Pangea) the other night. I had to walk a while in the snow just to get there. I got there just in time as the first band Zip-Tie Handcuffs were starting. They played aggressive punk rock. I could see that the Pangea guys liked them just like the FIDLAR guys liked Nice Guys. The singer dedicated one of their songs to his wife who was one of the few people in the crowd. I also think that a few of the people in the crowd during their set were friends of theirs considering that they were a local band. Between bands I chatted with a few of the Pangea guys who remembered me from when I saw them at the Burgerama Tour. Unfortunately Zuk wasn’t with them anymore. According to Pangea he’s in the process of starting his own band. Mozes And The Firstborn were the next band on. They were more garage psych than punk. They come all the way from The Netherlands. They were great. This was their first full US tour. One of the guys made a comment that it was very warm onstage. As Pangea were setting up I heard a few Secret Machines songs from their 3rd album playing. Pangea’s setlist included Sick Shit, Badillac, Offer, Too Drunk To Cum, Plasma, River and a few more songs. They got the crowd bouncing but there wasn’t as much of a pit as there was when I saw Fuzz and Bass Drum of Death because there was a much smaller crowd. I really wish they had played Snakedog and Killer Dreams. After the show I helped the Pangea guys by holding the door as they carried equipment out and clearing some of the snow away from their van. Being from Southern California they are not used to this kind of weather. Pangea told me that they are going to tour Europe for the first time ever in the summer. They are super psyched about that and I think they will get a great reception from the European fans.

Free Pizza, Local Music, Music, reviews

Album Review: Free Pizza – “BOSTON, MA”

03/06/2014 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Release: 3/2014
Label: BUFU Records

George Moshington, the former front man of the Casa Blanca himself, is right there on the cover of Free Pizza‘s latest release: BOSTON, MA. Not to be confused with Washington, the tru capital (in spirit, nurture, and commitment) of underground music is right here where Free Pizza resides and sings about. The trio of Jesus Vio (bass/vocals), Santiago Cardenas (guitar), and Nick Rasmussen (drums) have spent approximately the last year playing several shows in Boston, in surrounding areas, and beyond. For those in tune with what’s good around these parts, this tape has been highly anticipated!

Free Pizza have been ruling for about three years; they released their debut 5 songer in 2011. All five of these songs make a return on BOSTON, MA in bigger, juicier style, credit to the dudes recording in a studio (Mystic Valley) for this go around. When I listen to Free Pizza, more than half of the time I kinda do this thing where I slowly move my head from left to right, shake it up and down, and flex my shoulders. Some songs call for a quicker variation like finale “Boston, MA,” all swirlin’ guitar, bass, unforgettable lyrics and “Net Babes,” which has an equally sweet rhythm plus an instrumental towards the end that is like flowers blooming or several women dancing around you.

What I hear from the getgo is Jesus’ ultra memorable singing voice positively ranging from sweet and tender to immediate and demanding. The guy’s always convincing, but ‘specially so on the more relaxing numbers “Come Close To Me” and “Baby Girl”. One thing that’s challenging for me to do in this space is to remark on how Free Pizza comes through with their sound! They’re a funky band (if you recall my movements from earlier) so be prepared to move. I’ll throw out [early] Abe Vigoda and The Minutemen, both bands that got that BOUNCE to ’em. Punk rock not how ya expect it to sound and they’re better off for that! BOSTON, MA is an urban record for all kinds. “Forward” packs the most pleasure for me in its mere 78 seconds. In fact, all of these tunes clock in at under 3 so if you’ve got an hour to spare, you’ve got three full listens in order!

Get yourself over to their BC and spend some alone time: http://freepizzarocks.bandcamp.com/album/boston-ma and they are on tour! to SXSW.

concert review, Music, Paul Weller, reviews

Review: Paul Weller, Matthew Ryan @ Royale (7/28/13)

08/05/2013 G. Gordon Gritty 2 Comments

Bands: Paul Weller, Matthew Ryan
Venue: Royale
Date: Sunday, July 28, 2013

I’ve seen shows at the Royale with a decent degree of irregularity since the posh club opened its doors in 2010. No complaints as far as the performances were concerned; King Khan and the Shrines, Deerhunter, The Walkmen – all bigger names that have pleased me nicely over the years. Seeing Paul Weller fits right in there, especially in a standing room only setting like this one.

Kicking off the night was Matthew Ryan – one man with an acoustic guitar. He said it’s not easy being one man with a guitar opening for a legend such as Paul Weller. I agree. I’m not sure many solo performers of Ryan’s variety could do an adequate job of entertaining me in this kind of setting. He did seem to garner some interest, but there were just as many people chitchatting among themselves and ignoring the performance as there were genuinely curious onlookers. His set didn’t do anything for me, but I didn’t expect it to.

Paul Weller – I’m no expert on him, but seeing him a couple of times before this, and listening to his solo albums since I was very young, I’ve grown very appreciative of what he’s done. This was definitely the most fun I’ve had at a Paul Weller show. I would say that this might just be how other attendees feel as well. It may have been years since some of these people have gotten the chance to see Paul up close and personal. Having him and his band (made up of another guitarist, a bassist, an organist, and two drummers) wail away just feet in front of me is something I won’t forget. From this mini-tour’s itinerary, it seems like Paul made it a point to play at smaller sized venues, at least in comparison to the gigantic structures he regularly plays in his native country. As far as what the audience was treated to… about twenty songs from his old Jam days up through his latest Sonic Kicks LP. I was familiar with most of Paul’s set (shout out to setlist.fm for preparation), but the Stanley Road back-to-back of “Whirlpools End” and “The Changingman” is my favorite. Eight hundred 50-somethings chugging $13 mixed drinks may agree with me there. Paul came back for an encore and finished things off with customary Jam hit “Town Called Malice.” We were all pulling for a second encore, but hey that’s alright, we enjoyed a very memorable hour of music.

Jay Reatard, Music

3 Years Ago Today: Pixies/Jay Reatard @ Wang Theatre

11/27/2012 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

This show happened. When it was announced that Jay Reatard would be opening for Pixies this evening, us dudes became beyond excited. Pixies playing Doolittle was enough to go nuts over, but man, it was just two months ago that we witnessed a fine Reatard (and Hunx/Nobunny/Box Elders/Useless Eaters) spectacle at Harpers Ferry. This announcement was insane.

Jay and his new backing band of Cola Freaks delivered in one of the strangest atmospheres he/they probably had ever played in. The modest crowd seemed puzzled by Jay’s performance and even more so the guy by the merchandise section who called him “Johnnie Reatard”. Either way, the KLYAM gang witnessed an amazing thing, something that afterward had us craving for more; we wondered when Reatard and crew would be back. Was this every 2-3 months of playing Boston going to become a habit? We hoped.

There are not many accounts of this show that mention Reatard. There are some, including our review of the show. Check it out: https://klyam.com/2009/12/04/concert-review-the-pixies/

If you were there for this and want to share any memories or what have you, go for it! It would be awesome to hear other perspectives.

Band of the Week, Local Music, Music, The Fagettes

Band of the Week: The Fagettes

10/18/2012 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

The Fagettes – one of Boston’s rock and roll jewels – left a mighty fine impression on us with their latest 7″ If I See Him Again and did the same when they performed covers of Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood at the big Halloween extravaganza that went down last weekend.

The band has putting out quality tunes since 2010 — special shout-out to 2011’s The Fagettes, Vol 2 three minutes of brilliance “When I’m With You”. Ryan and Melanie split singing duties and this cool back-and-forth is one of their many highlights – gotta mention, too, the saxophone/harmonica on If I See Him Again!

I agree with what Chris said in the live review, I’m beyond excited to see Fagettes perform again!

Blog: http://thefagettes.blogspot.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/F-A-G-E-T-T-E-S-USA/286468578066089
Bandcamp: http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/

Boston Counter Cultural Compass, Local Music, Music

September’s BCC Compass Is Out!

09/02/2012 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

The Boston Counter Cultural Compass (September 2012 Edition) is available for your viewing! The best source going for area events.

LINK: http://www.bostoncccompass.com/

ALSO – KLYAM is mentioned in the ‘News and Nods’ section. Thank you Compass!

Film, Jay Reatard, Music

Better Than Something Boston Screenings!

08/10/2012 G. Gordon Gritty Leave a comment

Been eagerly waiting for this announcement for a year! Better Than Something is screening at the Museum of Fine Arts:

August 30, 2012, 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
August 31, 2012, 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm
September 1, 2012, 1:00 pm – 2:30 pm
September 2, 2012, 1:10 pm – 2:40 pm

Better Than Something by Alex Hammond and Ian Markiewicz (2012, 83 min.). Controversial and prolific garage rock icon Jay Reatard released more than 60 records in his 10-year-career as a solo artist and with bands like The Lost Sounds, Final Solutions, and Angry Angles. Eloquently interweaving interviews with friends, rare concert footage, and scenes from a candid week spent with Jay, this intimate portrait—shot only months before his death—brings us incredibly close to Jay’s complicated punk-rock world. Discussion with directors follows the August 31 screening.

Link to MFA: http://www.mfa.org/search/programs/Better%20than%20something

Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM)