WE ARE BEYOND EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE OUR NEXT SHOW – KLYAM BLESSES THE BAY – A FREE OUTDOOR SHOWCASE @ BLESSING OF THE BAY BOATHOUSE PARK (SOMERVILLE) ON SATURDAY, MAY 14 FEATURING ……
It is high noon for the second to last KLYAM show of the year. First, the details. Saturday November 16 at Club Bohemia in Cambridge’s Central Square (very accessible by public transport, bike, car, whatever). Plan on arriving at 8:30 or 8:45 PM. Hand over $8 in cash and make your way down the steps to Mickey Bliss’ dank dungeon. Electric Street Queens – KLYAM alum from way back (2014’s Live From Your Dreams tape) – will start things off. They released Thank You Good Night this past summer. Their line-up has changed a bit over time, but their infectious and explosive live performance has not. Perfect way to start this wild night. Next up is Sticker Shock. They are a local KLYAM favorite for sure – a band that would fit in perfectly on a Gonerfest bill wedged between Trampoline Team and Sick Thoughts with that high gear, high speed attack. Speaking of Gonerfest. Less than two months ago, M.O.T.O joined the Memphis fest’s prolific progeny of relatively obscure, but ultra beloved performers. And we got to see them in action. Since then we’ve been dying to get Paul Caporino and crew on one of our shows and sure enough here they are headlining this one! I think I read somewhere that everyone has a favorite M.O.T.O song, but the back catalog is so damn extensive it might be near impossible for them to play all the favorites. What a great problem to have! After M.O.T.O will be Johnnie and the Foodmasters. M.O.T.O is a tough act to follow, so the Foodmasters will have to ride off the high of that set and hopefully not clear the room. The oldies noise-mongering sextet are hoping the Boomer who called them the worst band Cambridge has seen in 40 years comes out to the gig.
Check out this timely beauty courtesy of KLYAM Records own ELECTRIC STREET QUEENS. With art and animation by respective Queens Coco Roy and Avi Paul Weinstein, “Brew-Ha-Ha” won’t be leaving your memory sooooon. Naked witches!!
Pick up a copy of the tape as a (TRICK! orrrr) treat this Halloween for that special psycho in your life. Available here from KLYAM Records: http://klyam.bigcartel.com/
Bands: The Fagettes, Fat Creeps, Dream Warrior, The Electric Street Queens Date: Friday, February 22, 2013 Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)
Dream Warrior– Never heard of these girls before, which is pretty cool because I think seeing a band live is the perfect introduction. Dream Warrior are an all female, all instrumental three piece and they bash out heavy, headbanging, blues inspired, quasi metal tunes. It’s a slow, sludgey, doomy kind of rock, but it never drags. A few attendees compare them to Metallica, I can see that, especially the first few albums, not St. Anger Metallica or any of that garbage. Glen says they are like the “girl Big Mess.” I actually haven’t thought of this, but I agree to an extent. Both bands create heavy, all instrumental songs that have the power and volume of a metal band, but with more of a blues, perhaps even hook emphasis in some respects. The crowd response is pretty solid and I am digging them as well. I’ll have to keep my eye out for them in local listings, as I am sure they’ll pop up again sometime soon.
Fat Creeps– Yo dawg, Fat Creeps two nights in a row sucka, that’s what I’m talking about! We KLYAMERS like to jam out with our KLYAM out, lord knows how that works. Last night was at the Salem Cinema, first time I have ever been there. In fact, I have never really been in Salem, place kind of gives me the creeps, no pun intended. Tonight is O’Brien’s, one of the best and most active rock venues in Boston, and this is my third time seeing the Fat Creeps here. More national rock ‘n’ roll and shock ‘n’ troll and jock ‘n’ skoal bands should come through to OB’s more often. Seeing the Fat Creeps though is sound enough for me, being a tremendous fan of the band.
I have a 70s conservative take on rock ‘n’ roll, a select few bands that rule, like when you think of rock ‘n’ roll you think of these bands. Like one of those infomercials that air in the wee hours of the morning featuring hit songs from the 60s or 70s, I like to think of all of the music I love being featured in a fake ad with some black guy’s low, soulful voice in the background. Someday, that will become a reality! Transitioning back to the present, it’s a real pleasure to see some great rock ‘n’ roll bands under our nose right in Boston. As I’ve said a million times, Fat Creeps are our favorite Boston band and one of our favorites in general. This is the first time I’ve seen them back to back and it’s exceptional.
Performance wise, tonight is pretty solid, not the best from the band, but awesome. “Going to the Party” is quickly becoming one my favorite Creeps numbers, I just adore Mariam’s monotone vocals and how they transition into screams as the song gets heavier. Much of this heaviness stems from the early hardcore riffage coming from the guitars, like a diabolical Dead Kennedys tune. “He Comes In Loudly” is another stand out, especially in Gracie’s mumbly vocals. As always, fun show from your local creeps. See them live, if you haven’t! Or start by listening to them here: http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/
Following the Creeps’ performance is the movie premiere of Ali White’s and Lauren Kimball’s Nautical Nymphs. A short film about some wild mermaids and an unsuspecting sailor. It’s a colorful, cool little movie. I suggest you watch it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pfW0_EIyxA
The Fagettes– The Fagettes are up on stage, but before they play there is a special guest performance from The Electric Street Queens, a kickass duo consisting of Coco Roy on vocals and guitar and the Fagettes’ Melanie Bernier on drums and vocals. They play a couple of tunes alongside the other members of the Fagettes including their nastiest number, “Dontcha Wanna Work At the Brewary” and like the last time I saw em’ Coco comes out to the audience, playing her guitar on the floor. I am pretty excited for this, cause I dig the ESQ very much and I didn’t hear of their special guest appearance until an hour or so before they hit the stage. Check dem out and like their page!: http://www.facebook.com/ElectricStreetQueens?fref=ts
The Fagettes open with their latest and greatest offering, “Gonna Die Out Here,” and it gets the crowd a rockin’. It’s a smooth, catchy song that showcases the simple drum beats and dual vocals that make the Fagettes an impressionable garage pop group. Their set features most of the hits I have fallen in love with over the past six months, such as “Mystery Pills,” “On Drugs,” “My Girl Looks Like Johnny Thunders,” and more. They are a fun loving, light-hearted band in the spirit of Hunx and His Punx, Shannon and the Clams, and Nobunny, just the kind of rock ‘n’ roll we dig around here. This show doesn’t sound as nice as the previous Great Scott show we attended, but there is more of a physical presence, and energy coming from both the performers and audience and that always makes for fun at a rock show. In particular, Ryan Major hops into the crowd bringing the mic stand with him, dude’s a boss, one of the best showmen around town. They close their set with the classic, “Water, Tea, and Alcohol,” a fast pounder indeed. Haha pounder. Listen to Fagettes, yeah I’m talking to you. http://thefagettes.bandcamp.com/
Set-List:
“Gonna Die Out Here”
“The AA Took My Baby Away”
“Mystery Pills”
“I Kill Him If I See Him Again”
“On Drugs”
“My Girl Looks Like Johnny Thunders”
“I Wanna Feel Good”
“Water, Tea, and Alcohol”
Bands: 28 Degrees Taurus, Fat Creeps, Secret Lover, The Electric Street Queens Date: Saturday, November 17, 2012 Venue: PA’s Lounge (Somerville, MA)
Act I: The Electric Street Queens– I have seen countless two pieces in my day, but I don’t think I’ve ever seen a two piece consisting of two ladies. I’ve seen two dudes, one dude and one dudette, but never two dudettes. Electric Street Queens, where have you been all of my life?! Electric Street Queens is Melanie Bernier ( also of Fagettes- I admired her drumming in the past) on drums and vocals and Coco Roy on bass and vocals, so basically the greatest duo of all time. Simon & Garfunkel ain’t got shit on you! This is some real good shit, don’t walk away…. if I could hold a live LP from these gals in the palm of my hand, I’d be a happy man. But, for now I have to cherish the moment. And indeed it was a great moment. Like The Coathangers, but better and sassier. Simple, stripped down songs- very catchy, fun, playful/nasty sense of humor. I can relate to that, being a sick bastard myself. They don’t seem to take themselves too seriously, which is always refreshing to see. Like I said, funny songs about beefcakes and bruises, puke and scum, you know the usual Thanksgiving family dinner convo. There is also plenty of in between song banter, such as cracking jokes about diapers and other sexualized comments that I love to hear. The band’s closer “Doncha Want To Work At The Brewery” is an amusing, macho, testosterone drippin’ anthem that demands the universal question stated in the title. During the song, Coco makes her way out to the crowd, rockin’ right up against KLYAM’s very own Glen! I’m sure he’s now looking for employment in one of our local breweries.
Set List (written on a brown paper lunch bag, no lunch though):
“Roadkill”
“She’s Gotta Bruise”
“Brew ha-ha”
“Beefcake”
“Puke”
“Molly Brown”
“Divorce Court”
“Scum”
“Brewery” (“Doncha Want To Work At The Brewery”)
Act II: Secret Lover– The whole band sounds delightful, for lack of a better adjective, okay we’ll go with peachy keen, sure that works, I prefer that. Secret Lover sounds fairly dynamic, especially the lead vocalist. I enjoy watching her slither on and off stage, twirling the mike with ease. She has a loud, powerful voice that sounds familiar, but I can’t quite explain what or who it is. I recognize the last song they play, “Rubber.” It’s a catchy, little number and the backing vocals (“bahhh buppp bah bah bah”) are memorable. Check out their music here: http://secretlover.bandcamp.com/
Act III: Fat Creeps– This is my first time seeing the Fat Creeps at PA’s Lounge. YAYYY!!!! Before this moment in time, I had to solely rely on You Tube videos (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YkFImOf5kZI) Tonight, they switch things up by opening with what are in my opinion (and I can imagine others) their strongest songs “Nancy Drew” and “700 Parts”. These are tunes that typically fall towards the end of their sets, but I must say I like seeing them at the front of the set, starting the show on a solid note. In general, the sound is excellent, and much of this is a debt to PA’s sound system, but it’s not just that. I think this is simply one of the Creeps’ best shows, at least one of the best I’ve seen. I announce this 700 times on the ride home as Glen can testify. Okay Chris, settle down, have another Narragansett please. My favorite part of their performance is the transition from “Dad Weed” to “Daydreaming,” it’s practically one big ass pop song, it’s continuous, one right into the next. Creeps stand outs, “Fooled” and “Secrets” and two new numbers “Go to the Party” and the cute, little instrumental closer “Back to School” round out the set. The latter can be seen below, shot by good old Bernie.
P.S. I can’t forget to mention that there is a brief “O-o-h Child” (Five Stairsteps) interlude at some point during their set. I’d love to hear a full fledged cover! Whenever I hear this song I think of the movie Over The Edge (1979), y’all know this flick? No? Know it.
Act III: 28 Degrees Taurus– Our second two piece of the evening, 28 Degrees Taurus headlines tonight’s show. The band consists of Karina Dacosta on drums and vocals and Jinsen Liu on guitar and vocals. They have a very atmospheric/pop song dynamic to them that I liken to that of No Age, and no not just because they are also a vocals/drums and guitar duo. I mean there certainly is that element, but the mellow, atmospheric meets hard edge punk feel strikes me more. Glen hears this as well and makes a comparison to early Wavves, particularly the live show circa September 2009 when it was just Nathan Williams and Zach Hill in the band. I do not walk away with this impression as much, but I guess that’s because I wasn’t cool enough to catch that Wavves show way back when brah. Anyway, I dig the first few songs, but after a while they start to fade on me and I feel a little bored. Listening to their bandcamp page now, I feel less bored though and I enjoy some of their songs much more. Overall, the set just seems too long, but the band appears to be having a lot of fun and that’s all that matters. Not to mention, various attendees are intensely fascinated by their set. Lastly, I am just finding out now that this group has been active since 2005, which is pretty rad, what’s also rad is the fact that they list artists as diverse as The Carpenters to Lightning Bolt as influences on their facebook page. Right on!
Check out their bandcamp here, you can listen to a shit ton of releases from over the years: http://28degreestaurus.bandcamp.com/
Most of this review was written under the influence of Genesee, Busch Light, and The Cardigans’ “LoveFool” on repeat.
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 