Street Dogs ... Wrecking the Halls For Ten Years On

Punk is still alive and well in Boston. 2015 saw the tenth annual Wreck the Halls held this year at Allston’s Brighton Music Hall. For the first time, the Street Dogs played full albums for each show. Savin Hill, Back to the World, Fading American Dream were heard track by track, along with some fan favorites like Tobe's Got a Drinking Problem and Not Without a Purpose, along with band favorites by The Clash on December 18th, 19th, and 20th. 

Photo credit John Cetrino 2015

 With Mike McColgan on lead vocals, Johnny Rioux on bass, Matt Pruitt on lead guitar, and Lenny Lashley on rhythm guitar, the current lineup of the 12 year old band was honored on December 18th by Boston Mayor, Marty Walsh, who proclaimed the day Street Dogs Day in Boston. 

With the Boston Police Department Pipes and Drums kicking off Friday night, it was full on pogo time with moshing (co-ed), stage diving, and lots of oi's being thrown about. What was very evident, was how the band, who took a brief hiatus in 2012, is still growing in their fan base. Why? It has to do with their roots. 

Boston is a proud city, understatement of the century. Street Dogs is a band that supports not only Boston, but its workers, unions, and military. Their fan base are kids, adults, Boston born and bred Sox and Celtic fans, who work tirelessly for the City they love. It's a perfect match.

If you're not into punk so much, but still dig an album that Mick Jones and Joe Strummer could have written the lyrics for, check out FM 359, a side project of SD members McColgan, Rioux, and Sosa along with Rick Barton.They released Truth, Love and Liberty in January 2014 and according to Michael Rampa of Octane Magazine:

 Some are calling it a “humanitarian (non-religious) gospel Americana (punk) rock record”, While the influences are apparent , the resulting sound is unique and defies being categorized in any single genre. Whatever its label, this band has the potential to bring an unconventional sound into the mainstream  the way Mumford and Sons turned folk into chart gold. 

Truth, Love and Liberty has the punk attitude and Boston pride, but it is stripped down to the barest, yet fullest of sound. Give the  album a whirl, especially if you like a Celtic or Mumford and Sons sound.

Hopefully 2016 will give us some more touring and more tunes for the Street Dogs to follow up on their Record Day release of Street Dogs Crooked Drunken Sons. Heavy material, but definitely deserved of an audience. There are politics to discuss, unions to defend, and our heroes in uniform that need our support. This is the band to put lyrics to the issues and strike a chord (literally) with some of their listeners. Street Dogs write songs that matter. And Street Dogs write songs you should listen to.

Everything About You Is So F*I*N*E Fine

26 years later and each word comes back like the first day this album debuted. While their tenth album, it catapulted them off their previous album, Permanent Vacation. Hits like Angel, Ragdoll, and Dude Looks Like a Lady had them on the pop charts. While no stranger to fame, it would be Permanent Vacation and Pump that made them video stars. 

I also look back and think If my parents only knew what I was listening to! This album is filled with sex, sex, some serious heavy shit, and a little more sex. It's classic Aerosmith filled with ballads, driving rhythm(pun intended if you like), and quick tempo songs with the addition of horns and some didgeridoos. From the first beats of Young Lust to the final notes of What it Takes, its classic toxic twins Aerosmith. 

Young Lust
The opening beats speed along until you're hit full speed with Joey Kramer's drums and Perry's signature guitar. Perfect intro anthem for this album.

FINE
You don't learn what this title stands for until you watch the documentary on the making of Pump. And it so fits the attitude of this album and of the band at this time in their career. 

I feel like I'm hung up on the line
I'd die for you but we were partners in the crime
Everything about you is so f-i-n-e- FINE
Let's put our clothes back on
and by the way girl
What's your name again?

 One night stands, with standards, and obsessing about a woman in particular, FINE kicks of an album that truly is F#%ked Up * Insecrure *Neruotic  *Emotional

Goin' Down / Love in an Elevator
How many of you still think of this song when you get into an elevator. Innuendo packed and one of Aerosmith's classic songs, Elevator lives up to Aerosmith sexy reputation.


Monkey on My Back
Bluesy and the only time you hear the title (PUMP) whispered once the drums start. A song about the monkey on Aerosmith's drug and alcohol addictions, this song has serious message. 
 
Water Song >Janie's Got a Gun 
The band really had some heavy material to deal with on this album. A song about a young woman who kills her abuser, who happens to be her father, again Aerosmith brings attention to pressing matters on this album.

Dulcimer Stomp>Other Side
How Shakespearean? Just what is "the other side" Steven?

My Girl
A rocking love song about Sadie and how awesome she is. 

Don't Get Mad Get Even
What do you do when your girlfriend with her skirt hiked up to here?? A great revenge song. So much blues influence on this song and reminiscent of their song St. John. Lyrically, this is blues poetry. A song that should have been a hit.

Roll the dice get lucky 'cause they roll you for the dime

you got nothin' else to lose if you only lose your mind

when pleasure that is shallow causes trouble to be deep

you've been dusted with the devil while he sweeps you off your feet

Hoodoo>Voodoo Medicine Man
A fun digeredoo filled New Orleans-ish song. 
 
What It Takes
The ultimate Aerosmith song of anger and lost love. He still loves this woman, but she's run off several times. The final song on Pump is the perfect closure to an emotional album. It's mellow, like the sadness of watching your love get away, and knowing that really this is Aerosmith's last great album ... ooops, that slipped.

Eternally Wild With The Power

Michael Kelland John Hutchence January 22, 1960 - November 22, 1997

Many of us grew up listening to INXS. The songs are our youth. My first INXS memory came with listening to the cassette of The Swing. For about six months, I thought it was Dancing on Jelly. So I was like ten and we didn't have jetty's in western Pennsylvania. The sounds were new, fluid, and KICK is a soundtrack of many wonderful memories. When we hear those strings from Never Tear Us Apart, we are reminded of those nervous moments at school dances. Devil Inside was the song that meant fun was going to be had. And New Sensation was an anthem of experimentation. Moving along, X was the more mature anthem. Come on, who didn't get overwhelmed at By Your Side or relate to the symbolism in The Stairs.  

While we all love Kirk, Gary, Andrew, Jon, and Tim, it was Michael that lead the band with his charismatic persona, golden good looks, and sultry soft yet powerful voice. He was vulnerable and powerful. Our Michael was an enigma wrapped up in a devilish grin and tight pants. However, with our love and fandom of him also came our sadness for the troubles and trials we had to endure. His music made him a video star. And media killed our video star. Tabloid fodder brought down our shining star.

Each passing year, we reminisce and pay homage to Michael Kelland John Hutchence. In our memories he will always be the young, warm, energetic, soft spoken heart throb lead singer.In our hearts, he will always be our youth.

In Michael's words ... Love and Peace.

The nature of your tragedy
Is chained around your neck
Do you lead or are you lead
Are you sure that you don't care
There are reasons here to give your life
And follow in your way
The passion lives to keep your faith
Though all are different, all are great
Climbing as we fall
We dare to hold on to our fate
And steal away our destiny
To catch ourselves
With quiet grace

 PMCarlson 2000 Sydney

Eternal Life - The Annual NYC Tribute to Jeff Buckley

Jeff Buckley’s spirit was definitely hovering around Arlene’s Grocery for his Annual Tribute concert but together by Robert Urban. Each year I am both astonished and selfish about the growth of Jeff’s fan base. On the verge of  what would have been Jeff’s 49^th birthday, I met a 22 year old drummer from the UK who discovered Jeff only four years ago. He, like most of us, quickly fell in love with Jeff.

There were new faces that sang the songs Jeff wrote as well as songs both by musicians who inspired him and musicians he inspired. The early highlights include Adam Cohen, Edwin Blas with Cesar Presa, and Matt DeBenedetti of Toy Cars. From Hallelujah to Radiohead’s High and Dry, the night kicked off with some great music fit for Jeff.

Now if people weren’t already moved when French musician Michael DeFleur hit the stage after being in New York City while his country was tragically attacked last week, he finished with a song that a handful understood. Jeff Buckley’s Eternal Life on the Live at Sin-é opened with the following monologue:  

This is a song about, it's an angry song. Life is too short and too complicated for people behind desks and people behind masks to be ruining other people’s lives, initiating force against other people’s lives on the basis of their income, their color, their class, their religious beliefs, their whatever.

But Michael did not recite that … he only sang the following before leaving the stage and it was a statement so raw that it was hauntingly beautifully framed because it was Jeff’s words:

There's no time for hatred, only questions
Where is love, where is happiness, what is Life,
where is peace?

And what’s a Jeff Buckley Tribute without a cabaret? Honestly, one of the most beautiful moments was Tracey Stark, Kathleen Stuart, Gretchen Reinhagen and Beau Howard singing a beautiful and soul filled rendition of Hallelujah. It’s moments like those that make the annual tribute so special. And more moments were promised as Robert Urban joined the Jenny’s and Mike Linkens almost the most Buckley-esque performance of the evening … almost.

Gary Lucas, guitar master, a mentee of Captain Beefheart, song writer, and co-writer with Jeff himself...broke a guitar string when he started to play Mojo Pin with Tara Lynne. 

 But meanwhile as the guitar was re-strung, Mike Linkens joined Gary after a masterful acoustic solo. It was as if Jeff walked onto the stage and we were taken back to the days of Gods and Monsters. A snapshot in time given to us as gift to the Buckley faithful. See you all again for Jeff's 50th birthday next year.

Eternal Life is now on my trail
Got my red glitter coffin, man, just need one last nail
While all these ugly gentlemen play out their foolish games
there's a flaming red horizon that screams our names
And as your fantasies are broken in two
Did you really think this bloody road
would pave the way for you?
You better turn around
and blow your kiss hello to life eternal, angel
Racist every man, what have you done?
Man, you've made a killer of your unborn son...
Crown my fear your king at the point of a gun
All I want to do is love everyone...
And as your fantasies are broken in two
did you really think this bloody road
would pave the way for you?
You better turn around
and blow your kiss hello to life eternal
Oh...
There's no time for hatred, only questions
Where is love, where is happiness, what is Life,
where is peace?
When will I find the strength to bring me release?
And tell me where is the love in what your prophet has said?
Man, It sounds to me just like a prison for the walking dead
And I've got a message for you and your twisted hell
You better turn around and blow your kiss goodbye
to life eternal angel...
Angel...

 

"They want to shut us up. They want to silence us. And we won’t let them"

U2 at memorial outside of Paris  venue Bataclan

 

These are our people,  said Bono. This could be me at a show, you at a show…It’s a very recognizable situation.

 

 

Friday's attack in the City of Love hit the heart and soul of many music fans. People out enjoying a carefree Friday night out in Paris became the target of anger and hate. The goal is to make us live in fear. Targeted because it was a mass gathering, or because it was a venue recently sold by its Jewish owners, or just a random, nonsensical act of barbarity, there are more questions than answers. Families, lovers, friends, lost on a night where others dined, and watched a football match, all completely unaware that they would not see another Paris sunrise.

 

What lessons can be learned? Love. Strength. No Fear. Acknowledgement that the hate will not simply vanish because we want it to. It is our love, determination, and our unwavering spirit of freedom that cannot be silenced. All we can do is continue to moving forward. We cannot cower and hide. We must live our lives,  for when we stop enjoying it is then that hate truly will win.

 

 

 

 

 



 

I see a beautiful city and a brilliant people rising from this abyss, and, in their struggles to be truly free, in their triumphs and defeats, through long years to come, I see the evil of this time and of the previous time of which this is the natural birth, gradually making expiation for itself and wearing out...
Charles Dickens  A Tale of Two Cities

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats: Something Old Something New

Rateliff, who looks like a cross between a barista and a backwoods preacher, has greeted his success with a mix of excitement and trepidation." ... "It's a lot easier if the crowd is on its feet and clapping and putting their phones away. Rolling Stone

Missouri born and self-taught musician Nathaniel Rateliff and his hard hitting band, The Nightsweats are the "it band" and for good reason. Their sound is a mix of rock nostalgia with whiffs of The Band, Otis Redding, Van Morrison,  and even the Big Bopper with a nice blend of The Wall of Sound. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats are refreshing in our world of TV talent shows. While Rateliff had several songs prior to the Nightsweats breakout album, it was his musical inspirations that seem to knock him on the head and say "hey, we can do this!"

The thirteen song, thirty-eight minute album is full of songs you think you've heard before. They're familiar but new at the same time. Their hit song, SOB woke everyone up. A song about giving up and then giving into the drink is driving and almost a church revival. Howling at Nothing is a good swing song with soul. And Thank You, well just says it all. The songs are simple but so full of harmony, thought, and musical history. 

Live, you cannot go wrong with seeing Nathaniel Rateliff and the Nightsweats live. Nathaniel got his wish. At The Bowery Ballroom on November 4th, every single person in the crowd was singing, dancing, and stomping. Their performance is powerful but not overpowering. Each band member exudes their own gifted talent that blends into one musical gift. 

We can only hope that we get more from Nathaniel and the Nightsweats. We need to be refreshed and reminded why we love music so much.

Nathaniel Ratefliff and the Nightsweats:  Joseph Pope III, Mark Shusterman, Patrick Meese, Luke Mossman, Wesley Watkins, and Andy Wild

PMCarlson 2015

What You Need: INXS Listen Like Thieves at 30

October 14, 1985 was the release date of INXS's fifth album, Listen Like Thieves. It was the final album of their worldwide obscurity. While in Australia, they were already sensational superstars, songs like What You Need would finally begin to trickle over to the US. Let's take a look at what made Thieves a classic.

What You Need
This song was made famous in the US because of its groundbreaking and award winning video. The rotoscope animation technique gave What You Need a new wave feel and added the pop animation that 80's music fans were feeling entitled to. Kirk Pengilly's sax riff and Michael Hutchence's sultry voice was a glimpse at what the future INXS would give us.

Listen Like Thieves
Sadly, not many know this gorgeous cinematic video, Mad Maxian video. And strangely enough, the apocalyptic montage fits the song well. Again, the future and static INXS sound is solidified in this song.

You are all you need
So don't hesitate
There's no time to waste
You just do it for yourself

Kiss the Dirt (Falling Down the Mountain)
The video for this song should be an Australian travel commercial. The red sand desert, the blazing sun, and the gigantic fire the backlights the band are the perfect backdrop for the Australian proud band. It's a song about love, getting hurt, and doing it all over again.

 

Shine Like it Does
If there is one thing about INXS lyrics, it is that they are very simple, but hard hitting and true. Shine Like It Does is no exception. Made up of not even twenty lines, its message is simple: do your best.

Good Times + Bad Times
This one is more reminiscent of the bands previous album, The Swing. While not a huge hit, it was resurrected with Australian singer, Jimmy Barnes.


Biting Bullets
Another hidden gem in the lyric library of INXS. This song is full of symbolism and metaphors set to a toe tapping 80's rhythm.

I loose myself like anybody else
But I'm not so strong to make it in the end
I need some answers when
The day comes crashing down
But it's all over when there's
No one to be found



 

This Time
Lots of love songs on this album. A song about love, loss, and finding each other again.

We are hoping - yes we are praying

This time will be the last time

That we will fight like this

 

Same Direction
Love, love, love. This love song has the beat of a march off to the war of love.

One + One
Lots of saxophone and more love, and promises to be there through the night, if you know what I mean. Michael's troubadour is definitely in full swing in this song.

Red Sun
A fitting final song of the album. It's an amalgam of the old and the new and a perfect segue into KICK.