Gig Specifics:
1,162 LETTERS TO CLEO, Speedy Ortiz, Boston Paradise, Friday 22nd November 2019
1,162 LETTERS TO CLEO, Speedy Ortiz, Boston Paradise, Friday 22nd November 2019
1,163 BILL JANOVITZ, Boston The Burren, Saturday 23rd November
2019
1,164 LETTERS TO CLEO,
Speedy Ortiz, Boston Paradise, Saturday 23rd
November 2019
1,165 THE ANGIE C
BIRTHDAY BASH, Boston Q Division, Sunday 24th
November 2019
After a “slight return” to my regular early 2000’s Rock’n’Roll bolthole of Boston, MA, USA in March 2017 (gigs 1,028 and 1,029), that being the first time my footsteps had muddied the banks of the Charles for full on 9 years, I was kind of expecting not to be back anytime soon… little did I know…! One of the new friends I made on that most recent trip was local DJ (and co-host of the ACLU benefit show that comprised gig 1,028) Angie C Shaw; we became fast friends over Facebook, bonding over our love for music and Boston rock in particular, and she gave me a heads-up earlier this year about her 50th Birthday plans, ultimately inviting me over to her confirmed “Hot AC Sunday Funday Birthday Bash”. A tempter in and of itself, but when it coincided with a “homecoming” double-header from Boston post-grunge powerpop heroes Letters To Cleo, a band whom I’d adored back in the 90’s but only saw a couple of times during their sole UK sojourn in 1996 (gigs 321 and 324), it became a really enticing prospect…! A few hurdles to overcome first, but luckily Rach was happy for me to fly over (and more than a little jealous too, Rach being a massive LTC fan but never having seen them…), I got my leave from work aligned to make a long weekend of it, sorted out a cheap – economy, hand luggage only! – flight, and Angie sorted me with some accommodation with Dennis White, a chap I’d also met on that 2017 visit. So it was suddenly all systems go for David Does Boston – Take 11!
A
stupidly early start on Friday – up at 5.15 am! – to drive to Heathrow, get the
car parked and check in in time for my 9.40 flight, then an equally stupidly
turbulence-affected flight (when the cabin crew are also strapped in and they
can’t serve the food because it’s “too dangerous”, you know you’re in for a
bumpy ride) still got me into Boston about lunchtime. Quickly bored after an
hour or so poking around an increasingly rainy Harvard (Boston testing me at
this point, given I’d brought no change of shoes or trousers!), I then popped over
to Q Division to wish old friend Ed Valauskas, bassist with local heroes The
Gravel Pit, a happy birthday! Enjoyed a chat mainly about our kids (!) before I
headed over to Dorchester, hitting Dennis’ place just as mine host
arrived home. He fixed me up in “The Elvis Room” (a veritable shrine to Elvis
Costello, whom Dennis has seen 80+
times!), before we Uber-ed over to the Paradise (this is how we do, now,
apparently… taxis are so 2015!) for about 8, rather inevitably running into
man-about-town “The Peach” Pete Stone outside!
Took a
wander in for openers Speedy Ortiz, who played a very Veruca Salt-esque
mid-paced and oft-times off kilter stompy post-grunge US alt-rock fayre.
Striking and vivacious vocalist Sadie Dupuis, apparently a local lass, was gushing
about being back in her old stomping grounds (“it’s great to be back here – I
used to come here when I was 18!”) and about supporting her idols Letters To
Cleo, and I liked “Plough” (their tribute to old Boston venue The Plough And
Stars) with its’ “freaking the fuck out” hook-line, as well as their obvious
jumpy enthusiasm onstage, although the sound was often drum-dominated and the
set seemed overlong at 45 minutes. Still, a pretty good start overall…
Hung out
on the balcony, totally failing to bump into anyone I knew (later for that!),
then took a spot on the floor, house left, just behind a tall bloke who was
leaning against the stage. Bah! As the clock ticked on past the Cleo’s
scheduled 9.15 onstage time, I noticed guitarist Greg McKenna lean out from
backstage in an attempt to catch the DJ’s attention to say the band were ready
to play! Eventually the message got through, and the Cleos took the stage,
joined last by vocalist Kay Hanley, deadpanning, “we’re doing this again, huh?”
Oh yes, indeed we are… this year with extra added Brit fan!
From the
off Letters To Cleo sounded utterly amazing; despite this being only gig
4 of a 5-date mini-tour, they sounded tight, tough and road-tested, the rock
totally on point, and, like so many of their late 90’s Boston contemporaries,
waaaay better live than on record. Dynamic, kinetic, joyous, rocking like
bastards, and in Kay Hanley possessing a frontperson par excellence; the
Homecoming Queen, focus of all the attention in the room, stripily attired and
tousled hair piled high like a young Kim Wilde, she was commanding, smart-mouthed
and sassy, swaggering and strutting the stage as if she owned it. Which, of
course, she did… Hard rocking, grungy opener “Go” segued into an almost 60’s-esque
colourful and groovy “4 Leaf Clover”, and an early “I Want You To Want Me” was
terrific, bettering even Cheap Trick’s original (I know, I said it…) with a thrillingly
cacophonous climax. “Veda Very Shining” was utterly blistering, a hard-edged,
amphetamine-fast and rocking thrill-ride, and “Awake” saw pretty much the whole
band bouncing in time to hard-hitting sticksman Tom Polce’s strong-armed
drumbeat. A diversion into their Christmas EP material didn’t break momentum
for long, the scorching late-set double of “Demon Rock”/ “Fast Way” roaring
back with a vengeance, Kay also admonishing phone photo takers (of which I, regrettably,
was one…) and suggesting they/we, “be in the present!” Point taken!
The
circular choral hook of “I Got Time” ended the set proper, the band returning
for an encore, with guitarist USA Mike Eisenstein (with whom, similarly to Bill
Janovitz at the Buffalo Tom Bristol gig last December, no. 1,115, I’d exchanged
glances during the set but again wasn’t sure whether he’d recognised me) giving
me a shout-out for, “coming all this way”(I guess he did, then…)! The Cleos
then brought bona-fide Boston rock legend Greg Hawkes of The Cars onstage, to
play some funky organ on a Cars cover encore triad, Kay clearly in Fantasy Band
Camp here and totally unable to wipe the huge grin from her features throughout,
remarking, “this is so awesome!”. Awesome indeed, but so was the whole set!
Hung out
by the upstairs backstage door afterwards, running into EdV, USA Mike, Tom Polce,
old Senor Happy buddy Joe McMahon, and visiting American Hi-Fi guitarist and
old friend Jamie, a man who seems utterly impervious to the ravages of time,
looking possibly younger now than when I first met him in 2000! Eventually we
were ushered in backstage, much socialising ensuing with the Cleos and their
entourage, including birthday girl Angie C and partner Dave. Eventually Dennis
(slightly worse for wear at this point) and I reluctantly tore ourselves away,
sorting an Uber back to his place after an utterly stellar evening of rock!
A fairly
early start on a bright and chilly Saturday saw Dennis and I (amazingly in good
shape after his heroic amounts of imbibing!) heading out for a superb breakfast
in Quincy, making a couple of stops to walk his dogs on the journey. An
afternoon shopping trip to Harvard was problematic, a huge chunk of the Red
Line “T” replaced by an interminably slow bus service, so I got back to Dennis’
at 5ish. His mate Tom had happily sorted us guest list spots for Bill Janovitz’
set at the snug Burren backroom (standing room only, but who cares?), so we
headed over there in a slow-moving Uber (taking ages to inch through Chinatown
in particular) for just before 7, having just enough time for a quick greeting
and handshake with Bill before he took the stage, bang on 7 for his first
set of 2 of the night.
I was off
and running then… I’d arranged a lift with Tom to The Paradise, so we headed
through the kitchen where Joe was waiting with the motor running! He dropped me
and Tom off around the corner from the venue, where I left Tom to go in
(parting with a huge bearhug from this affable gent – a real pleasure to run
into him again after nearly 20 years!) as I collected my will call ticket.
Speedy Ortiz were already midway through their set, which was more of the same
heavy-hitting languid post-grunge, albeit sounding fuller and brighter than
last night, with vocalist Sadie again throwing compliments around (to the Cleos
and Boston in particular) with gay abandon.
The place
felt considerably fuller tonight, so I grabbed a spot close to last night’s
house left position, albeit a couple of rows further back. Tried to squeeze
through but couldn’t. Bah! No matter, we didn’t hang around tonight, Angie C
introducing the band onstage pretty much on time, and being surprised with a
massive birthday cake and birthday singalong in the process! Following these
festivities, Letters To Cleo weren’t in a mood to mess about either, bursting
directly into a powerful “Demon Rock”/ “Fastway” double-whammy segue, with Kay,
sporting rock-star chic tonight (black support band t-shirt and ripped – nay, savaged
– jeans) again “on it” from the off, bouncing around as if on rubber knees,
exhorting the hometown crowd to sing along throughout. An early “Cruel To Be
Kind” was lovely, delivered with just the right amount of deliciously understated
harmony, Kay and Michael thereafter conducting an onstage band pow-wow (“we
want to get it right for you people!”) before an angular, rocking “I Got Time”.
“Awake” again saw the band bounceathon, Michael also prowling his corner of the
stage like a young Bob Mould (!), and the slower-burn “Jennifer” was introduced
by Kay as, “a rock’n’roll hymn to Dorchester,” the accompanying backdrop
slideshow illustrating this point. “Veda” was again a blistering amped-up
powerpop delight, but that was even topped by rampant set closer “Pizza
Cutter”, the undulating harmonies a feature of possibly the highlight of this
homestand.
A relaxed
and buoyant band then took the stage one last time, in Christmas hats and
tinsel and accompanied by Speedy Ortiz, to run through their “Christmas” EP
tracks, their reading of locals The Dogmatics’ “Christmas Time (Sure Don’t Feel
Like It)” the flippant, acerbic best number. I didn’t hang around tonight,
however, making a quick visit to the merch stand and a lap of the top balcony,
running into Melissa Gibbs and Jen Trynin for a nice chat and catch up before
heading off. An early departure tonight, as I was unsure as to my ability to
hail a cab, Boston being all Ubers these days, and this proved to be the case,
so I abandoned that idea and took the “T” for a happily swifter than earlier
Green-bus-Red transfer, back to Dennis’ for midnight, totally wiped out but
elated after another brilliant Cleo’s performance!
Unsurprisingly,
Sunday didn’t start quite as early – particularly as it was totally bucketing
it down! Dennis and I eventually headed off just before lunchtime to grab
another Quincy breakfast (hey, I liked it yesterday, so stick with what you
like!) then I took it easy back in the “Elvis Room” before we headed off to Q
Division for 3 pm. This was to be the venue for the Angie C Birthday Bash, with
socialising and buffet in a side room and an impromptu stage set up in one of
the recording studios. This was clearly to be the social event of the season,
as I immediately ran into so many old Boston rock friends (EdV, Jamie, old
Gravy friend Michael Jordan, Ad Frank, “The Peach”, Kay, Michael, Jen, Melissa
and a later arriving old Pills buddy Corin!), and met a whole swathe of
hopefully new friends (hi Keith, Josh, Rice, Hilken, Kirsten… plus legendary
Boston music scribe Brett Milano!). Also greeted Angie and Dave, of course, and
gave Premiership footy fan Angie a present of a Liverpool FC shirt personalised
with “Angie C – 50” – judging by the hug I received, I think it went down
well…!
In
between the chat and general party spirit and bonhomie, there was some music
too! First up, the excellently named PRETENDICA, featuring Cleos guitarist Greg
McKenna and a vivacious vocalist in Linda Gioscia, regaled us with some
authentically-delivered Pretenders covers (including, happily, my favourite,
the racey “Tattooed Love Boys”) and one Elastica number, their “Stutter” being
miles better than the oft-shambolic original. Then, with a slight shuffling of
personnel (notably Ad Frank in for Greg) and costume (Linda donning a blonde
wig and alluring short dress/ boots combination), they became HEY! BLONDIE!,
again delivering a fun party set of Blondie covers, my highlights being “X
Offender” (which apparently features in the set because Ad wouldn’t join the
band unless they played it!) and “Dreaming”, the drum-dominated 60’s-esque pop
classic, drummer Mike Gioscia putting in a hell of a shift to channel Clem
Burke!
I grabbed
another quick chat with Jen Trynin, hanging out with Hilken Mancini, and got
the chance to more rationally convey my admiration for both her recorded output
and rather excellent book. However, before I get the chance to tell Hilken what
a fan of Fuzzy I was in the day, they were called to the stage, as BAND OF
THEIR OWN were next up. Angie introduced them onstage after a lovely short
speech, then BOTO played a relaxed, fun and sparkling set of well-chosen
covers. BOTO are a loose collective of distaff luminaries of the Boston Rock
community (and herein ends any references to gender, as I appreciate that
anything I, as a white male non-musician, have to say on this point may come
across as dangerously patronising), who are quite simply supremely talented
musicians and performers. Case in point being that the shining star of the last
2 evenings, Kay (who, in taking lead vocals for a couple of numbers, is
admittedly reining it in this afternoon), didn’t even come close to being MVP
of this performance. Nope, for me that honour went to Hilken, although Jen ran
her close with an astonishingly impassioned reading of Tom Petty’s “Refugee”
(typical that the first time I get to see Jen perform, she’s doing a cover…
still, it’s, ahem, better than nothing…!). Anyway, it’s Hilken; high kicking,
husky voiced, posing and strutting onstage, owning it and delivering a stunning
version of “Different Drum”, the highlight of BOTO’s set. Although kudos also
to Melissa, who delivered a Stevie Nicks cover with all the commanding growl of
a Patti Smith…!
Then, a
total surprise; the birthday girl’s beau, DAVE DOW, hopped onstage, accompanied
by Josh on guitar, with the intention of singing a couple of numbers for the
birthday girl. He
eased into first number, Men A Work’s “Overkill” and those present let out an
audible gasp – Dave, who’d apparently never sung before, was utterly crushing
it! Spot on pitch and delivery throughout; about 3 seconds after he went up
through the octaves for the final verse, I was looking around for my jaw. On
the floor…! This was not only the highlight of his four song vignette, but one
of the musical highlights of the weekend, no foolin’, and judging by the
conversation I overheard between Dave and BOTO and Belly stalwart Gail
Greenwood, I wasn’t the only one to think that…!
Next
up, I had a promise to keep, and Kay helped me to keep it, signing my
daughter’s copy of the “Josie And The Pussycats” soundtrack and sending her a
lovely video message, which just about made Kasey’s day/week/month/year. There
was time for one final act, BIKINI WHALE, a B52’s tribute led by my old Gravy
buddy Michael, playing “under the watchful gaze of Emperor Caldes,” (a huge
painting of Gravel Pit drummer Pete, propped up at the back of the stage and
keeping watch all evening!) and channelling the kooky goofiness and deadpan
delivery of Bill Schneider perfectly. Once again, they were great, faithful to
the originals and a perfect party band to round things off. However, the
weekend began to catch up with me, and when Dennis suggested bailing just
before the end, I happily joined him, saying my goodbyes on the way out.
An
early night for an early start, as Dennis (who’d been the perfect host) drove
me to the airport for my 8 a.m. flight, a less bumpy ride seeing me back in
Heathrow earlier than expected (despite 20 minutes of circling because we were
so early!), and home just before 10 p.m. Elated and buoyed once again by
another stellar weekend in Boston; whenever I fleetingly thought I was out of
place, an interloper, there was always one old friend or other there to greet
me. Once again, the Boston rock community showed nothing but the most amazing
hospitality to this Brit Boston Rock fan, and for that I’m forever grateful.
As
for my “Live Band of the Year”? Well, after that incredible homestand, it’s got
to be LETTERS TO CLEO! Oh and yeah… Happy Birthday Angie!
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