Lollipop Magazine

Soul Coughing – with Firewater at Avalon – Review

May 1, 1997

The heavy funk and upright bass got the crowd moving and sweating, while Mark’s keyboards threw everyone into a frenzied state.

Firewater – with Soul Coughing at Avalon – Review

May 1, 1997

Tod A immediately launched into “Bourbon and Division,” a dark cha cha (no, really) which pulsed and throbbed under the hands of this wedding band gone bad.

Incus – at Ceremony – Review

May 1, 1997

With three drummers, Incus is totally about rhythm. The crowd begins moving. Banging on the sculpture, Neubauten clangs chase each other though the club.

Splashdown – at The Middle East – Review

April 1, 1997

Kaplan’s vocal lines captivate the audience as the crowd sways trying desperately to dance in the over-crowded stage front area.

Swans – with Low at the Somerville Theatre – Review

April 1, 1997

Swans music descends like a black cloud and comes down in torrents. This isn’t music you listen to, you surrender to it.

The Jesus Lizard – at The Middle East – Review

April 1, 1997

David Yow is a pillar among purveyors of destruction and bad taste, and the Jesus Lizard rumbles and squeals like the hot water boiler just before it blows.

Low – with Swans at the Somerville Theatre – Review

April 1, 1997

The Roman Empire could rise and fall between notes, and the songs are couched in a placid, glacial atmosphere. If sleep produced an actual sound, it’d be this.

SNFU – at The Middle East – Review

February 1, 1997

So there I stood, uninvolved, as I watched SNFU go through the motions of retching up a sorry-Johnny-one-note performance. I don’t like them in a club either.

Mighty Mighty BossTones – Mighty Mighty Throwdown Live – Review

February 1, 1997

They energized the Boston scene with five nights of ska, punk and rock music at five sold out clubs all across the city.

Cake – at the Orpheum – Review

December 1, 1996

Cake hop from the rockabilly stylings of “Stickshifts and Safetybelts” to the more driving rhythms/almost hip hop stylings of their hit, “The Distance.”

Face to Face – with Suicide Machines at The Paradise – Review

December 1, 1996

They interspersed new and old songs evenly. Much sweat, lovely harmonies, and powerful guitar-driven melodies capable of swooning even your dead grandmother.

Suicide Machines – with Face to Face at The Paradise – Review

December 1, 1996

For a good time, catch a Suicide Machines show ASAP. For a better time, wait a few years. They poured out a high energy rock show, five seconds at a time.

Type O Negative – at Avalon – Review

December 1, 1996

They ran through their Goth dirge classics in a blur of lights, smoke, and seductive vocals. Steele’s voice, while soothing and tranquil, was making me sleepy.

Bim Skala Bim – with The Loins, Steady Earnest, The Allstonians, Bim Skala Bim at The Glenifit at The Phoenix Landing – Review

November 1, 1996

Bim’s set included many of the classic ska anthems that made them arguably Boston’s premiere ska band.

Steady Earnest – with The Loins, The Allstonians, Bim Skala Bim at The Glenifit at The Phoenix Landing – Review

November 1, 1996

Steady’s set was big on ska/rock-steady songs culled from their two CDs along with one new song. By the 3rd song, the crowd was fully skanking.

The Allstonians – with The Loins, Steady Earnest, Bim Skala Bim at The Glenifit at The Phoenix Landing – Review

November 1, 1996

The Allstonians, hot out of the studio from recording their second album, Allston Beat (Moon), opened with their new title track.

The Loins – with Steady Earnest, The Allstonians, Bim Skala Bim at The Glenifit at The Phoenix Landing – Review

November 1, 1996

They mixed up some cocktail tunes with a psychedelic guitar groove, poured velvety vocals over upright bass, adding a dash of David Byrne experimentation.

King Crimson – H.O.R.D.E. Tour at Great Woods – Review

October 1, 1996

As I sat there, aurally stunned, I realized that I was seeing a legend play, I was finally experiencing a band that I truly respected and admired.

Kustomized – “Last Show” at the Middle East Cafe – Review

October 1, 1996

The “new” Kustomized played hard, fast, solid, and rough with more energy and risk-taking than I’ve ever seen with the previous lineup.

5 Seconds Expired – with Mung, 6L6, Scissorfight at the Middle East Cafe – Review

October 1, 1996

He was quite an accomplished screamer. The music seemed like the typical chugging metalcore, but it never got boring because of the numerous tempo changes.

6L6 – with Mung, Scissorfight, 5 Seconds Expired at the Middle East Cafe – Review

October 1, 1996

They were loud, they were fast, they were pretentious, but they had lots of fun. They were just wild enough to avoid being commercial.

Mung – with 6L6, Scissorfight, 5 Seconds Expired at the Middle East Cafe – Review

October 1, 1996

I genuinely like Mung’s sloppy drunkpunk style, sing along (if you can understand them) choruses and “Rancid are a bunch of pansies” attitude.

Scissorfight – with Mung, 6L6, 5 Seconds Expired at the Middle East Cafe – Review

October 1, 1996

Scissorfight’s singer looks like a ZZ Top pickup-truck-driving hick with his straw hat and long beard. After hearing his demonic growls, I wouldn’t want to ask.

Social Distortion – at the Middle East – Review

October 1, 1996

Their set consisted of selections from each release (plus Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” which was dedicated “to the ladies… let it burn, motherfucker!”).

Tori Amos – at Harborlights – Review

October 1, 1996

You can’t say she doesn’t have diverse musical interests. Violet lights swirled as she launched into “Purple Rain.” Yes, by Prince. On a friggin’ organ.