THE ANDWUTZ by Kier Byrnes

The Andwutz aren’t your ordinary rock band. Hell, nothing about these girls is what I’d call ordinary. Four devastatingly cute chicks who can rock the hell out of their instruments is something you don’t see every day. Also, this Waltham-based band recently released a new CD called Project 4 am to much critical acclaim and even won a national contest hosted by Curly Grrlz Skateboards in recognition of their music. The band starts off with the adorable Karen Pino behind the drums with a glass of wine, followed by the equally beautiful and talented Lauren Mangini wielding a guitar and some Coors Light. Next up is the gorgeous Michelle Philbrick, who delves out both sarcasm and guitar licks equally well. Holding it all together is the lovely Lili Bellini, who supplies the bass guitar and lip-gloss. Each one of the girls can not only rock, but also sing.

Noise: What does the band name mean?
Lili: We used to say “and what!” all the time just to be jerks and kick each other out of the band (which didn’t even exist at the time). It’s like another way of blowing someone off or saying “whatever.” It only made sense to call ourselves that since that’s all we’d ever say to each other. It’s justified to have attitude sometimes right?
Noise: How did the band get its start?
Lili: Our friends booked a show in Billerica in April of ’05 and forced us to play. We were like, “what the hell are we gonna do?” We had only been playing our instruments for like six months and could only fill about 20 minutes. It was so worth it though because we haven’t stopped since.
Noise: What makes the Waltham music scene such a special and unique subset of the Boston music scene?
Lili: Music is shared with everyone. That’s what most of the Waltham musicians are about. There are always collaborations going on and new bands forming. We’ve had the Morgan Knockers, Primary Others, Haloburn, the Peet Golan Disaster, Graveyard BBQ, the infamous Mike Mangini, Gain 211, A Cold Reality, and Favorite Atomic Hero all play a set with us at one point or another.
Lauren: It’s a pretty tight knit community.
Michelle: We’re a large group of friends who have friends and friends of friends that play in bands or always go to shows. There are always people to spread the word and support what you’re doing. Also, just about everyone in the Waltham scene supports music outside of that scene, which has led us to meet so many awesome and talented people.
Karen: I feel the band Waltham really opened a lot of doors for the bands that come out of Waltham! I love being a part of a town surrounded by fellow musicians that support each other all the time and step outside the box and support bands from all over! The people of Waltham are like a huge dysfunctional family yet the strongest family ever!
Michelle: Frank Pino and Pino Bros. Ink have really helped us out a lot. Frank recorded Project 4 am with us in one weekend, almost 48 hours straight (no kidding). Frank is a huge part. He’s been behind us all the way.
Karen: The Pino brothers [Dave and Frank] have always supported us individually as well as with the Andwutz. They have an amazing support system with their folks and it’s definitely rubbed off on them. To have two of the most talented rockers of Boston support and encourage you has been huge!
Michelle: Plus they gave us places to practice or extra gear when we needed it.
Lili: Frank is like my Yoda of the music business. He’s helped me so much. If he pops into a practice, we make him listen! We respect his opinion. Shit, but don’t tell him I said that ’cause he’ll bust my ovaries for like a month!
Noise: Where are some of your favorite venues in Waltham?
Lili: Well, the options are pretty limited. You either got the Skellig, Jake and Earl’s Dixie Roadhouse, or Franco’s. That’s pretty much it. All three places treat their musicians very well though. The Skellig is probably my favorite place to play and see a band.
Karen: Paul Chiasson [from Primary Others] does sound there and makes it sound kick-ass. The whole place has a good vibe. I love it there!
Michelle: I think my favorite is the Skellig as well. The staff there has always been super cool to us and the place always gets packed. We’ve always had fun playing there.
Lauren: It’s too bad the Wal-Lex isn’t still around though. I always thought it would’ve been cool to have all-ages shows there.
Noise: That will be one tough period of time. Not many girls —and some guys—are strong enough to load in guitar stacks, bass rigs, and drum kits on their own. But I’ve seen you do it. Who would you say is the toughest in the band?
Lili: You know this is gonna cause a fight right? Karen does kiss her “guns” at practice, but I am the Tetris master getting all that gear in my truck. You gotta work that much harder being a female band. Little is expected, yet you got more to prove. It’s all good. We have a fun whether people dig it or not. I guess that’s what makes us tough.
Karen: We have been around bands for so long that we figure carrying our own gear was just what comes along with the job!
Michelle: This whole band thing has toughened us all up. You know the situation: it’s pouring and cold, we gotta load gear in heels and skirts, but we suck it up with minimal whining.
Lauren: We can definitely hang with the guys. But I’m not gonna lie—if a guy wants to carry my gear, I wouldn’t see a problem with it.
Noise: So who’s then is the wimpiest in the band?
Lili: You really are trying to get us to fight aren’t you? I think it’s a tie between Lauren and Michelle. They both whine a lot. Hahaha! Sorry girls!
Karen: Hahahhaha, I won’t go there!
Michelle: Pass! No, wait... Lauren. No, wait, pass!
Lauren: My first response to this would be Michelle, but I’m not gonna say that.
Noise: How is it playing in a band with family? Are there ever any good catfights?
Karen: I love that my sister is one of my bandmates. Lili and I have always been attached at the hip; being able to share a stage with her is such a bonus! Lauren is my girl and we always have each other’s back, no matter what. Michelle keeps me laughing all the time—I love that girl. All of these girls are my sisters and I would do anything for them. As far as catfights? Hahaha, yeah, Lili and I get into it sometimes, but after a glass of wine and a scream fest, we forget what the hell we were fighting about and end up making fart noises by the end of the night. Just girls being girls!
Lili: It’s the best thing ever. We’re all best friends. As sisters we can fight and be over it in a second. Lauren and Michelle are family to me as well. I love them bitches!
Noise: In the Bangles it was Susanna Hoff. In the Four Non Blondes it was the brunette. Which girl gets the most groupies in The Andwutz?
Michelle: When most people see us play for the first time they don’t really know what to think, so they don’t approach us.
Lili: Usually though it’s our merch girls that get hit on, though we’ve had both guys and girls hit on us though. Sometimes guys just stare at us and don’t know what to do or say. I guess it can be a bit intimidating. I signed a boob at our CD release party though! I bragged about it for weeks!
Karen: I would have to say our merch girls as well. They’re hot, and just stand in the back and everyone ends up talking to them!
Noise: I heard a rumor. Did you guys really meet Ozzy Osbourne?
Karen: Yes... Lili did at Ozzfest in 2006! She was recording him talking with her phone backstage and his bodyguard almost tackled her. She got two sound clips out of it anyways. Haha! Andwut! She met Sharon too and got front row tickets after that. Lili must have had a horseshoe up her ass that day!
Noise: I was in a department store a while back and saw a First Act acoustic guitar for sale. On the packaging, there was a girl who looked suspiciously like one of the Andwutz. Was that one of you?
Karen: Yes! Lili again! First Act had her pose with some of their new guitars and stuff! She also got on one of their electric guitar boxes too! Yet another horseshoe!
Noise: Which would you rather have happen; get flown to a beautiful Caribbean island for a modeling deal or be forced to hang out and record an album full of kick ass music in a stinky basement with no windows?
Karen: Well, as much as I love the Caribbean, I hate taking pictures and always seem to make faces every time I do. I’m gonna have to go with the album full of kick ass music that was recorded in some subterranean basement.
Lili: How about recording in a basement on a Caribbean Island surrounded by models. Can you make that happen?
Noise: Your CD debut, Project 4am, has done well and received a lot of critical acclaim. What’s the significance of that album title and what’s next on your agenda?
Lili: Thanks. Everything we do is till at least 4 am. We even call Lauren “LuLu 4 am.” We love the vibe on that disc! We’ve been working on some new tunes and revamping some of the older ones. We recently went from a five-piece to a four-piece and somehow managed to write new songs and make the old ones better... Andwut! We already recorded one of our new tunes with Alex “the Greek” at his “Old Folks Home Recording Studio” in Medford. It sounds amazing and we can’t wait to share it with everyone!
Noise: Where do the Andwutz see themselves in five years?
Lili: Selling out arenas, touring all over the world or ya know what? I wanna play at a mall! That’s what I want a mall tour!
Karen: Hopefully doing some touring and playing on a new kit! I would really love to see how us girls would do in Europe or, maybe I just need an excuse to take off and go to Europe.
Michelle: Back from our tour in Japan sleeping in our mansions. Just kidding. That’d be cool though.
Lauren: Maybe on that island you mentioned, except we’ll be modeling as spokeswomen for an elderly home or something.
Noise: “Andwutz” up next on the Andwutz radar?
Lili: Our next show is Saturday, April 19 at the Middle East upstairs in Cambridge MA. It’s a benefit for Mass Cann/NORML. Check in with us at www.myspace.com/theandwutz or join our email list for updates by emailing us at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it We’ll keep you posted! Andwut!

SALVATORE BAGLIO:
THE EVOLUTION OF AN ARTIST
by Robin Umbley

What do you do when you’re in a rock ’n’ roll band, gain a little bit of national prominence, have lots of fans, a run of success, and come to realize that the creative direction you are heading in isn’t the same road that everyone wants you to follow? Then what happens when your band has run its course but you still have music in your head, heart, and soul, and just need to keep at it as your creative outlet? If you’re Salvatore Baglio, you evolve as a solo artist.

I saw Sal perform recently quite by accident at The Cantab. I had no idea he was playing, or even if he still played at all, but I did recognize the name as one from a band that was part of my high school soundtrack, The Stompers. So of course I took notice. He went onstage alone with an acoustic guitar. I half expected him to play warmed over Stompers tunes (and hoping, just hoping, I wasn’t going to hear the pathos of “One Heart for Sale” done “unplugged” as if all he had to rely on were his hits from years ago). To my delight—and relief—he presented us with something completely different: poignant, dynamic, subtle, sometimes lyrical and sweet, sometimes reflective, sometimes rockin’, but always personal songs sung with an astonishingly flexible and expressive voice. This was nothing like what I expected. And I was captivated. 

On his website, his bio is noticeably void of details and includes only general, and somewhat cryptic, information. He posts just three quotes; one in particular from film director Francis Ford Coppola sums up his present evolutionary and artistic state: “…part of being an artist who wants to look at new areas [is knowing that] it will take awhile for people to be familiar with it.” Sal explains his inclusion of the quote this way: “I think a lot of artists share that. I think some of the …off the top of my head, who have gone up against what they’ve done in the past to where they’re going is John Lennon when he did his first solo record. Can you imagine trying to shake THAT [The Beatles] off. …When he did that solo album, it turned a lot of people off. But you know, he forged ahead. Dylan did it a bunch of times. Think of all the times he put out a record, so-called spiritual records, when he went from acoustic to electric. He changed music forever…and they booed him!”

Sal adds, “Of course, we’re talking a different scale here at home with what I did with The Stompers and what I’m doing now. I’ve come up against the same thing. The people from that era have no interest in my new music. It’s all new people.”

For the most part, Salvatore Baglio is a solo artist but he does play with a band of sorts. He says that there are advantages for him that he can’t get with being in a traditional rock band: “I play a lot of solo shows. I like the freedom. I can go anywhere I want to with the song. I do have a trio [upright bass, drums]. That’s also very different than what people associate me with. I just find more freedom in playing solo and with a limited trio; the drum kit is very small, I have the bass player playing a lot of bow, so it may be limited in comparison to a rock band, it also works out that you can get special tones and a feel. There’s a lot of that on my new record… even though I played everything myself.” Categorically, Sal refuses to label his music as if to do so would hinder artistic development. “Once you give it a name, you put borders on it,” he says.

As you might imagine, a man who eschews musical borders has diverse influences. His list includes jazz/swing/Vegas lounge performer extraordinaire Louis Prima, “hallways with good echo, [the year] 1966, the cool of the subway in the summer,” and a host of characters from his life. Of Prima, he says, with reverence: “A Sicilian cat from New Orleans. Amazing. I loved his music and stage presence.” But sound influences don’t always come from performers. Sometimes being in a big old building does the trick: “Where I grew up—East Boston—those hallways sound amazing. We’d sing, yell, bang things…”

Basically, Sal isn’t just using musical influences in his creative process; he is influenced by everything around him. Sal adds, “There were characters, too, which is a big part of my new record. Everything that I see and hear and experience all translates, to me, as music, as songs, as lyrics. Everything. I was sitting here earlier before you came in and I was observing different people come in, different characters, faces, and it’s an idea for writing. It’s ALL available.”

Sal, then, writes songs organically. Authenticity is a requirement for him; he says he’s incapable of having a topic assigned to him, so to speak: “I couldn’t sit down and write a song about [he pauses briefly to think of an example]…a broken heart. If I sat down to do that, it wouldn’t happen. For instance, [the Nashville music writing industry] is a totally different writing process than what I respect. I can’t write a song about my grandfather’s truck because he didn’t have one. [makes up lyrics] ‘Grampa had a truck… and we went down these dirt roads…’ I didn’t experience that and although most of the people writing those songs didn’t have that experience, they give themselves license to write about them. I’m not comfortable with that. I’d feel uncomfortable singing the lyrics. I’ll tell you one thing, on occasion we do a Stompers reunion. Sometimes it’s very difficult to sing the lyrics. I have to get my head in a position like I’m doing a cover song for a reason.”
In other words, his own older material seems foreign—and somehow inauthentic—to him now. He explains, “I was young, I was trying to find my voice—my writing voice. I’ve been writing songs and making stuff up since I was a little kid. I did it all in the form of music. There was music all over my house. Even though some of [what I wrote] made no sense, I kept on doing that. Sometime during The Stompers, I started to develop… I probably always kinda knew my voice but a lot of times, I put it aside, probably because of some kind of fear. A writer needs to be fearless. You cannot gauge your work on what other people are going to say. Otherwise, you end up like Pete Hamm, of Badfinger [who committed suicide]. Seriously. You end up dead. So somewhere along the way, I was beginning to see how I was going to be writing. And the more it was coming to be, the harder it got to be sometimes, it was starting to be a pain. By the time it was over—and it probably should have been over a couple of years before it was…” he pauses, and doesn’t finish the thought, “having said that, I’m grateful for the experience. And the people enjoyed it, for whatever reason, it’s quite a thing after 30 years. But what I’m doing now is the most important thing.”

So what do all the influences and creative process do for Salvatore Baglio? Well, they give us his new 12-track CD, Memory Theatre. One song, “Lime St. Revisited,” is in itself a take on his creative process influenced by his disappointment with the bands he saw on a trip to Liverpool. Sal explains: “It’s an alternate version of ‘Train to Liverpool,’ which was on a previous record. I wrote it when I did my first trip to Liverpool [2002] and basically, it’s about taking a train from London to Liverpool, getting there and playing some shows, and there were a bunch of bands that just copied The Beatles… the suits, the haircuts, the guitars… and playing songs that they’ve written, and thought, this is not a way of paying respect to the music of The Beatles. To truly pay respect to your influences is to experience it, toss it around inside of your brain… and your heart… and THEN have it come out with YOU in it. That’s truly that way, ’cause we all can write ‘Penny Lane.’ It’s been done. Anyone can come up with those chords and just write something. Maybe it’s because I was there for it the first time around. You know who did a good job of taking the Beatle-esque sound and making it their own? XTC. You know it’s coming from there but it doesn’t it doesn’t sound like any song. That’s really… that’s how you pay respect.”

But all of this really sounds too analytical and complicated. Salvatore Baglio can talk at length at what makes one musician great, or wax nostalgic about an eccentric old Sicilian man entertaining the kids with his homemade sparklers in a schoolyard in his old East Boston neighborhood, or why he thinks he uses different vocal expressions on certain songs, but if you ask him what he’s doing these days, he’ll just respond, “makin’ music.”

SESSION AMERICANA
THE TRUE SPIRIT OF AMERICA
by Shady

The intimate surroundings of Toast, a new hang in Union Square, mate perfectly with the music of Session Americana. It’s a dark, yet warm and intimate spot—this despite the hard cement floors and low ceilings. The new hot spot has rounded high velvet covered booths and round metallic tables. These tables are in lock step with the table that the band plays around. I’ll explain more about that later on. I met with two members of the group: Ry Cavanaugh (guitar/ vocals) and Billy Beard (drums), out front on an unexpectedly warm winter night. The balance of the band was absent for the interview, but includes Jim Fitting (harmonica), Kimon Kirk (bass), Sean Staples (mandolin), and Dinty Child (multi-instrumentalist). The crew blends all of this instrumentation into a seamless folk and country medley of exactly what their name implies: Americana at it’s finest. It’s as pure as anything I have ever heard—without pretense or too much thinking ahead. As comfortable to hear on a rickety Southern front porch in early June, as it would be on cold February night in Boston in front of a warm crackling fire. We do quick introductions and find a spot in the back of the joint and then settle in for some interesting conversation about the beginnings of Session Americana and what the band has been up to.

Noise: How’d this experiment get started?

Billy: The band started by happenstance really while Ry and I were playing in a band together doing a residency at Toad and there was an open slot at the end of the night and we didn’t know what to do. So, Ry turned to me and said, “I’ve got an idea.” So, he took the mics off of the stand and duct taped them to a little circular café table and taped them down sort of like the spokes on a wheel. Then we sat really close around the table and I just started playing sticks on a wall and we would call out whatever song someone knew and it transformed the bar within about ten minutes into this really intimate, really wonderful setting. So that’s how it all got going. Ry came up with the initial list of people that we wanted to see if we thought that we might want and a list of songs that we wanted to play.

Noise: The first initial night, was it sort of a hootenanny—like anyone could jump up and play?

Billy: It was sort of a cross between the two. We had friends there from our band and some from the other band that was playing.

Ry: It’s never been an open stage. That said, arms have always been open to people who we respect and trust. That night I think it was, Jabe, Jeff Kimball, Jeremy Curtis, and a couple of others that I’m sorry, I can’t remember right now. They weren’t all in bands. It was basically like-minded musicians sitting around and playing songs and when we sort of put the initial line-up together and we rehearsed a couple of times, we just thought; let’s do every Sunday night at Toad—we did that for two years.

Noise: Wow, that’s a long time.

Ry: The great thing was that it evolved and the players evolved and the guests evolved and it became almost an uncontrollable thing for us—for everyone to go every Sunday night—a bit unwieldy for us.

Noise: I can imagine, dedicating every Sunday night to this.

Ry: It just became a big hang and it’s a quiet band—so we moved it down the street to the Lizard. Then that started a whole other philosophy—we did a residency there and we would invite guests each time. We made it a point to invite guests that were outside of out normal comfort zone. So the first guest that we invited was John Powhida.

Noise: He’s definitely not of your world. That’s a cool idea though—did it challenge the band in new ways?

Ry: Yeah, for sure. At the same time we consider him a brother now and I know that he considers us brothers too. We are kindred spirits. It was totally a mutual respect situation too—then again all of the people who have sat in with us have been. It’s been pretty varied too; Bill Janovitz, to Jen Kimball to Patty Griffin.

Noise: That’s a great idea to really open up what you do. How are you able to bring this to people in what is essentially a rock bar?

Billy: Part of this ethos that I’m particularly curious about how this works from a technological standpoint. How did people in the old jazz clubs hear the guitar without amplification? So, what did the audience have to do hear it and what did they have to do to put the music across for people to hear in these gin joints—like how did Billie Holiday play with the Duke Ellington Orchestra and just bust up the place? Those bands were essentially playing in the old Opry format with one microphone in front of the band. The thing was the mix was perfect because the mic was right in front of the singer and the band was all around them.

Ry: I thought that is was cool to rock that way. I mean we could have easily faced out and plugged in. I always thought that from a technological standpoint, it would be great to do things this way and a real challenge.

Billy: The fun thing with the audience was that as soon as we changed that paradigm not only sitting down and looking around at each other as we played, there was something so pure about hearing a person’s voice in the room along with the PA.

Ry: The technological aspect has changed as well from the beginning. It’s evolved, but it’s still all about six people sitting around a table and singing and playing their hearts out and trying to mix ourselves in a way that works for what we can hear. We rarely use monitors, so it’s critical that we get a good mix.

Billy: With our group of singers, the blend of voices is easier to attain without the monitors believe it or not.

Noise: It feels to me like it’s a much more intimate experience than banging it out in loud rock clubs.

Billy: It’s also a little bit voyeuristic and I wasn’t originally convinced that we could move this to bigger spaces, but we recently played the Brattle Theater and people seemed really happy about the show.

Ry: We dressed a little bit more formally than we normally do. When we play at festivals, after a series a groups, whether it’s a punk band or a country group or a folk group, then we come out and sit around a table. People seem to just be shocked.

Noise: Yeah, and it’s literally a table. [laughs]

Billy: Exactly and the table isn’t going anywhere, its part of the band.

Noise: That’s a riot and that’s the part that was just a situation where there happened to be a table there the first time and you put the mics down on it. That’s in the rider.

Billy: Then we get to a place and the table is too big, or worse, square!

Ry: The interesting thing about that ethos of a rock band is that we all come from rock bands. I mean, I’ve played in rock bands forever. The idea of rocking at a low volume is sort of foreign to some. Yet, from the earliest days of rock ’n’ roll people were rocking at a low volume, even Elvis—those guys would rock like a banshee. One of the guys in our band, Jim Fitting, was in Treat Her Right and that was what they were all about. You don’t have to play loud to rock, you just have to rock.

Billy: The fact is that when you are back stage or crunching songs in your bedroom or whatever it is that is the intimate part of making music. That’s when the whole band is sitting around in a circle and really hammering stuff out. That’s exactly what it’s like when we get on stage.

Noise: It seems to me that it’s like bringing the practice space to the stage?

Ry: It sort of is like that or the dressing room when you are warming up for the show.

Noise: I know that you guys do a good chunk of covers based on the type of stuff that you are doing. Tell me a little bit about how you pick the songs that you do.

Billy: This goes back to the basic idea of when we first started a couple of years ago now. It was a different country then and we were just going to war and there was a sense for me that I wanted to find a way to find a new canon in American music, basically and the types of songs that rose up—especially those written by Jim Fitting—were of an historical nature. Culturally we were looking for things right off the bat that felt really good and also hit a really wide swath of Americana, from really, really early blues to jazz and everything in between.

Ry: One thing we wanted to avoid was the obvious stuff; we didn’t want to do anything that people would expect us to do. My whole thing about covers is that if you can sing it and you believe it, it’s your song. You are done.

Noise: Then I guess we’re done.

www.myspace.com/sessionamericana

Top Tens

When The Noise does a poll, the results show the average of everyone’s opinion. That tends to make people complain about their little corner of the scene not getting the attention it deserves. This year I chose to skip the poll and go with individual top tens. This way you get to really see what each individual loves.

NOISERS’ TOP TEN

KIER BYRNES Top Ten People who make the Local Music Scene
10. Carmelita (WAAF) and all the lovely Boston Rock ’n’ Roll Social gals
9. Matt Lambo & Cisco Brewery; 2008 is the year of Triple 8!
8. Sooz, John Black, and the Boston Now crew.
7. Shred - Sad to see him go, glad to see him back!
6. David Duncan (WFNX); Fellow NH boy done real good.
5. Winifred Chane, PR wizard, media-vixen, CMJ guru and all around hottie
4. Jay Miller of The Patriot Ledger, bringing the word on the streets to all the South Shore
3. Adam Arrigo and Ashley Willard; putting together some really cool things with Northeast Performer
2. Mike Marotta and Kerry Purcell - Boston Herald’s dynamic duo of rock!
1. T Max; thanks for being such a steadfast supporter of the local music and art community.

NANCY NEON Toppermost of 2007
1. Best live show: Lyres at the Cavestomp, November 4, NYC
2. Best live show by new band: Red Invasion at the Ace of Clubs, NYC
3. Best rock ’n’ roll designer: Angela Z. (Mode Merr)
4. Best new booker at a new club: Nick Blakey (Church)
5. Best booker/bartender/host who’s the most: Martin Doyle
6. Best scenester birthday bashes: Bob Colby and Lisa both at the Cantab
7. Best deja vu moment: Dancing with Robert to My Own Worst Enemy’s “Redondo Beach”
8. Best performances at Brett Milano’s book party: Willie Alexander and Andrea Gillis
9. Best DJ: Joey Boy at the Alchemist, Baseball Tavern, Cantab, etc.
10. Personal best: getting promoted to Noise associate editor and having the My Own Worst Enemy interview make cover story

JOEL SIMCHES Top Ten Bands/ Things That Made My Soul Happy in 2007
10. The Doom Buggies
9. Dagmar
8. Birdwatchers of America
7. Ad Frank
6. Axemunkee
5. Count Zero
4. Bang Camaro
3. End War Now-Dreamers Wanted
2. On the Town With Mikey Dee
1. Donating to the Jeannie Connolly Fund (T.T.’s Bartender)

KEVIN FINN Top Ten of 2007
1. The Mighty Mighty Bosstones reunion
2. Tiger Saw’s insanely catchy “Kick and Snare”
3. The Downbeat 5’s live CD sounding as good as I remember the show at Q Division being, which is no small task
4. The Dents’ last show at The Abbey
5. Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donelly playing a set of Throwing Muses songs at The Brattle
6. The Raging Teens X-Mas Party
7. My favorite local record of the year: Death & Taxes’ Tattooed Hearts & Broken Promises
8. Showcase Showdown putting their Christmas tunes up on MySpace.
9. All the cool people I’ve met doing this.
10. Not every musician I like has moved to L.A. yet.

SLIMEDOG Top Ten Burning Giraffes
1. Cutest Guitarist: (tie) Kimi Hendrix (Killer Abs), Amy (Darkbuster)
2. Cutest Drummer: Cindy Lou Spoiler (The Spoilers)
3. Cutest Scenester: Kara Jeanne
4: Grumpiest Drummer: (tie) Chris Dimwit (The Dimwits), (Mike Mahoney (Thunderhog/ Tenafly Vipers)
5: Nicest Punk: (tie) Joe Zippo (& the Raiders), Fred (x-Over the Edge)
6. Favorite Day of the Year: Slimefest
7. Club to make me forget the Rat: Abbey Lounge
8. Best Music Writer: Joe Coughlin
9. Most Congenial Bandleader: Jeff Connolly (Lyres)
10. Most beloved messageboard owner: T Max

NICOLE TAMMARO Top Ten
1. Best summer party that I got tossed out of: Mark Lind’s
2. Best place to kill a sat afternoon, blowing dough and hangin’ w/Boston punks: Horror Business
3. Most badass rock chick: Jen (The Downbeat 5)
4. Best show in 007: Unnatural Axe at Zuzu @ John Nikolai’s photo show
5. Best rocker/softball player: Jay (Ducky Boys)
6. Craziest punker: Mark Doherty
7. Angriest punker: Steve Confront
8. Best band w/little to no press: Jason Bennett & the Resistance
9. Hottest rocker: Geno (Splint)
10. Best photographer: me

FRANK STROM Top Ten “Gosh-Wow” Stuff 2007:
10. Royalty treatment from Mickey Bliss
9. Huddling for warmth in the arctic cold outside the Kirkland with Chris Horne
8. Coffin Jay—Atomic ruler of all bass players!
7. Nancy Neon Nights
6. Lyres shows and lots of ’em (see #7)
5. Myra Ghoul’s speaking voice
4. Kevin and Kevin delivering the goods behind the Abbey’s soundboard
3. Space-holder for a Michelle Paulhus reference (can’t think of anything, but how can there be a “Best of” list without one?)
2. The Downbeat 5!
1. For two years running… Andrea Gillis’ striped halter. Why doesn’t she wear it EVERY day?

FRANK D Top Ten Songs from his radio show Rock Around Boston
10. Mission of Burma – “This Is Not A Photograph”
9. Moving Targets – “Babble”
8. Jake & the Jakes – “The Rockah”
7. Unnatural Axe – “They Saved Hitler's Brain”
6. The World’s Greatest Sinners – “I Don't Want No Mama's Boy”
5. La Peste – “Lease On Life”
4. Unnatural Axe – “Tonight We Fight”
3. Nervous Eaters – “Loretta”
2. Classic Ruins – “1+1<2”
1. The New Frustrations – “Changed My Mind” (Harp Remix)

GLENWOOD Top Ten Dude Singers, in no order, but with a note: any singer list that includes punk singers is a best voice list (read: tone) and not a singer’s list.
10. John Powhida (The Rudds/…International Airport)
9. Chris Pappas (Everyday Visuals)
8. Rodrigo Van Stoli (Bang Camaro/ Noble Rot)
7. Aaron Perrino (Dear Leader)
6. Brad Parker (Aberdeen City)
5. Tim Gearan - this guy is amazing...
4. Will Dailey (Will Dailey)
3. Jason Dunn (The Luxury)
2. Mike Nastri (Harris)
1. Thom Moran (Bon Savants)

DJ MATTHEW GRIFFIN Top Ten
10. Dreamchild - best live gothic act from Boston.
9. Bedlam (Providence, RI) - best fetish/industrial/gothic clothing store in New England.
8. ‘Terri’ Niedzwiecki - best bartender in Boston.
7. Joey Boy (Red Invasion) - best hair and cheekbones.
6. Anderson Mar - person most to deserve a vacation, due to hard work.
5. Miss Non-Stop Nancy Neon - guru-celebrity-scene queen extrodinairre (in patent leather stiletto boots).
4. Chris and Cathy Cah (Musclecah) - best Rock ’n’ Roll couple.
3. Jenny (Midnight Creeps) and Jami (the Sleazies) - best rock ‘n’ roll couple (second runner up).
2. WDOA.COM - biggest letdown of the year, WDOA ends their transmissions.
1. The Time Beings Journey To Tyme (Dino Rec.) - best CD

DOUG DESPRES Top Ten Photographer Tips
10. PBR Tall - Best Photo Warmup Tool
9. Britt Lightning - Most Organized Musician
8. At Sea (Emily Grogan) - Best Album Cover
7. TT’s - Most Bend-able Floor
6. Earplugs - Most Important and Continuously Ignored Safeguards
5. Nikon FM & Hassy 500C - Best Cameras To Shoot Live Music
4. Ilford Delta 3200 - Her Majesty
3. “Way To Stage, Please Keep Clear” - Most Missed Sign (LL)
2. Paradise Rock Club - Most Picture Perfect Lighting
1. Lizard Lounge - Best Venue to Shoot

T MAX Top Ten Enjoyments of 2007
1. Emily Grogan’s CD At Sea
2. John Powhida’s voice/personality
3. Peter Moore’s songwriting
4. Brett Milano’s book release party
5. Three Day Threshold’s CD release party
6. Dennis Brennan’s performance
7. Andrea Gillis’s voice
8. Angeline’s mix of beauty and talent
9. The Cello Chix – classical classics
10. Dana Colley’s sax and Roger Miller’s strangely tuned guitar, together with all who took part in “End War Now”

LOLITA FLANGE Top Ten Sexiest People in Boston
1. Monique Ortiz (A.K.A.C.O.D.)
David Minehan (The Neighborhoods)
2. Erin Harpe (Lovewhip)
Chick Graining (Scarce)
3. Anderson Mar (Dark Sky Productions)
Bo Berringer (Meandjoancollins)
4. Cheryl Etu (Angeline)
Jose De Lara (Protokoll)
5. Susan Fielder (Cambridge Music)
Nat Rogers (Scamper)
6. Sarah Rabdau (Sarah Rabdau)
Dana Jee (I Have Ears)
7. Kelly Davidson (Liz Borden Band)
Billy Conway (Twinemen)
8. Hilken Mancini (Shepardess)
John Powhida (The Rudds)
9. Sarah Korval (Okay Thursday)
Dana Colley (A.K.A.C.O.D.)
10. DJ Swan (BeastWith2Backs)
The Franx (the Middle East)
Honorable mention: Kelly Knapp (the Darlings), Michelle Paulhus (Andrea Gillis Band), Mickey Bliss (Cantab), Anngelle Wood (WMFO), Pete Cassani (The Peasants), Jen D’Angora (Downbeat 5), Boby Bear (Classic Ruins), Britt Lightning (Jaded), Marlene Silva (Marlene Silva Photography), Ruby Bird (Bird Mancini)

RITA FLANGE Top Ten Role Models in Boston
1. Liz Borden (Liz Borden Band)
Nabil & Joseph Sater (Middle East)
2. Cheryl Wanner (Dreamchild)
Kier Byrnes (Three Day Threshold)
3. Laura Wilson (WMBR)
Pat McGrath (Wheelers & Dealers)
4. Sue Minichiello (My Own Worst Enemy)
Ayal Noir (27)
5. Robin Umbley (The Noise)
Carl Biancucci (Classic Ruins)
6. Linda Viens (Angeline)
Billy Conway (Twinemen)
7. Kelly Knapp (The Darlings)
Dennis Brennan (Dennis Brennan)
8. Valerie Thompson (Fluttr Effect)
Mr. Curt (…Ensemble)
9. Jordan Valentine (World’s Greatest Sinners)
Chandler Travis (…Philharmonic)
10. Lexi Kahn (Low Budget Super Hero),
Alvan Long (New Alliance)
Honorable mention: Pete Sutton (Temper), Shilo McDonald (Intelligent Records), Karen DeBiasse (Girl on Top), Evan Shore (Muck & the Mires), Billy Beard (Sessions Americana), Ken Cmar (Wonderdrug), Carol Namkoong (Take You higher), Brett Milano (Phoenix), Nancy Delaney (Temper), Bill T. Miller (OBE)

GUESTS’ TOP TEN

LINDA VIENS (Angeline) Top Ten Live Musical Moments of 2007
1. Andrea Gillis and her killer band reaching all time, maximum rock crescendo moments during their version of “River Deep—Mountain High” (I’ve seen it happen in every club when they’ve ever played that song!)
2. Sarah Rabdau and Peter Moore singing around the piano with friends and a fire blazing at their Christmas party
3. Matt and Holly from HUMANWINE adding their timeless musical authenticity to a melancholy set by Beat Circus at the Zero Arrow Theatre
4. Asa Brebner, Kevin Shurtleff, and Andrew Mazzone as the backup band to beat all backup bands, rockin’ steady all night long behind Boston’s rock ’n’ roll royalty at Brett Milano’s book release party
5. Gabrielle Agachiko singing the shit out of Nina Simone songs at the Lizard Lounge
6. Dennis Brennan singing, anywhere, anytime, any night of the week
7. E. J. Labb gettin’ every single body in the house up and jumpin’ to their infectious hip hop at the Paradise Lounge
8. The Twinemen playing a bittersweet and soulful set for friends and family at the closing night party for the old HI-N-DRY/Morphine loft
9. Bad Art Ensemble’s joyous Wednesday night jams at the Plough & Stars, especially when the crowd joins Max at the top of their lungs on the theme to the Mary Tyler Moore show, “Love is All Around”!
10. The Dresden Dolls ambitious music/theater piece, The Onion Cellar, at the Zero Arrow Theatre: cathartic and brilliant!

SAMMY MIAMI (Shoot the Moon) Top Ten
1. The life and music of Brad Delp
2. Carmelita celebrates twenty years of Bay State Rock
3. Alan Petitti and David Herlihy of O-Positive reunite for two live performances
4. Tuesday nights in April at the Abbey
5. Boston Rocks Reunion Show sells out the Paradise
6. Tom Hamilton is declared cancer free
7. Sooz Kaup of Exploit Boston takes a stand to save free Internet radio
8. Toxic Narcotic reunites for sold out West Coast tour
9. Jaded makes miraculous comeback with new vocalist Marina Storm
10. Thirteen years after calling it quits, Flash Addict signs with Suncity Records to release retrospect compilation

MICKEY BLISS (Cantab) Top Ten Club Bohemia Events (of all time)
1. Opening night at the Kirkland (6/25/03) —To my delight people actually showed up, including local celebrities T Max, Carmelita, and Suzi Lee.
2. Bohemia ’94 Extravaganza (1/20/94)—The first show that Mikey Dee brought to the club and the one that really put Boho on the map.
3. Club Boho second annual Mardi Gras (2/24/95)—Dali catered and Slide’s masquerade costumes were magnificent.
4. Kenne Highland’s 40th Birthday Bash (4/2/96)—Kenne invited every band in town to play the show. Even Mr. Butch showed up.
5. Lolita’s Love Fest (7/27/96)—A real ’60s style happening and T Max donated the gate receipts towards new PA equipment for the club.
6. Rattleheatre’s “Live at Studley’s” Show (11/11/95)—Al Janik duked me $50 to introduce his band and I managed to announce the wrong act.
7. Helanie Saad’s 50th Birthday Bash (9/29/96)—Keith Bowniece got punched out on stage mid-performance and, as a direct result, stole the show.
8. Noise X-Mass Party (12/21/96)—The sold out crowd demanded dozen of encores from the larger-than-life rock star Mick Mondo.
9. Big Ray & the Futuras’ CD Release Party (6/14/97)—the club’s best CD release party ever. Big Ray even parked a space ship outside the door.
10. Kirkland Kissoff Memorial Meltdown (5/26 + 5/27/07)—with much assistance from Nancy Neon, we put together a regular two-day Woodstock to commemorate the Kirkland closing
And here are the top ten bands to ever play Club Bohemia. 1. Slide, 2. Rattleheatre, 3. The Strangemen, 4. Big Ray & the Futuras, 5. Sugar Twins, 6. The Allstonians, 7. Lyres, 8. The Varmints, 9. Max, 10. The Ken Clark Organ Trio

NICK BLAKEY (Church/ The In Out) Top Ten Local Artists I Had Never Heard Before 2007 Who Blew My Mind in 2007 (in no order)
1. John Haydon
2. White Horses
3. Cropduster
4. Mike MacDonald & The Widow Makers
5. The Whiskey Giants
6. Jason Bennett & The Resistance
7. Bryan MacPherson
8. Ara Vora
9. Padded Hell
10. The Doug MacDonald Band

RANDI MILLMAN (T.T.’s) Top Ten
1. The Jeanne Benefits
2. Bands with chicks that rock: Andrea Gillis, HRT, Superhoney, Snowleopards, Charms (R.I.P.), Scarce
3. “The Meanest Of Times” from Dropkick Murphys
4. Kevin Stevenson (& all The Shods) back on T.T.’s stage
5. “Collective Psychosis Begone” from Hallelujah The Hills
6. Ed V (Gentlemen, The Gravel Pit) & Jen’s (Downbeat 5) super fun rock ’n’ roll wedding
7. Caspian’s CD Release show 10/19/07
8. Halloween @ T.T.’s w/ The Luxury as Def Leppard, The Motion Sick as Poison, Sidewalk Driver doing Ziggy Stardust, and Red Red Rockit doing Hendrix
9. Our friendly goth/fetish crowd continuing to make T.T.’s their temporary adopted home until Manray relocates
10. “Things Will Look Up” from The Everyday Visuals

JOHN POWHIDA (The Rudds/…International Airport) Top Ten (plus one) Things to be Grateful for from 2007
1. The Ed Valauskas/Jen D’Angora wedding; the Tony Goddess/Samantha Wood wedding (a tie)
2. Nellie McKay at the Paradise. To witness this freak of nature live was humbling and disturbing
3. Billy Beard!
4. That booze cruise with The Gentlemen—New Year’s Eve with The Upper Crust (tie)
5. The Brett Milano book party was the show of all shows in 2007
6. That prog nite they did at the Abbey Lounge
7. Eric Laws fotos!
8. Hammel on Trial residency at Toad
9. All those Neighborhoods shows
10. Thanx to Asa Brebner’s kindness getting to play with Peter Wolf.
Plus one: The End War Now peace choir recording-partay!

ANDERSON MAR (Dark Sky Productions) Top Ten Creatively Controversial Acts of 2007
1. Beaglepuss
2. Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys
3. The Scallywags
4. Voodoo Screw Machine
5. Graveyard BBQ
6. The Boston Babydolls
7. Sasquatch and the Sick-a-billies
8. It Will End In Pure Horror
9. Wretched Asylum
10. The Shadows Smile

PETER MOORE (Count Zero) Top Five—I was out of the country half of 2007
1. Billy Ruane’s birthday party upstairs at the Middle East and seeing a bunch of people I hadn’t seen in clubs since the early ’90s.
2. Seeing Wings of Desire at the A.R.T.
3. Freezepop record release.
4. Chris Mascara: (a) Getting him a mo-cap gig modeling rock moves for Harmonix’ Rock Band game. (b) Seeing his alter ego as bassist in MeandJoanCollins. (c) His haircut.
5. Thomas Dolby at Harper’s Ferry.

Got your own Top Ten? Comment away!

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