Side One
Lights Out
Side Two
Poor Girl’s Heart
Side One
Come As You Are
Side Two
Thick As Thieves
Side One
I Need You Tonight
Side Two
Billy Bigtime
J. Geils Band
Oo-Ee-Diddley-Bop Peter Wolf Is Crazy
Have you been following the blog for a while? Does the name Peter Wolf sound familiar to you? It didn’t sound familiar to me at first and when I did a quick search to see if he’s come up previously, he had been mentioned in a post about one of my favorite events from last year, The Boston Music Awards because of his work with Johnny A.. Check out the post HERE, it definitely was a spectacular evening!
Peter Wolf (born Peter W. Blankfield; March 7, 1946) is an American rhythm and blues, soul and rock and roll musician, best known as the lead vocalist for the J. Geils Band from 1967 to 1983; and for a successful solo career with writing partner Will Jennings.
Side One
Oo-Ee-Diddley-Bop
Side Two
Crazy
Boston Music Awards!
This was my first time attending the Boston Music Awards and it was an experience like no other. It was very classy and intimate, truly amazing! And the proceeds go right back to charity too!
Obviously, the roomie, Mr. Richard was with me as some of our favorites were nominated. He even wrote up a little post for tomorrow so be sure to check back!
Although we didn’t catch every act, what we did see was well worth it.
Before I get into it really, lets go into a little background on the awards. They’ve been around for 27 years now and the nominees are selected by a wide variety of 172 people dedicated to the music industry including Music Editors / Journalists, DJs, Artist Managers, Music Producers and Professors of Music.
All proceeds from the BMAs goes to Music Drives Us which is a New England non-profit organization supplying grants to music programs designed to effect positive change for people of all ages. The focus of the Foundation is on:
- Music Therapy – Using music to help people develop relationships and address issues they may not be able to with words.
- Music Education – Funding scholarships for worthy music students in Boston public schools
- Music Enrichment – Funding for New England school music programs and live performances
Shea Rose, STL GLD, Dutch ReBelle, Lake Street Dive, Bad Rabbits and more were up for awards. I can’t find the full list of artists that were up for awards, but the Herald summed up all the performances very nicely. Check out their article HERE since I missed a few acts!
First act we saw was Creaturos. I’m not too familiar with the local punk scene, aside from a few acts people at work have named but these guys had the lungs to get the job done. It was a bit off, seeing people in sparkling cocktail dresses while also feeling like you should be in a garage or basement drinking PBRs. Also, as a bit of a side note, the beards in the crowd were epic. I mean, they were full, luscious and numerous. It was a hairy heaven.
Second, Sidewalk Driver was up on the stage we set ourselves up at. I apparently missed something because this group is the one to know. A bit outside my normal realm of things lately (I go through waves with genres, like them all but focus can go all over) but I was enthralled by Sidewalk Driver.
The music got you moving and the stage performance was absolutely insane. Tiny hats, a light up hood, butterfly wings… the list goes on! They had fun, shot glitter into the air and it translated beautifully to the crowd. Everyone was bopping around with huge smiles. There are some more pictures on @MyDadsAlbums on Instagram and Facebook so be sure to get over to check them out!
We also caught Goddamn Draculas before the actual awards started. It’s funny, I kept catching the lead singer through the crowd and thought he was my friend from work. Up close they do look very different but it’s the general appearance and styling from a distance that got me.
They all rocked it out but I found the crowd was loaded with the group’s friends and family up front so it was harder to get decent pictures even though I was right up front. They were also up before the awards presentation so they started late and in order to play their set, they were slightly rushed off at the end. They got the songs in, but the planning should of planned a little break knowing all shows tend to be off by a minute or two!
Keytar Bear did a nice medley of all the artist of the year nominees. How can you not love him?!?! Every time somebody gets to work and says they saw him, I get pissed if I missed him performing in the subway. He tends to be at Harvard a lot and I never get out that way because I work in Back Bay.
Side note: If you happen to be one of those f*ckers that has punched and assaulted Keytar Bear, I will find you and do the same. You don’t do that you degenerate piece.
Dutch won Hip Hop Artist of the Year! That was the most exciting part of the awards by far. Shea and STL GLD were not winners this year and that’s unfortunate but if all nominees have diehard fans like the roomie and I are of Shea, Dutch and STL GLD then it’s tough running! I voted twice (shhhh!) for my picks.
Dutch hit the stage and my mind was blown. I’ve seen her a few time now and really, every time it’s fresh and exciting. She looked stunning this evening and to perform right off a win but have been exhilarating. She, her hype man and DJ were definitely feeling it and when you feel the love, you give love right back to the crowd.
I posted so many pictures already and more videos are coming so, again, please be sure to hop on over to Facebook and Instagram to check them all out.
We moved stages after Dutch’s performance and caught the end of Johnny A.’s performance. Don’t recognize the name? He’s huge; playing with both the J. Geils Band and Peter Wolf and having a successful solo career. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame last night and is definitely deserving! Oh and that A. for a last name? Shortened like most of my Greek folks down from Antonopoulos!
The last performance of the night that we caught was STL GLD. The show went on longer, but I had to work Monday (which is also why this post wasn’t done first thing Monday!). I always make it a point to catch them as I love their infusion of sounds. Hip hop, screaming, classic songs all fused together into this mix of pure epicness.
I also greatly appreciate the fact that they did touch on the current situation. The crowd chanted “I can’t breathe” for a few moments. I’ve briefly met Moe Pope’s family and it’s tragic that he has to worry about his kids. Didn’t we fight this battle decades ago? Why are we still so quick to judge and react with violence still? It’s barbaric and things need to change. We can’t keep going at this pace, we need peace and understanding for every human – regardless of color, gender or sexuality.
I guess that’s about it for this year’s Boston Music Awards, at least for me! I definitely suggest you check them out next year if you’re in the area. It’s a blast and with proceeds going to charity, I’m probably going to be upgrading to VIP tickets next year!!
Never Tell an Angel (When Your Heart’s on Fire)
Who doesn’t love a good story about a band coming up from Boston? I mean you may not, but I do because I get to visit some of these clubs like the Paradise and see acts perform on City Hall Plaza still!
The Stompers are an American rock band formed in East Boston, Massachusetts in 1977.
On November 7, 1977, the band played their first show in Beverly, Massachusetts. The Stompers played in Boston-area bars such as The Rathskeller and Jonathan Swift’s. After toiling in a sweaty apartment, the group released its first vinyl single in 1978. On January 3, 1979, the band became one of the first unsigned acts to perform at the Paradise Rock Club in Boston. By the end of 1979, the band was the first unsigned act to appear on the cover of industry trade magazine Performance.
In 1980, The Stompers toured with both The Beach Boys and The J. Geils Band. The following year, the song Shutdown was featured on a second WCOZ compilation, Best of Boston Beat Volume 2, and via a fan ballot, earned them the right to compete in the “Rock to Riches” competition. After winning that competition, the band signed an album deal with Boardwalk Records. Unfortunately, Boardwalk founder Neil Bogart died and the label filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which resulted in the group’s self-titled album being delayed until 1983. The single, the Baglio-penned Never Tell an Angel (When Your Heart’s on Fire), reached number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100.
In July 1983, Cuccinello left the group and was replaced by drummer Lenny Shea and pianist Jeremy Brown. Polygram Records later acquired The Stompers through bankruptcy court and re-released the album under the title One Heart for Sale, including a single by the same title. The band once again fell victim to a record label after Polygram fired their entire promotional staff and did not pay the new promoters.
In 1987, the bands’ tenth anniversary concert was played at The Channel in Boston. It was featured in the documentary Live Your Dreams for Real. In 1990, The Stompers released a collection of previously unreleased material, Unfinished Business on Fast Track Records. The Stompers continued to perform live, including show’s on City Hall Plaza in Boston, and released 1994’s “Greatest Hits…Live”.
The soundtrack of Adam Sandler’s 2010 film Grown Ups includes the song “American Fun” during the ending credits. Currently, the band continues to perform a limited number of shows each year.
Side One
Never Tell an Angel (When Your Heart’s on Fire)
Side Two
Your Sweet Love
HEAVY METAL!!
Heavy Metal
Various Artists
Side One
MC 5 – Kick Out the Jams
Black Sabbath – Iron Man
Alice Cooper – I’m Eighteen
Jimi Hendrix – Freedom
The James Gang – Must Be Love
Deep Purple – Smoke On the Water
Side Two
T. Rex – Bang a Gong (Get It On)
The J. Geils Band – Give It To Me
Dr. John – Right Place Wrong Time
Led Zeppelin – D’yer Mak’r
Buffalo Springfield – Bluebird
Faces – Cindy Incidentally
Side Three
The Doors – Touch Me
The Allman Brothers Band – Ramblin’ Man
Delaney & Bonnie – Only You and I Know
Van Morrison – Domino
Eagles – Outlaw Man
Yes – Starship Trooper: Life Seeker / Disillusion / Wurm
Side Four
Golden Earring – Radar Love
Grateful Dead – Johnny B. Good
Foghat – What a Shame
Uriah Heep – Stealin’
War – Lonely Feelin’
Blues Image – Ride Captain Ride
J. Geils Band
The J. Geils Band is an American rock band formed in 1967 in Worcester, Massachusetts, sometimes referred to as “The Bad Boys From Boston”. They are best known for their 1981 single, “Centerfold” which charted #1 in the U.S. in early 1982. The band played R&B-influenced blues-rock in the 1970s before moving towards a more pop-influenced sound in the 1980s. Since its initial break-up in 1985, the band has reunited several times.
I have two of their albums:
Freeze Frame
Bloodshot
My Dad's Albums 