Wormtown Weekend

And the hits just keep on coming!
This first month of 2010 has been nothing short of spectacular here in Wormtown, with a great show every weekend. Punk, Rock, Roots, Ska, we've seen all the area has to offer, but wait. There's still more!
Down at The Raven on Pleasant on Friday, there's a Hardcore Punk bill that's not to be beat. Refuse-Resist from Boston are topping the bill featuring SuperPower, Cheech, Get Laid and Colin & the Cancer. And it's only 5 bucks to get in!
Saturday over at Ralph's Psychobilly Cadillac, leads the charge with stripped down rockabilly music, also performing real rock n roll are The Throttles, The Pinball Millionaires, and Wicked Whiskey. Looks like a soundtrack to a rave-up Saturday night hoedown.
Get out there and support the cause. Keep Wormtown rockin'!

Eric Sommer

Here are the videos I shot of Eric Sommer at Ralph's last Saturday. I had never heard of him before, so did not know what to expect. He is a very talented guitarist/performer who got his start in the folk scene in Boston in the 80's and has traveled the nation playing his compositions to rave reviews for years. Glad I got a chance to check him out. Read more about him here.

Guns of Navarone/The Stress

Yes, it was an evening of tremendous music at Ralph's Saturday night.
Should have been more people there though.
You need to step up when there is a show this good in town.
Anyway, here are a couple of videos to show you what you missed.





I also did a video of the first act, Eric Sommer, who was great. 1 guy with 6 guitars, but it's too big to upload. I'll work on it.

View more here!!!

Wormtown Weekend

Saturday Night Ska at Ralph's with Guns of Navarone.
We've had non stop rock action so far this year, now it's time to skank it up.
The Guns are Worcester's revivalists of the rocksteady beats of the past with true roots style. Along for the ride are The Stress from Providence,and Eric Sommer, world renowned folk/rock guitarist from Boston.
Get there early for a good seat on the train to Skaville.

Wormtown Rip-Off

When I came came up with the term Wormtown back in 1978, I never dreamed it would be something that lasted over 30 years. I always had a sort of fair use mentality when it came to others using it. Newspaper articles, radio spots, clubs who fight the good fight, if it benefited the scene or had something to do with local music it was OK by me. When someone uses it for financial gain with no attempt in asking or compensating me is when I get disturbed.
Recently, I have noticed it popping up in unusual places. Peppercorns on Park Ave is slated to open "Wormtown Brewery" in February, never heard a word from anyone involved over there.

Worcester Art Museum is having an exhibition in April entitled "Wormtown Rocks", and again, no one from that organization contacted me.

There another subtle use of it in the upcoming movie, "Boyband", again no contact from them.

I'm pretty easy to find on the net, do a Google search of Wormtown and see what comes up.
And what exactly have any of those business ever done for the Wormtown music community? Yet, they all stand to get monies from the use of something I created.
Worcester Art Museum is even offering a top prize of $750. for art or pictures submitted to their exhibit.
I didn't start this to make money. And it just pisses me off to see others profiting from it.
I think I need to look into this further.........

Slitstich / The Pathetics

Friday night at Ralph's, didn't stick around all night.
But here is what it was like in the beginning of the evening.
Still experimenting with the flipcam, doesn't seem to like real loud, real rock music, but it still works better than the Canon.
If there is one out there with a recording volume control, I want one.





Dig for more here

Wormtown Weekend

The rock action continues this week, well Friday anyway.
At Ralph's it's Slitstich, who for some reason canceled on last weeks gig, The Pathetics, who have put away their Mistletoe Belt Buckle for another year, The Egos, who play real rock n roll from Boston, The Automatons playing their Horror Punk, and The Evil Streaks featuring members of Gein and the Graverobbers.
This is the third week in a row that you have been able to go out and see some of Wormtown's finest bands perform, so please make sure you do.
You know this ain't gonna last.

Happy Birthday, Willie Loco!!! (Wicked Long Post)

Boston rock legend Willie Loco Alexander celebrates his birthday today, and we all want to wish him well.
He was the inspiration for me staring the Wormtown Punk Punk Press back in 1978 after I read the fanzines he was putting out to promote himself and The Boom Boom Band.
Over the years he has been a true friend, often sending me discs of new material he's working on before anyone else gets a chance to air it.
To say he is a legend is putting it mildly. He started out in the sixties playing with The Lost, moved to the soul driven Bagetelle, filled in with The Velvet Underground when Lou Reed left, had a self produced recording career before forming the Boom Boom Band and getting signed to MCA records, traveled the world to high acclaim with them and on his own, and still to this day makes vital and exciting music with The Persistence of Memory Orchestra, The Fisheye Bros, and others.
Take a long look at some of the promo stuff I have collected over the years, check out some videos, and look him up online. You will still be able to find cd's and records if you want to purchase them.



















Watch his performance at Church a Palooza Sept. 20, 2009

And North Shore Jazz Project

Wormtown Radio

Dave Goldberg posted a blog over at the T&G about his days in Worcester Radio over the years.
That lead me to posting these old promos from WCUW.
Alternative radio was once the staple of evening programming at WCUW and at WICN throughout the 70'and 80's, it started to fade in the 90's and now is just about non-existent in the 2000's.




Do you remember Rock n Roll radio??

Wormtown Videos

Last weekend was a blast.
Friday at Nick's, and Saturday at Ralph's.
Roots rock, space rock, Angry rock.
This is Wormtown!
This is where it's at!









More on Youtube

Wormtown Weekend

This year is sure off to a rockin' start.
Friday at Nick's on Millbury St, James Keyes has a CD release party for his new disc, "Ruminations" You know him from The Numbskulls, right? Helping him out that night are Boston and Maine String Band, Steve Cummings from Bottlefight , and Jason James, who says the performance is being filmed and recorded, so be a part of that. Get your Woo Hoo's out.
Saturday, over at Ralph's Angry Johnny is back in town with his Killbillies. Not only that, but Slitstich is coming out to play their first show of the new year, so it's gonna be mental. Rounding out the all out blowout are Planetoid from Outer Space and Hot Black from Allston Rock City.
So, no excuses get out and enjoy the new year and this beautiful January weather we are experiencing. I heard sometimes it gets cold in the wintertime.

Worcester's New Wave

Here's how The Boston Phoenix saw it back in February of 1979.
I wonder if I can still get a copy for $5.50?

Rock n Roll Party

Back in the 80's, this was a staple of Saturdays on WCUW hosted by Reverend Joe Longone. He played the best in local and national garage rock, which was just realizing a resurgence at the time. This is a newsletter from that era. He later went on to publish Fuz Brains, Worcesters only garage rock magazine, and The Great Rock and Roll Survey, a nationally distributed book.
Also included, a flier from his top band at the time, The Belmondos.
The Rock n Roll party is still on now, Saturdays at 9pm, hosted by John McKeag.

New Years Eve Video

Here are some videos from The Hotel Vernon.
These were actually after midnight, so they are the first Wormtown Punk Rock performances of 2010.
You are witnessing history!





More here......

Wormtown Weekend

Yes, the big night is over, and you may be hanging a little today. That's alright, rest up.
Saturday, get moving again down to The Lucky Dog on Green St. for the first visit of 2010 by Sasquatch and the Sick-a-Billys. The madman from RI is back to rock you through the night with The Swaggering Growlers and Ten Foot Polecats.
Start this new year off right.

Happy New Year Wormtown!!!