Black Helicopter/Spiller/Daughter of the Vine @ Deep Cuts, Medford, MA 1/9/26

I finally got around to ordering the new Black Helicopter album at the behest of latest member edition Mark Erdody. He asked me to write about it, but I don't have the "format" to do new record reviews. However, if there is a show, I can tack on a review to the record. So what the hell, I figured I'd get a room at my beloved Farrington Inn in Allston where I'm writing this now and car service it to Medford where they were having their record release show at Deep Cuts. I've never been to this venue before or even set foot in the town to my recollection, but the club it a pretty cool place food, brewery, music room, arcade and record store all on a small town Main St a little north of Somerville. I guess if I wanted to bus to bus it, I could've done that but I ate the 20 bucks each way. A fancy vacation journey to my homeland!

So anyway Black Helicopter are now over a quarter century in and are now in trio format. Tim Shea of course still leads this band but Mark Erdody adds a new wrinkle having picked up bass for the band. He does more of a melodic thing and puts his Kudgel-stamp on Black Helicopter, although he let me know to join the band he learned all 76 of the bands songs prior to him joining which they do at random in practice. Matt Nicholas is still and forever drumming having drummed with Mark prior in Kudgel and with Tim in Black Helicopter since inception. The big early hit "Army Pup Tent" was joined by second bass player Mike Davis while Zack the writer of the bass line witnessed it in the audience. Mark is singing a little bit for this inception of the band and I guess I'll tack on the promised review when the record I ordered from their imprint Best Brother on Bandcamp shows up hopefully next week.

I was excited to see Spiller primarily because the other Green Magnet School alum Chris Pearson recorded with them. But, alas he moved to Ireland! Dave from the Titanics has joined and this is a lineup of Boston Rock mainstays that played in legendary bands like Gang Green and Jerry's Kids. They still kept the GMS cover of their local radio hit "Windshield" in the set and Tim came up to play guitar on that.

Daughter of the Vine was also from prior know quantities. Yukki Gipe from Bullet LaVolta goes by his name Kurt since the Konks and drums for this band let by Margaret from Mr. Airplane Man. They are doing sort of an ethereal garage sort of thing, so a bit different than their prior garage bands.

I ordered the new Black Helicopter record last week and it's tracking to hit Monday so I'll tack on a review after I listen to it a few times. As of now "Charlestown's Burning" was the big standout.

FOR FURTHER REVIEW:

Six Finger Satellite/Green Magnet School-The Declaration of Techno-Colonial Independence (1992)

Various Artists-Self Mutilation, Vol. 1 (1991)

Kudgel-Chicken Pump b/w Now (1993)

Luca Brasi-Pill Popper b/w Come On Down (1996)

The Konks-The Konks (2005)

Various Artists-Sounds and Shigaku Present: Beautiful Happiness (1988)

The Oysters-Green Eggs and Ham (1985)

Various Artists-This Is Boston Not LA (1982)