Anyone from Boston remember the band Big Dipper?

[FlashHarry]

A friend of mine just burned me a CD of their first EP and Album (Heavens/Boo Boo). I'd forgotten how amazingly good they were! Crafty pop/punk tunes with witty lyrics. I ran sound for them once many years ago in Iowa City, where they played with The Sneetches (another great pop band). It was a fantastic show!

In fact, I still maintain that the college rock scene of the late eighties was a true renaissance in American music. Too many great, unsung bands to count...

Anyone else remember Big Dipper (or their progenitor band from Kansas, The Embarrassment)?

[Wickerman]

1. I recall Big Dipper

you must have worked Gabes.

I also loved Dumptruck, lots of that Boston sound. Never lived in Boston, but loved that era. Did you read Boston rocks? Good stuff.

[FlashHarry]

2. Yep. Gabe's house soundman from '89-'92!

A shithole, to be sure. But a lovely shithole. I loved Dumptrick, too--especially For the Country. Not to mention The Pixies, Throwing Muses, Lemonheads, Lyres, etc., etc...

Nope, I haven't read the book, but I'll check it out.

[Wickerman]

4. Its was a wonderful era

The Boston Rocks I refer to was actually a weekly or monthly, but had great articles on the scene there. You saw some great music to be certain.

[FlashHarry]

6. I found the Web site

http://www.rockinboston.com/bigdip.htm

[Wickerman]

8. I had fogotten what a great record Craps was

and isn't this a great photo?

[FlashHarry]

14. Ah, memories...

That's Jeff. During soundcheck, Gary played drums and Jeff came out and sang. They did a note-for-note version of Fairies Wear Boots, with Jeff even aping Ozzy's banter. It was pretty hilarious...

Dukakis. Let's hope Kerry doesn't ride in any tanks...

[-..__...]

15. I was a seriously into the Boston music and club scene...

From about 1978 to mid/late 80's.

Actually, it was "Boston Rock", (no "s").

I used to write record and club reviews for them back around 82-84.
The pay was only something like $5.00 per review. The payoff was in the perks: free records and no cover charge at the clubs.

It also helped that I was dating the assistant editor at the time and the editor was a friend of ours

[Wickerman]

16. very cool

that was a wonderful scene. I have a lot of of old Boston Rock (no s) mags somewhere - I've saved them - that era, too. When I was living in South Carolina they were my lifeline to real music.

[-..__...]

17. So...

You're probably one of the privileged few here that actually might have read (and own), my pre-DU authorings? I wasn't as nearly polite then as I am now. :D

[Tina H]

3. I would know the song they had on that Homestead comp . . .

if I heard it again after all these years.

what was that?

[FlashHarry]

5. All Going Out Together?

I don't remember...

[Tina H]

7. I GOOGLED it:

"He Is God," 2d track. Great, great comp. Wish I still had it.

[Wickerman]

9. Oh, that was a great comp

Salem 66, the Chills, the Clean, and of course Yo La tengo and Big Dipper all in one spot!

[Tina H]

11. Dude, Half Jap blew'em all away

except for maybe DOS.

It was Jad's best moment.

[FlashHarry]

10. I'm converting it to MP3 as we speak...

...I'll have it posted for download in a jiffy...

[Tina H]

12. ahhh, yes, that's the stuff

thanks. Clever lyrics! Crypto-fundies or Jesus-critics? who cares, it rocks blissfully?

[FlashHarry]

13. You'd love their first two records, then.

Personally, I think it's even better...

Ah... the halcyon days of youth!

[oustemnow]

18. didn't they do "Ron Kraus Wrecked His House"?

I'm pretty sure that was them; at any rate, I know I've heard them and probably even seen them. Not from Boston, but a lot of Boston bands played Albany, where I grew up; we must have been on some kind of Northeast club circuit.

SOOO many great bands from Boston at that time; I particularly remember the Neighborhoods, an absolutely phenomenal live act who, sadly, never caught on beyond a regional level.

[FlashHarry]

19. Yep. That was them. (Ron Klaus)

Though, I think it was originally an Embarrassment song. Ron Klaus was their bass player, I think. The song is based on a true story. I listened to it today for the first time in a decade. It's still great, ten years on.

[oustemnow]

20. right, Klaus; I always get that mixed up when I try to remember that song

I remember seeing them play it at Skidmore college in Saratoga, it was a really majestic live moment. During the show one of the singer/guitarists was wearing sunglasses (this was an indoor show, mind you) and puffing on a big ol' cigar; the image struck me as hilarious.