“Van Gogh Cart was formed in August of 1999 on the night of a hurricane. Playing in a basement in a Brighton apartment complex, VGC started their trek creating a 3 part harmony vocal sound. The lead singer-Ed Foley- and lead guitarist-Dave Giust- have played in bands together for the last 20+ years. Phil Smith-drums- has been with them for 14 and the “rookie”-Jonnie Fabb on bass/vocals-has been with VGC for 7 years.
Playing in Boston and throughout MA, VGC is an extremely entertaining group the creates energy for the crowd and then builds off the crowds energy.”

This band plays everything. When I say everything, I mean EVERYTHING. Their list of songs goes on for days. This is definately a band that can please everyone.

Check them on out on Myspace 

-Lalz

check out more pictures of Five on Two on BLM’s photobucket site!

x Lalz

Hello to those of you who read,
After taking a break from the site to sort myself out and get my life back together, I’m finally going to work on the things I previously mentioned; like the sampler, BLM merch etc.

I’m currently looking for as many bands as I can find, so hook me up. I’m going to be completely honest now: I’m not really looking for hardcore bands. I’m not saying that I will not feature them, because I absolutely will, but I don’t have enough bands from other genres. So if you know any great bands that don’t rely on break downs, let me know!

Hopefully tomorrow or monday I will have the May shows listed.

I think that’s all for now.

x Lalz

“Love Weapon is built on the basic premise of fun, guitar-driven music….. Take one part alcohol, one part girls, add some friends who like to play music together and you have Love Weapon. We want to do our forefathers justice by carrying on the belief in the lifestyle of the Sunset Strip scene in the 1980’s and all its decadance. Our songs are just byproducts of these experiences, a side effect of the lifestyle.” -myspace bio

Check out Love Weapon at the following venues:
–May 5 at The Paradise. Boston.
Waltham’s Annual Cinco De Drinko Show: Featuring: Waltham, Love Weapon, more bands TBA.

–May 12 at Finn MaCool’s. Westfield, MA.
Under Falling Skies, Love Weapon

x Lalz

“The Cheat! is an indie band from Central Massachusetts. We combine heavy guitars with keyboards and fast, driving drum beats. The thing we take the most pride in is our live performance. Our shows are very high energy, so please come check one out. Over the past few years we have shared the stage with many great bands including: Gatsby’s American Dream (fearless), The Honorary Title (doghouse), Silent Drive (equal vision), The Rocket Summer, Bayside (victory), As Tall as Lions (Tooth and Nail). Thanks so much for checking out our music. We hope to see you at a show soon. <33333THECHEAT” (myspace bio)

Check The Cheat! out on myspace.

-Lalz

April 2 Nashuah American Legion. 3:00 PM.
Cannae Screams Of Erida, In Remembrance, What Once Was, 40 Second Love Story

April 2nd Reel Bar (Allston)
Sinking Spells, The Droogies

April 2 Avalon (Boston). 4:30 PM. All Ages.
Big D and the Kids Table, Catch 22, Mustard Plug, and The Flatliners.

April 6th Fox Hall @ UMASS Lowell.
Stars for Sunroofs, Razmig, Proud Baby Mudfoot, Folly Hill

April 6th Merlose. Beantown Beatdown. 8PM $ 8. Sin City Presents:
Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza ,Emmure,If I Die, Invocations Of Nehek,Prior To Burial, My Bitter End,Pillar of Autumn, Year Of Desolation, Last Chance To Reason

April 7th Wilmington United Methodist Church.
In Dire Need, In Remembrance, Lockout, Brody, Last Chance

April 7th ROMANS, Brockton MA.
Orchestrate the Incident, Standard Allegiance, Thirteen Yards to Victory, A Day of false light. more TBA.

April 7th Bullfinch Yacht Club (Boston) 8PM
Almada, Fairmont, Water

April 7th The Java Hut. $3. 8PM
The Cheat w/ Lusting Kay and more!

April 7th New Wave Cafe (New Beford MA). 21+ $5
Purity’s Demise, Coldread, Blunt Force Trauma and Mindflold

April 7th Sad Cafe (Plaistow NH) All Ages. $8. 6:30PM-11PM
September Twilight, more TBA

April 7th Melrose First Congregational Church. $8.
1. The Bonus Army-6-6:30 2. Dirty Bombs-630-650 3.When Legends Die-7-730 4. 20 Bucks A Hero-730-8 5.Bring Your Own End8-820 6.Sluts-820-85- 7. McClane/Up The Fury-9-930 8. Hands In-930-10

April 8th Ashland Fish and Game Ashland MA. Synapse Fest Day 1. 5PM
Morris, Francine, Eva Braun, Cut Throat, Dakota and more

April 8th Bills Bar 9PM $8. 21+
A Wish For Fire, The Vershok, The Chainletter and TBA

April 8thDodge St bar and grille, Salem MA.
Sinking Spells, Milos Syndicate, The Vicious Bastards, The Deviations and Local Tough Guy

April 8th Stoneham White Church. 6PM $8.
mcclane, learn, what once was, up the fury, take my chances

April 8th Seekonk American Legion. $7. 5PM. CANCER BENEFIT SHOW!
Therefore I Am, Vanna, A Loss for Words

April 8th Peabody Knights of Columbus.
Saving Alcatraz, Suburban Eyes

April 9th Quinsigamond Lodge .177 (Worcester) Free Show! 3:30 doors
YOUTH ATTACK, SHIPWRECK, HAMMER BROS, THE MESSAGE, SLUTS

April 9th Synapse Fest Day 2. 12PM Ashland Fish and Game.
1:15-1:35- Hostile Ground 1:45-2:05- Stifler 2:15-2:35- Lucy Grace (cd release) 2:45-3:05- The Fells
3:15-3:35- Face Full Of Shotgun 3:45-4:05- The Achilles Revolution 4:15-4:35- Paper Horse* 4:45-5:05- Last Chance to Reason 5:15-5:35- 5:45-6:05- Souvenir’s Young America 6:15-6:45- Sharon Van Etten
6:55-7:25- Astrea 7:35-8:05- Snakes and Music (ex-Jazz June)* 8:15-8:45- Therefore I Am 8:55-on - Vanna*

April 9th Nashuah NH American Legion. 3:30 PM.
Death Before Dishonor, On Broken Wings, Can’t Stand Losing

April 10th Middle East. 18+ Mass Live Events Presents:
The New Amsterdams (and more)

April 11th Middle East Upstairs. – 18+ $10. 8:30pm doors
Owen (members of Joan of Arc, Owls), William Elliot Whitmore; The Snake The Cross The Crown , Making It Right

April 11th Club Lido (Wonderland T stop, Revere) 6PM Mass Live Events Presents:
ANTI-FLAG, Casualties, The Unseen, Smoke or Fire, The Aka’s

April 13th Gloucester Teen Center 7PM
Ice Nine Kills, Chasing Buddy, more TBA

April 14th Doc Ryans, Salem MA 21+ $5
Silent Factor Blackout Frenzy, A Cold Reality

April 14th Franco Vets in Leominster MA
What Once Was, Marks of a Hero, Dying For It, Within Choking Range, With No Remorse

14th Mayflower Tavern (Kingston MA) 21+ $5.
Drained and Purity’s Demise

April 14th Gloucester Art Space 5PM
80 Proof and more TBA

April 14th Bridgewater Knights of Columbus. $7.00 6PM
13 Yards to Victory, Lovesick Newyear and more TBA

April 14th Saugus American Legion. $5
SLUTS, breaking waves, through and through

April 15th Worcester, 7PM
MORRIS, francine, lucy grace, dakota, foredoes me quite.

April 15th Goodtimes (somerville) $20.00. 18+
Powerman 5000, Purity’s Demise.

April 15th ROMANS (Brockton MA)
Since The Flood, Death Threat, Since The Flood & 4 more

April 15th Gloucester YMCA. 7PM. $5
“A Dirtnap Entertainment Presentation” (http://www.myspace.com/dirtnapentertainment ) 978-283-5432 Doors open @ 6:00 pm. All ages show! Trummel ( http://www.myspace.com/trummel ) 7:15 pm. - 8:00 pm. Skulltoboggan ( http://www.skulltoboggan.com/ ) 8:15 pm. - 9:00 pm. Seed ( http://www.myspace.com/seedmusic ) 9:15 pm. - 10:00 pm.

April 15th Gloucester Art Space 5PM
Sinking Spells, Brunswick, A Day and A Method.

April 17th After Hours, Northeastern University

April 18th MiddleEast Upstairs
Ice Nine Kills, w/ Dead Ellington, more TBA

April 19th Fox Hall, UMASS Lowell. Free Show. 3rd Floor. 6pm
Vanna and more TBA

April 21st Northbridge Knights of Columbus. 6PM.
Oafish Plume, With Absolute Resolution, The Roxbury Secret, Morris! Lucy Grace, The Cheat!

April 21st Ipswich High School. 7PM
Letterday, 80 Proof, Twisted Animation, Backyard Swingset, My Band Thing…, Terminal Youth, and Scapegoat

April 21st Worcester Palladium. 8PM
Sugarcult, Piebald and Say When

April 21st Campus MovieFest Finale at the John Hancock Tower. All Ages.
7 PM. 5$. Endway www.campusmoviefest.com

April 21st Riverwalk Music Room, Peabody MA 9pm $7
Silent Factor w/ Within Choking Range, With No Remorse

April 21st Assumption College (worcester) Charlie’s Cafe. 9PM FREE SHOW!
September Twilight, DelHill, Baby Strange, Kidnapkin

April 22nd St Michaels Church, Avon MA. 6PM. $7
Aloss for words, Vanna, Lost City Angels, Shortside, Late Nights At Face Value

April 22 Drifters. 8PM
Seed, Within Choking Range

April 22nd Melrose. Sin City Presents:
Dim The Lights, Century, Imprint,Of The Betrayed,What Once Was,Juliet In Plague

April 22 Club Deniro 8PM. $10. This is a tentative show.
Standard Allegiance, Thirteen Yards to Victory, A Day of false light. more TBA.

April 22 Masonic Hall, Melrose. 6PM
Dim The Lights, Century, Imprint,Of The Betrayed,What Once Was,Juliet In Plague

April 22nd Saugus YMCA. 8PM
SLUTS, Drop Anchor

April 22nd ICC Church, Allston. Mass Live Events Presents:
THE HORRORPOPS , The Briefs, Left Alone

April 23rd Ralph’s Diner, Worcester MA. 6PM $10.
Junction 18, therefore i am, francine, and mc goldie wilson.
available now at: www.myspace.com/retiredexplorer

April 23 Middleast Upstairs 1PM
The Northwood Too Late the Hero Searching for Silence She’s The Car

April 26th CCC, North Attleborough. 6PM
FREE THE D—-CAP AL4W, LISTEN UP!, TBA!

April 28th Watertown.
SYZFEST 06 Presented by Red Blue Records W/ The Syzlaks, Endway, Gone Baby Gone, and 2 more TBA $8 in advance, $10 at the door

April 28th ROMANS 7PM
COA, Kill Your Idols, Death Cycle, Lovely Lads, Celebrity Murders, Death & Taxes

April 29th Worcester Palladium. 11:30 AM.
New England metal & hardcore Festival Terror, Chimaira, Arch Enemy, The Acacia Strain, First Blood, God Forbid, Sworn Enemy, On Broken Wings, Since The Flood Ect….

April 29th Harper’s Ferry, Allston MA. 9PM
September Twilight CD release with Say When

April 29th Acushnet American Legion.
Orchestrate the Incident, run like hell cd release! more bands tba!

April 29th Drifters (Nashua NH) ALL Ages Show
Scars Like Ours, Eulogy XL, The Screen, Road To Nowhere, and AUditory Implant. Show Starts at 8pm

April 30th All Asia. 18+ 9:30Pm
Bleed Audio, Arsenal

It has been noted by a few people that I mostly review, and attend hard core shows, so the other night I did something else. I had the pleasure of sitting in a small hall filled with kids who did not appear to hate their lives. It was a very welcome change from the tough guy scene I managed to find myself in the middle of. I got a chance to talk to Billerica/Burlington based band Five on Two, and while it was hard to get serious answers out of the eight members, it’s obvious that they’re not about being serious. The fact of the matter is, they want to have fun and play music, and “lessen the importance of genre’s and labels.”

The band got their name from a wrestling move, where it’s “your five on his two”—think about it for a minute and you’ll figure it out. While they’re not really interested in labels, they chose their style of music because it’s the “only music you can play with 8 people”. So, what kind of music are they (if you really have to classify them)? “Balls-to-the-Wall Ska Core” was one answer I got. While it was a short first interview for Five on Two and myself, it’s obvious that they’re a bunch of really nice, comical guys.

Their show is full of energy and catchy songs. Each member of the band is interesting to watch, especially when they join in with the kids in the circle pit. They have interesting original songs and clever covers. I will admit I was a little disappointed that they didn’t play their cover of “Semi Charmed Kind of Life” by Third Eye Blind. Over all though, they played an excellent set, and if you’re looking for something a little more two-toned in your life, you should definitely check out Five on Two.

-Lalz

March 5th Nashuah NH American Legion. 4:00PM. Probably $10.00.
Black My Heart, In Remembrance, Shere Kahn, and the Confrontation

March 5th 5PM at Club Lido in Revere. $8.00. Mass Live Events presents:
Medicated Kisses The Static Age The Appreciation Post Endway She’s the Car

March 5th Fat Cat in Springfield MA. 21+ Benefit Show. Springfield Hardcore Shows presents:
Hands In, Funeral In Fame, The Breathing Process, Within The Ruins, More TBA!

March 5th Cabot St, Chicopee, MA. 7PM. Springfield Hardcore Shows presents:
100 DEMONS, DEATH THREAT, SCURVY, KILLING FLOOR, PRICE OF PAIN, ELECTRIC EYES

March 5th Club Deniro, Taunton MA. 7PM. $10
ASTREA, A LOSS FOR WORDS, THE NORTHWOOD, PERFUMA(nj), SO LONG DECEMBER, THE MIDWAY CLASS, ZELAZOWA

March 6th ICC Church in Allston. 5/6 PM doors. Mass Live Events presents:
Strike Anywhere, With Honor

March 7th Middle East, upstairs. 8PM, $9, 18+.
Ok Thursday, Stars For SunroofsRachael Cantu (CD Release),Vivek

March 10th ICC Church in Allston. Doors at 5PM. Mass Live Events presents:
Vanna, Therefore I Am, Dakota, Francine , The Fells ,Shes The Car

March 10th ROMANS (the Lions Den) Brockton, MA. 7PM Brockton Shows presents:
ON BROKEN WINGS, BACKSTABBERS INC., THE ARCHITECT, THE NEON HOOKERS, AFFILIATED.

March 10th Gloucester Teen Center. 5PM.
80 Proof, Sunwise, more TBA

March 11th 251 Bar and Grille, Billerica MA. 8PM. $5.00
wings never shattered cd release party w/ brisance 2 more to be added

March 11th the Moose Lodge Westfield, MA. 6PM Springfield Hardcore Shows presents:
Hands In, Ecotone, Absent, From The Pawn, Those Left For Dead, Lucy Grace, Medicated Kisses,

March 11th Club Lido, Revere MA (wonderland T stop) at 3/4PM. Mass Live Events presents:
Underdog, Terror, Living Hell

March 11th Billerica Masonic Hall. 7PM
Standard Allegiance, Make It Hurt, Five On Two, The Szlaks

March 12; Melrose, MA. Cost: 8$. Sin City Booking presents:
Across Five Aprils,Coretta Scott,Grace Gale,In Remembrance,When Legends Die, Prior To Burial,40SLS

March 12 Cabot St. Night Pub, Chicopee, MA. 7PM $10.
MERCURY SWITCH, And Then There Were None, Funeral in Fame, The Breathing Process

March 16th Harper’s Ferry. 9PM $5.00. Paper presents:
The Fells, Lannen Fall

March 16th UMASS Amherst. 7PM.
Morris Acoustic set w/States and Capitals Campus Center room 162-75

March 17th Fall River VFW. 5PM.
VANNA ,DYING FOR IT, FOLLOW THE FLIES, & MORE

March 17th ROMANS (the Lions Den) Brockton, MA. 7PM Brockton Shows presents:
25 TA LIFE, CUT THROAT, THE CONFRONTATION, CAN’T STAND LOSING, DIESEL, SHOOT YA WOUNDED.

March 17th Ashland Fish and Game Club. 5:45PM
FALL RIVER, PRIOR TO BURIAL, THE NEON HOOKERS, WHAT ONCE WAS, THE LOCKOUT

March 17th Pearl St. Ballroom. Northampton MA.
Francine, heartwell ending, calibur per capita, of blessings and burdens, and the miles between

March 17th Kingston Knights of Columbus. 7PM
Lannen Fall, The Northwood, more tba

March 18th Gloucester Art Space. 5PM.
80 Proof, Sunwise, The Attactics, and more…

March 18th Roller Kingdom, Hudson MA. 6PM
Youth Attack, Attitude, The Hostage Heart, The Message , Up The Fury, + 1 more band TBA.

March 18th Boys and Girls Club, Salem NH. All Ages. 7PM $8.
And Then There Were None, When Legends Die, Our Last Night, Boys and Girls

March 18th ICC Church in Allston. 6 PM doors. Mass Live Events presents:
REGGIE AND THE FULL EFFECT, Fluxuation, Common Denominator

March, 18 Cost: 8$. Location and additional bands TBA. Sin City Booking presents:
Battle! ,Make Your Move,40SLS, Shoot Ya Wounded,

March 19th Reflections Lounge, Chelmsford MA. 1PM
Wings Never Shattered w/ Sinaria,and Hell Within.

March 23rd Harper’s Ferry. 9PM. 18+ $5.00. Paper presents:
She’s The Car

March 23rd Ashland Fish and Game Club. 5PM $8
Mercury Switch, One Dead Three Wounded, In Remembrance, The Miles Between, War On Our Shores

March 24th Sad Café, Plaistow NH. 6:30 PM
Feeling Left Out, Letterday, Andy Batac, The Letter M, My Farewell Letter

March 24th Pearl St. Northampton MA. Springfield Hardcore Shows presents:
The Autumn Offering, Give ‘Em Hell! (Video Shoot), The Unsung Cliche (CD Release Party), El Machete Negro, Sincerely Broken, The Verdict

March 24th Hudson Roller Kingdom. 5PM.
Lucky Caderra, Lannen Fall, The Minus Scale, Medicated Kisses, Therefore I Am

March 24th Deer Club, Gardner MA. 6:30PM. $7. All Ages
With No Remorse, Under Lying Truth, After the Ashes, Absence of the Sun, and Tales of Eloise.

March 24th Norwood American Legion. 8PM
A Loss for Words, Dakota, The Northwood, Ericson and The Cadence playing a one time acoustic set.

March 25th ST. Lazarus Church, East Boston MA. 5:30 PM
Fellsway, Famous Last Words, Letterday, Anola’s Recovery, Thirteen Yards to Victory, Ice Nine Kills

March 25th ROMANS (the Lions Den) Brockton, MA. 7PM Brockton Shows presents:
COLD WORLD, LION OF JUDAH, SHERE KHAN, MELTDOWN, THE HOMEFRONT.

March 25th Sad Café, Plaistow NH. 7PM. $8
Lucy Grace, Bison Bison

March 25th Gloucester Art Space. 8PM
RAMONES TRIBUTE SHOW w/Red Invasion, Jonee Earthquake Band, the Rydells, the Sick Boys and more.

March 26th Middle East. Upstairs. 1PM. All Ages. $8.
Therefore I Am, No Trigger [cd release], Lock and Key, A Hero Next Door, Marathon [ny]

March 26th Cabot St. Chicopee MA. 7PM $10. Springfield Hardcore Shows presents:
Burial, Brick By Brick

March 26th Club Lido, Revere MA (wonderland t stop). Doors at 3 PM. Mass Live Events presents:
DUCKY BOYS ROGER MIRET & The DISASTERS Far From Finished *All Ages* Red Invasion/The Knox

March 28th Mass Art, Boston. 7PM. Free Show.
VANNA W/ ASK MICE, A GRIM SEARCH FOR BODIES, and THE HOUND!!

March 29th ROMANS (the Lions Den) Brockton, MA. 7PM Brockton Shows presents:
SET YOUR GOALS, GUNS UP!, COA, A LOSS FOR WORDS. NO ROSES.

March 29th Worcester Palladium, upstairs. 8PM.
Comeback Kid, Ignite, First Blood, This is Hell, COA.

March 31st ROMANS (the Lions Den) Brockton, MA. 7PM Brockton Shows presents:
DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR, STRENGTH FOR A REASON, CHOOSE YOUR WEAPON, WISDOM IN CHAINS, BETRAYED BY ALL, band tba.

March 31st Billerica Masonic Hall. 6PM. $7.00.
HAVE HEART, THE FIRST STEP, HAMMER BRO’S (record release) and more

March 31st Club Deniro, Taunton MA. 6PM
A Loss For Words, Rookie of the Year, Vandelay, Adams Shore, The Midway Class, The Northwood

Brockton shows are always worth checkin’ out. The 24th show had a smaller turn out than I usually see, but it didn’t stop kids from having a good time. Listen Up wasn’t necassarily one of my favorite acts, but they have the potential to be a really great band. The screaming was decent, but the music needs to be put together a little bit more. 40 Second Love Story did pretty well musically. As for performance, the singer was definately into his shit, but the rest of the band needs to move around a little more. Half of kids getting into the band is the band getting into themselves. All in all, it was a pretty good time. In Remembrance played a decent set, even though kids are still unsure of what to do with the new songs. In Our Blood, to put it simply, brings the mosh. I hate even saying that, but there is no better way to explain how intense their set is. The live show is something that shouldn’t be missed; they had an unbelievable reaction from everyone there. Black My Heart’s set was well put together, as always, getting everyone really pumped and into the music. I can’t say that I have ever seen them play a bad set. With pile-ons, a little bit of a light show, and guest appearances, it was really entertaining.

There will be pictures later.
-Lalz

Photograph by Robert Downs

There is a lot to be said for Boston’s power-pop band On The Surface. They’ve been a band since 2001, sharing the stage with bands like Simple Plan, Switchfoot, Mae, Piebald, and The Format. They’ve made it through everything a normal band goes through and then some. “Most bands write break-up songs, On The Surface lived one” (myspace bio). They made it through Heather and Anthony’s break up, and they’re going stronger than ever.

If you’re not into poppy bands, it might take a little to get used to On The Surface’s sound, but they’re so talented that they definitely deserve the chance. The things I love about OTS? Their keyboards fit the rest of the music. A lot of bands have keyboards that sound out of time, and un-necessary; but this is not the case with On The Surface. I love the dual vocals of Anthony and Heather. Above all, I love their stage show. Between Colby and Bill running around and Heather’s hip shakin’, I guarantee that you too will be impressed with this up and coming band. The crowd at Paper’s February 16th performance was definitely into the show. The band did a cover of The Postal Services “Such Great Heights” which allowed anyone and everyone to get involved. It was absolutely the right show for the band to film their DVD.

You can check out On The Surface on Myspace and on their web site.

-Lalz