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Boston Globe
13-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Joe Gittleman on life after the Mighty Mighty Bosstones
Things came together quickly for the core members of the new group — Gittleman on bass, as he'd been for the Bosstones, singer-guitarist Sammy Kay, and drummer Michael McDermott, who has played with the Bouncing Souls and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Ahead of the upcoming release of Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'It's been a pretty whirlwind creative time,' said Gittleman from his office on the campus of Vermont State University in Montpelier, where he teaches classes about the music business. 'We're enjoying the process of becoming a band.' Advertisement As one of the main drivers of the Bosstones, the rowdy third-wave ska band that helped revive the Jamaican style in the 1990s, it was Gittleman who was pitted against 'I think the Bosstones was a really lucky and wonderful thing, and that's how I choose to remember it,' he said. 'Dick's got things that are important to him, and we both made our decisions accordingly.' While making the record that would turn out to be the Bosstones' last, 2021's 'When God Was Great,' Gittleman and Barrett were at odds over the vaccine mandates. Advertisement 'There was no blame or anger about that,' Gittleman said. But Barrett's activism 'was going to impact all of us, ultimately. 'I can't speak for any other Bosstones, but I can certainly say for me, I'm happy where I'm at now, where I'm heading.' Gittleman first met Sammy Kay a decade or so ago on the ska scene, when the latter was helping to manage a like-minded band, the Pietasters. As a songwriter, the gruff-voiced Kay thought he wanted to be the next Bob Dylan, 'but then realized the world didn't need another Bob Dylan,' Gittleman said with a gap-toothed smile. Kay, who grew up in New Jersey and now makes his home near Cincinnati, has done some hard living. 'He's up front about his mental health struggles and addiction,' Gittleman said. 'I'll say that for him, because he says that himself.' But they bonded over a shared commitment to songwriting, and their mutual love of the Clash. 'In Sammy, I found someone who is similarly obsessed on the songwriting side,' Gittleman said. 'Not everyone is. 'He's a very sweet, caring person who really is in music because he likes connecting with people.' Kay, who is about 20 years younger than Gittleman, brings an energy that fuels the older musician. They just returned from a West Coast tour with another Boston-based ska band, Big D and the Kids Table. 'We win rooms over,' Gittleman said. 'We can hop in front of people who've never heard of us and make the most of every experience. We're up there rippin'.' 'Beliefs & Thieves' features a few explicit ska songs ('Ya Ya,' 'Lorelei'). But it also has songs that don't quite fit the mold of Gittleman's previous band. 'Battles,' for instance, is a straight-ahead melodic punk song, while 'Old Dog' is bathed in a dreamy echo that borders on shoegaze. Advertisement The album was mixed by Paul Kolderie, the recording engineer who cofounded Boston's Fort Apache Studios and has worked on albums by the Pixies, Radiohead, and the Bosstones, among many others. 'At this point, he's probably my longest collaborative relationship,' said Gittleman. Kolderie 'didn't know Sammy from a hole in the wall,' he noted, yet he recognized the power of his voice and pushed it up in the mix. Kay 'plays music with a heavy hand,' Gittleman said. 'He adds color to everything. He's not a passive participant to music. Perhaps that's what made me go, 'I want to keep working in this direction.'' The Kilograms (the name was chosen as a mashup of Kay's and Gittleman's initials) are restoring a sense of fulfillment to the time Gittleman spends onstage, he said. How exactly does he define that? After a moment, he answered. 'Love on stage, in the room, honestly. The idea that we're moving together, hoping to accomplish something creatively. 'And maybe do some good along the way.' THE KILOGRAMS Opening for Dropkick Murphys, with the Menzingers. March 14, 7 p.m. $42.50-$79.50. MGM Music Hall at Fenway. 2 Lansdowne St., Boston. James Sullivan can be reached at .
Yahoo
26-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Billy Idol Announces New Album Dream Into It, Unveils Single 'Still Dancing': Stream
The post Billy Idol Announces New Album Dream Into It, Unveils Single 'Still Dancing': Stream appeared first on Consequence. Billy Idol has announced a new album, Dream Into It, arriving April 25th. The video for lead single 'Still Dancing' can be streamed below. The autobiographical song calls back to one of Idol's biggest hits ('Dancing with Myself') and charts his musical journey, from humble punk roots to rockstar status. That's reflected in the music, which channels the sound of Idol's '80s heyday with its throwback production, surging guitars, and huge chorus hook. Get Billy Idol Tickets Here 'At the start of the song I'm recalling the early times in London, when I was living in squats or at friends' apartments, all my belongings in a plastic bag,' said Idol in a press release. 'Everybody at home or work told you what you were doing was never going to happen. But punk rock gave me an opening. I was surrounded by people who loved the music as deeply as I did and you were going to throw caution to the wind, believe in what you were doing and grab on for dear life.' He added, 'As the song says, there have been many moments along the way where I've been self-destructive. But what's seen me through is that unflinching belief in the music that started all those years ago. That's been the greatest gift of all.' 'Still Dancing' serves as the closing track on Dream Into It — Idol's first full-length studio album since 2014. The LP spans nine songs and features guest appearances by Avril Lavigne, Joan Jett, and Alison Mosshart of The Kills. A few days after the record's release, Idol will hit the road with Joan Jett and the Blackhearts for a previously announced North American tour. Dates kick off April 30th in Phoenix, with tickets available here. Pre-orders for Dream Into It are available via this location. Stream the video for 'Still Dancing' and see the album art and tracklist below. Artwork: Tracklist: 01. Dream Into It 02. 77 (featuring Avril Lavigne) 03. Too Much Fun 04. John Wayne (featuring Alison Mosshart) 05. Wildside (featuring Joan Jett) 06. People I Love 07. Gimme The Weight 08. I'm Your Hero 09. Still Dancing Billy Idol Announces New Album Dream Into It, Unveils Single 'Still Dancing': Stream Jon Hadusek Popular Posts Tony Hawk Wishes Kurt Cobain Could Meet Their Shared Grandson J6 Prison Choir to Perform at Kennedy Center Michelle Trachtenberg Dead at 39 The 69 Sexiest Film Scenes of All Time Wu-Tang Clan Announce Final Tour with Run the Jewels as Special Guest Classic MTV Unplugged Episodes Now Streaming on Paramount+ Subscribe to Consequence's email digest and get the latest breaking news in music, film, and television, tour updates, access to exclusive giveaways, and more straight to your inbox.
