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Buntology’s 2009 Year in Music–Thanks for the Memories!

Wow! We can’t believe 2009 has come to an end. This year saw a lot in music, and so did the staff at Buntology. Between Phish, festies, and a smattering of new and classic rock concerts, it’s going to be hard to top all of the awesome performances 2009 had to offer.

But, before we look at the music, let’s take a second to remember the great musicians that passed away this year: Ron Asheton (The Stooges), Jay Bennet (Wilco), Bob Bogle (The Ventures), Ean Evans (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Adam Goldstein (“DJ AM”), Kelly Groucutt (Electric Light Orchestra), and Michael Jackson (Jackson 5). Rest in peace!

But with death comes rebirth, and this year the stork brought us many new “super-groups” like Them Crooked Vultures, The Deadweather, Further and Tinted Windows. This past year we have seen the rise of young artists like Passion Pit,  Asher Roth, Matt & Kim and Gogol Bordello. We have also seen some older bands dust off their Fenders and start playing again, like The Flaming Lips, Weezer and Blink 182.

Blink 182 reunited this year, not only to record, but also to tour and play shows through the US last summer. Though Blink has not released any new music yet, they have are currently working on a new album. Another band that reunited after a break for a few years was Phish. They released a new album “Joy” and have went on an extensive summer and fall tour. Of course one of the highlights of Buntology staffer Ivan’s summer was the performance by Sir Paul McCartney, who played a show at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass.

How about some other musical highlights of the year? In no particular order…

Honus is the Man Man

Honus Honus performing with Man Man at Rothbury 2009
Honus Honus performing with Man Man at Rothbury 2009

Man Man, a band known for its unique sound and dynamic live performances, has taken a break from touring to work on their newest record.

Long-time Buntology readers are probably aware that the website is a huge supporter of the 5-piece band from Philly, Penn., so when we got to talk to singer/pianist Honus Honus (Ryan Kattner) recently we were very excited.

We met up with Honus after a show earlier this month in Northampton, Mass., where he gave us some info on the upcoming album and what Man Man has been up to.

“We’re in the thick of it right now, that’s why we’re not really playing many shows,” said Honus. “We’re just planning on doing little weekends runs so at every show we can work on new material.”

The new material, which Honus said may involve more “crooning,” will appear on the fourth full-length Man Man album.

Gogol Bordello, ManMan at the House of Blues [by Ivan]

[Editor’s note: Sorry for the delay of this post. Alicia and I were supposed to go to this show but technology failed us (damn GPS. OK hand-written directions failed us, too) and we missed it. It was too painful to read this review after Ivan wrote it, but now I’m seeing ManMan in July so it’s all good. – Angela]

gogol set list

BOSTON – The final show of the Gogol Bordello and ManMan tour finished off Friday night in Boston, Mass. at the House of Blues.

ManMan opened up the show and played songs mostly from Rabbit Habbits, the band’s third album. While the crowd was just chilling and standing around, I began to mark my course through the mass of people in an effort to get everyone rowdy before the band finished. I recognized the sound of the next song and realized Black Mission Goggles was going to start, and my presence was not about to stay stuck in the back. I made it up front and got some people going. I wasn’t going to leave ManMan disappointed without a raging crowd… Success!

Gogol Bordello took the stage next.

Party on Pearl Street [by Ivan]

NORTHAMPTON – Man Man, a rock band from Philly, came to Western Mass. last night, and of course it was a groovin’ time.

Ange, Alicia, Jacqueline, Tim “T-Ratt” Rattelle, Matt Minski, his lady, Jess, and his friend Zach and myself all made the trip over to the Pearl Street Ballroom in Noho (That’s Northampton, Mass., for you out-of-staters – Alicia). After listening to “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,” over and over, Man Man finally came to the stage … in their trademark fashions of white clothes and face paint.

Which reminds me, these kids offered me and Alicia white face paint, which we put on. Critter Crat (I think) came out with a red mask on. Me and Alicia and Ange got an awesome spot all the way up in front of the stage.


The band kicked things off with some songs from Rabbit Habits. They played Easy Eats, which Alicia wanted to hear wicked bad (Uh yeah, it had been my away message on AIM for like a week). They played a long set, mixing it up from songs from all 3 of their albums.


Later on, Pow Pow jumped up playing the drums and the noisemakers with Honus Honus, and I immediately knew… it was Black Mission Goggles!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I then freaked out. (That’s Ivan’s jam.) They played sooo many good songs. At the end they finished off playing Young Einstein on the Beach, Engrish Bwudd, and Poor Jackie (I was off with my SISTER Jackie when the song came on, and I lovingly crooned every verse to her. She really seemed to enjoy it!). I was also pumped to hear Gold Teeth, which was pretty siqqq!!! They did not play one of my faves though, Push the Eagle’s Stomach, but whatevs.


Anyways Honus Honus, while playing Engrish Bwudd, decided to use Ange’s head as a percussion instrument, which was sweet! Haha no … but he did touch her head


I kinda wish I hadn’t been so fucked up on Jim Beam, because I know they played shit from The Man In A Blue Turban With A Face, but I can’t remember which songs exactly they played. There was so much wilin’ out and raging for such an amazing show. It was one of the greatest shows, if not The Greatest, that I’ve ever been to.


When you’re listening to Man Man, you just go wild. If you get a chance to see Man Man, definitely do it. If they do come around near you, let me know so I can also go. If they play near you and you don’t go, then also let me know so I can throw a baseball bat at you.

Man Man…Oh man…

On Saturday night the girls and I went to a Man Man concert. Man Man? Huh? What the heck is that? I bet that is what a lot of you are thinking. (They are the sickest band ever. – Angela) I was thinking the same thing only two weeks ago. I only agreed to go because the girls peer pressured me, and a bunch of the Westy crew was going. After I bought the ticket I listened to a few of their songs. I really got to learn what they were all about on a long car ride home the other week. Ivan was driving and Angela sat shotgun and for over an hour and a half I was immersed in the sounds of Man Man along with the screaming/singing and dancing coming from the front seats. I wanted to kill myself. I kinda enjoyed it. The band was definitely talented and learning the songs got me pretty excited for the concert.

THE CONCERT:

We headed to Pearl Street in Northampton at around 9:00 pm. There was a good amount of people there. I don’t know if like there was a dress code that I didn’t know about but almost everyone was wearing stripes and hoodies. (It’s called the cool hipster casual look.) Stripes or not, everyone seemed really nice and pumped up for the show. When the concert started everyone made their way up through the crowds and mashed themselves into the front moshing area. I however knew right away this was not where I wanted to be. I would rather be on the sidelines takin it allll in. (I was raging in the front with Alicia and Ivan.) (And at one point i had white war paint on, like the band members, but in the hot sweaty clusterfuck it rubbed off. Probably for the best. – Alicia) Plus who else would get vids and pics for buntology? Buntology always comes first in my book!

An hour into the show Alicia’s drunken self came stumbling out of the mosh. She was a sight to

be seen! Drenched in sweat, covered in bruises, barely standing… Wow I was so glad I wasn’t stuck in that clusterfuck of a moshpit. I didn’t get to see much more of the concert after that because my job then consisted of holding Alicia up, finding and feeding her water, and dressing her wounds. (Hahahaha.) (Listen, it was fine, I was fine. I got a little beaten up, but like for me, that was very hardcore. Ange and Ivan said it wasn’t even a real mosh!)

After she got herself together…well somewhat together, we hung around the merchandise area. We made a new friend. Mark. Mark the tall boy from Amish land Virgina. I think? He was a nice guy, we plugged Buntology for a little while with him. (You scarred him for life.) (We did NOT scar him for life; as Jackie was hauling me outside, he called for me by NAME. Like, “Alicia, where are you going?” I think he may have been enticed by my fresh good looks. See picture at right.) The concert ended and Angela came running outside screaming about meeting the main singer or something. (Uhh, he touched my cheek during a song and he hugged me and thanked me for singing along!) (So jealous. Honus Honus stroked Angela’s cheek! The only thing of mine that got stroked was my head, with Jackie’s palm. And by stroked I mean smacked.) I was like texting and ready to leave at that point so who knows.

Looking back on the concert now I give the “Man Man” a thumbs up and maybe a 3.7 out of 5. (Dude, why did we have Jackie write this review? She doesn’t even like the band!) ( Judge for yourself, readers: For your enjoyment … MAN MAN!! (Honus Honus is the dark-haired gentleman bobbin his head in the front. He’s the one who caressed Ange.) I don’t know what that scale represents really but I just wanna throw some numbers out at ya. If you are looking to rage it out and dance around like a sweaty mongrel go see Man Man! (Well, I guess that’s true.)