Next to The Rat, I miss Cantone's most of all, because it was small and cozy, had booths a bar, some tables (and a really good jukebox) on one side, the stage and some tables on the other side, was like seeing a band in one's garage.
The Rat outlived them all, though, and was really the true home base of Boston punk. Seeing (and hearing) a band at The Rat was like seeing a band in one's basement.
In New York, it was CBGB;s. In Boston, it was The Rat
Cantone's, The Rat, The Underground (in Allston), and the 1270 were my favorite clubs in this era.
For awhile, after the Underground closed, a new club called "Streets" opened on Commonwealth Ave. The club had some good bookings. But it was sterile in terms of atmosphere, just a storefront bar. Nearby Bunratty's had more character, albeit a biker/metal bar in those days.
HSR were dressed as nurses for that 1270 show, so I think must have been a Halloween gig. Although it could also have been a New Year's Eve show. I think it was some special occasion, because ordinarily the 1270 featured a traditional gay disco on the top floor, new wave/punk music with deejay and dancing on the street level, and a lounge in the basement, complete with transvestite on piano playing show tunes. In the summer, the roof was open with a bar and barbeque.
Human Sexual Response also once performed upstairs at the 1270, a cool gay club on Boylston Street in Boston (down the street from where WBCN-FM relocated after the station left its Prudential Cemter studios), near where the Ramrod is now located, the Ramrod originally having been known as Herbie's Ramrod and at Carver St., near the Boston Common.
Ding Ho was not better than Cantones,the only place better than Cantones was Space,the crazyest club ever.People having sex on the third floor snorting off a midgets head it was great.
Ok so I used to frequent Cantones and was a huge Human Sexual Response fan back in the day.
If you've ever seen Hedwig and the Angry Inch going to Cantones to see a live performance was like going to Bilgewater's to see Hedwig.
Even better was Ding Ho's. A comedy club in Cambridge, MA which was also a polynesian chinese restaurant where the stage was in front of the bar where the blender would often drown out the comic. I used to see lenny clarke, steve sweeney, steve wright, etc. there.
It is interesting with the perspective of time that it's obvious that bands from the same time all had a similar vibe, look and sound. This HSR is very reminiscent of early Martha and the Muffins in look and a bit of the vocals.
Love how there are so few people - 40 or 50 - that you can hear individual conversations. That's how small these early scenes were. London Punk Scene 1975, New York 1974-1975, Los Angeles 1977, Cleveland 1974, Washington DC 1979.
Not to mention Boston 1975-76. This was in a small Italian restaurant that did punk music after dinner. My band, The Girls did a regular Monday night thing for a month or so to get a core following.
oh please! martha and the fucking muffins? they were from cananda! there was no similarity between either band! and martha and the muffins had a very minor college music hit "echo beach" a very borring tune!
"It's odd how some bands disappear from history and others go on to become generally regarded as some of history's best. Back in the early 80's, in the time when New Wave was big and CDs were only starting to replace the LP, the band Human Sexual Response really caught my attention. I bought their second LP ("In a Roman Mood") and was quite impressed. I feel it measured up to the best product of the age, which was quite good."
I was a student at BC during HSR's high point. God knows, I played them at least once if not twice during my shifts. And if memory serves, they played on campus at least once a year. (Props to the Catholic university - even if it didn't know what it was paying for.)
Miss this group more than any other. What a miraculous blend of voices and instruments.
If there ever is a reunion of HSR, I would hope someone would inform me so I could drop whatever and attend. It's that important.
such a great, theatrical band. they really made the boston music scene gerat. miss this band... so talented. Cantones was so cool. I used to sing with The Nervous Eaters there.
Wow, this is really early in their all too brief existence. They are one of the most talented bands that ever rocked. There was another one besides "cool jerk" on here too, but it was removed :(
Oh Larry Bangor!
That Gomez Addams mustache!!
blah5651 2 months ago
Next to The Rat, I miss Cantone's most of all, because it was small and cozy, had booths a bar, some tables (and a really good jukebox) on one side, the stage and some tables on the other side, was like seeing a band in one's garage.
The Rat outlived them all, though, and was really the true home base of Boston punk. Seeing (and hearing) a band at The Rat was like seeing a band in one's basement.
In New York, it was CBGB;s. In Boston, it was The Rat
gymnastix 2 months ago
Cantone's, The Rat, The Underground (in Allston), and the 1270 were my favorite clubs in this era.
For awhile, after the Underground closed, a new club called "Streets" opened on Commonwealth Ave. The club had some good bookings. But it was sterile in terms of atmosphere, just a storefront bar. Nearby Bunratty's had more character, albeit a biker/metal bar in those days.
gymnastix 2 months ago
HSR were dressed as nurses for that 1270 show, so I think must have been a Halloween gig. Although it could also have been a New Year's Eve show. I think it was some special occasion, because ordinarily the 1270 featured a traditional gay disco on the top floor, new wave/punk music with deejay and dancing on the street level, and a lounge in the basement, complete with transvestite on piano playing show tunes. In the summer, the roof was open with a bar and barbeque.
gymnastix 2 months ago
Human Sexual Response also once performed upstairs at the 1270, a cool gay club on Boylston Street in Boston (down the street from where WBCN-FM relocated after the station left its Prudential Cemter studios), near where the Ramrod is now located, the Ramrod originally having been known as Herbie's Ramrod and at Carver St., near the Boston Common.
gymnastix 2 months ago
Anyone tell me the name of the song? thx
mick2spic 5 months ago
@mick2spic It's called Assault & Battery. Although the lyrics say 'assault & batter me...'
JackWalworth 5 months ago
Ding Ho was not better than Cantones,the only place better than Cantones was Space,the crazyest club ever.People having sex on the third floor snorting off a midgets head it was great.
jmac5058 8 months ago
Ok so I used to frequent Cantones and was a huge Human Sexual Response fan back in the day.
If you've ever seen Hedwig and the Angry Inch going to Cantones to see a live performance was like going to Bilgewater's to see Hedwig.
Even better was Ding Ho's. A comedy club in Cambridge, MA which was also a polynesian chinese restaurant where the stage was in front of the bar where the blender would often drown out the comic. I used to see lenny clarke, steve sweeney, steve wright, etc. there.
bartleby2007 3 years ago
It is interesting with the perspective of time that it's obvious that bands from the same time all had a similar vibe, look and sound. This HSR is very reminiscent of early Martha and the Muffins in look and a bit of the vocals.
Love how there are so few people - 40 or 50 - that you can hear individual conversations. That's how small these early scenes were. London Punk Scene 1975, New York 1974-1975, Los Angeles 1977, Cleveland 1974, Washington DC 1979.
About 50 people in each city.
250!!
leeraconteur 3 years ago
Not to mention Boston 1975-76. This was in a small Italian restaurant that did punk music after dinner. My band, The Girls did a regular Monday night thing for a month or so to get a core following.
JackWalworth 3 years ago
oh please! martha and the fucking muffins? they were from cananda! there was no similarity between either band! and martha and the muffins had a very minor college music hit "echo beach" a very borring tune!
tommyfuller78 3 years ago
Ha, that one singer looks like Klaus Kinski!
tapedelay 4 years ago
From a blog on Frank Stamm's myspace page:
"It's odd how some bands disappear from history and others go on to become generally regarded as some of history's best. Back in the early 80's, in the time when New Wave was big and CDs were only starting to replace the LP, the band Human Sexual Response really caught my attention. I bought their second LP ("In a Roman Mood") and was quite impressed. I feel it measured up to the best product of the age, which was quite good."
richardofdiamonds 4 years ago
do you think they know it's christmas
9ideal 4 years ago
I was a student at BC during HSR's high point. God knows, I played them at least once if not twice during my shifts. And if memory serves, they played on campus at least once a year. (Props to the Catholic university - even if it didn't know what it was paying for.)
Miss this group more than any other. What a miraculous blend of voices and instruments.
If there ever is a reunion of HSR, I would hope someone would inform me so I could drop whatever and attend. It's that important.
ctdomer 4 years ago
There was an HSR reunion show in 1989.
allmod2 3 years ago
Hey ctdomer, I was a ZBCer too, back in the way early days. I loved the Humes.
Andolini99 3 years ago
such a great, theatrical band. they really made the boston music scene gerat. miss this band... so talented. Cantones was so cool. I used to sing with The Nervous Eaters there.
BostonRocker51 4 years ago
A treasure...
jjwagg 4 years ago
Wow, this is really early in their all too brief existence. They are one of the most talented bands that ever rocked. There was another one besides "cool jerk" on here too, but it was removed :(
thedeb 4 years ago
I'll bet it was bu******ed! and I can't spell it out or my comment would be removed!! :-)
pasbestos2006 4 years ago
OMG talk about memories at CANTONES !!! LOLO, THIS IS GOOD STUFF I would love to see "Land of the glass pine cones" or Jackie Onassis
robinzack1997 4 years ago