Buy Me, Boston

04/20/2024

If you ask me, the best way to celebrate Record Store Day is not to provide colored vinyl limited editions to amateur "collectors," but instead to celebrate some of the retail pioneers who provided inspiration for what we're trying to do.

With that in mind, I want to send many props to three of the people who deserve love and respect for paving the way: the legendary Skippy White; Reed from In Your Ear (who we were honored to see in our shop just a couple days ago); and the birthday boy who will be feted tonight on his home turf of Charlestown: DJ EDDIE B.

02/02/2024

I didn't know James Ryan as well as many of my friends did, but he always struck me as the kind of person who would rather help people out and build up a community than worry about making money for himself -- a trait that I always admire in people, because it really gets at the core of who someone is.

[If you want to know more about James's legacy, check out the Hoodoo BBQ oral history URL below, which we worked on together in 2021.]

He was a truly unique man who left a deep impression on countless people in the Boston music world. May he rest in peace.

Photo of James by Jennet Cook in January 2021, sending much love out to her in this very difficult time.

Some words about James from the piece:
"The food [at Hoodoo] was great, but, interestingly, old-timers rarely talk about that. What really brings them back with a smile is the camaraderie and family vibe that James and his kitchen crew brought to their lives. James was, of course, more than happy to feed paying customers. But he was just as likely to offer free or reduced-price meals to a range of Kenmore denizens, from broke rockers like the pre-record-deal Del Fuegos and Scruffy The Cat to the undisputed King of Kenmore Square, the late Mr. Butch.

If you needed a laugh, some sustenance or a place to crash for a couple days or weeks, James was there for the people of Boston. (And if you needed a vocalist for your encore cover of a Chuck Berry or Howlin’ Wolf tune, James was there, too.)"

https://www.masscult617.com/hoodoo

02/01/2024

RIP to a true Boston legend: James Ryan. I didn’t know him as well as many of my pals, but I am grateful for all the wisdom, kindness (and paper goods) he imparted to me.

[All Proceeds from these sales will go to PROJECT RESTORE US, a local charity that helps Boston Restaurants, Restaurant workers, and local families experiencing food insecurity]

10/18/2023

Nice piece on the one-and-only Monsieur Beebs and the amazing technicolor David Bieber Archives.

The David Bieber Archives is home to nearly a million pop culture artifacts & memorabilia. Learn more about Bieber & his empire here.

02/01/2023

I have to be pretty selective when it comes to framing posters and flyers (or I would go bankrupt), but this one was too striking to just leave it in a box. Hand drawn eyes and signed by Lou. Based on the 1982 Kozmetix EP cover art by Siiri Howard.

01/20/2023

I haven’t posted any flyers in a while but this one is a new favorite, for many obvious reasons. Fall River, stand up!!! (And then back away when the Fire Sword Show portion begins…) [Formerly in the possession of the inimitable Kathei Logue]

01/13/2023

Happiest of Happy Birthdays to one of this town’s true and legitimate musical legends, Willie Loco Alexander. A never-endingly creative force of nature and a hell of a nice guy to boot. Here’s to another 80 years!!!!!!!!! [1977 Rat pix from one of Willie’s scrapbooks, photographer unknown]

12/22/2022

Just a little something to get everyone in the Holiday spirit! A wonderful piece from the Somerville Producers' Group archives via Larry Sawires Yager.

Year unknown but I would guess around 1978 or thereabouts.

Watch out for that reindeer sh*t!