Entertainment

Yes, I realize that this is the second consecutive compilation to exclusively feature Boston based groups. Perhaps that points to the immense power that city wrangled for something like fifteen years. That’s not to say there’s nothing going on there as we speak. But few ensembles are ever going to match the sheer abandon that the early(ish) punk(ish) groups and those eighties hardcore bands were able to muster.

Willie 'Loco' Alexander – This gentleman, outside of Boston at least, is probably better known for replacing Lou Reed in the Velvet Underground as the band was going to pot being led by the Yule brothers. So, it might not even count as the Velvets. No one was left, just ringers. Either way, the reason Alexander got a shot at the big time was his time the group anthologized here. At points, it’s not difficult to hear subtle similarities between his voice and Reeds. But not enough to warrant one replacing the other. Beyond that, though, the music the Boom Boom Band works up as backing doesn’t get too far past hard rock ala Aerosmith. And no, it’s no a coincidence that both bands hail from the same joint. Not at all. Either way, Alexander opening Live at the Rat, despite the song being about the venue, doesn’t make for a good start.