Watts are rock ‘n’ roll through and through.
Watts @ Thunder Road 6.11.2016
Watts @ Midway Cafe 10.3.2015
It had been far, far too long since I had last seen Watts. If there was any doubt, the opening riff of “20 to 12” drove the point home with gusto.
Watts – Flash Of White Light (2014)
Watts
Flash Of White Light
2014
Opening with the one-two punch of their recent 7″ and never looking back, Watts are keeping the flame of song-driven classic rock alive on Flash Of White Light. Right from the get-go it’s clear that Watts have logged more hours listening to Cheap Trick, The Raspberries, Kiss and AC/DC than I’ve spent doing just about anything. It’s in their DNA. When they toss out rippers like “Rocks”* or “Wasted Angels,” it’s clear where they’re coming from. They channel The Cars on “Better (For A Girl Like You).” They evoke memories of “Sweet Child O’ Mine” on “Flying Over With Bombs.” It’s everything I’ve come to expect from these guys. Thankfully. And then, with a sense of wonder and ringing in my ears, Watts reveal the man behind the curtain on “Trick.” Nice move, gentlemen.
Where to get it:
* Dig the left speaker guitar at the 1:10 mark. Awesome.
Watts – “Flash Of White Light” b/w “The Mess Is The Makeup” (2014)
Watts
“Flash Of White Light” b/w “The Mess Is The Makeup”
2014
I had this 7″ ordered as soon as I heard about it. Why not? With Watts, you know you’re gonna get some fine rock ‘n’ roll. That’s exactly what this release is. “Flash Of White Light” is instantly recognizable from their live shows and it rips with blazing guitars and a flash of… wait a sec. I got a little wrapped up in the tune there. How can you not like a song that name drops The Dirty Truckers, The Shods, The Dents and The Abbey Lounge? So good. “The Mess Is The Makeup” follows up with harmonies and handclaps. I’m a sucker for handclaps. Have I mentioned that Watts are good at the whole rock ‘n’ roll thing?
As for the vinyl itself? It’s white, obviously. Small hole. 45RPM. Full color jacket. Good stuff.
Where to get it:
Watts @ The Middle East Downstairs 1.31.2014
Watts are a really good band. You know that, right? The big guitars are just the right size, drawing from Nielsen, Petty and The Brothers Young. The songs are equally at home over the radio or PA. Oh, and these guys know how to put on a show. It had been far too long since I had last seen Watts. Thankfully, Richard Bouchard came through with a stellar bill. Watts kicked off the night at The Middle East Downstairs.
Oh no, what have we done? Mellow Bravo are picking the Video of the Day all week on Daykamp Music TV!
File this one under things we’ll probably regret, but we’re letting Mellow Bravo pick the Video of the Day all week on Daykamp Music TV. Why? Because they’re awesome and maybe they scare us a little bit. Hey, sometimes being scared is a good thing. Especially when the band picked “More Than A Feeling” as today’s Video of the Day.
We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that there’s another reason for this video takeover. You see, Mellow Bravo is playing a gigantic Indie Rock Ranger Presents show at The Middle East Downstairs with Sidewalk Driver, Goddamn Draculas, The Silks and Watts on Friday night. That’s a great bill. You should go.
Crazy good Mellow Bravo show event page
Watts @ Radio 10.12.2012
No benefit for Barbara Walsh would have been complete without Watts ripping it up for the Radio crowd. They are one of her favorite bands and for good reason. These guys know how to put on a good old fashioned rock ‘n’ roll show. Watts delivered at Bands For Babs.
Being for the Benefit of Barbara Walsh!
This is tough to write…
I’m going to get right to it. On July 3rd, our dear friend Barbara “Babs” Walsh suffered an AVM/stroke. She went into a coma. The news was brutal. Babs is one of my favorite people in the entire world. Anyone who knows Barbara understands what a big supporter she is of the Boston music scene. Any band that has endured her brutal honesty is better for it.* Even moving to L.A. several months ago didn’t slow her down. She had already been back this way a couple of times, attending shows and catching up with all of us who miss her. Suddenly, she was fighting for her life. Devastating.
This is easy to write…
You know what? Babs is a tough cookie. Her recovery, thus far, has been tremendous. Now we’re putting on a show with a bunch of her friends to help with the financial side of things. What kind of show? How about a two night blowout at Radio! Bands For Babs! Upstairs! Downstairs! Rock! Punk! Metal! Reunions! We’ve got it all in store for you. The show details and Facebook events are listed below. We hope you can make it out to our good ol’ fashioned rock ‘n’ roll extravaganza and help get Babs get back on her feet.
There’s also a website for donations: Funds For Babs
Both shows are at Radio.
Early shows! 8pm start time!
Presented by Boston Band Crush and Daykamp Music.
Poster by Daykamp Creative.
Night #1
Facebook event
Upstairs:
12a Rule
11p Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
10p The Decals
9p AM Stereo
8p The Modifiers
Downstairs:
11:30p The Charms
10:30p Dave Mirabella
9:30p Eric Salt & The Electric City
Night #2
Facebook event
Upstairs:
12a The Dents
11p Devil On Horseback
10p Watts
9p Gymnasium
8p Spin-Off!
Downstairs:
11:30p The Dirty Truckers
10:30p Reverse
9:30p Dirt Mall
* Barbara has been particulary vocal about her distaste for the Dirt Mall song “The Demons & The Damned.” It’s already a long song, but I’m thinking we may bust out an extended version for this occasion. Just for you, Babs!
Watts – One Below The All Time Low (2007)
Watts
One Below The All Time Low
2007
Watts have a sound. It starts with Cheap Trick and The Rolling Stones. Then it adds liberal doses of The Psychedelic Furs and both varieties of The Heartbreakers. It’s a good sound.
Watts use that sound to power their way through One Below The All Time Low. The record opens with the fantastic swagger of “20 To 12.” It’s the Stones on steroids and it’s a scorcher. There are other great songs, too. “One Below (The All Time Low)”, “Wishing” and “Petty Revolution” all feature great lead guitar lines to go with their catchy melodies. In fact, there’s not a bad song in the bunch.
One Below The All Time Low is fun and well executed. The guitars interact with precision, trading riffs from speaker to speaker. The backing vocals are spot. John Lynch is a human metronome. This is good solid rock ‘n’ roll.
Where to get it:
Watts @ Radio 10.8.2011
Watts was the seventh band to play at Radio. When they performed their song “Radio”, they became the fourth band to perform a song with the club’s name in the title.
I posted this little tidbit on Facebook.* The next day I saw a comment from Wattsman Dan Kopko asking “Yes, but how many of those bands have a song entitled ‘Radio’?” I informed him that the answer to his inquiry was three.** Everybody chuckled.
This has to be some kind of good omen for the club.***
* Hey! Did you know that Daykamp Music has a Facebook page? Go like it. I’ll wait here.
** Sidewalk Driver, The Rationales and, of course, Watts all played their own songs called “Radio”. AM Stereo played their song “Southern Rock Radio”. Unfortunately, no one covered Elvis Costello.
*** And/or clever booking by Ashley Willard.