Bradley’s Almanac

Remembering Burlingtonitus

Posted on April 15, 2004 at 11:20 am | No Comments

It was 10 years ago this weekend that my friend Colin and I put on the first annual Burlingtonitus independent music fest.

In April 1994, Burlington, Vermont was crawling with jam-band spawn (crunchy-hippy bands and the college kids who loved them), so our fest was really an excuse to bring indie bands we knew and loved to town, to share stages with ’em, and to have friends come out for a weekend-long party. More than a dozen bands over two days at 242 Main (the local non-profit teen center), all ages invited, and five bucks a show. It was strictly for fun, about as far from a money making venture as it coulda been. If we were lucky, the bands would get a little more than gas money… the further they drove, the more we tried to give ’em.

It was really a fest of necessity; doing it ourselves was the was the only way to see some of these bands without driving for hours. We naively hoped to kick off a trend, maybe bring some of the (imagined?) indie kids outta their rooms, get people motivated to put on their own shows, maybe get a few new bands to add our little town to future tour schedules. To a fairly minor degree, that actually happened for awhile.

Even though the people in the bands occasionally outnumbered the crowd, the first fest was such a success that we ended up hosting three more of ’em (in ’95, ’96, and ’98), growing a bit to include more invitees and other clubs. Friends were made, stories were shared, but mostly, lots of pretty great live music was played for receptive ears. We owe a lot of the fest’s success to the support of the staff at WRUV, the UVM radio station where you’d find me between classes, and to CKUT, the McGill station that helped spread the word to all the Montreal kids that drove an hour and a half south for our little indie experiment. We also couldn’t have pulled it off without the labels who sent bands our way (Sonic Bubblegum, Pop Narcotic, Harriet Records, the Proteen guys, Teenbeat), and all the bands who liked the thing enough to play more than once (the Stand GT, Chisel/Ted Leo, Tulips, the Van Pelt, Tizzy, Tugboat Annie, the Smiles, and more).

Here are the complete lineups for all four Burlingtonitus fests …

(Naturally, I couldn’t find links for all of these, so I tried to reference a related artist, a review, or another download)


Burlingtonitus One

Friday & Saturday, April 15th & 16th, 1994 at 242 Main

New Radiant Storm King, Tuscadero, Rollercoaster, Pest 5000, Driver UFO, Morning Glories, the Stand GT, Snowplow, Buddy Sevaris, Madelines, Chisel, the Smiles, Yum Yum Tree, Tulips, Green Magnet School, and other random guests


Burlingtonitus Two

Friday, April 21st, 1995 at Club Toast: the Stand GT, Tuscadero, Pest 5000, Eef, Tizzy

Saturday, April 22nd at 242 Main: Tulips, Yum Yum Tree, Blast Off Country Style, huffy, Tugboat Annie

Sunday, April 23rd at Club Metronome: Chisel, the Van Pelt, Radio to Saturn, Madelines, Buddy Sevaris, the Smiles, and Sleepcrash


Burlingtonitus Three

Friday, April 19th to 21st, 1996 at Club Toast

Sugar Plant, Pirate Jenny, Babe the Blue Ox, Saturnine, Lindy Pear, Daviess County Panthers, the Van Pelt, Tugboat Annie, Catapult, Me Jane, the Smiles, Tizzy, Starlight Conspiracy, Scrap Douglas, Soup Sandwich, The Stand GT, Goldfish, and Gladly


Burlingtonitus Four

Friday, April 24th, 1998 at 242 Main: Syrup USA, the Fan Modine, Sarge, the Wicked Farleys

Saturday, April 25th at Club Toast: the Stand GT, the Sin Eaters, the Four Color Manual, Pilot to Gunner, the Parcels

Sunday, April 26th at Club Metronome: My Own Sweet, Victory at Sea, the Swimmer, Stupid Club, Jumprope


To mark this little tenth anniversary, I’ve dusted off and digitized some old unreleased live recordings from the first two years. I tried to pick the best stuff, and though they vary quite a bit in quality, I hope some of the spirit behind them comes across. I had such a good time digging through ’em…

  • Blast Off Country StyleButtercup / Cutie Pie – Probably the only Burlingtonitus band with coordinated rock-wear, B.O.C.S. brought their Teenbeat bounce-pop all the way from D.C. just for us. Even though Cutie Pie is a little loose, I put it up here just for Colin. You’ll hear why.
  • Buddy SevarisMy Girlfriend is an Astronaut – Along with Driver UFO, these guys were Philly’s ambassadors to Burlingtonitus, part of the Proteen records crew. (note: unfortunately this song has some really nasty, super-loud digital fuzz in a bunch of spots, so i’ll spare you the ear damage… if i can find the original, i’ll post it later on.)
  • ChiselHip Straights – Wow, was I ever blown away by these guys. Ted Leo, Chris Norborg, & John Dugan. Colin would always say, about random bands he’d invite, “I’m friends with them and they’ll totally play and they’re great!”, but I’d take that last bit with a grain of rock-salt. Well, Colin was never more right than he was with Chisel. I’ve been a fan of Ted’s since the first time I saw him on stage, and this song is just one of the reasons why.
  • HuffyCarry – Tim, Jeff, & Nate. These guys, along with our own bands, happily played for free, hoping to help bring in more kids so we could pay the travellers. Not that we were huge draws, right? It’s the thought that counts.
  • Lindy PearI Could Say Anything – At least I think that’s the name of that song. I’d have to dig out my old tapes to be sure. For the ongoing adventures of singer Craig Gurwich, check out Summer at Shatter Creek.
  • MadelinesBlemishColin, Kurt, Pat, & Scott, batting cleanup at Burlingtonitus 2. Ah, the early days. “Wooden Lips with a Kickstand.” This recording is so damn good. Glad I found it.
  • New Radiant Storm KingPhone Call – What a great band. I’m really psyched to find out they got a singles/rarities collection coming out later this month. Peyton now plays with the Pernice Brothers.
  • Pest 5000Cold Feet – I’m such a sucker for violin in my pop-rock. Across the border from Montreal, Pest played the first and second Burlingtonitus fests. This recording is from the second one.
  • Radio to Saturn(We’re Sorry) – I actually don’t know the name of this one, but the made-up title fits once you get to the end. It’s ok, RtS, we forgive you.
  • the Stand GTMary’s Favorite Number – Straight outta Ontario, my Canadian pals, Chris, Doug, Colin, Wally, & eternal roadie Johnny McBean. Had some of the best times ever hangin’ with these genuinely great guys. Thankfully, Chris is still making music, so give a look and listen. We really have to get together one-a these days, Chris.
  • TizzyA-4 – Jen, Joel, and Teri, three of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, and this was my favorite song of theirs. According to their website, Jen just brought a baby, little Josephine, into the world a couple weeks back. Congrats, Jen! She’s gonna be the best rock n’ roll mom.
  • Tugboat AnnieAdaptor – From Buffalo, then Boston. Singer Mike gave it all during this set, and by the time this song came around, his voice was a little wrecked. I’ll share the song anyway, ‘cuz it’s a good one.
  • TulipsCatch the Cradle – I don’t know what was more fun… watching Suzette prowl the stage, or watching fixated fanboys watch Suzette prowl the stage. Drummer Chris is the nicest guy to ever scare the hell outta me. One night, after a set was cut short and Chris hadn’t yet released all his pent up drumming agression, he just started chucking his set off the stage onto the floor, piece by piece. Tulips became the Daviess County Panthers, then Chris and Mike went on to be in the Takers.
  • TuscaderoMt. Pleasant – Long drive from D.C. up to Burlington, but I’m so glad they made it. I hadn’t heard them before, and was smitten by this then-new Teenbeat band.
  • the Van PeltTurning 20 into 2 – Chris Leo and Co. Such a great songwriter, I owe Colin muchly for turning me onto them. Chris eventually formed the Lapse, but I’m not quite sure what he’s up to now. Colin?
  • Yum Yum TreeGrey Day – Messy, snot-nosed girl-fronted punk outta NYC. There’s hardly any online evidence of their having existed, which would probably suit them just fine.I could ramble all day about the people I met, the bands I loved, the post-show parties, all the memories that came out of months of planning and weekends of payoff. I’ll spare you that, though.

    And yes, we made way too many t-shirts… ya want one?

Comments

Leave a Reply


Notice: Undefined variable: user_ID in \\NAWINFS02\HOME\users\web\b498\rh.bsearles\wp-content\themes\elements-of-seo\comments.php on line 78





  • Handy links

  • BOSTON-AREA LIVE SHOW ACTION
    Friday, June 9th
    Mercury On Mars
    Airport
    The Lights Out
    Fox Canadian
    @ the Jungle

    Friday, June 9th
    Steep Leans
    Kremlin Bats
    The Calendars
    Audrey & Karina
    @ the Loft, Somerville

    Friday, June 9th
    Tina Fey & Amy Poehler
    "Restless Leg Tour"
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, June 10th
    Bryan Adams
    Joan Jett & the Blackhearts
    @ TD Garden

    Sunday, June 11th
    Matt Talbot (of HUM)
    live in a living room
    @ Somerville, MA

    Wednesday, June 14th
    The Magnetic Fields
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, June 15th
    Fiddlehead
    Citizen
    @ House of Blues

    Friday, June 16th
    The Waco Brothers
    Matt York
    @ Haymarket Lounge
    @ City Winery

    Friday, June 16th
    Juliana Hatfield
    Kay Hanley
    Two shows! 4pm & 7pm
    @ the Burren Backroom

    Friday, June 16th
    Cloud Nothings
    Wavves
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, June 16th
    Toad The Wet Sprocket
    @ the Wilbur

    Friday, June 16th
    Steve Lacy
    James Blake
    Toro y Moi
    Fousheé
    @ the Stage @ Suffolk Downs

    Friday & Saturday
    June 16th & 17th
    Chris Smither
    @ Club Passim

    Saturday, June 17th
    LCD Soundsystem
    Jamie xx
    Idles
    L'Rain
    @ the Stage @ Suffolk Downs

    Sunday, June 18th
    boygenius
    Clairo
    Dijon
    Bartees Strange
    @ the Stage @ Suffolk Downs

    Sunday, June 18th
    Califone
    @ the Cantab

    Sunday, June 18th
    The Cure
    The Twilight Sad
    @ Xfinity Center

    Sunday & Monday
    June 18th & 19th
    Yo La Tengo
    @ the Paradise

    Wednesday, June 21st
    Lupo Citta
    Valley of the Weights
    Nat Freed
    @ the Silhouette

    Wednesday, June 21st
    Wednesday
    Tenci
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, June 22nd
    Dave Hill
    with Tony Nagy
    @ the Burren

    Thursday, June 22nd
    Alice Austin
    @ the Porch

    Thursday, June 22nd
    Tiny Habits
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, June 23rd
    Mike Gent (of the Figgs)
    Solo LP release show
    @ the Burren

    Saturday, June 24th
    Oldjack's Last Saturdays with...
    Phil Aiken
    OldJack
    Eric Salt & the Electric City
    @ The Lizard Lounge

    Saturday, June 24th
    Teen Suicide
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday, June 26th
    Gretchen Shae & the Middle 8
    Salem Wolves
    Graveyard of the Atlantic
    @ the Silhouette

    Tuesday, June 27th
    GZA performing "Liquid Swords"
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, June 29th
    Cozy Throne
    Gia Greene
    Josephine With A Cause
    @ Notch Brewing Brighton

    Thursday, June 29th
    Corin Ashley
    @ Medford Brewing

    Friday, June 30th
    Pile (solo Rick)
    Squitch
    @ Yellow Mailbox, Somerville

    Friday, June 30th
    Ronan MacManans
    with The Goon Squad
    (Ed Valauskas, Dan Kopko,
    Chris Anzalone, & Phil Aiken)
    @ Sally O'Brien's

    Friday, June 30th
    Major Stars
    Adult Learners
    Major Stars
    @ Faces Brewing

    Saturday, July 1st
    Sparks
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, July 2nd
    X
    Squirrel Nut Zippers
    @ the Wilbur

    Sunday, July 2nd
    Dream Theater
    Devin Townsend
    Animals As Leaders
    @ the Pavilion

    Thursday, July 6th
    Elvis Costello & the Imposters
    with guest Charlie Sexton
    Nick Lowe & Los Straitjackets
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, July 9th
    Fear
    @ Big Night Live

    Wednesday, July 12th
    The Dirty Nil
    Daniel Romano's Outfit
    Family Dinner
    @ Sonia

    Wednesday, July 12th
    Waveform*
    They Are Gutting A Body Of Water
    & Teethe
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, July 15th
    Jenny Lewis
    Cass McCombs
    Hayden Pedigo
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, July 15th
    Counting Crows
    Dashboard Confessional
    Frank Turner
    @ the Pavilion

    Saturday, July 15th
    Noel Gallagher's
    High Flying Birds
    with Garbage
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, July 16th
    Braid
    "Frame & Canvas"
    25th Anniversary Tour
    with J. Robbins (Jawbox)
    & Oceanator
    @ the Sinclair

    Sunday, July 16th
    First Aid Kit
    The Weather Station
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, July 18th
    Panda Bear & Sonic Boom
    with Braxe + Falcon
    @ the Paradise

    Tuesday, July 18th
    Peter Frampton
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, July 18th
    Cake
    @ the Pavilion

    Thursday to Sunday
    July 20th to 23rd
    NICE, a fest, featuring...
    Karate, Swirlies, Guerilla Toss,
    Frances Forever, and over 70
    local-Boston artists
    @ Davis Square, Somerville

    Friday, July 21st
    Defeater
    Caspian
    Stand Still
    Rough Francis
    Stay Inside
    @ the Middle East Down

    Friday, July 21st
    Staring at the Sea
    (a tribute to the Cure)
    @ Medford Brewing

    Saturday, July 22nd
    Walter Sickert &
    the Army of Broken Toys
    with Sapling, Astral Bitch,
    and Dropbear
    @ the Sinclair

    Monday & Tuesday
    July 24th & 25th
    Le Tigre
    @ the Royale

    Tuesday, July 25th
    Shady Bug
    Pet Fox
    Holiday Music
    Ski Club
    @ O'Brien's

    Tuesday, July 25th
    Culture Club
    Howard Jones
    Berlin
    @ Xfinity Center

    Tuesday & Wednesday
    July 25th & 26th
    Billy Strings
    @ the Pavilion

    Thursday, July 27th
    Iron & Wine
    Half Gringa
    @ Tree House Brewing, Charlton

    Thursday, July 27th
    Jason Isbell and
    the 400 Unit
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, July 28th
    King Krule
    @ House of Blues

    Sunday, July 30th
    Please Don't Destroy (SNL)
    live on stage
    @ the Wilbur

    Monday, July 31st
    The Drums
    Cold Hart
    @ the Royale

    Saturday, August 5th
    Extreme
    Living Colour
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, August 5th
    Mellow Bravo
    Cask Mouse
    Hayley Thompson-King
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, August 5th
    Foreigner
    Loverboy
    @ Xfinity Center

    Wednesday, August 9th
    The Clientele
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, August 11th
    Band of Horses
    The Revivalists
    @ the Pavilion

    Friday, August 11th
    Glen Hansard &
    Marketa Irglova
    (of the Swell Season)
    @ the Wang

    Friday, August 18th
    Sarah Sherman (SNL)
    @ the Wilbur

    Saturday, August 19th
    The Baseball Project
    with Fenway organist Josh Kantor
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, August 19th
    Sigur Ros
    with an orchestra
    @ the Wang

    Saturday & Sunday
    August 19th & 20th
    In Between Days Festival
    with
    Modest Mouse, The Beths, Metric,
    Trampled By Turtles, Lord Huron,
    Sunny Day Real Estate,
    Cautious Clay, Yoke Lore,
    Blitzen Trapper, Allison Ponthier,
    Illiterate Light, Slothrust,
    Miko Marks, Weakened Friends,
    shallow pools, Kat Wright,
    Fantastic Cat, Dwight & Nicole,
    Paper Tigers, Dutch Tulips,
    Carissa Johnson, Mint Green,
    Gypsy Moths, & Sweet Petunia
    @ Veterans Memorial Stadium, Quincy

    Thursday, August 24th
    Jimmy Eat World
    Manchester Orchestra
    Middle Kids
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, August 24th
    Bruce Springsteen
    & the E Street Band
    @ Gillette Stadium

    Friday, August 25th
    Alex G
    Alvvays
    @ the Pavilion

    Friday, August 25th
    John Oliver
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, August 26th
    The Pixies
    Modest Mouse
    Cat Power
    @ Mass MoCA

    Sunday, September 3rd
    Future Teens
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Sunday, September 3rd
    The Offspring
    A Simple Plan
    Sum 41
    @ the Xfinity Center

    Tuesday, September 5th
    Beck
    Phoenix
    Weyes Blood
    Sir Chloe
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Wednesday, September 6th
    Duran Duran
    Nile Rodgers & Chic
    Bastille
    @ TD Garden

    Wednesday, September 6th
    Damien Jurado
    Lilly Miller
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Thursday, September 7th
    Ted Leo & the Pharmacists
    Tami Hart (MEN)

    Thursday, September 7th
    Sting
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Friday, September 8th
    Speedy Ortiz
    @ the Somerville Armory

    Friday, September 8th
    Jeff Rosenstock
    Sidney Gish
    Gladie
    @ Roadrunner

    Saturday, September 9th
    Billy Idol
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Saturday, September 9th
    Buffalo Tom
    @ Bellforge Arts Center

    Monday, September 11th
    Mr. Bungle
    Tove Lo
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, September 11th
    Luna
    Ryder the Eagle
    @ the Paradise

    Tuesday, September 12th
    Squeeze
    Psychedlic Furs
    @ the Wang

    Tuesday & Wednesday September 12th & 13th
    Death Cab For Cutie
    The Postal Service
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Thursday, September 14th
    Gin Blossoms
    Sugar Ray
    Tonic
    Fastball
    @ the Chevalier

    Thursday, September 14th
    Peter Gabriel
    @ the Garden

    Friday, September 15th
    Godflesh
    Cel Genesis
    @ the Middle East

    Tuesday, September 19th
    Boris
    Melvins
    @ the Paradise

    Tuesday, September 19th
    Gorillaz
    @ Fenway Park

    Tuesday, September 19th
    Death From Above 1979
    @ the Middle East Downstairs

    Wednesday, September 20th
    OSEES
    @ the Royale

    Wednesday, September 20th
    Death Grips
    @ House of Blues

    Thursday, September 21st
    Bully
    @ Crystal Ballroom

    Friday, September 22nd
    Fiddlehead
    @ the Royale

    Friday, September 22nd
    Tegan & Sara
    Carlie Hanson
    @ Roadrunner

    Friday, September 22nd
    Lady Lamb
    celebrates 10 years
    of "Ripely Pine"
    @ the Sinclair

    Saturday, September 23rd
    Stevie Nicks
    Billy Joel
    @ Gillette

    Wednesday, September 27th
    Ratboys
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Wednesday, September 27th
    Royal Blood
    Bad Nerves
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, September 28th
    Ratboys
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Sunday, October 1st
    Explosions In The Sky
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, October 2nd
    Neil Gaiman
    @ the Emerson Colonial

    Thursday, October 5th
    Belly
    @ the Paradise

    Friday, October 6th
    Kingsley Flood
    The Shang Hi Los
    @ the Burren

    Friday, October 6th
    Garrison
    Orangeisland
    Pilot to Gunner
    @ the Middle East Upstairs

    Saturday, October 7th
    Agent Orange
    Spice Pistols
    @ the Middle East

    Tuesday, October 10th
    Nick Cave with
    Colin Greenwood (Radiohead)
    on bass
    @ the Wang

    Wednesday, October 11th
    Young Fathers
    @ the Royale

    Wednesday, October 11th
    The Mission UK
    The Chamelons
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Friday, October 13th
    Violent Femmes
    performing their debut LP
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, October 15th
    Thundercat
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Sunday, October 15th
    Queen
    @ the Garden

    Monday, October 16th
    Chromeo
    Ric Wilson
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, October 17th
    The Chats
    Cosmic Psychos
    Schizophonics
    Gymshorts
    @ House of Blues

    Wednesday, October 18th
    Christine and the Queens
    @ House of Blues

    Saturday & Sunday
    October 21st & 22nd
    Gregory Alan Isakov
    The Milk Carton Kids
    @ Roadrunner

    Monday, October 23rd
    Pile
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, October 24th
    My Morning Jacket
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, October 26th
    Hiss Golden Messenger
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, October 26th
    Mudhoney
    Hooveriii
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, October 28th
    Jethro Tull
    @ MGM Music Hall

    Tuesday, October 31st
    Depeche Mode
    @ the Garden

    Wednesday, November 1st
    The Hives
    @ the Sinclair

    Thursday, November 2nd
    Henry Winkler
    @ First Parish Church

    Saturday, November 4th
    Blonde Redhead
    @ the Crystal Ballroom

    Saturday, November 4th
    Amyl and the Sniffers
    Die Spitz
    @ Roadrunner

    Wednesday, November 8th
    Codeine
    Barbara Manning
    @ the Sinclair

    Friday, November 10th
    Couch
    @ Royale

    Wednesday, November 15th
    Tool
    @ the Garden

    Sunday, November 19th
    Men I Trust
    Tops
    @ Roadrunner

    Tuesday, November 21st
    Liz Phair
    Blondshell
    @ Roadrunner

    Thursday, November 30th
    Nation of Language
    Miss Grit
    @ the Sinclair

    Tuesday, December 5th
    Bar Italia
    @ Brighton Music Hall

    Saturday, December 16th
    A John Waters Christmas
    @ Berklee Performance Center