Category Archives: Jack’s Bootleg o’ the Week

These are some of Jack’s favorite board mixes throughout the years. Some of these haven’t even seen the light of day… until now.

Jack’s Bootleg of the Week – 2

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Hot Box – “Lost Cause“

So it was September of 1992 and I was working for Ray Flynn and the City of Boston Mayor’s Office; I was doing sound for Ray’s public events and mixing all the shows down at City Hall Plaza, Waterfront Park, etc… That was when my old friend John Bionelli called and told me about what he called “Rick’s Last Romp.” Boston’s rock band The Outlets, he told me, were breaking up; and their last show would be at The Rat on September 19th. Now the city sound crew had heard me talking about the Outlets for a few years by then, so someone said; “Shit Jack, that’s an open day for us. Let’s pack some gear in a truck and head down there to record those guys’ last gig.” So after checking with the band through Johny B, off we went to The Rat.

We set up a 24 channel split snake with Granny, the House Engineer, and ran everything out to a 24 channel board in the truck. I mixed this 24 by 2 live into a DAT with a cassette deck for back up. What you hear is what we got using the opening act, a Boston band named HOTBOX for our recording sound check. Truth is, I don’t think that band even knew we were recording them! But the crowd at The Rat LOVED them.

I never heard of HOTBOX again. In fact, I don’t even know what they looked liked as I was mixing blind. Natchet and I tried to find a picture of them on line yesterday, but all we found was another band called THE Hotbox, so don’t be confused. If anyone out there knows people from the ORIGINAL HOTBOX, direct them to our website and this bootleg; we would be happy to chat with them. We just might have a recording of their entire set 😉

Now what about The Outlets? Well, let’s just say that’s another story better left for another time. But if you’re an Outlet’s fan, rest assured that there most likely WILL be some Outlets bootlegs showing up here in the future. But probably not before we release an ass kicking Boys Life bootleg! 🙂

As for now, just sit back and check out a young Boston rock band that had no idea their performance was being captured on tape to be shared on the internet almost 20 years later. I left this one UNeditted for the sake of an old friend of mine who might want to hear a real “remember when.” So remember kiddies, you never know when those “room mikes” just might catch you in front of YOUR kids nineteen years later!

Enjoy, Jack

Jack’s Bootleg of the Week – 1

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The Real Kids – “Who Needs You“

Yeah, I’ve been mixing sound for about 38 years now on stages small and large. But it’s not really about the mix at all; it’s about the music, plain and simple. And the bigger the stages and venues get, the more disconnected the music and musicians become from their audience. In my opinion, the smaller the stage and the closer the crowd, the better.

This story is about one of the greatest rock and roll moments I was ever fortunate enough to be a part of. The story of a great rock and roll band on a small stage in a small club with some great fans right in their faces. It was August 28th, 1999 and I was working as the Cheif Sound Engineer for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. I had just finished mixing a big classical orchestra at The Hatch Memorial Shell and I couldn’t get out of there quick enough. One of my all time fave Boston bands, The Real Kids, was playing down at the Lynnwood Grill on Kilmarnock Street in the Fenway.

I had graduated midlife from UMass Boston the summer before and had asked John Felice if he would consider reuniting with Billy Borgiolli, Allen “Alpo” Paulino, and Howie Furgeson to play just ONE night at the Lynnwood for my graduation party. To my surprise, everyone agreed and got together for a practice. Well, my graduation party never happened, but the aforementioned version of The Real Kids went on to play several shows around the country. I think Norton even released another album during that period when this combination of friends came back together to play music. The main point was that they WERE back playing together and I, as if searching for a ghost from the past, wanted very much to be an eye witness to it.

After giving the classical orchestra the bum’s rush off the Hatch stage, I got down to the Lynnwood about 10 minutes before the scheduled set. There was a problem I was told; one of the musicians didn’t have an amp to play through. Then someone from the opening acts recognized me as “the repairman down at Mr Music” and said he would loan The Real Kids his amp if I agreed to repair it should something happen to it during the next set. “Agreed;” I said, “Done.” John Felice then walked in the door and seeing me said; “Jack, just keep both guitars even with my voice just over them.” I said; “John, are you asking me to mix you guys?” He said; “Do I have to ask, Jack?” So off I went to the board, and I guess the rest is what you hear.

Allan Kraut, the House Engineer, was nice enough to capture a live recording using his own blend of my live board mix along with two room mikes. If you listen closely enough through a set of good headphones, you can actually hear the sound of the crowd knock beer bottles off the pool table. But far more importantly, you will hear this line up of the Real Kids doing one of their very best versions of one of John Felice’s greatest songs, Who Needs You.

So screw the mix friends, just turn up the volume and let yourself hear the REAL Real Kids in action! DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF ALLEN PAULINO and Real Kids everywhere.