Okay, so the Cramps made their greatest records with no dang bass player – they didn’t need one! Boo Frog operates on a similar premise, I think. There’s so much great guitar here it takes awhile before the listener even notices there’s a rhythm instrument that’s usually there that ain’t. I haven’t even said a word about the songs – if these were JUST Chris Newman songs, it’d be a great album. But add Erika Meyer’s songwriting, guitar playing & singing into the equation – AND Paul Vega’s drumming (and great carny/Suicide/Jim-Carroll-esque vox on “Mind Bender”), and we’ve got a truly excellent album here. Erika’s “Anabasis” could be a riot grrrl outtake from 1994 (I hope the band doesn’t edit THIS part of the review out – I mean it as a compliment!), and then “Jake the Alligator Man”, complete with theremin from engineer deluxe Mike Lastra, is a psychedelic masterpiece that would fit in between the Seeds & the Lollipop Shoppe on a 60s mixtape. Seems like Erika sings a lot about dead people… and hey! Do I know “Bad Pam?” Newman has been making music for Portland & beyond for the last 30 years now, and will hopefully continue for 30 more – this record proves that his best work isn’t behind him yet. He’s been on a writing/recording/playing-live rampage the last 4 or 5 years, and this newest band of his, Boo Frog, raises the ante further. Glad to know you guys, and glad to keep seeing you live.

There’s a video from the session this album came from at Smegma that’s pretty cool – more contributions from renaissance man Mike Lastra – check it out

Boo Frog/Better Than the Rest, Skullman Records CD 84502-40389-3, 2010.re

Boo Frog is a 2-guitar + drums psychedelic-swamp-rock n’ roll trio from Portland, Oregon, featuring the dual vocal, guitar, and song-writing of Chris Newman (of the legendary Napalm Beach) & Erika Meyer (Serpentone). Paul Vega (Wadsworth, Subarachnoid Space, Diesto) drums and sings backup, and sometimes lead, vocals.

Formed in April 2009, Boo Frog released their first, self-titled album October 2010. Their second album,” Better Than The Rest,” was released April 2010.

Band: Boo Frog
Genre: Rock & Roll / Trash Rock / Garage Rock / Swamp Rock
Influences: Cramps, Seeds, Gun Club, Stooges, Sonic Youth
Albums: Boo Frog October 2009
Better Than The Rest April 2010
Members: Chris Newman, Erika Meyer, Paul Vega
Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/boofrogrock
Contact: boofrog (at) skullmanrecords.com (or use the Skullman Records contact form).

BOO FROG art by Chris Newman

Paul Vega, Erika Meyer, Chris Newman

Boo Frog – Bad Pam

August 2010

Boo Frog @ Waterheater Sat 8/7 6:45 PM. 750 N Freemont (near Mississippi Ave) PDX. Free. All Ages.
Boo Frog @ Kelly’s Olympian / Knife Shop. PDX. Thurs 8/12.

September 2010

Boo Frog @ Plan B Bar. Thursday, 9/16. 9pm. With Phil White and Hairspray Blues. 1305 S.E. 8th Ave, PDX.

SNOW BUD AND THE FLOWER PEOPLE

August 2010

Snow Bud @ Centaur Guitar Parking Lot Saturday Aug 21 Free & All Ages BYO

CHRIS NEWMAN SOLO, ERIKA MEYER SOLO

August 2010

Chris Newman Undead solo acoustic Fri Aug 13 and Fri Aug 2 at Hobnob Grille 33rd & SE Morrison, 8-10 PM Free, all ages (probably) and Sat Aug 14 at Eugenio’s 8:30-11 PM 35th & SE Division. Free, all ages.

Erika Meyer solo electric Fri Aug 27 at Steinhaus, 82nd Avenue and the NE corner of S.E. Division. 21+ 9PM, opening for some rock bands including The Decliners.

NAPALM BEACH

October 2010

Napalm Beach @ Club Satyricon – 10/30. Good Bye to Satyricon; the club is to be torn down.

Twilight Café & Bar
1420 SE Powell Blvd Portland, OR 97202
Phone: (503) 232.3576

Snow Bud and the Flower People at Dunes -1909 MLK, PDX - Thursday - 11/12