Escape from
Dog Palace

Boston garage rockers Muck and the
Mires get near to their heroes

HYPNOTIZING: Muck and the Mires

by JOHNSON CUMMINS

“The place was really disgusting and after two days, we just had to get out of there, and moved into a Motel 6,” explains Muck and the Mires’ guitarist/singer Muck on the Boston band’s digs while recording their latest garage stomper, Hypnotic.

Said Los Angeles pigsty, affectionately christened “the Dog Palace,” was owned by none other than their producer, Kim Fowley. If Fowley’s name doesn’t ring a bell, he’s the man responsible for ’60s novelty hits like “They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” and “The Trip,” the Svengali behind the Runaways, the chief manufacturer of heaps of power pop on the highly influential Bomp label and the guy accountable for punk rock exploitation like Venus and the Razorblades. Although a bit lax in his housekeeping habits, Fowley proved to be perfect behind the mixing console with a garage sound that blazes and power pop that gleams.

“We had rehearsed all of the songs to death for about four months and when we got there, he made me play them on an acoustic guitar and got rid of half of them. He could be really impatient too—if we were working on a third take of a guitar solo, he would just start yelling about how the Byrds wouldn’t need more than one take. We really had a lot of fun, though, and he really did have a lot of vision. As cantankerous and cranky as he can get, we would still love to work with him again.”

Of course there is no shortage of Cuban-heeled bands with vintage Rickenbacker guitars shakin’ their moptops, but in comparison to these retreads, Muck and the Mires remain razor-sharp with a perfect mix of British invasion jangle, sonically-charged ’60s garage and punk rock attitude. Muck and the Mires have quickly sent a shockwave through the garage underground. They’ve been championed by Little Steven on his syndicated radio show Underground Garage and played with everybody from the Bay City Rollers to Badfinger and Dick Dale.

“When I started this group, I never thought I would ever see a band like the New York Dolls or MC5, let alone play a gig with them. One of the best things about being in this band is having a chance to meet your idols.”

WITH THE PRIMORDIALS AND KIDSENTIMENT
AT DIVAN ORANGE TONIGHT,
THURSDAY, MAY 7, 10 P.M., $10