Cast The First Stoned

Live Review

Jan 16

Written By Michael Gutierrez

Keller Williams mucks about at Paradise Rock Club on Friday, 12 April 2024.

Ryan Montbleau tries to pick up the pieces, playing in support.

Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix

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Hump Nights

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Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix 〰️ Hump Nights 〰️

Hump Nights

Jul 11

Build-Your-Own-Guitar Night at Deep Cuts.

Jul 12

An Allston Pudding x The 4th Wall collab at Capitol Theater.

Jul 13

The story of groundbreaking slide-guitarist Ellen McIlwaine.

Jul 24

Ryan Cassata tours new LP Greetings From Echo Park through Midway Cafe.

Aug 2

Matinees are punk rock (and a little emo) at Midway Cafe.

Trash Sound Conglomerate / Static Friction / Taken By Vultures

Aug 6

Another trash-themed band in Rat City, USA.

Aug 7

Somergloom hits its 5th year anniversary of heavy music at Crystal Ballroom and Deep Cuts.

Aug 25

A monthly Z-movie night at Capitol Theatre.

Aug 30

Ska punk matinee & Jerry’s return from the dead at Midway Cafe.

Hack the Planet: Hackers celebrates 30 Years

Sep 12

30th anniversary of Hackers explodes with screening, celebs, and A/V bonanza.

Hump Nights

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Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix

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Hump Nights 〰️ Ace the Quiz, Win the Tix 〰️

Not much to report on this show at the Paradise other than that headliner Keller Williams was a trainwreck. Just too much of the happy sauce, or pills, or smoke, or powder, or who knows what.

I didn’t write up this show at the time because it felt like an embarrassment all around. Enough time has passed, though, to just have a laugh.

The musician is prized within the jam community for his intricate guitar fretwork and multi-instrumentalism. When he’s on, he’s on. On Friday night back in April 2024, he was decidedly off. Rootsy jam music is traditionally a type of music that is more receptive than most to getting a little buzz on. But if you’re too stoned to muddle through a Grateful Dead cover, you’re pretty fucking stoned.

Supporting act Ryan Montbleau became an onstage babysitter for the evening, helping the headliner stumble through something resembling a set.

In addition to the Hump Day News video recap, I’ve included another clip of the show I found online, posted by Thomas Crowshaw. If you didn’t know what these songs are supposed to sound like, you might not notice anything amiss. But the real tell is the look of sustained horror in Montbleau’s eyes as he desperately tries to keep up with Williams’ insanity.