Salem 66

Slightly before their period, if Salem 66 were at their peak today they might be without doubt be big news. Rather, they’re the influential old sisters of several current women-led rock and roll rings and so are fondly kept in mind by those folks living there at that time among the greatest rings of middle-’80s Boston. Judy Grunwald and Beth Kaplan (acoustic guitar and bass, respectively) had been Salem 66’s mind trust, and despite their off-kilter melodies and clashing, not-always-melodic performing, they produced a churning, idiosyncratic pop audio that was packed with smarts and excitement, even though their technical restrictions were obvious. But like additional theoretically limited performers both male and feminine, that never avoided Salem 66 from extending out and wailing full-on. Following a tentative debut EP debut in 1984, the music group strike its stride using the release from the accurately entitled A Ripping Spin the next year. Having a popularity within the then-alternative rock and roll press that proceeded to go beyond your Boston, Salem 66 had been becoming among the hippest rings on ex-Bostonian Gerard Cosloy’s painfully hip indie label Homestead. But their momentum peaked quickly and quickly Salem 66, not really helped by progressively patchy recorded function, were old information. Too bad, given that they were an excellent live music group, and their finest recorded occasions hinted at something beyond fantastic.