From the July 17 issue of The Arlington Advocate
Regent Theatre remembers when punk ruled
By Kristine McCaffrey / Special To The Advocate

Live at the Rat fund-raiser Saturday

Boston punk legends of the 1970s will take center stage this Saturday, July 19 at 8 p.m. when the Boston Rock & Roll Museum and Regent Theatre present "Live at The Rat."

The event is apart of a concert series paying tribute to Boston Music. The show will focus on the former Boston club, The Rat, which was located in Kenmore Square during the 1970s.

"The Rat was a virgin scene for punk and new wave music," said Leland Stein, director of marketing and promotion at the Regent Theatre. "Each concert in this series focuses on a Boston club of that time period."

The first concert in the series was called "Live at the Surf," which featured legendary Boston bands from the 1960s and special guests, including Peter Wolf.

The Regent Theatre is hoping to sell 400 to 450 tickets to the event.

"Due to exhibit space we will lose a few seats," said Stein.

On the walls and at the back of the theatre will be a display of what would be in the Boston Rock & Roll Museum, in which proceeds from ticket sales will go. Magazine and newspaper articles as well as hand bills, record covers and signs will adorn the theatre walls.

The event will feature five acts: Willie "Loco" Alexander and the Boom Boom Band, Unnatural Axe, The Real Kids, DMZ, and The Rat All Stars. The event will be hosted by a special guest celebrity.

The event will also feature film and video footage from the mid- to late-70s Boston music scene. The event will also include video footage of The Rat during its hay day.

"Tommy White of the group, Unnatural Axe captured footage of The Rat, which includes bands from that era as well as footage of the band The Police when they came to the states," said Stein.

A trailer for the film "All Kinds of Girls" will also be shown at the event, which features kids from that era involved in the punk scene. The event will also be selling limited edition, signed prints by local artist Joey Mars. Mars designed prints for both "Live at the Rat" and "Live at the Surf" shows.

Reserved seats are $17 in advance and $20 the day of the show. To purchase tickets, call 781-646-4849, and for more information visit www.regenttheatre.com.