Before I Had Wings / Forever A Vendetta / Words Of Truth / Insidious / Eighty-Sixed
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 6/21/14
So those chumps down at the paper, TNB, asked me to give them a hand. You know, those two-bit punks, Andy and Slimedog, always seem to be up to something and it seems that something is almost always no good.
But I’m a private eye, you see, and this is my game. And when they told me there was a punk matinee at the Midway Cabaret but they weren’t familiar with any of the combos- well, that didn’t sit right with me and my curiosity was piqued.
So I put on my fedora and trench-coat and picked up my favorite dame, Mitzi. You may not know her but if she was the only dame I knew that would be alright with me. We enter the nightclub, I give my hat and coat to the coat-check girl, hold out a seat for Mitzi, and order a couple of highballs. Then as I’m lighting my cigar everyone starts to applaud. You see, the lights have just dimmed and the MC has stepped toward the microphone.
Eighty-sixed is the first combo of the day but I can’t see them getting kicked out of any joint as they sound great. Mitzi says to me, “I wouldn’t be surprised if this was the best band to play today.” A prediction, that for me, turns out to be right.
And it turns out they’re from Brooklyn, New York; the place where some of the best bands on TNB are from. They play straight ahead hardcore with just a bit of experimental or industrial style thrown in. They make me recall a band from the eighties- Big Black- not that they sound like them but it’s a good sign if you get me thinking about that great band. Mitzi turns to me and says, “These guys play brutal, dissonant art,” and I can only agree.
Next is a combo from New Hampshire called Insidious who don’t look old enough to drink. Seems I’m right as the three musicians are 17 with the crooner being slightly older. This is another hardcore unit that pulls no punches. They play heavy hardcore with rhythmic changes and are a little on the experimental style. They show much promise for such a young band and their music is fierce, ferocious and formidable.
I buy some cigarettes for Mitzi from the passing cigarette girl and order two more high balls from the waiter as we await the next orchestra to play.
Words Of Truth enter the stage next and I couldn’t track down where this combo is from but taking a stab at it I’d guess Providence. I know they call themselves “old-fashioned hardcore” and Slimedog who reviewed their platter was mightily impressed. He said of them, “pure, unadulterated, uncut hardcore that isn’t afraid to smack you in the ears with rock’n’roll energy and Oi fury.”
Mitzi says, “These guys remind me of Reason To Fight,” and that’s a good sign also. I don’t know if I agree exactly with Slimedog but I do think these guys sound great.
Forever A Vendetta is next and they’re from Massachusetts. This combo reminds me on the new great band, Dot Rats, because like them, they have have two singers/rappers and seem to have a rap influence to go along with their hardcore style.
I don’t know if this is a trend but I recently saw Two-Man Advantage from New York who had two singers as well. If it is a trend, it is welcomed because all three bands are awesome and deal with intensity, passion and truth.
Mitzi says to me, “My favorite tune was the one with the words, “My brother has my back.”And she likes them, too.
Before I Had Wings is the last combo scheduled to perform. With a name like that I’m expecting a Bette Midler tribute band or worse yet- indie. And when they come out on stage and I see the drummer and guitarist look like they both just got their driving license and the bassist is a mild looking girl; I start to get worried.
But when the crooner steps towards the microphone and the group begins to play, I notice Mitzi exclaim, “Holy Shit.”
This is very good, very heavy hardcore with a definite metal influence to it. The cigarette girl mentions to me that this is a young band that is playing out a lot, as well they should. It’s a little surprising matching the visual with the music they’re putting out. I feel like I’m watching Talking Heads effectively playing Slayer. For me they turn in the second best set of the day.
All good things come to an end they say and so does today’s show. Why bad things can’t come to an end, as well, I’ll never know. Which gets me to thinking about those two no good two-bit punks, Andy and Slimedog, who instead of using their paper to write about important things like corruption at City Hall spend their days drinking whiskey and hustling pool games downtown instead.
Mitzi and I collect our belongings and I get my Studebaker from the parking lot attendant. Night is coming upon the city as the sun goes down and I know some crimes are just waiting to hatch under the veil of darkness.
I drop Mitzi off at her apartment. Get a warm smile and a chaste kiss on the cheek and I feel content.
I know men who have high ambitions, who won’t be happy till they have it all; want everything and anything and beyond.
And I can say with that, with Mitzi, I’m truly satisfied.
(Samm Gunn)
