Crazy & The Brains / The Pity Whores / Alex Stern / The Black Cheers / Whoopi Sticks
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 4/25/15
My name is Gunn, Samm Gunn and investigating is my game.
I’m a P.I. and mostly I’m involved in some kind of crime or other.
Some people say punk music is a crime, that it’s all against what the good people of society believe in.
I say they’re right.
Today I’ve been asked to do a report for TNB, you know, that two-bit scandal rag that’s not worth the internet space it’s allotted.
I deal with lots of shady characters in my line of work but none as corrupt and vile as Slimedog and Bang. Oh, I forgot, The Pity Whores are playing on today’s bill. Well, anyways-
Whoopi Sticks are first. A deceptionally pleasant name. But if you remember a TV show, The Newly Wed Game, when they needed a euphemism for “making love” they said “making whoopee,” and you add what is most stick like on a man. Well, you catch my drift.
L.L.Warren drums, sings writes and choreographs the band. She’s been reputed to be Slimedog’s daughter, but I find that highly unlikely, as she is talented.
But with songs like “I Don’t Want To Be A Person No More,” with lyrics like, “I’d rather be a tree, or a duck.” Then that gets me thinking that it could, possibly be true.
Either way they are a unique and fun band. They have Devo like rhythms with Riot Grrrl grit. And a new Russian guitarist, Max, who- though I assume he’s a communist, plays some pretty great guitar.
They have some very good songs, lots of punk and spunk and start the afternoon off nice.
The next combo is The Black Cheers. They have members from Darkbuster, Stray Bullets, Duck & Cover and far too many more musical outfits to mention.
And though it’s only 5 pm. they are in fact, tearing the roof off this joint with their punk’n’ roll’ n’ glam mix of powerful, passionate songs. With the grit of Danny’s vocals, the precision and punch of Scotty’s drums and the roar of the guitar section it all adds up to one tasty recipe for fun.
I don’t know it now but I soon will. This is the best set of the day I will hear.
Alex Stern is the next entertainer to approach the stage. There’s some connection with Big D & The Kid’s Table , a popular punk band of years passed and I notice the bassist is from the Stray Bullets.
Jill, the bartenderess, serving the martini’s and stingers today, to this well-dressed, swanky crowd, mentions she really likes this band; as the smoke rises to the ceiling of the Midway Cabaret.
They play upbeat, melodic pop/rock songs. What they used to call “New Wave” back in the forties, I believe. They remind me a bit of Elvis Costello, Joe Jackson songs but it’s not really my style, my plate of beans.
But Jill is brighter than me so maybe you should listen to her and them, instead of me.
Now, it’s time for those incorrigible punks The Pity Whores. The ne’er do wells from Hell and Outer Mongolia. Who came here to our great nation of ours just to pillage our villages, rape our livestock and aurally assault our ears. Sure, Slimedog and Andy think they’re one of the best live bands around with some great pop/punk tunes.
But, as my mother says, you are judged by the company you keep.
We don’t have the questionable pleasure of seeing these roughshod ruffians as much these days as guitarist, Wyatt, is sometimes traveling the world as part of the very popular vaudeville act, The Queers. And today they’re hampered as their drummer, Matt, is playing with a sprained right ankle!
But they soldier on playing a bit more mellower today. Luckily, their straight-edge, vegan, holistic approach to living helps them play today. Not their most exciting set but on the bright side, if we can just get 140 more signatures on the petition for them to get deported- it could very well be their last.
Now, it’s time for the headline attraction- Crazy and The Brains from New Jersey.
They have a singer with a kind of boating hat and dressed like a dock worker from the forties (or maybe a New Wave band) and a musician that actually plays the glockenspiel and xylophone.
And this is a very tight and entertaining band whose song structures seem to center on fifties and sixties music. Plus, the xylophone player can really wail. He’s like if Johnny Thunders played that instrument instead of guitar!
In fact, they do cover “Give Him A Great Big Kiss” which Thunders covered but was originally done by The Shangri- la’s.
They put a fun ending to a fun show.
Well, I’ve done my job, I’ve made my report. I’m just sorry I didn’t see my good friend Mitzi stroll in.
What a gal! One bright spot in a sea of darkness, a gem in a dull, hard life.
But that’s the way life is. If you force things, go after something too hard, you stand the chance of running past what your eyes are set upon. But if you don’t try you can see it sail away right out of your sight.
It’s best to wait and know when it happens. And be ready for it, when it walks in your door.
(Samm Gunn)
