Dark Side / Scars Of Deceit / Words Of Truth / Honest John / Sick Joke / Dark Skies
Firehouse 13, Providence, RI 10/24/15
Firehouse 13 is my favorite club in Rhode Island. When TNB first started, thirty-four years ago, it seemed like I was there every Sunday afternoon. There were less shows in Boston/Cambridge then there is now and I had to travel for live material.
Now, it seems there’s so much going on here I never go- which is a positive thing. But I haven’t been here for at least two years and I have missed the place.
Dead Skies is the first band, a fairly new band from New Bedford. They play straight ahead heavy hardcore with a big lug of a front man who fronts his able musicians ably.
The last song of the set is a cover I don’t recognize so I ask promoter Ray Finkle if he knows what it was. He replies it’s by Black Flag which I find odd that I don’t recognize it.
While their playing it, Josh Barone, former lead singer of A Dying Breed, asks for the mike and the singer graciously let’s him sing the rest of the song.
I ask Josh, after the set, the name of the song as he says it’s by “Inside Out” the band the singer from Rage Against The Machine, the singer, Zach De Fruit Loop, was in before that band.
Though this is my favorite part of the set due to Josh’s strong performance that does not detract from the fact that Dead Skies is a great band performing a great set and set off a great start to the night.
Sick Joke has a lot of members from The Enemy Within- one of the best bands from Boston that were doing the heavy hardcore style.
They have a new front man, Aaron Sickness, who bring the spunk of early punk to their style. He puts on a very strong performance, frequently singing in a crouch like a leopard ready to spring and reminds me at times of my favorite performer of all time- Iggy Pop.
This is my second time seeing this band and they seem tighter and more focused in their music. And with “Metal” Mike on drums I feel you can’t go wrong, and there’s nothing wrong with this passionate, powerful set.
Honest John is the next band. This is a band I’ve always thought of as equal parts hardcore, experimental and doom. And I’ve enjoyed them a lot in the last couple of years.
Though recently they’ve moved more into a hard-hitting, progressive type of hardcore and while the doom has been diminished the creativity has not.
This is explosive, charging hardcore that is still thoughtful, powerful and true.
After their set, I’m blown away. I’m figuring- this will be the best set of the night.
Words Of Truth play next. Mike Dowd, who saw me hitchhiking and gave me a ride tonight, has everything they ever recorded and some they just thought about- he is a true Words Of Truth completest.
And here’s another band I’ve enjoyed and I’m told that this will be the singers last show. But like The Eagles song “he’s already gone.”
So like the last time I saw them what we got was a trio, sans vocalist, with the original drummer when they started over ten years ago. And what we get instead of heavy hardcore mixed with a solid rock groove is, instead , old-school hardcore that’s potent, pure and true.
This is musical poetry to me because it’s music sheared down to the basics, simplified to perfection and kicks ass, hard and strong.
And what I get to witness is one of the best sets I’ve seen all year. And do you know how many sets I’ve seen this year? I don’t know either but I’m guessing around a hundred fifty.
I tell their bassist after the set how great it was and he explains they actually had some time to practice before, unlike the last show.
They’re still thinking about adding a lead singer instead of sharing lead vocals like they now do. That’s fine but I honestly can’t see it sounding any better than this.
Surprise- this will be the set of the night and maybe, the year.
Scars Of Deceit is next who describe themselves as metal/ hardcore/ beatdown. But I see them as heavy hardcore with death vocals.
They play very well but they do not surpass in enjoyment any of the bands I’ve seen previously tonight. They don’t leave me with a strong, lasting impression.
But I’m sure fans of heavy hardcore will have a more positive take on it than me and I urge you, if you’re into this music, to check them out.
Now it’s time for the headliner- Dark Side. I’m always disappointed at the legendary bands at shows, but I try to keep an open mind as I open my wallet to purchase more Jager and beer.
The singer appears to be trying out his new comedy routine and thought I love it when bands have spontaneous humor, when they do it as a “shtick” I find it less effective.
He adds some rap to the songs as well as some congas that he has lined up in front of him on the stage.
“Yeah, rap and congas. That’s what they told me I needed to become a hit,” the only line that did make me laugh.
This is by far, the least enjoyable set of the night, and I’m relieved when Mike and his son agree and says, “We’re out of here.”
But I’m glad to see the Firehouse still responding to punk fires, that burn in our hearts if not in our homes. God, what a corny thing to write. I hope Andy takes that out. Maybe I should write jokes for the singer of Dark Skies.
But anyways, it was a great night and I look forward to being here soon again.
And like a fireman with his hose I will use my penis to extinguish your fire of love!
Oh, boy.
(Slimedog)
