Destroi / Gas Station Girls / Fat Heaven / Whoopi Sticks / Profit Margin
Koto, Salem, MA 7/29/16
Now, for those not in the knowin’- this here Koto ain’t in no Chinatown or in no Japan. But plum smack down on the mean streets of Salem, on the down and dirty, destitute boulevards of the rough and ready, North Shore.
And this here is a “sushi” place- that’s Chinese for “fish.” So I sit right down, I order some fried clam strips with fries and cole slaw with tarter sauce…but my order never does seem to arrive.
But that’s okay. I’m pouring down the sake, which means “Jagermeister” in Chinese- like there’s no tomorrow. Or like someone whose metabolism is mostly made of Jagermeister (that would be me).
Profit Margin is the first band to play and it’s my first time seeing them, though I’ve reviewed their music favorably before.
So, I was unaware, that Tony the drummer is the lead singer as well. I predict I’ll see more of that tonight.
Profit Margin is hardcore rooted music, with social commentary lyrics that distinguish themselves with a bit of echo on the vocals and dissonance in the guitars. They remind me of a style that was prevalent in the eighties in Boston, Mission Of Burma is a band that comes to mind.
For just a trio they make a hell of a racket, but it’s a heaven to me of energy, anger, abrasiveness and fun. And a great way to start off the night.
Whoopi Sticks is next and this is my 27th time seeing them. (I don’t know the number, it’s possible.) They’re led by my punk daughter Lindsey Warning.
Though originally, I had hoped she would become a world class bassoonist, I’m quite happy how she has come along as a singer/drummer. (Just like Tony).
I’ve always liked this band but with the recent release of their first bandcamp EP, “We Are Spunk”,I was shocked how great it was. (I should point out I was standing in the shower while making waffles with my electric toaster when I first listened to this- but you get my drift.)
Kevin, the bass player, plays a nice harmonic line on one of my favorite songs by them, “I Don’t Want To Be A Person No More,” and Carissa Johnson fills in on guitar ably.
I hear moments of Devo, Siouxsie & The Banshees even The B-52’s during their excellent set but I also hear one of the most potent, original sounding bands I cover.
Fat Heaven are next and they’re from New York. I have to mention, before their set, I noticed a young lady with braided pig tails and a bright white shirt diggin’ on the music. And I thought, isn’t that nice that one of the waitresses like the music.
Now I see she’s playing drums (like Lindsey) and quite well, at that, and I feel bad now that I yelled at her when she refused to bring me a sake.
Fat Heaven is a high energy, pop/punk trio that just keeps the pop a poppin’ and the punk a punkin’ and have enough guts and passion in their music as I have alcohol in my bloodstream. And I believe, if my sake soaked brain is correct, they’re playing a show I have highlighted on my social calendar real soon- and that’s more than alright with me.
Gas Station Girls are a band I discovered on youtube and I immediately liked them and I’ve only seen them once before.
The have no recorded material, no facebook and play sets that are very short.
But after tonight’s show it just reinforces my belief that this is my favorite band I cover.
They have short, hard, concise punk songs that are in the style of early punk or very early hardcore. Their music is intense, pure, true and hard-hitting and without an ounce of fat to trim.
A great guitarist, a great rhythm section and a young, diminutive lass named Lauren who stalks the space in front of the stage spitting out emphatic, passionate vocals. This band is my idea of punk in perfection, a band that embodies the true spirit of punk. Kind of like if you mixed The Avengers with The Germs.
Someone after the set tells me they only played ten minutes. But I don’t care because for me, it was ten minutes of bliss.
I see one of the members of DestrOi before they play and I think I recognize him as one of our friends on facebook. He denies it until I explain who I am. “Oh, I’m sorry,” he says, “I thought maybe you were a cop.”
I can’t blame him. I probably look like his dad and I’m sure I’m as old. And I am a security guard when not fighting music crime here at TNB.
DestrOi is another one of my favorite bands who I’ve only seen once before. They were the best band of the night and their bandcamp recording is awesome.
They’re a young, Oi band and one of the things I like best about them is they’re not overly reverent when they play this style. This is like super revved-up Oi! These guys just blaze in a flash of hardcore energy that rocks with the realness and emotion of early punk. Oi for the 21st century, is how I think I defined them before, and they probably, deservedly, laugh at that notion, but there is something new here, something raw, something strong.
During their second song a PA speaker goes tumbling from a mosher but only a beer glass becomes a fatality. I remember hearing this is the band that, inadvertently, damaged part of the new stage here before. Kudos to Koto for understanding that “Boys will be boys will be boys- yoy- Oi!” (That’s from a song Bryan Ferry sang on that sadly, only Tony and Kristine may get the reference).
During my favorite song by them, “Fuck The Upper Class,” I’m in front of the stage, fist pumping along with Candace, girlfriend of the singer Nate. Another high point is their cover of The Fore Skins “Evil.”
Great set and a great finish to one of the best shows I’ve seen all year.
I go to the bathroom before I leave, The door seems a bit “ajar.” I’m let in and a couple of young guys are there.
“Oh, sorry. We’re just doing coke. Do you want any?”
I say no thanks- sorry guys, you hit me up about three decades too late.
From being thought as a cop to being offered cocaine. All in the line of duty as a-
(Slimedog)
