Fast Times – Demo Tape
Bang, I, and Jimmy Thrash recently caught this band, Fast Times, at one of Crazy Jay Genoa’s New Band Showcases at the Midway. We liked their straight ahead punk rock style. Sure, there’s a pop/punk influence, and maybe a hardcore one as well, but these guys are just a modern punk band with their roots in the past but their style fully in the present.
Talking to their singer, Nick, outside after their set, grabbing a CD while Bang was grabbing one from Empty Vessels inside; what Jimmy was grabbing I’d rather not say, let’s just say he spent an inordinate amount of time in the uni-sex bathroom; anyways, I learned a little bit about them.
I find out these guys are from Cape Cod which TNB knows as a pretty good place to be from if you’re a metal band. Actually, they do have a pretty thriving punk and metal scene just a lack of venues to play. And what I also learn from Nick is that he is a son of one of the Nervous Eaters, one of the best and most popular bands in the early Boston punk scene. “Talk To Loretta” by them has got to be in my all-time Boston Top Ten Songs and the very first time I went to a punk club, The Rat, the very first band I saw, (before the gazillion to follow) was the Nervous Eaters. Andy is a huge fan of them and actually remembers what they look like and noticed a resemblance of Nick to his dad.
But onto the CD. “Keep The Course” is the first song on this demo and it starts with a fast treble-y bass lick. When the vocals come in they alternate with spoken word and gruff melodic ones. Not as fast as hardcore but just as intense. Some background vocals pop in but the grit and passion stays intact as the bass lick, now doubled by the guitar, rides this song out.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/01 – Keep To Course.mp3|titles=Keep The Course]“Fast Times – These are fast times we’re living in”, moves along in a brisk fashion with reflective lyrics and a melodic guitar lick pushing things along in another catchy, gritty song. Two local bands they remind me of is Boston’s OC45 and Providence’s Sound Off. I think they all would fit together well on a bill.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/02 – Time Is The Enemy.mp3|titles=Time Is The Enemy]My favorite is the last song, “Taco Time”, and a stand out in the set they played when we saw them. In my mind’s eyes, beer, Mexican food and punk rock is a never ending parade of desire for me that I seek out as much as I can. So, this song meets two of the requirements and kicks major ass, as well. “Lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese. Do you prefer chicken or ground beef? Salsa and sour cream, and if you’re a vegan we even have rice and beans.” Very funny, very good song.
[audio:https://www.thrashnbang.com/wp-content/music/03 – Taco Night.mp3|titles=Taco Night]This is a new band and we hear the boys are working on a full length we await as eagerly as I await the enchilada plate at Picante’s. Think of this as your chips and salsa before you get your big meal. It’s Taco- Taco, Taco, Time.
(Slimedog)
