Gang Green / Antagonizers / Drug Shock / Beantown Boozehounds / Rockin’ Bob Cenci / Barroom Heroes
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 4/19/15
This is the Fifth Annual Hardcore Cotillion Show. I’m not sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure it’s the first one happening at the Midway. And I know that Carrie Ford Bell is one of the promoters and since she is a female redhead; I bow down at her feet and this is all good and fine with me.
Coincidentally enough, the first band is BarRoom Heroes, two thirds of which has to ask Carrie for the keys to the family car.
When they start playing I notice Walter Gustafason sitting at the other end of the bar. He’s Andy and mine’s favorite local drummer- knowing him from The Outlets, Gang Green and Mung.
I see him smiling at what Davey Dryer, the eighteen year old elder of the band is doing on drums. It’s great to see Walter react that way, with a smile. But then, I’m as old as he is, and I react the same way, too.
This is street punk/ punk’n’roll made by people young enough to be called juvenile delinquents but aware enough to know you have to be true to yourselves and have integrity to make it in punk music.
So whether it’s The Clash, Dropkick Murphy’s, Street Dogs, who they’re acknowledging in their style, they know their true expression is itching under their skins and is on the horizon if they stay true in their minds and hearts.
I feel a little disappointed that my two favorite songs by them, “Nate” and “Ginger Ale” are omitted today but I don’t think anyone is disappointed that people so young can deliver such an awesome, true punk set.
Rockin’ Bob Cenci is next. He’s an original member of Jerry’s Kids and has played with The F.U.’s as well. He has bass and drums with him today and they add a laid back kind of backing for him, not the usual “power trio.”
He plays some of his own songs and some of Jerry’s Kids as well. When you experience the old songs you can see how disjointed and weird the early hardcore style was before it fell into regimentation.
He provides us with looks into the past and a look into “now” and goes over well with the crowd.
Beantown Boozehounds are the next band up. I feel like calling them the best band to drink to but then I’d feel I’d be sued by The McGunks, and rightly so. Let’s just say, second best to avoid legal proceedings and to preclude any preliminary injunctions.
Filling in on bass today is Anthony, from Taxi Driver, and with him he’s brought the Taxi Drivettes- Janelle, Jackie and Siobahn- three lovely ladies forming one lovely, punk bouquet!
I’m surprised that they don’t start with their song “On The Road” as I think it’s the first time I’ve seen them where they don’t do this. (No, it’s not the Willie Nelson song). They do cover Bryan Adams “Summer of 69” which is almost bearable and end with “DUI” with guitarist Chad on mandolin.
The devastation they do to healthy brain cells is unquestionable so again- “Is there any band better to drink and party with?”
Drug Shock take the stage. They’re one of my favorite bands from Connecticut which is saying a lot with a state that homes Damn Broads, M-13, Blastmat, Cry Havoc and a lot more.
Drug Shock ranks up there with the best of them and Todd the singers rank was Ranger when he served in the Army. He’s tall and lanky and has a chameleon like Mohawk that changes weekly. Today it’s black with bright green and yellow on this sides.
What they play is Oi instead of hardcore, which confuses the crowd a bit who’re looking to mosh. But with an excellent rhythm section and scorching lead guitar and a lead man who knows how to stalk the stage with his scathing rants against society and the government- this is Oi at its finest.
They end with a decent cover of “Search & Destroy” – decent because, who can match up to Iggy & The Stooges? But they deliver, later when I have time to reflect, the best set of the day.
Now it’s time for Antagonizer, a band from Atlanta that calls itself “working class street rock’n’roll.” Yeah, you’ve got it- they’re an Oi band.
And though they’re very able at what they play I don’t feel them toppling the band that played before them. I’d have to say they’re a little too “by the numbers” for me.
Now it’s time for Gang Green. A legendary local hardcore band that Andy and Slimey grew up with back in the olden days. During the set someone comes up to me and says, “This is a disappointing set.” But I don’t really agree only because I don’t expect much when seeing old bands, who’s prime was thirty years ago, who have maybe one of two original members, who might be doing it for the dollar or maybe, they have nothing better to do. Let’s just say- the passions waned a bit.
So you got leader Chris Connelly, Walter on drums and a very young bassist. They do “Alcohol” a truly, great song, they do “Voices Carry” ( a hit song back in eighties MTV days by Til Tuesday), they do “Skate To Hell.”
If you want excitement, well- Evan Dando of The Lemonheads gets onstage to sing “Voices Carry” but forgets the word. The band does a cover of “Fight For Your Right To Party” that’s a lot of fun and that has the crowd going wild.
It might sound like, what with my review of the last two bands, that I didn’t have that great of a time. But that would be far from the truth.
The great turnout, the flowing beer, the people celebrating life for no reason- the noise, the chatter all add up to one helluva time, each time for me.
And today was no exception.
(Slimedog)
