Gas Attack / The Car Bomb Parade / Two Man Advantage / New Red Scare / Opposition Rising
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 7/18/15
Darkness descends upon the Midway. The sun goes down and the street lights blink on. And all that was cheery and bright in the sunlight now has to take a backseat to what the night intends.
And what the night brings is a hint of danger. And a life that exists in the shadows, not illuminated by the day, by the “happy face” of the early risers, by the conformity of the regular nine-to-five citizens in their regular day/daze.
This is when the night creatures creep out. This is when the people not fit to show their faces in the light of the day, peer out of their dark caverns.
This is the dark side, the subconscious, the closest door to death before we cross to “the other side.”
This is also the Saturday night punk show, after a Saturday day punk matinee, earlier today at the Midway Cafe.
First up is Opposition Rising, which certainly is an odd occurrence. I’m not sure if I ever saw them when they weren’t headlining. And they certainly deserve their usual position. But someone in the band has to work later, I hear, so they asked to go on this early.
The singer is a little bummed that there’s not much movement in the pit but it doesn’t look like many people stayed from the first show; so folks are still trying to warm up.
But no matter when they play, this is scorching hot, heavy New York style hardcore and though the singer likes to joke between songs, this is another intense, potent set that they’re known for.
New Red Scare is next and though I would guess that this band is from the south, they’re actually from upstate New York- Albany to be more precise.
And they play a kind of southern punk with slide guitar and whiskey soaked vocals. Think of Gun Club and your thoughts are walking in the right direction.
I wouldn’t call them punk or hardcore, really, but good rock’n’roll. And when I check their facebook page I’m happily surprised that they describe themselves that way as well.
Two Man Advantage is next to take the stage, a band we saw once before. They are a New York band that does not play the typical heavy New York style and their stage presence is pretty unique in that they wear lots of hockey gear- but not just in sweatshirts but with hockey masks, too.
And they have two singers, one who is dressed in hockey/wrestling gear who looks a bit like a rabid bat.
But this is fun band to hear and see with some funny, great tunes with my favorite being “Drink The Bar Dry.”
Like Slapshot they mix punk, beer and hockey- how can you go wrong with that?- they turn in a fun, energetic set.
I’ve been hear since about 4pm and have seen eight bands when I see a young, clean cut looking man enter wearing a priest’s clerical shirt and collar. He’s confused as where the mens room is and when I direct him I figure, he looks the part but is probably just in one of the bands.
And sure enough as Car Bomb Parade take the stage he turns out to be their lead singer. He’s anointing the crowd, before they start, with holy bottled water, and turns out to be a heavenly good front man with sinfully adept stage moves. I could be wrong but I’m guessing he might have had some theatre experience at one time.
This is another band from New York that doesn’t fit into the heavy hardcore stereotype. They play raw, fast punk/hardcore that is funny and fun. They have a song called “Fuck The World” which is not the same one that Opposition Rising played earlier but seems to be a theme for tonight.
They play a fun, high energy set topped off with a cover of the Ramones “Blitzkreig Bop.”
After the set I tell the singer, “I figured you weren’t really a priest when you went to mens room with out any little boys.”
Boston’s own Gas Attack is the final band. And though I think of them as a metal band the songwriting fits more in with the humorous side of early punk and hardcore. Think of the Angry Samoans before thinking of Slayer to get a grip on how this band sounds.
I’m sure they would get tossed out of Metal University with their irreverence or burned at the stake by the keepers of serious, heavy hardcore.
But they play a fun, wild set with some of my favorite songs by them like- “Absinthe” and “Alcoholic.”
Though as a non-drinker I abhor this glorification of inebriation.
Oh, snap! I just realized I’ve had five beers and two shots today. I must have mistaken myself for someone who actually acts his age!
All I know is they’re playing “Fight For Your Right (To Party)” by The Beastie Boys and sweet Shelley model/ hairdresser, who’s beautiful inside and out, pops in.
And now my thoughts are going around my head like a crazy squirrel in a burning schoolhouse and it’s time to call an end to another gloriously great punk rock day.
(Slimedog)
