Thursday March 28th 2024

Honest John / Deranged Youth / Injury / Testicular Pain

ww

Honest John / Deranged Youth / Injury / Testicular Pain
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 11/8/15

 

I’m trudging my liquid treats, for the Midway staff, from the parking space behind the bar. I can hear music coming from inside as I make my way, meaning the show has already begun.

I’m thinking, this sounds pretty good- it sounds like early Iggy & The Stooges. Though, since Iggy’s the only original member still alive (imagine that!) it can’t be them.

When I get in and see the band, I think, this must be a band of wrestling midgets. But then I notice, one or two, as frequent attendees of Midway matinee shows and that the whole band must be under eighteen.

And since I only get to hear one song, I ask Johnny the soundman/doorman his take on them.

“More punk rock than hardcore,I guess. A really good set” he says, “Before they played they asked me if it was okay if they played loud? I said, “Boys, play as loud as you want,” he chuckles.

Their name is Testicular Pain. After their set I tell them, “At first I thought it was a really horrible name. But then I thought- yeah, I like this, this is music that will kick you in the balls!” And it truly is.

Or maybe this is a band that kick’s ass. So what if they’re wrestling midgets or a band barely legal to drive, or a band that conjures up genital discomfort?

This is a band I need to see more of but what I did hear sounded great.

Injury is up next. This is, also, a fairly young band. They’re a trio and they play traditional punk. But with the drummer laying down some tom-tom beats and the guitar/singer using his whammy bar a lot, I sense some surf influence.

These guys sound like an early English punk band. Wait, I meant to say, a really good

early English punk band. When I mention that to someone they mishear me as saying a “girly” English punk band. And I retort- if I said that I’d be referring to Bikini Kill because these guys are great much like they were.

They play a Misfits cover and they play an awesome set and after it, talking to them, they verify the surf influence. And now I have another band I wish to see again.

Deranged Youth is next, a band I’ve seen a few times before. And what I like best about them, (at least they did this also, the last time I saw them), is they hand out dollar bills before their set from the stage to young folks as long as they promise to stay in front of the stage and mosh!

What I can’t figure out is where these guys are coming from (New Hampshire). They say they’re punk/metal and it is kind of metal done in punk style. They have rhythms faster than hardcore, a talented guitarist who does hammer-ons and other guitar trickery, a vocalist who yells instead of doing hardcore and a general sense of anarchy.

They are a band without a country and though I do enjoy their dada-esque approach to performance, I’m not sure I like their songs.

I do like their last song the best- a speedy little number and then they kick over the drums and throw the mike to the floor.

Honest John is the last band to play. Though tonight they’re performing as “Honest Juan” their Spanish alter-ego.

When they enter the stage wearing bright, orange suits with black embroidery, white ruffled shirts and giant orange sombreros, I can noticeably see some jaws drop.

And as they’ve changed their usual hardcore songs, now arranged as Mexican ballads and all sung in Spanish, I can noticeably see a few testicles drop, as well.

(Oops: Andy Bang just came into my office to remind me that I have to tell what really happened.)

This is Honest John, This is hard-hitting hardcore with a creative edge. This is more noise/experimental than metal influenced music. This is a powerful rhythm section that is almost funky at times. This is a guitarist who wails and shreds and distorts.

This is a vocalist who strikes a stalking, ominous presence overseeing some potent, powerful, intensely explosive songs.

Now that I’ve done my job. I just want to say, my favorite part of the show today was when…

Honest Juan let a cartload of bulls burst open from the ladies room and the singer with a rose clenched in his teeth waved a red flag in front of the bulls. And he evaded them but he inadvertently led the head bull charging towards me until his horns crashed into my scrotum, sending me sailing into the air, landing myself upon the draft IPA handle.

 

(Slimedog)

Related Tags: ,
Previous Topic:

Leave a Comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.

More from category

8th Annual Thrash N Bang Xmas Punk Pizza Party
8th Annual Thrash N Bang Xmas Punk Pizza Party

8th Annual Thrash N Bang Xmas Punk Pizza Party Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA     12/15/19   Every holiday [Read More]

C.E. Skidmore / Losers’ Circle / The Runouts / Nick The Barbarian
C.E. Skidmore / Losers’ Circle / The Runouts / Nick The Barbarian

C.E. Skidmore / Losers’ Circle / The Runouts / Nick The Barbarian Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA     1/11/20 [Read More]

The Manglers / The New Frustrations / The Grommets / Kermit’s Finger / The Instamatics / The Unstables
The Manglers / The New Frustrations / The Grommets / Kermit’s Finger / The Instamatics / The Unstables

The Manglers / The New Frustrations / The Grommets / Kermit’s Finger / The Instamatics / The Unstables Jamaica [Read More]

The Old Edison / Coffin Salesman / Loser’s Circle / Time & Place
The Old Edison / Coffin Salesman / Loser’s Circle / Time & Place

The Old Edison / Coffin Salesman / Loser’s Circle / Time & Place Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA     [Read More]

Kermit’s Finger / Jerry’s Got Jokes / Cry Havoc / The Grommets / Jake Tringali (Jake The Poet)
Kermit’s Finger / Jerry’s Got Jokes / Cry Havoc / The Grommets / Jake Tringali (Jake The Poet)

Slimedog’s 22nd Birthday Punk Pizza Poetry Party Kermit’s Finger / Jerry’s Got Jokes / Cry Havoc / [Read More]

Insider

Archives