Jason Bennett & The Resistance / Kermit’s Finger / Girth Control / Fast Times
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 8/1/15
“We’re all hungover and we’re trying to wake up. So, we’ll see how this goes,” says Nick guitarist/singer for Fast Times.
“Yeah, me also,” Slimedog says to himself, but I think things are going to be just fine.
“We screwed up that last song, “ Nick again, “It’s a new one, though. But the funny thing is, how would anyone know that? You don’t memorize our songs….looks like we don’t either.”
I head towards the stage. “Wait, Slimedog’s got something to say.”
“Your songs are so bad, “ I tell him, “that when you screw them up they actually sound better.”
But I’m the funny man, you see, or at least I think I am.
But actually they’re solid in the TNB’s books- Fast Times is one of the best hardcore bands we cover.
The bassist doesn’t split his head open, the drummer doesn’t sport a black eye, Rachael isn’t here raising hell (that little spitfire) and this band opening up, bleary eyed and bleary minded, still kicks our asses up the street and back. As they are wont to do and play a great set to start the day.
Girth Control is next and they’re from Albany, New York. And as one who grew up in lovely and quaint Hyde Park but spent one night in Albany, I can truthfully say- I’m glad I grew up in Hyde Park!
This band is a trio I know nothing about but soon find out they have a sense of humor.
And though we try to squelch any humor at TNB, and take a perverse delight in hearing it squeal when we kill it. And, by your responses, it looks like we’re doing an excellent job at that- this band has excellent musicianship, great songs and humor is just an added spice to their big tamale.
We’ve received some music from bands who attempt humor but couldn’t play their instruments (all the more hilarious, you see) and or have lame songs but that doesn’t work for us. It’s the music first for we.
But this band does have great music in their humorous pop/punk/ska songs.
One song that sticks out is a pure reggae one called, “Too Many Dudes.” It’s about how punk events can sometimes be a sausage fest. That’s a good one but the highlight for me is their rendition of “Everybody’s Working For The Weekend” by Loverboy, complete with a hardcore beat in the chorus- fun band and a great set.
Now Kermit’s Finger is a band that I’ve seen only once before but go back, at least, to about ten years ago when I was first getting reacquainted with the local punk scene. Around the time my favorite locals band became The Dimwits, The Spoilers and Zippo Raid. And this band was from that time but didn’t play out often.
And Nick, from Fast Times- well, his father was, and is in the legendary local band Nervous Eaters. They were the first band I saw at The Rat in 1977 or so. (I had a fake I.D., I was only seven at the time). They were popular, recorded on a major label and Andy and I saw them many times.
But why I mention this, is Nick’s father had never seen him play. That is until recently on a bill that Kermit’s Finger was on also. And Kermit’s Finger happened to do a cover of a Nervous Eaters song “Shit For Brains.” Many people think it was Loverboy’s follow-up to ‘”Working For The Weekend” but that is untrue.
So today Kermit’s Fingers play that song and play a lot of old-school style hardcore, not the heavy or political kind but fun stuff, in a style closer to skate punk.
This is short, hard songs packed with passion and fun. And if the set starts out modestly it builds in energy and intensity. So much so that later I have to deem it- set of the day!
Jason Bennett & The Resistance is the last band. And though I’ve seen this band several times before what’s different today is he has the rhythm section of The Radicals in tow. And that would be Aria on bass and Matt on drums.
And though Jason always puts on a great show with his pop/punk Clash-like anthem songs, with Aria’s ballsy bass playing and Matt who never met a rhythm he didn’t want to pulverize- I’d have to say this is the best I’ve ever seen this band.
They even do a Clash cover but I don’t recognize this song. I forget to ask what is was after. Maybe I should be in Fast Times!
But I can’t forget what a good time I’ve had, as always, at a Saturday afternoon punk matinee.
(Slimedog)
