Friday March 29th 2024

Mickey Rickshaw / Spectre Hawk / Jumper / Black Hatch / Whoopi Sticks / Loser’s Circle

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Mickey Rickshaw / Spectre Hawk / Jumper / Black Hatch / Whoopi Sticks / Loser’s Circle
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 2/14/16

 

I talk to a couple of young ladies who frequent the shows today. Conversation leads to how Andy & I came to do this blog/website. I mention that we met in 1980 and found out we were both going to the local punk shows and we didn’t know anyone else foolish enough to do this. They both mention that one of their parents was going to The Rat at the same time we were. I mention Maia, connected with Neighborhood Shit, and, that I had found out her mother was with us, also. A little later I talk to London and Jimmy Roast beef from The Martians and they both say their parents were there, too, in the early Boston punk scene. Their parents were standing shoulder to shoulder, neck to neck with Andy and me.

And now, all the ones I stood with have seemed to have sent their children! And I’m thinking- why am I here? Shouldn’t I be at home now? (Or maybe in a home?)

But life takes its’ profoundly nasty and delightfully, deliciously twists and turns, and as The Ramones song covered tonight goes, “Pick up the pieces,” and the Neil Young song goes, “Walk on,” and that’s what you do, what I did. Or at least, I thought I did.

Because I’m right here where I started. Right where I stood. Probably lucky to be here, as Andy Bang could attest to.

And whether it’s right or wrong, bad or good- all I can’t say, all I know is- there’s no other place I’d rather be.

Loser’s Circle is supposed to play today but it turns out only two-thirds of them have the guts to show their faces. I feel cheated by this and try to subtract some of the portions of the refreshments I have given to the Midway staff today, but I am rebuked in my actions.

But never mind, it’s Jamie Payette and Mike Barone with their acoustic guitars playing braverly along. Continuing in the great tradition of duos such as Hall & Oates, Seals & Kroft, Sonny & Cher, Kurt Cobaine and Pat Smear.

I’ve seen Jamie solo and Losers’ Circle countless times and now, as then, the experience is wonderful. In honor of Valentines Day, which is today, they play “Love Stinks” by the J.Geils Band.

But love doesn’t stink- it sucks, at least, if you do it the way done best, I think.

Whoopi Sticks kicks it off with one of their guitarists doing a kind of spoken word, megaphone kind of thing while the instruments slide and grind. This band’s style is adventuresome/creative punk with lots of twists and turns, and joy and screaming. No wave, surf/punk smorgasbord.

I always thought their song “Hair Monster” was just another one of their crazy, fun songs but their guitarist announces, “This song is about heroin.” And then I know, it’s just not a carefree, whimsical tune.

My punk daughter, Lindsey, leads this band. I gave her a Valentines Card today, with cut-out bracelets and stuff you would give a six-year old. And though she likes my silly card I do really love her and her band, as well, and there’s lots to love about them, and today they put on a perfect set. As she heads towards the stage, before they play, she says, “I love you, Slime.” And, for me, that’s better than any music I could hear today.

Black Hatch is the next band. And though I think they’re more garage/surf than punk-when a band plays with this much energy at almost hardcore speed, then I think, that’s something special.

This band is a young band and when they play a song, I believe, is called “At The Midway,” (and maybe it’s a song they can switch to the venue they’re playing at)- it still wins me over.

(At this time Jamie, from Losers’ Circle and Tommy, from Spectre Hawk engage in a jello wrestling match. It hard to say who won but it’s easy to say, we all won, today, at such a magnificent spectacle.)

Jumper is the next band who are a power/pop/punk trio. But they have the grit of hardcore and a bit of garage rock to go along with the angry, frustrated lyrics.

Dennis, the bassist, apologizes on stage for the mistakes. But, I think, this is actually the tightest I’ve seen them. I think the style they do is boring when it’s too slick. And they are always a pleasure to see and hear because the germ of punk has infected their music, so convincingly.

Spectre Hawk take the stage, with Tommy Somerville and his cape and silver headgear/mask.

This is a fun band, more garage rock than punk but that’s what the early Boston punk sounded like. They have lots of punk spirit and rock’n’roll spirit, too.

They turn in, no surprise, a fun, lively set as I eagerly await their cover. (They always play a different cover and it’s always great and timely.)

Today they do “Modern Love” by David Bowie. And though I’m used to seeing this band and having a laugh and a good time. I’m actually moved by their rendition (and this is not one of my favorite Bowie’s tunes.) But they do such a great job at playing it with a sax player adding his part- that it means so much to me, that they play this, that the community that I write about, so believes in someone I so believed in and someone I wouldn’t think they cared so much about. That life turns our fair and right, sometimes.

I have tears in my eyes when they play this and a I tell this to them after- I always expect to have a fun time when I see Spectre Hawk, I just didn’t expect to have such a meaningful, moving time as I do today.

Now, it’s time for Mickey Rickshaw. This is a full celtic/punk band with bagpipes, mandolins and fifes. This band does not sound like they’d rather be in a quaint, Irish bar doing an acoustic set- they’re quite at home in a dive bar kicking up a storm.

There’s an excellent turnout today and it appears they brought the biggest crowd. And they turn in a really great set.

The favorite times of my week are when I’m writing, writing about my second favorite time of the week, meaning music and shows.

And that’s right here, at shows like this. I don’t know if I’m “supposed to be here.” But like most of you, I never fit in anywhere but I’ve always felt most at home “here.”

And I know I enjoy these shows now much more than the early days. ‘Cause now I appreciate them and know how special they are. Then I thought I would be dead next year and the music would soon be forgotten. And anything I cared about or believed in would be long gone, swept down the drain.

It didn’t work out that way and now, I appreciate these days ’cause I know how special they are. I think I’ve already said that and I hope I can keep saying that again and again…I hope, someday, you can say the same.

(Slimedog)

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