OC45 Tour Sendoff
OC45 / Stray Bullets / The Black Cheers / On The Cinder / The Radicals
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 4/4/15
This is a two punk show day at the Midway. I was here for the earlier Saturday punk matinee show, but I got mistakenly swept up under the bar, with the peanut shells and Keno tickets and then deposited into the dumpster out back.
But I’m back inside now, ready to take on another show.
The Radicals start off this night but really they’re more like a band that should be ending it. With their revved up powerful pop/punk pulverizing people like a porpoise with a purpose and a Popsicle stick.
They turn in a rollickin’ set that is like a roller-coaster going off the rails but safely landing in an amusement park of adult toys.
They’re all dressed up tonight, all dress shirts and ties. It makes me quip to someone, “Are they a New Wave band now?” But it seems they attended a funeral earlier. Still they end their set with the usual number, “Six Feet Underground.”
On The Cinder is next and they’re from Buffalo, which I’m told, is a tough place to be from. If it’s anything like nearby Albany I can see why.
These guys are very proficient at what they play which is high energy rock. Which, unfortunately, has nothing to do with what we cover and nothing to do with what I like.
But if you have better taste in music than I, and I can’t see how you couldn’t, maybe you’ll like this band.
The Black Cheers are not a hardcore band like their lead singer, Danny’s, former band, a band he was the drummer for- Darkbuster.
No, I’d sat they’re punk’n’roll with a glam beat thrown in added by the very able, Scotty, who you may know from the Stray Bullets who he drums for also.
Whatever or whoever you know, or I know, we should all know that this is a gritty, rockin’ band with great songs and great playing.
Towards the end they do that song that’s the title of their album. “The rat, the bat, the cat, who shat in the scully cap?” Great set by a great band.
Hey, Stray Bullets are next and their drummer plays very similar to the one in The Black Cheers. If I didn’t know better I’d say they were the same person.
The band does the ska/punk which, as stated before, is not one of my favorites as I lean towards more easy listening country grind-core.
And, as I’ve stated before, locally I feel these guys do it the best. And they always draw a crowd and were a major factor in this show selling out. And they play a fun, energetic set.
Now, it’s time for the sendoff tour set by OC45. Once more embarking on a nationwide trip to every state, every corner, every nook and cranny of America.
(Oh, how I wish we could send The Pity Whores out of tour with them, and give them just enough money and gas so they’d be permanently stranded in Milkdud, Nebraska).
OC45 spends so much time on the road that when they had to replace their drummer recently they chose a chap from Chicago, who will still live there but will play with them when they tour. And when they play close to home they’ll use friends to fill in. (Meaning Matt from The Radicals).
Said drummer from Chicago is in the house tonight and he certainly has great chops. OC45 is always great live and always a bit loose. This guy seems to reign them in a bit and also, makes them play faster if that’s possible.
Needless to say they play a great set and it was a great show with some of the best locals bands who don’t fall into that pure heavy hardcore style. And check our review of their new 4 song ep that went on-line the same time as this one.
There’s not much more I can add.
(Slimedog)
