Punk Show / Metal Show Same Day Review (Part One)
5/5/12
Reason To Fight / Refuse Resist / Broken Heroes
Midway Café Jamaica Plain, MA
(by Slimedog)
The River Neva / Acaro / Swarm Of Eyes / The Black Heart Epidemic / Sabado Gigante / 7 Minute Stagger
Ralph’s Diner Worcester, MA
(by Andy Bang & Jimmy Thrash)
Today’s review starts with a Saturday matinee punk show at the Midway. But what’s important about this show is that it’s Trinity’s Birthday (Hooray!) and a benefit for her charity punksforaprincess.blogspot.org. As most of you know it’s a charity to raise money for an ear operation that will allow her to hear. After she actually hears the bands she’s been seeing she might regret this decision! But seriously, we’ve always tried to promote this charity and TNB was honored to have been put on as a co-host.
I was a little worried about the turnout because of a free show going on across town but I had nothing to fear as they got a big crowd. I go to a lot of these matinees and it was the best attended I’ve seen. I’ve never seen Smilin’ Dave the bartender and door chick Jenn be so busy. So, much thanks to them, the bands, the fans and Brass N Ammo for working his butt off that day.
I’m proud of the music all our bands play but I’m even more proud of the camaraderie, friendship and good will our punk community stands for. I’ve been around (awhile) and have known musicians and people in many different scenes in Boston and, though it might be obvious that this is my favorite musically; personally, I think this is the best bunch of people I’ve ever known and never forget that and a day like this is why.
Now, Reason To Fight is one of TNB’s favorites. They are an awesome, powerful Providence hardcore punk band. Today they put on a powerful performance – that’s no surprise. What is a surprise is Drunk Robb, from Drunk Robb & The Shots, is playing guitar for them today. And what is not a surprise, to me, is he does this quite well. So well that I hear he’s the permanent guitarist now. Great show, guys.
Another favorite, Refuse Resist, is next. I always, mistakenly, refer to them as Refuse To Resist and for this I blame Reason To Fight. I guess I won’t do this much more as they’re calling it quits after five years, here at the Midway on July15th, much to my chagrin. They put on a wild show with singer, Shawn Refuse, on the floor with the guys in front of the stage creating a mass of bodies and yelling into the mike. Even little Tiffany is hoisted above the crowds.
Broken Heroes is next sporting a skinhead image. I hear they describe themselves as an “Oi” band and I feel that fits them well. They’ve come all the way from New Jersey to do this show and they can be commended for that. They can also be praised for their music as they bring that working class, sing-a-long, high energy, hard hitting punk vibe to the Midway stage. I think they are the first New Jersey band covered by Thrash N Bang but, like our New York bands, they play very well.
For The Worse was the last band and I hear they’re really good, but I have to be meet with my probation officer so I’ll hand the mike over to Andy Bang and Jimmy Thrash for their text review of a metal show that took place that evening. Happy Birthday, Tiffany, thanks again to everyone who showed up for this. You made the day.
(We now switch to the text metal review, already in progress.)
Jimmy (Thrash)- The first band on was 7 Minute Stagger with a guy and a girl singer. What was your take on them?
Andy (Bang)- I thought the male/female vocal trade-off led to an interesting sound. They tend a bit towards the melodic and progressive side of metal.
Jimmy- I know they had elements of pop and hip hop in them but they really weren’t my thing. Next was Sabado Gigante who I believe was playing their first show.
Andy- Yes, a more traditional thrash death metal band. I thought they were straight ahead death core with a nice vibe.
Jimmy- We were told they are members of well-known bands. I was very impressed with them.
Andy- Yes, they were very good.
Jimmy- The Black Heart Epidemic was next. They had a viola. I hate the violin but I love the viola, it’s a mournful instrument.
Andy- Didn’t they have another string instrument as well? I thought their sound was a bit darker and more melancholic.
Jimmy- I think the girl who played the viola also played keyboards. I was sniffing deodorant cans in the bathroom so I’m probably not the best one to ask.
Andy- Male or female deodorant?
Jimmy- Both. When it comes to wiping out my brain mass I love both genders equally. Which strangely brings us to Swarm Of Eyes; or did we comment on the last band yet? The last band was different but the viola was mostly inaudible to me.
Andy-Swarm Of Eyes had a special surprise for the evening.
Jimmy- They gave out free aerosol spray cans?
Andy- No, they played two covers.
Jimmy- Oh, right. “Jesus Is Just Alright,” by the Doobie Brothers and “Now, I Wanna Sniff Some Glue,” by the Ramones. Which reminds me to do something (and it’s not prayer).
Andy- I thought the first one was a Misfits tune.
Jimmy- You’re right, but the other one was by the Ramones.
Andy- “Now, I Wanna Sniff Some Deoderant?”
Jimmy- No, it was “Blitzkreig Bop.” Swarms Of Eyes were great. I find them more high energy than thrash. Omit a couple of slow songs and they could play a punk show.
Andy- Well, the vocals are definitely death, but they do have a number of straight ahead high energy death core tunes.
Jimmy- I think we agree we think they are great. Even Slimedog likes them and he’s just a drunk punk. And speaking of great, Acaro was next.
Andy- Yes, I think Acaro’s set was the best I’ve ever heard them play. They’re all very good musicians.
Jimmy- I like them more every time I see them. It might seem odd to refer to a metal guitarist’s playing as “soulful” but that’s what I say about Felipe. You like the drummer, right?
Andy- Yes, Jason never ceases to amaze me.
Jimmy- Oh, I misunderstood. I thought you thought he was cute.
Andy- Sorry dude, my ass is exit only. And, of course, Chris is an awesome front man.
Jimmy- Agreed. What about The River Neva?
Andy- I really dig The River Neva. Another band with great musicians.
Jimmy- By this time I had found some cleaning liquid in the janitors’ closet and indulged. I like The River Neva. I think they’re a young and upcoming metal band. Was I hallucinating or were there guys with gas masks onstage?
Andy- Yes, I think the entire audience was wearing them except for us as the anthrax was released into the room. Of course, anthrax has no effect on us since we’ve already lost our minds years ago.
Jimmy- I guess it was a video they were filming. Hey, I need to go to CVS for some items. Anything you want to add?
Andy- Maybe just something about the venue, (Ralph’s Diner in Worcester, MA). I thought Ralph’s was a really cool place to see live music.
Stay tuned for (Part Two) of another punk/metal day coming soon to a website near you!
