REASON TO FIGHT / BY THE THROAT / RED LINE REBELS / ASHERS / THE TRANS FATS / RYANN / THE GREATFUL DEAD
Midway Cafe Jamaica Plain MA 2/12
We’re here at the Midway to see another Friday night punk show and the trouble is, every Friday from 6 to 8, they have some goddamn Greatful Dead type band. We like to get there early so as not to miss a band and of course, we arrive and have to hear a few songs that sound like Jackson Browne sitting in with the Doobie Brothers doing Steve Miller songs; feel blessed if you don’t get the references.
Then we get to hang with Ryann, our little five foot red head spitfire cutie, and she’s complaining ’cause her friend has already been shut off from the bar. Ryann says she’s as drunk as her friend and has been drinking since noon and they have been doing shots in the bar next door. Ryann seems okay though her friend seems to be in a bit of a dazed condition. It takes me awhile but then I do notice her friend only has a slipper on one foot and is barefoot on the other. I explain to Ryann though she may be drunk she is showing great responsibility as she has lost none of her attire. A sure warning sign to bartenders, I believe, is when you are missing an article of clothing- be it shirt, pants or one or more shoes. And I believe she is setting a good example for her friend to see and hopefully, in the future, follow.
I was disappointed when I heard Frontrunner had to drop off the bill but pleasantly surprised with The Trans Fats. First time for us to see them and Bang and I agree they kick some major ass. During one song I mention they sound like if Blue Oyster Cult were a punk band, ( feel blessed if you don’t…) but fuck that comparison, they’re just a high energy rock’n’roll punk band. And special mention to their excellent drummer.
At this point we notice Crazy Jay Genoa, Red Line Rebels vocalist, passing through the crowd signing autographs. We verify with him that the facebook rumors of his pregnancy is, in fact, true and we make a note to light some candles at church to pray for an abortion. The night is slightly marred then by a tearful girl yelling at him, “But you told me you couldn’t get pregnant!”
Ashers start to play to take the crowds notice off this debacle. They play in a style, that I think, falls in the cracks between hard rock, punk and metal. I think they’re okay but I have to say Bang likes this band more than me. I’ll defer to him as he has quite a few more brain cells left than myself.
Red Line Rebels are next a band which consists of members of Nickleback and Creed, “NickleCreed” some call them and they’re fronted by the former lead singer of Flock of Seagulls, “Nickle Creedgulls” is what I call them. Seeing them is always a treat for me and we both agree that tonight is the tightest we’ve seen them. And I’m especially happy to see Jay drinking and being tossed about. Along with Refuse Resist they are my favorite punk bands and look!- there’s Shawn Refuse, lead singer of the band with the lovely Lyn of Candy Apple promotions. The Rebels wow the crowd with favorites like “Snot Rocket,” “Repo Man,” and “Goin’ Hawaiian.” They fully inhabit the essence of early hardcore “Minor Threat/ The Germs” punk and never waver from it.
And in that style is By The Throat who are up next. Made up of one half of The Dimwits, (my favorite punk band of a few years past), with an Acro-brat and Blood Vessel added in. They romp through a style influenced by Black Flag, Bad Brains etc.with a slightly more modern spin on it and fit perfectly within the nights festivities. Maybe slightly older than the Rebels you can see these bands are coming from the same place. They always put on a great show and tonight is no exception. I hope these two bands play together again.
Reason To Fight is up to round out the show and this is only our second time seeing them but it took only one time seeing them to know they were a band we wanted to interview which did occur tonight with Jimmy Thrash. These guys are our pick of best hardcore band out of Providence and Ian of Brass N Ammo (who has more brain cells than me) says we choose well, also. They put on a solid, hard hitting show that gets the moshers slamming with a drummer who always has a bit of swing in his style. You can look forward to an interview and cd review of these guys and I look forward to seeing them playing again, soon.
Now, it’s time to leave The Midway. I’m not looking toward the future. I’m looking under tables and chairs for my pants! Bang has two shoes on but one is the girls slipper. Jimmy Thrash, who bought and drank some blue colored beverage at a local Spanish store earlier; one of those drinks with alcohol, caffeine and guava juice in them, is now vomiting green into the mens room toilet bowl. We’re just grateful for these reviews so we can remember what good times we had.
(Slimedog)
