Refuse Resist Farewell Show
Refuse Resist / Opposition Rising / The Enders / Live Fast Die Fast / Red Line Rebels
Midway Café, Jamaica Plain, Ma 7/15/12
This was originally supposed to be Refuse Resist’s Fifth Anniversary Show but instead turned out to be their Farewell one. And quite the show it turned out to be! I gave my thoughts about the band in a CD review you can read here, so I’m just gonna say they were one of the best punk/hardcore outfits on our site and I’m sad to see them go; but they went out with a blast.
This was a sold out show, as predicated by their singer Shawn Refuse, there were people being turned away and though every band could be called hardcore, they all had a different take on it and all were very good.
One of my favorite bands, Red Line Rebels, starts it off with what they call “skate punk.” They have humorous, trashy, surf-y, very fast, usually very short tunes that recall to me, The Germs, at their finest. They sound better all the time and rise to the occasion as opening band getting the crowd pumped up and moshing while singer Jay is picked up and tossed around the room.
The next band, Live Fast Die Fast, we became aware of from an excellent CD they sent us. It’s rare we review someone without first seeing them live. But the CD was so good, I told Bang that their being from Long Island, New York we’d probably never see them and he agreed the CD was great. Much to my surprise they ended up playing this show and I’m not disappointed in seeing them live. The set slowly builds in intensity until climaxing in the last song, the best song of their set. Their style is an intense form of hardcore and they loved the club and promised to return. We definitely would like to see this happen.
The Enders was next a band on tour from Indiana. They play a form of hardcore that is a bit metal tinged to my ears. They have an excellent drummer who makes me think he has double bass drums at first. They’re a trio and remind me of Motorhead at times, high praise indeed. They keep the tempos blistering and the moshers sweating and turn in a very good set. I don’t know how often they’ll pass our way but definitely a band to check out.
Opposition Rising follow and I had only caught half a set by these guys before but was impressed. They’re an intense, political kind of hardcore (though serious in the songs, the singer is pretty funny, joking about how the pit has to make sure he doesn’t fall, as he’s old and is getting drunk). Mostly straight ahead hardcore in style they do have a bit of funk in some tunes recalling Rage Against The Machine. The song “The Rich Are Killing The Poor” is a standout for me and they have the moshers singing along in lots of songs during their excellent set.
It’s a hot day with the A.C. generally doing the job but it’s sweltering by the time Refuse Resist does their set. They planned on doing every song on their two albums and ended up playing twenty nine songs.
It’s great to see such an enthusiastic crowd and such a kick ass band. Toward the end they take a goofy song, “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” by Twisted Sister and turn it into a song of defiance, camaraderie and belief. I feel the need to run over to Paul, singer from Live Fast Die Fast, and tell him that they’re playing the song for them! This is soon followed by my favorite tune of theirs, “Sunday Matinee,” Oi, Oi, Oi! Which was the reason; Shawn explains that they were going out playing one.
For the final song, “Why Am I Still In Massachusetts,” (State that I love and hate). Shawn, who is moving away, explains he still equally loves and hates the state but that it’s just time to write another page. He invites the crowd to come on stage or mosh or as one of the guitar players states, “take their clothes off and have an orgy,” and I’m drawn toward the stage. Immediately realizing my peril, I hide, cowering behind two girls on the side of the stage as bedlam reigns.
What could’ve been just a sad occasion was made more of a celebration; of a band, of a community, or musicians and fans alike. And a damn good celebration, at that, of the punk spirit and passion that lives on.
(Slimedog)
