Friday March 29th 2024

The Blue Bloods / Taxi Driver / Iron Chin / The Damn Garrison

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The Blue Bloods / Taxi Driver / Iron Chin / The Damn Garrison
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 9/18/15

 

I’m at the Midway on a Friday night but I don’t get here too early, that’s in order to make sure I miss the “Hippie Hour.” I hate the music and the hippies my age can all go choke on their granola as far as I’m concerned. But young hippies are okay with me. Like my friend, Billy, whose buddy “Rocky the pug dog” is known as the most famous creature who inhabits the Midway.

Billy has stuck around after the hippie show and after awhile at the punk show this is his quote to me.

“You know that they had more energy on the floor at the hippie jam than this!”

“I believe you but I can’t write that,” I say.

“But it’s true, you know that it’s true!” he says laughing.

And I agree and that’s why I’m writing about it today.

This Friday night show is the start of Mark Lind’s Boston’s Burning weekend of shows and he has this show tonight, two tomorrow and one Sunday afternoon.

No surprise to me that they all end up well attended, as they should be. Mark knows how to book a show with good, popular, local punk bands. The surprise tonight is- hardly anyone is showing any signs of life! I’ve never been to a hardcore/punk show that was well attended and seen so many people so stiff.

“You know, “ Billy says, “It’s pretty sad when it’s the hippie boy who’s trying to get the pit going.”

I feel like I’m at an indie show, which is similar to being someplace where Mr. Freeze (one of Batman’s arch-enemies) comes in and blasts everyone with his arctic freeze making them immobile.

I can only hope that they thaw out of this tundra and it will get better as the night goes on.

The Damn Garrison is the first band, though they are a headlining band to me. I think they’re going on early because of the long trek back to New Hampshire from where they be.

For me, they are the best, most authentic Oi band in New England (Forced Reality from Connecticut and Broken Heroes from New Jersey would be my only other choices).

And not only that but it gives me a chance to see Julia G., my favorite punk of New Hampshire. She is the reptile lady with silver hair now, (like Andy Warhol) and her boyfriend, Keith Richards, other band, The Rolling Stones I love- but this band is better.

Their style has a rock’n’roll beat, no hardcore, with working class anthems, accusatory emphatic vocals and harsh, gritty guitar.

I like Oi a lot because it reminds me of the early British punk as Oi sprung up almost immediately after the first wave.

This is raw, pure, true music and Damn Garrison does it wonderfully.

Next band is Iron Chin, a band I haven’t seen before. I would call this band an Oi band with very adept, able playing and a very metal side as well.

Is there a genre known as Oi/metal?

Well, if there is this band would fit it perfectly. This is a very tight, proficient band, with an excellent drummer. Might be a little too perfect for my tastes but that’s a small complaint.

And though they play an excellent set the crowd is still not moving.

Taxi Driver is next and instead of starting with their usual metal cover, either by Slayer or Iron Maiden, they bust out the barriers with their own song “Person Of Interest.”

The band is in super-charged mode tonight and burning with fury. I’ve been seeing this band for four years now, since their inception, and I believe this is the best I’ve seen them.

The bassist, Anthony, gives me a shout-out between songs just before their closer “South Of Heaven” by Slayer. I appreciate it, muchly, I just think Andy would be more qualified to accept it.

The Blue Bloods are next, probably my favorite local street punk band out of all the popular, older, established bands in Boston. And what’s not to love? One of the best drummers in town, a great front man and kick ass songs.

They play some great, incendiary stuff and turn in their usual high energy, powerful set…and still the people will not move.

The last band to play, ironically enough, is called Energy. A band I’m unfamiliar with but I have heard good things about.

I’ve been inspired by the music tonight but not by the crowd. I just don’t have the energy to see Energy.

But the bands were great so I have little to complain. And usually, the crowds at these shows are more exciting to watch then the bands themselves.

Thanks Mark for the show- may you continue to keep Boston Burning!

 

(Slimedog)

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