THE DOLL EYES / BARROOM HEROES / MUSCLECAH / THE EGO’S Midway Café Jamaica Plain Mass. 4/11
So this is another lovely Saturday afternoon punk matinee at the Midway (they seems to do these quite often) featuring one of my favorite bands, The Doll Eyes. First up though are The Ego’s providing a good soundtrack for Narragansett consumption. The Ego’s are a goth-y looking trio whose style makes me think of the Cramps which I believe is a good thing. Mixing garage rock, surf, rockabilly, punk- all good influences they play all of it well with good songs to boot, I really enjoyed them.
Up next is Musclecah hailing from Worcester, Mass. who are a very loud hard rock band. They do some covers in the set but the beginning with “Kick Out The Jams” by the Mc5 and the ending with The Damned’s “New Rose” is the best part. They play well but I’m not too sold on their style or songs.
Then it’s Barroom Heroes who I had seen for the first time a couple of weeks ago at the Midway. They’re three guys who do punk covers and they’re all 12 and 13 years old! When I saw them before I was more for the novelty of it all but this time I notice them doing a pretty good job! I think they really sound better today than a few weeks ago and they hold their own with the other bands. It reminds of the club in Berkeley Calif.-Gilman Street, which I was lucky enough to visit once, that club has whole families (and sometimes with their dog) at a punk show. I wish a place like that would open around here and young kids’ playing, I think, is really keeping in the spirit of punk.
I miss a band and when I come back the Doll Eyes have started their set. I’m psyched to see them because I haven’t seen them play in awhile. Since they’re one of my favorite local bands I guess it’s no surprise I enjoyed them playing songs mostly from their great cd “Too Many Feelings.” The cd is reviewed elsewhere on this site also; an interview conducted in the bowels of the Midway following this set is with their profile. I could blather on about them but let me just say they’re a great band with great songs and a great cd, check them out. And thanks to Dave and Jay of the Midway for having these shows.
(Jim Slimedog)