The Manglers / Mob Hit / Tester / Nasty Disaster / Hope & The Husbands / Javier & Los Dishdogs / Jason Bennett
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 4/28/12
You know, when I see a guy with an acoustic guitar on a stage my first reaction is the same as John Belushi in the movie Animal House- “I gave my love a cherry, that had no stone.” I want to take his goddamn banjo and break it over his fuckin’ head. But with Jason here, the songs don’t sound half bad and the lyrics sound pretty good. And a nice lead guitarist playing along with an over-driven amp sound, sounds okay to me.
Now, Javier of and Los Dishdogs is from my much beloved Bad Lieutenants and it happens to be his birthday today. When I say this band mostly plays mellow funk with a bluesy touch, I know that would scare me away, but instead my ears stay glued to the cool vibe they’re laying down. And their cover of James Brown’s, “I Got The Feeling,” where they go, “Baby, baby, baby, baby.” repeated four times acapella before they delve back down into the thumpin’, grindin’ knockout bliss of a beat is very fine with me. This band is a good showcase for Javier to display his licks (great rhythm section, too) and the band finishes the set off with a few pumpin’, punking songs that roll these bad boys out nice.
Hope & the Husbands are next and I have high hopes for her and her spouses because the ukulele molesting drummer, Jaymes, plays for the Red Line Rebels as well. But I am unprepared for the top of my head to explode and have the guts spewn all over Washington Street. (No worries, birds cleaned it up). They describe their style as “rock’n’roll punk” and I think that fits them to a tee. They have a female lead singer that reminds me a bit of Poly Styrene from X-Ray Spec and though, I gather she’s fairly new at this game she’s a great performer. After a few songs, Jaymes takes off his shirt to reveal a red bra over his white t-shirt. After a few more songs the guitarist and bassist follow his lead (always the sign of a good drummer) and they, also, are sporting bras. The singer decides she might as well join in the fun and she’s strips down to her bra and panties (or maybe, bikini bottoms?). It’s hilarious, it’s fun and this bands kicks major ass and won best set of the night before I could see anyone else. I (heart) this band.
Nasty Disaster is next and I was kind of expecting a normal heavy metal band. When I see the lead guitar player has a red plaid kilt along with matching jacket and long white stockings up to his knees, along with a beaver cap, I know I’m in for something different. Two of the other guys obviously have long haired wigs and I finally catch on that this is some kind of Spinal Tap parody. First song is “Play Some Fuckin’ Metal” which they proceed to do. The in-between song raps are pretty funny and the song titles are as well. One is called, “I Like To Fuck Anything Around.” Now, if Motely Crue (who I do love) was forced to write lyrics about what they were truly thinking (or many bands like them), the words would match the lyrics of all the songs by this band. This is entertaining band that do know how to play what they’re poking fun at.
Following them is Tester who is a trio of young guys who really know how to play their asses off. I guess their claim of fame is winning a competition once to be able to open up for Kiss at Mohegun Sun. They do play in a more traditional high energy rock style that does recall Kiss, Blue Oyster Cult or the Mc5. And the funny thing is that two of the guys do look like they are in the Mc5, as they have huge white boy Afros. But they really can play and though their style has nothing to do with modern day punk or metal these guys do rock, and that’s rock with a capital R.
To add to this crazy night it was advertised that “competitive eating” events would happen this evening. I do this myself scoffing down four or five free hot dogs that were provided for all to devour. Actually, it isn’t a true contest but different skits with zebra shirted referees and glamour girl announcers. I have a hard time sorting out exactly what is happening, much like the rest of life for me, but I do know that Ole’ Mole won the hearts, stomachs and other vital organs of the crowd.
Now, Mob Hit is next and I remember lauding them and their cd but that was late last summer. I haven’t seen them since then as this band don’t seem to play out that much and I’m questioning, “Are they really as good as I remember?” All doubts are then cast to the wind as a night that’s been set for an excellent but lighter tone, changes as the dial is turned to “intense”. I call this band metal though they do have hardcore roots, but they don’t fit in exactly with any of our metal, hardcore or punk bands. I will state that these guys are the most powerful, intense band on our site. Are they my favorite? The best? I won’t say that but I’ll stand by my description and we have a hell of a lot of powerful, intense bands on our site. Starting off with the lead song from their last cd and propelled by Barry’s awesome drumming (formerly of Wargasm who some folks talk up as Boston’s all-time best metal band) and Greg’s singing which has such a strong presence in the tiny confines of the Midway, I’m blown away as they are actually better than when I first saw them. And I feel proud and glad that they’ve given validity to my words with their performance tonight.
There’s little time left for The Manglers to do their thing so I request they do their version of “Search & Destroy” as I’d seen lead singer Brian do such an excellent job last time. Sure enough, they lead off with this number and play a few more covers from The Golden Age of Punk. A short but rousing set.
There’s little time left for the review so let me say- all n’ all, an awesome show. Lots of laughs, lots of beers, lots of good music and most importantly, lots of hot dogs.
(Slimedog)
