The Prozacs / Jagger Holly / Worm / Injury / Unlisted
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 4/4/16
I get to the Midway late because I have a duty to do. And that is making a few bucks so I can buy a few beers so I can stomach this cruel, farce called “Life” thrown in my lap everyday- and also, so I can better understand the delicate nuances of a punk rock show ready to reign down upon my brain, once again.
I missed the first two bands. So how can I review them, you may well ask? So I’ll pause a moment for you to confer with your laptop screen…
Well, I’ve seen both bands before. Unlisted, who played first, I’ve seen many times. I describe them as no-wave, punk/noise, dissonant samba raves; but let’s ask Derek, the trusty soundman, who was present for their set.
“They were really good” he says, “Even better than the last time I saw them. It’s hard to describe them- I’d say loud, aggressive. I will say I’m surprised that the singer is still able to talk after her set.”
And what she has to say to me is- that this is their second to last show as a band. Which ’causes me to put on my sad face, ’cause this is, I mean, was, one of my favorite local bands. But hopefully another band this uncompromising, this so in-your-face gutsy and creative will emerge out of this.
Injury is the next band I didn’t see. I check my review of the only time I did see them and it raves about them being a true punk band with an English punk influence and an underlying surf influence as well.
But listening to their EP later, forced upon me strongly against my will- I can tell ya, this is some rock ’em, sock ’em punk-o-rama that gets the blood flowing to all vital organs including your brain. I hope to have better luck in catching them again and their EP will be reviewed thusly.
Worm starts their set shortly after I arrive. They’re style is hard to pigeon-hole. One minute they’re doing a hardcore number, the next a grungy rocker. I might call them alternative/ garage/ punk/ hardcore but as always they turn in a loose, fun, entertaining set.
Having two members from my favorite band, Bad Movies, surely helps- Mikke Worm on guitar/vocals and Colman on drums.
My favorite songs of their set are a cover of a Negative Approach song “Ready To Fight” and an original, the crunchin’ rockin’ tune “More Girls In The Moshpit.”
Jagger Holly are next, a band I saw once before, and it makes me laugh when they mention being from Ohio, ’cause I just assumed they were another local band. And like I mentioned last time I reviewed them, this is a band that would’ve set a club, like The Rat, on fire in the eighties.
And why is that? Because this is power pop with big beat drums, loud guitars and echo-y vocals all smothered in tuneful melodies. They even do a Beach Boys song, “Be True To Your School.” While really not playing my favorite style they perform really well in the Elvis Costello/ The Romantics type of sound. And if it was the eighties, I bet they’d be playing The Paradise tonight instead of the Midway.
The Prozacs are the last band of the night and this is some more energetic, melodic pop but with a bit more punk edge to go with it, a more nineties punk sound.
And like the previous band they turn in a tight set with hardly a moment in between songs before another one comes roaring in- like a high-speed rail train out of control entering a station. They turn in a lively, hard-hitting set led by an engaging front man and an excellent drummer.
After the set I find out that they’re from Western Mass and they share a couple of members with Stiletto Bomb (who I saw here and enjoyed several months ago)- who also have members in Pajama Slave Dancers (who are a band that Andy & I saw countless times in the eighties. One of the funniest and fun bands we ever enjoyed!)
So it’s nice to see some old cats doing some cool stuff. One would only wish that Slimedog and Bang would learn a lesson from them and contribute something of worth, of value. We can only hope, as miracles do happen some days.
But my day of work is finished, kaput! Seems like my beer is gone, too. Time to rest up for another day (or afternoon) of toil to buy another night of reverie.
(Slimedog)
