The Snipes / Lenny Lashley’s Gang Of One / Taxi Driver / OC45 / FrontRunner
Future Bar, Quincy MA 11/5
The second part of my Quincy Punk Marathon takes place at the Future Bar. Tonight’s show is put on by the lovely and talented Brass N Ammo (link) and, as many of you know, recently impregneted (not impregnated) Thrash N Bang. Impregnet is a term that means getting pregnant in the internet. But enough of our sordid affairs. I must add though that Brass N Ammo does conceive great punk and hardcore shows in the Providence and Boston areas.
First up tonight is FrontRunner a new band for me. They are straight ahead hardcore with nifty stops and starts. They have an energetic, screaming singer who jumps into the crowd to slam. I don’t know anything about these guys but I enjoyed them and would like to see them again, my parole officer willing.
Next is a band, OC45 (band profile: here), I have seen before and has been reviewed here, also (but if brought before a judge I’ll deny it). I think of them as one of our up and coming punk bands as they are young and fairly new. They play straight ahead punk and their cover of “Career Opportunities” by The Clash is a good example, I think, of where they’re coming from. Much improved from the first time I saw them they have plans to record a cd in February and tour in June. I look forward to hearing more of them as I feel they just need more experience before they’re really good and I think they’re pretty good now.
Taxi Driver is next up who play an aggressive in your face punk with an imposing singer. I think the term “oi” could be used here. What I like is so far I’ve seen three bands that are similar in type of music but all different in style. And more importantly, I like them all and, my ankle bracelet seems defective! These guys put on a good show, getting the crowd involved and rocking out. Even more so I enjoyed their demo tape that they were giving out on stage of which a review will be in shortly.
Now, after three punk/hardcore bands Lenny Lashley (band profile: here) is scheduled to play. I fear the worst for him with his solo acoustic performance, (again, like earlier accompanied with the pedal steel and mandolin players), as I know the crowd’s been stimulated by the proceeding high energy bands. But once he takes the stage everyone in the club gets quiet and moves toward the stage directing their attention towards him. He starts off with “Trying To Make It Right” which is from the Darkbuster days but in this style turns it into a more heartfelt, poignant song. It’s a song about a guy waking up and his woman is gone and he doesn’t know why and he wishes her back. A simple idea but what makes it special to me is that after he expresses his regret and bewilderment, there is no resolution, it just stands as it is.
At the side of the stage I see some girls, friends of OC45, who until I saw them drinking, thought it might be an 18 plus show. As young as they must be they’re singing along each word to all of Lenny’s songs. Some of the young musicians had mentioned to me earlier, “Oh, we all love Lenny,” and now it truly hits home. The warmth in the room from all the young folks for the now older Lenny is truly touching and I know I’m getting older, also, as I think, “How many more shows will I see?” Anyways, between Lenny’s songs, the pedal steel’s heart-pulling twang, the beer and the young folk’s belief I can’t help but be moved and can’t help shedding a tear.
Lenny’s voice is getting more ragged and he sounds fine but he has been drinking Guinness and whiskey all day. “I guess I’ve had enough to be considered drunk,” he says in between songs, “Well, that’s if I was a regular person.” Great set, a moving experience and the highlight of a long day for me.
The Snipes are up last and they’re a band that I’m familiar with. They play an energetic pop/punk style with a bit if ska thrown in. And they do it well but I’ve had enough. I only hear a couple of songs before I must make my retreat (check in with my parole officer). So thanks Carrie, Brass N Ammo, BeachComber, Future Bar, all the bands, all the fans, Lenny. Let’s do it some more!
(Jim Slimedog)
