Welch Boys / Zero Rights / Out Live Death / Barroom Heroes / Words Of Truth
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 11/12/16
I get to the show just after Words Of Truth starts off today’s festivities.
I wanted to get here early because, though I like all the bands on the bill, this one is my favorite.
Also, it should be pointed out that this is a benefit for veterans and also, a tribute to our fallen soldier Keith Brooks. Keith, who died earlier this year, was a great promoter and always put on a Wounded Warrior benefit show in November.
Sean, the leader of Words Of Truth, and a great guy, was active in putting on one of the shows earlier this year for Keith, and organized this show, as well.
What I like about his band, since they’ve lost their lead singer, they’ve reverted to playing songs from early on in their career. And these are songs that are short, concise and rock out at times.
This is stripped down hardcore, more like the original hardcore of the eighties before the New York style took hold. This is just pure, punk rockin’ hardcore that I love.
My neighbor, Mike Dowd, sings the last song of the set for them and does an excellent job. A fine finish to a fabulous, far-out set.
BarRoom Heroes are next, who I just reviewed, as I saw them here recently and I mentioned not seeing them for awhile and how greatly they’ve improved.
During their set, Mike, the bartender, gets my attention and says, “These guys are really good.” And then talking to Derek, the soundman, he tells me, “These guys are one of my favorite bands that play here.”
So, I know I’m not alone in my praise. There’s a phrase in music about “playing for the big room.” These guys frequently open for Dropkick Murphy’s and, in this tiny club, you can tell how well this would go over in a big stadium. There’s a song with a busy, bass breakdown accented by some powerful, drum hits that’s a favorite for me, but the whole set is equally awesome.
Before the set, I saw Gina who admitted she hadn’t seen them play for a bit, I prepared her to be blown away. When I see her after the set she tells me, “You weren’t kidding.” Shortly after I see Jake outside and say to him, “You guys are older but how come you’re still fuckin’ munchkins?”
Which causes him and his brother Nick, to throttle me mercilessly into the gutter outside the Midway door, taking no heed to the health issues that an octogenarian, like myself, might have. Instead of intervening, the crowd around just gives applause, which gives me pause to think, how I might have chosen my words more wisely.
But, appropriately enough, Out Live Death plays next. These are the New York boys who arose out of the ashes of my favorite New York band, Live Fast Die Fast. They play New York hardcore but maybe, less metal influenced, more punk spirited and a Rage Against The Machine like political blend.
Paul, their excellent front man, gives a shout out to Keith and mentions first playing Boston at a Refuse Resist show, who Shawn Refuse, now living in New York and now, the singer of Zero Rights, are playing next. I was at that Boston show he mentions.
Out Live Death is a passionate, hard hitting unit that always has great, social conscious lyrics with music that explodes like a dynamite keg going off and today’s set is no exception.
Now, Zero Rights, also from New York take the stage. Shawn is one of the gruffest, growliest, intense singers I know quite unlike his off-stage demeanor which is quite unassuming and relaxed. He is also one of the best hardcore singers I know off and his new band knows how to musically, kick ass.
I’d describe their style as New York hardcore with ferocious, fierce vocals with music that sounds like a jackhammer turned on full blast. They play a great set.
Before the final set I’m asked to step outside by Mike Dowd, and though I’m still reeling (and bleeding) from the last altercation with those pugnacious pygmies- I’m looking forward to redeeming myself, possibly in another bout.
Unfortunately, it’s just to get a picture taken, or fortunately, for everybody else- because I would have certainly- cleaned house.
The Welch Boys are last to play and if you’ve ever seen them them you don’t need me to tell you what they produce. They’re a great Boston band whose style you could call street punk, Oi or Boston hardcore and be right each time. But what they really play is lively, exciting music with a great, engaging front man and an excellent backing band.
Shawn pops up to sing a song about Boston (how appropriate) but my favorite part (actually, of the whole show) is when they do a cover of a Anti-Nowhere League song, “Pete Townsend Is A Pervert” (Keep Him Away From The Children,) while the singer’s young, eight or ten year old son, comes onstage to sing along with the chorus!
This is what I wrote on facebook after the show, in a retort to Krystal’s Smierc’s post- “Damn it, I love the punks.”
I love that I live in a nation that is more divided than any time in my life, but I spent the afternoon with the local punk/hardcore community, with a lesbian couple, a transgender woman, a couple of young, black dudes and with folks I know to be liberal/Democrats and folks I know to be Republican/conservatives, too. And probably, the most out of place person today was me, just because, I’m really too fuckin’ old to be there.
But isn’t it wonderful that we exist under one roof? And that no one was fearful of being there?
And why can’t “real life” be like this?
And when will “real life” learn from us?
(Slimedog)
