Best Live Shows of 2018
First my favorite, followed chronologically throughout the year.
My pick for show of the year!
Though our Xmas show was the best one yet. I gotta give the nod to this show put on by one of my punk daughters, Lindsey Loogie Warnot.
D-SAGAWA/ BIN MEN/ INCONVENIENCE STORE/ THE RATZ/ GUDSFORDLADT Midway Cafe 10/13/18
Besides some great, interesting, experimental sets being played that day. Especially Gudsfordladt who were several minutes into their set before people realized they weren’t still preparing to play it! (including me)- This show contained my two favorite sets of the year. One by D-Sagawa, who I’d only seen once before, two years ago, but they ended up winning then, the set of the year. And this year they did the same with their amazingly, energetic D-beat music tying with The Ratz, who, since I had seen them earlier in the year, added Ines from Damn Broads, which only made them even better and helped them to produce an incredibly, enjoyable garage/punk/hardcore set.
ELECTRIC STREET QUEENS/ JERRY’S GOT JOKES/ COLOR KILLER/ BLAME IT ON WHITMAN Midway Cafe 1/21/18
Any show with ESQ on it is already likely to be picked as they are so much fun! Their style is making fun of, while also celebrating, the trappings of 70’s rock in such an authentic way (I was there folks!) that their music is potent and always so entertaining. As is a new band, Jerry’s Got Jokes, with their lively ska/alternative party mix. Plus, another great new band, DNZL, with their unique take on hardcore who also, played. Every band on this bill had a totally different style from each other.
RICTUS GRIN/ THE RATZ/ WIMP/ WHOOPIE STICKS/ ISOLATIONS Club Bohemia 2/3/18
Great bill with Rictus Grin- a wild, drunk, pogo, Oi, gay band that is alas, no more. Along with the transgender hardcore/metal band Wimp. Not to mention old favorite Whoopie Sticks and The Ratz, an off-shoot from my favorite band, The Lost Riots. All put on by my punk daughter, Lindsey, who put on the ESQ show, as well.
GOOLAGOON/ BANDIT/ CRYSTAL METHODIST/ KINGPIN Cambridge Elks 2/17/18
Besides hanging out with Jake from BarRoom Heroes, it was a fun night seeing my two favorite power violence bands- Goolagoon and Crystal Methodist. As Jake from Goolagoon explained to me- power violence is “Taking the aesthetics of punk and applying them to metal.” Oh, and I introduced the two Jakes to each other!
THE MCGUNKS/ JASON BENNETT & THE RESISTANCE/ THE DIMWITS/ LOSER’S CIRCLE/ PHIL MCCAFFERY Midway Cafe 4/21/18
Combining some current favorites like Loser’s Circle and Jason Bennett, along with old time favorites like The McGunks and The Dimwits, along with the great, songwriter Phil McCaffrey- it’s bound to be a sure pick. And though I have forty years of going to punk shows, I write- “So no nostalgia, no “good old days” for me. Shows like this are the best I’ve ever seen.”
This was a show for the person I most love and most despise in the punk scene- it was Slimedog’s 22nd Birthday Punk Pizza Party!
KERMIT’S FINGER/ THE MCGUNKS/ THE LOST RIOTS/ UNCLE SPUDD/ TIME OUT TIMMY/ LINN SVEDKA Midway Cafe 5/20/18
Though The Spice Girls backing out at the last minute was a bitter pill to swallow, I did see Time Out Timmy for the first time and they delivered one of the best sets I saw all year! But all the bands were incredible and I had my best 22nd birthday ever! And thanks for Andy, Jo & Jake, Nick & Rachael, Jess and everyone attending.
MOOSE KNUCKLE/ WORM/ THE IMPOSERS/ WITCHES TEARS/ COFFIN SALESMAN Maggy’s Lounge Quincy, MA 5/26/18
Another show with a great, diverse lineup. Coffin Salesman’s solo acoustic/punk, Witches Tears doom metal, The Imposers rockabilly set, Worm’s hardcore/punk and Moose Knuckle’s Oi/ drunk punx. All great sets- especially Moose Knuckle who delivered one of the best sets I would see all year.
This was the third Annual Grommets Porchfest that I was privileged to attend, and as before, it easily made it into the Top Ten. (Also, it’s the only show that had free hot dogs!)
THE MANGLERS/ THE NEW FRUSTRATIONS/ THE GROMMETS/ GRIMSLEY PLEASED/ THE INSTAMATICS
I could go on about how great the bands were but I’d rather say how this show says most about how what punk was and what punk is and what it means to be part of a punk community. Friendships, families, fun- passion if not perfection- honesty, realness and true spirit. Laughter and joy, a good time all experienced with good intentions. Nothing that would seem very special here, but in fact, there’s nothing better that exists.
COFFIN SALESMAN/ OC45/ BURN BURN BURN/ BUNDLES O’Briens Pub 11/3/18
This was a sold-out show headlined with Aria Rad’s full band, that was received quite well along with OC45, who’ve been around since TNB started and played their very best set ever. Wonderful night aided by Blowfish and Linn and Mikke Worm attending. I wrote- “This is my religion. This is my philosophy. This is my life…A lot of folks thank me for writing about them or encouraging and endorsing the scene, the bands they love. But it’s like I’m being handed diamonds and being told, “Thank you for accepting them.”
TNB’S ANNUAL PUNK PIZZA POETRY XMAS SHOW Midway Cafe 12/23/18
NEIGHBORHOOD SHIT/ REVILERS/ THE HANGOVERS/ COFFIN SALESMAN/ JAKE TRINGALI (The Punk Poet)
Almost a sold out show and probably my favorite Xmas show. Not just because off all the great performances by all the great bands or all my favorite people from the Cape Cod and South Boston crews attending. But for Jake doing an amazing reading of my poem, “I’m Not Like Everybody Else,” about my sort of “coming out” and the reaction from the crowd for it. This show was great in every possible way and I will never become blase about the current punk scene’s love and acceptance of me.
(Slimedog)
