Blackmarket Ammunition / Scrapes / Riki Rocksteady / The Egos
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 10/12/13
I don’t think I’m supposed to be writing this review. Not that there’s anything wrong with this show or I’ll be revealing something I shouldn’t; it’s just I shouldn’t be here by the odds. But somehow I made it.
This show is a memorial/benefit for Adam Furman, someone who I didn’t know but from the turnout of so many people must have been quite the guy. And it’s great to see another example of music bringing people together in a community and there is good people here today, good music and some great food!
Up first is The Egos one of the first bands reviewed on TNB if I remember correctly. Kind of funny ’cause they’re not the kind of band we usually cover. I guess they fit in more with the psycho-billy tag which I do like but again, not what we cover.
But I am enjoying their Cramps like style today, dirge-y and echo-y with a solid female bass player. They play slower tunes than the hundred miles per hour songs I’m used to but they mix it up within their style and turn in a set that I, and I believe the crowd, enjoys.
Riki Rocksteady is next and I have seen him with his band before but today he’s solo. First let me say he has a beautiful voice which also I’m not usually use to but I do appreciate. He does sixties soul and rhythm and blues songs to a reggae beat strummed on his acoustic guitar along with some originals.
It funny ’cause earlier today at work I was listening to Otis Redding and Sam Cooke and here he is covering them and doing a great job with his vibrato tinged voice. Sixties R&B is one of my favorite styles of music; in fact, and for him to hang ably with those singers is no simple feat. Rock on, Riki, and rock steady!
The Scrapes are next and like The Egos they are a band we haven’t seen in quite a while. But impress us they did and I’m impressed that they have Walter Gustafson on drums (The Outlets, Gang Green, Mung). Walter is Bang and mine’s favorite drummer in the seven or so decades we’ve been following the Boston rock scene and today he reminds me why we think this. Rock solid, powerful, propulsive playing and who I would only compare to Slapshot’s formidable drummer.
Have I forgotten about the rest of the band? Oh, sorry- Howie the lead singer and the other young lads turn in a set that sounds like a British punk band from ’78 and that means they sound fucking great! They throw in a cover of Lenny Lashley’s “Try To Make It Right” and it sounds great and their whole set does, as well. A rare treat seeing these guys and it’s not yet Halloween!
Blackmarket Ammunition is up now to take it out. They’re a bunch of young dudes with the unfortunate task of following all that great music before them. They play a rap influenced garage rock with a bit of blues slide guitar in there as well. Very adept and good at what they’re doing just not as moving to me as the preceding bands.
I wonder how many times I was physically close to death. Maybe none, but it’s an interesting question. I know emotionally, at one time, the answer might be hundreds.
Frequently at shows I feel a smile break out across my face. Often it’s because of the wonderful time, crazed people and great music. Sometimes it’s me thinking to myself, “How am I still here?” “Am I really supposed to be witnessing this?’
I’m glad I am. Every second is a blessing. Every second is another chance.
(Slimedog)
