Cheap Buzz – “Live At The Storm Shelter”
My last review of this band, Cheap Buzz, earlier this year started with:
“I’m drinking Bud Light cans and shots of Jagermeister while reviewing this.”
I hate when people generalize. Especially, when I do it.
I mean, I wouldn’t mind if they Sargentized or Corporalatized or even, Privatized though, anyone having private access to my private parts would seem unseemly to me and quite offensive to most.
So just to clarify- Right now I’m drinking Bud cans and shots of Jagermeister. A subtle, but meaningful change.
But more importantly, what needs to be known, other than what substances I’m using to blot out the misery of everyday life, my failures.
When, I knew it was the predestined choice for me to be a World Class Women’s Figure Skater and to have these dreams all dashed away by:
1) I’m not a woman. 2) I’ve never ice skated and 3) I’m quite content to drinks cans of beer along with thimbles of German digestives, jotting down nonsense about bands and music that are much more worthy, than my distorted, disturbing dreams of female ice-skating Olympic accomplishment.
So cheap buzzes are okay, but what should be more important to you is that Cheap Buzz creates really, great punk music without any hangover.
And no need to open the fridge- it’s right here! A wonderful new punk band from Maine.
Me, I’m gonna huff some aerosol spray cans and dream about it being me, who smashed Nancy Kerrigan’s knee cap to a pulp.
But while this all occurs, I encourage you to enjoy this lively, live recording:
“Ego Edema” pounces out at a moderate pace, like a predator stalking its’ prey. It has a sixties, garage rock vibe along with early punk female vocals. The recording may not be pristine but the energy, the punch and the music is so great. I feel it inhabits the very best of garage, punk and riot grrl music- so much so, that I feel my ears have been lifted up by some swans from heaven, grasping me up by my ears and dragging me onto paradise. It may be the Bud or Bud Light cans talking, but I really love this song.
“T.F.S.G G”(which may mean “too fuckin’ sick G.G. Allin?), has a false start and then, they barely amble onward into a song that is played- nowhere near perfect. There’s a nice, melodic guitar lick that makes a valiant attempt to fill in. But technical success is considered, invalid by me, when a song, like this, is so full of expression and emotion. This song fuckin’ rules- it’s perfect!
“Batton Down The Hatches” proceeds at more hardcore speed with the minimal bass line taking the chorus higher, like a lunatic in a straight jacket, climbing the padded walls. This song is exciting, rough and raw. The vocals become hysterical, the beat pushes ahead, the guitars rail and wail. The best song on this EP for me.
“Dick In Hand Syndrome,” a common medical, malady condition that both me and Andy Bang have both been fallen victim with, erupts explosively. This song is chaotic, wild and fun. It’s faster than a speeding locomotive, more powerful than a simple bound and able to leap over bullets. This song is entrenched with hysterical, hardcore hi-jinx complete with a sloppy, lovable, headbanging breakdown that completes this super song.
Buzzes and highs are almost always cheap.
Except when what you pay for it ends up with being your life.
I don’t want to make light of what substance abuse can and has done to our loved ones.
But there’s a lot of cheap art that you can imbibe on safely. Lot’s of underground punk/hardcore shows like this one, on this recording. There’s lots of great local shows you can attend for five to ten bucks.
And this is from a show that occurred in an underground place, I’m guessing, and if you think going to reunion punk shows of a legendary band by a band of senior citizens will be more potent than a show like this one, that plays for 50 people not 500- you are mistaken.
Last week I wrote that the band, Golf Weapons, was one of the best bands I’ve reviewed this year. That still stands. The new power violence band, Disco Rice, is equally awesome.
But since the year’s almost out, I think I’m gonna award that trophy to Cheap Buzz.
And give yourself a prize by checking out this band. I think you’ll get a musical buzz from them. I know I did.
I’ll drink to that.
(Slimedog)
