Drago Presents 2 Nights Of Awesome
Beantown Boozehounds / Drago / Tenafly Vipers / Vapid Dissent
BeachComber, Quincy, MA 7/20/2012
Drago is a band that doesn’t exist anymore for the most part; and no, they are not a figment of my imagination. But every summer, for two nights they resurrect at the BeachComber in Quincy, MA; where they grab a weekend and play for and with their friends.
They are a really awesome, heavy sounding hardcore band but what sets them apart is their absurd, funny lyrics. Like in the songs where the very effective lead singer is barking about getting kids off his lawn or, “Make the world a better place / Punch a vegan in the face.”
Besides having a great front man and a very able bass player, the husband/wife team of Rice and Kristen rounds outs the band on drums and guitar, respectively. Rice, in my opinion, is one of the best drummers in Boston and Kristen really shines on guitar. They also play together in heavy rock band, Full Body Anchor, and a B-52’s tribute band called Bikini Whale, which the later I’m dying to see.
So tonight they go on second to last, play all the crowds favorites and don’t disappoint one bit- but let’s get to how the night started.
Vapid Dissent is the opening band and I’m informed that two of its members are from Taxi Driver as well, a band that I’ve reviewed before and liked. They do an excellent job starting the night off right with their traditional punk style. They have rousing, anthematic chorus’s; lots of energy; Clash inspired songs, I’d say, and are a fun band to see and hear.
I hadn’t seen the Tenafly Vipers for a while so I was looking forward to this treat. To describe the Vipers I’d say they are a metal band without the trappings. No pyro technical solos, no boring progressive elements- just raw, pure, balls out metal rock with dollops of hardcore and punk tossed on top. After the set I ask the singer, Jeff, the name of a particular song I liked a lot and he tells me, “Spartan,” which is then corrected by Swid as “Fartin’.” Swid always has an interesting story to tell me and tonight is no exception. We’re talking about somebody and he says, “Yeah, he bought crack from a hot dog stand.” “What did you say,” I reply. “Yeah, he bought crack from a man running a hot dog stand…..okay.
Beantown Boozehounds are the last band of the night and I’m anxious to see them as some of the members are from an old favorite punk band of mine, Zippo Raid, and I’ve never caught them. I had heard a song on the Punks For Princess compilation, reviewed on our site, and was much impressed and I’m much impressed now. They have that traditional punk style with the melodic chorus’s done by many of the more popular local punk bands but I must say I think these guys do it the best. Not as wild and funny as the old Zippo Raid, (thought the bass player did make a tasteless joke about the Colorado killings), but an excellent band, as well.
It’s one o’clock and the detail cop is telling everyone loudly to leave. You know- this club isn’t exactly in a residential area and it is on Wollaston Beach which to me is the South Shore’s Revere Beach; need I say anymore? But I’m afraid he’s gonna club me with a baby seal so I make my hasty retreat. Check Drago out if you can, you won’t be disappointed, and tell them to play out a bit more.
(Slimedog)
