Fast Times / Nobuddys / Jumper!
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 5/10/15
Well, today is Mother’s Day. And instead of making some obvious jokes I’m going to point out that yesterday was my mother’s birthday, today is Barbie Doll’s birthday (she’s my hairdresser) and in two days it will be my birthday.
I’ll be 29. Oh, how my twenties are fleeting? Fleeing? Fleetwood Macking? Going quickly away?
It only seems just like yesterday, when I was drinking at the Midway Cafe, which come to think of it, I was. As time goes on how little do some things change. Like underwear or lack thereof.
This is Sunday night, BTW, a strange time for a punk show to commence at the Midway and one band has dropped off so we’re left with three. (Keep that number in mind).
Jumper! is the first band. I’ve only seen them once before but I have reviewed their CD.
This is a pop/punk trio that is more about having fun than talking about politics like some heavy hardcore band. Actually, they have a few styles in the mix, my favorite being when they go really fast and sound like a pure skate-punk band.
They announce one song as, “This is a new song, we wrote it last night,” and they do a cover of a nineties pop song by Harvey Danger.
Very enjoyable, fun set- a great way to start off the night and I hope to see them again- soon.
Next is Nobuddys. This is a young trio and I’m guessing they may be from Cape Cod as they seem friendly with Fast Times.
All three of them sing, a la’ The Radicals and they play a very, tight energetic set. I don’t think I’d describe them as either punk or metal though- more alternative rock but in a good way.
I’m very surprised to learn, after their set, that this is their first gig! Good job, by all.
Just then I notice two members of No Cigar enter the club. I get very excited thinking, “Could it be true? Could tonight be a surprise reunion of my favorite band?”
No Cigar was a trio who’s act consisted of the guitarist breaking a string during the first song and being completely out of tune with the novice bass player while the drummer tries frantically to tune the guitar after every song, without success, during the set. It was quite unique and very impressive!
I try to get the crowd to chant “No Cigar,” but- no cigar. I try frantically after every song, without success.
Guess I’ll have to settle for Fast Times. But wait! Fast Times went from being the best hardcore band from The Cape to one of the best on our site. (And this is the third band that is a trio- 3-3-3. I’m sure if this was a metal gig there’d be six bands, each with six members- 6-6-6.)
Fast Times comes on and proceeds to kick our musical asses. They have a very adept rhythm section and do songs that sometimes have complicated or prog rock like arrangements but because they play so aggressively and effortlessly, with songwriting that is superb, the music never gets bogged down or ponderous.
I would liken them to Bad Religion except I enjoy Fast Times so much more.
About the third song in they give into peer pressure and play an early hit song of theirs “Taco Time.”Also, later they do a cover of a NOFX song.
They play a rousing, excellent set with my only complaint being that the bassist does not split his head open per usual, though his leaps of his bass cabinet are truly magnificent.
And talk about splits- they are now recording a split CD with those Mongolian monkey molesters, The Pity Whores, that should be stupefying spellbinding and delightfully sublime.
Fast Times does an encore after being threatened by the surly pack of mosh-hounds, and respond with my favorite song by them “Sideswiped.”
I respond to this by totally loosing control of my bodily functions causing such a contamination of hazardous waste that I’m asked to leave the premises immediately.
And that I do.
(Slimedog)
