Golf Weapons – “Manure For Your Garden”
Andy Bang loves golf.
He loves golf more than life itself.
He loves golf more than what Slimedog loves- which, sadly seems to be- scratch tickets, Keno and vomiting in dive bar bathrooms.
And I don’t really believe there are any “golf weapons.”
But if there were, I’m sure, Andy would’ve purchased some by now. And put me out of my wretched misery with them.
(He’s a good friend, that way).
But hearing music as good as what Golf Weapons produce, makes me want to live another day. And rejoice in the feeling their music gives to me. Running wildly through a meadow of flowers, leaping to and fro, bearing my naked man breasts for all the world to see.
Though, as unseemly as that picture paints, I believe their music is the antithesis of what I just expressed.
It’s exuberant, energetic and fun- creative and expressive and registers as art to me. It makes me feel alive.
Let’s not start that again.
But, out of the corner of my eye, I can see Andy approaching- before he does anything rash with what he’s carrying, let’s proceed to play through the next hole and listen to their songs:
With a jazzy, dissonant intro, “You Decide” kicks in with the dissonance intact but the energy level increased noticeably. A sort of beatnik lyrics reside in this song. “The comfort that I long to have, it traps me there sometimes. Eager for transmission, eager to be free. If their is nothing that I can give, then I cannot flee.” The bass line descends as the energy perks up and the naughty, jarring chords take hold. This band reminds me, a lot, of an early great Boston art/punk band- Limbo Race. Though there’s a decidedly sixties, hippie, funk vibe to this song- the four, bashing, garage guitar chords keeps those sentiments at bay. I’ll go with energetic and exciting, quirky, original and fun- that’s what I decide.
“Hey Julian” is definitely, the most punk/hardcore sounding song on this release with a fast tempo, blistering guitars and lyrics that begin with “I shat in my neighbor’s lawn. I made him watch.” Later the lyrics go, “Now, what are you doing squatting over there? It’s manure for your garden. Well, I’d say that’s fair.” A nice, Velvet Underground like guitar solo pokes its’ head amongst all the shit talking. This is a great, driving song that is done even before you get a chance to wipe.
“English-Only Blues” is an art/punk/funk kind of number, similar to what bands like Bush Tetras, Au Pairs, Pylon and many more I can mention that you might not have heard of, but I’d suggest you seek them out. It’s also a sarcastic take on xenophobic behavior. “I never took the time to understand how people speak a way unlike my own… I think that my country’s under attack. Let’s cut off the immigration flow…I pass my fear onto my children.” Taken at a more moderate but brisk pace, this song bristles with creative energy along with angry, protest reflected by dissonant chords. And this is one potent, powerful, poignant piece.
“Surf Song” strangely enough, contains surf music- twangy, echo-y guitars and bouncing, surf beats with chords that crash like waves. This song has the best lyrics on this release- short and to the point. And it sounds like that great song from the Pulp Fiction soundtrack, “Miserlou” by the “King Of Surf Guitar”- Dick Dale. (Who grew up in Quincy MA.!)
I think some folks might disagree with my choice of Golf Weapons. Maybe questioning if they’re really punk? Questioning, if I’m really on par?
It’s a fair question, as they certainly don’t sound much like the current punk and hardcore bands I review.
But I hear influences of The Velvet Underground and maybe, The Modern Lovers- prime, proto-punk bands, to me.
And Golf Weapons music reminds me, at times, of Boston’s own Mission Of Burma, England’s Gang Of Four and New Jersey’s The Feelies- all bands, that in the eighties, we’re definitely included within the punk/new wave scene.
The dissonant guitar, the mutated rock/funk rhythms, the spoken/sung lyrics of this band all reference the music of that time.
So if this doesn’t sound like punk to you, I understand. But it does, very much sound like the punk that I’ve experienced earlier in my life.
The only tags on their bandcamp, that they use, are “DIY”, “Rock” and “Boston”. So no false claims on their part, so you’re allowed to disagree with me.
I just think their music is really good.
I just think they’re possibly, the best new band I’ve heard this year.
I just think their music is raw and real and true and fits all my definitions of what punk music is.
I think we should just put another quarter in the jukebox, baby, like Joan Jett enthralls us to-
Come and take your time and dance with me.
You can leave out that first adjective.
(Slimedog)
