Middle Son – “How Could We Have Ever Been Good?”
Vermont is the second least populated state in America. (Wyoming being number one.)
I’ve been there twice. (No, not Wyoming! I meant Vermont). And I feel it’s the most beautiful state in New England. (Sorry Maine).
But I do remember it as a land of trees but not so much people. (I did spend a day once in Wyoming, I felt like I was visiting the moon).
And though we do cover all the New England states, as well as New York and New Jersey. I will say the state with the fewest bands I’ve written about is Wyoming. (Strike that! I meant to say, Vermont).
And with my concert reports, the few shows I would have from Vermont never sounded like actual music clubs or bars. More like “Tony’s Pizza Shop” or “Fran’s Ice Cream Store” or “Wyoming’s Big Shindig.”
But I did recently review a band from Vermont called The Brand New Luddites that I liked and I remember a band I really liked from that unpopulated state, a few years back, called Haggard Bastard.
Plus, there was a band called Midnight Saints that, if my muddled brain recalls correctly, that metamorphosed like a beautiful butterfly into Middle Son.
And though my mind might be the second least populated in America. (First, would most certainly, be a recent ex-President).
I still feel this band is great. Let’s see it they’ve ever been good:
“I’ve Got Time” begins with some ominous chords and a heavy beat but instead of veering towards metal land, a lead guitar skittles about suggesting we’re moving towards progressive/experimental land instead. And then the beat gets heavier while the time signature detours as well. When the intense, melodic vocals come in, the beat picks up and a snazzy, jazzy guitar lick answers them.
“I’ve got time, yeah, I’ve got time. It may not be enough, but it’s all mine.”
There’s several different genres converging into one here that is unique as it is potent. I’d call this song prog/punk but I’d think that would put some folks off of it. Let’s just call it instead, an adventuresome, excellent punk tune.
Starting with a stop and go music and rhythm line and a vocal that recalls both the Talking Heads and Pere Ubu to me, with it’s spoken word delivery. “Law & Order” soon breaks all rules with a barrage of aggressive noise and vocals that is the antithesis of the quiet beginning which it soon reverts to again.
“Believe me I’ve been there. Got mixed in with the wrong crowd and doing the wrong thing.”
The dramatic contrasts eventually move into a more flowing, melodic part, that ends with some grooving, funk and a plaintive vocal stating, “I didn’t do nothing.”
Yeah, sure you didn’t. Just created a great song that would send you to prison for life if creativity was a crime.
Though “Go Skate Day” begins like an old Husker Du song- soon we’re skating with an upbeat, ska beat and skanking guitar along with a glorious chorus that is pure melodic punk with, of course, the “Woah-oh-oh’s” background vocals added. I’m guessing the band might be thinking that this is too much like our old style to be proud of much. But for me? This rips and roars and skates and skas and is a great song that can’t be beat.
“Going Home” is another tune that starts with a familiar, upbeat ska/punk tone. But is then atypical with a chorus that’s fierce in propulsion and expressiveness. And after a few verse/chorus’s were dropped into a “take a breathe” section with- Is that a cello? If it is, I approve. But soon the jet rockets are refueled and then we’re skyrocketing into a splendid ending of a wonderful release.
In the early days, punk was considered “inner city music” and originally, almost all punk music came from urban centers like New York, London and Boston.
I remember reading someone suggesting that because of the close proximity of people in a city, that they were more open to accept less expansive, condensed sounds i.e. The Ramones.
Fast, short, minimal and concise.
While folks in the sprawling suburbs liked more expansive, stretched out music- more ponderous, more reaching out music i.e. Pink Floyd and prog rock.
I believe there’s some truth to that.
But what I’ve come to see and appreciate in the last ten years of writing for TNB, is that bands from the least populated states- say Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and Wyoming- bring their own, unique take on punk.
It not only appears that their music is more expansive but also suggests a bit of country life. A bit more idealistic than realistic and that’s all good and refreshing to me.
And Middle Son is a band that evokes that in me. And before I forget to mention, they are a band I really like along with their great new release.
Listening to them is like sailing out on a lake in a kayak on a bright, spring morning with the sun reflecting off the cool waters, and the sunlight shimmering off the lake, nearly blinding your eyes. You drift aloft in peaceful tranquility until suddenly- a rabid walrus springs out of the watery depths, attacking you- ripping your face off.
(Slimedog)
