Nowhere USA / Reason To Fight / Tony Jones & Cretin 3 / BarRoom Heroes
BeachComber, Quincy, MA 8/31/13
So today on Wollaston Beach they’re having a wonderful event. Combining the best of both worlds- it’s a Rodeo Art Show! While cowboys ride the immense bulls they are also required to render a painting. This is a great idea for much like the Monster Truck fans, rodeo fans are known to be ardent art lovers as well. And no surprise, most of the paintings today are abstract and minimal, my favorite style!
I’d love to stay longer but, you see, there’s a punk show happening over there. Yeah, right there, it’s at the BeachComber and it’s a great bill put on by Viviam Lorena Gonzalez. This is her first show in a while that she’s promoted, with many more to come, and she credits TNB with inspiring her to “get back in the saddle” and we’re so glad she did and we expect, and predict, many great shows from her.
First up are those pipsqueaks of punk, BarRoom Heroes, not old enough to drive but old enough to kick our ass musically with some powerful punk. They are managed by the evil, diabolic Carrie Ford Bell whose villainous ways are only matched by her beauty.
The boys have just got off a successful tour with the Dropkick Murphy’s, visiting Indiana, Virginia and Buffalo, New York along with other destinations. The constant playing of the last two weeks have seemed to only make them sharper as this is definitely the best I’ve heard them. I’m glad to hear my favorites like “Nate” and “Ginger Ale” along with a great cover of The Clash tune “Safe European Home.” A great set to set the day off great.
Next up is Tony Jones and Cretin 3. The first thing I notice is how huge Tony is as his head is about scraping the ceiling of the BeachComber stage. The second thing I notice is the first song sounds similar to The Cramps, the great psyco-billy band. They make my observation correct by later doing a cover of The Cramps “I Am The Human Fly” along with The Ramones “Cretin Hop” and “Folsom Prison” by the great Johnny Cash.
This band is more a rock’n’roll new wave band than a punk band but they play terrifically and are a fun band to hear. And Tony is known as a great guy, though he did threaten to pull my arms and legs off, one by one, if I didn’t write that. Check out his radio show of talk and rock, Saturday 6 pm on AM 1320 and at tonyjones.org.
Now it’s time for Reason To Fight, TNB’s favorite band from Providence, who play serious, intense hardcore with lots of rhythmic changes and a slight metal influence. Led by Mousey, who sings and stalks the stage in a menacing manner and Greg on bass (who I didn’t recognize at first due to him now having some hair on his head) they lead a charging, on rush of pure punk passion that grabs you by the throat, ears and balls simultaneously. They perform a set that can’t be topped and special kudos to drummer Bobby Forand of The McGunks, for filling in at the last minute and doing a phenomenal job.
Nowhere USA is up next to take the show out. From what I understand they were a popular local band from eight years ago, or so, who have been on a hiatus but are now back. They’re led by Mark Doherty and have a member known as Tony Bang- must be a relative of Andy’s.
I can see why they were popular as they proceed to put on a great show with a style that mixes street punk with old school hardcore along with lyrics that are socially conscious. They proceed to deliver a fine finish to a very fine show.
Congrats to Viviam on a successful, music wise and attendance wise, first show. I’m glad I wore my white ten gallon cowboy hat and light blue rhinestone studded suit again as I’m off to try my best at the beach rodeo, combining rodeo skills with art. Which, when I think about it, is mostly what I do here.
(Slimedog)
