Reason To Fight / The Pity Whores / Midnight Saints / RF30 / The Union Boys / Seven Year Plan
Firehouse 13, Providence RI 1/27/2013
I walk in late to the Firehouse and Seven Year Plan is already playing. They’re doing their song, “Fuck You,” and I think- Damn! I missed my dedication, again. They do a bit of pop/punk with guts; the guitarist/vocalist Chris is wailing away, the drummer plays good solid rock beats and the bassist does what a good bassist does best – keeps the groove going by not being too noticeable. And shortly, afterwards, I get #14 of my pictures with redheads (girls only), me wearing the Damn Broads t-shirt, of course. And it’s with Katie, S.O. of Chris, lucky bastard that he is.
The Union Boys, who I have seen before, still come with a reputation and though I’m disappointed that no human sacrifices or disemboweling takes place during their set on stage they do turn in an exciting set, nonetheless. These guys are a young, raunchy, rockin’ punk band with hardly any hardcore influence, really, just a rock’n’roll band with passion, grit and whatever the cat dragged in. I imagine sort of like The Faces would sound like if they had been a punk band. Both guitarists do lead vocals with the bassist adding backups in and the drummer hitting his drums with passion, proven as he shows the singer his sliced, bleeding hand after one of the tunes. They bring the bassist from RF30 up to do “Crucify Me” by Agnostic Front and turn in a rollicking, rambunctious set.
RF30 are next and I’ve seen this trio a few times before. They do hardcore with touches of ska thrown in, sometimes a ska verse with a hardcore chorus or vice versa. They’re a really good band if not of headliner status who I just saw the day before at the Midway where they turned in an equally good set, definitely a fun band to see.
The Midnight Saints are next from Vermont and I was really looking forward to seeing them as it’s a first time for me- don’t worry I used protection- as I previously reviewed an excellent CD split of theirs with Connecticut’s Cry Havoc. Unfortunately, I miss the beginning of the set as I’m eating a horrible grilled onion cheddar burger at Mickey D’s, (suffering for one’s art knows no borders), across the way from the club. When I do come back, Jay Genoa of Red Line Rebels is singing a Minor Threat song with them that sounds great. What I do catch is great and what these guys do is hardcore with progressive elements tossed in but in a good way. They experiment but still stay true to the form of hardcore and I hope to catch them again, soon.
The Pity Whores are next, from Mongolia, and one can only pray their VISA’s run out soon, these Mongoloids have over stayed their welcome! They do start out, though, with an excellent cover of “Beat On The Brat” by The Ramones (one of my favorite songs by them, though, I’ve only become familiar with that band in the last year or so). There was no unseemly displays of bare buttocks by their bassist this time, much to everyone’s relief, but earlier we did witness him belly flopping on the floor like a fish straight out of water- it was kinda like watching a cartoon where the physical features are exaggerated. Anyways, the Whores turn in their usual mind blowing, leaf blowing, nose blowing…..glass blowing set.
Reason To Fight is up to take this one out. They do serious heavy hardcore in the New York hardcore style similar to someone like Agnostic Front or newer bands like Live Fast Die Fast. They are distinguished by having the drums swing at all times, above the rest bass playing by Greg and with Mousey stalking the stage, ready to bring the truth with a straight, in your face style, vocals exhorting those in front of the front of the stage to leap forward and sing along; it’s a complete recipe for success. Always a pleasure to see Reason To Fight and one of Providence’s best-in one word I’d say, they’re terrific.
It’s time for me to say goodbye to Providence, the pearl of the Atlantic Coast, the keeper of crack heads, lost souls and sordid debris. As someone from Providence on facebook once noted, “Who said they’re vacationing in Providence- what someone said- never!” But I, myself, look up to a city that may have as much corruption and filth as Boston. But I’m not layin’ any bets on this. I am betting there’ll be many more great shows like this at the Firehouse, this is a sure tip, put your money down on that and it’s sure, the odds are stacked; you can bet, I’ll be there.
(Slimedog)
