Taxi Driver / The McGunks / Rough Splits / Vapid Dissent
Radio (Moe’s Lounge), Somerville, MA 11/16/2012
It’s another night at Radio Down. When people say a club should make you feel at home I don’t think they mean it should be an exact replica of where you live. For me this place is, from the wood paneling walls to the white, swirly ceiling- it’s the same. And where I sit to watch the tv at home is situated from where I watch the bands tonight, from a seat at the bar. It’s a bit unnerving when you go home and you feel like you’re still at the club. Only difference is I don’t have a stage and I have more beer in my fridge then they do.
Vapid Dissent is the first band to play tonight. I’ve seen them before and enjoyed them. I think they fit in nicely in the punk’n’roll category and turn in a good set of Clash influenced traditional punk. Towards the end of the set they do a very good cover of a Bouncing Souls song and are a great way to start off the night.
Rough Splits is next and it’s a band featuring Kevin on bass, from the dearly departed Spoilers and Chris Brat on guitar from too many bands to mention, but I will mention it’s the first time I’ve seen him sporting hair, though. They have an able drummer and another guitarist/ vocalist and do rollicking hard edged rock’n’roll and they turn in a fun set. I’d like to check them out again.
The McGunks are up and they are one band that’s determined to kick everyone’s ass, musically, before the set is through and this they do tonight. I mention to Bob McGunk that if I didn’t know them and that after hearing them someone told me that they were from anywhere but New England I would tell that person they were lying. Also, Peter McGunk and I are laughing about the small amount of beer they have stocked for the show and how it has to be frequently replenished. With songs like, “Three More Beers,’ “Working On Another Hangover,” and “She Used To Be Pretty, But Now She’s Pretty Fucked Up,” you gotta figure where this band is coming from. I’ve seen many bands cover “Ace Of Spades,” by Motorhead but when they precede it with (You Know You Make Me Wanna) Shout,” complete with people doing the worm on the floor- Well, a medley like that you don’t see too often or in that case, a band as good as this.
Besides the entertaining bands, the fans I find quite amusing. There’s Jess and Taylor, two young ladies and friends of Taxi Driver. They spend the night causing havoc, beating up the boys and at one point, one of them dumps a full glass of water on the bartenders head for the crime of shooting straws at her. I also enjoy it when they crunch the sides of a tall boy PBR one of the Taxi Driver musicians is drinking causing him to drink it awkwardly after that. I never saw a boy look so sad.
Blond nymphet Nurse Heather is here, also, attending to the wounded. Janelle who occasionally likes to mosh upside down suspended on someone’s back. And an older guy who I can only describe as looking like a French sailor or an Italian gondolier. He’s ordered three PBR’s, all at once for himself, perplexing me and the bartender who can only shake his wet head.
I thought it was such a good idea matching The McGunks with Taxi Driver on a bill. I had recently written that these two bands represent, to me, what is best in New England/Boston hardcore/punk. The bands don’t sound alike, really- The McGunks are working class punk’n’roll and Taxi Driver is working class hardcore/Oi- but they’re both the finest at what they do. Tonight Taxi Driver deliver another energetic, aggressive set. With a looming, growling singer, some grinding guitars and a bashing drummer they have the crowd moshin’ and singing along. They end with my favorite song by them “Pride” and then encore with a cover of “Skinhead” by Darkbuster that sends everyone home happy except me. I’m happy, you see, it’s just- I’m already there.
(Slimedog)
