The Adolescents / The Casulaties / Tenebrae / Done With You
Middle East (Down), Cambridge, MA 6/15/13
So this is the big show at the big place. Middle East Downstairs, Beirut, I mean Cambridge Mass. Biggest “small room” in the Boston area with two big name punk bands playing. But actually, I’m here to hear the two local bands playing first. Done With You, Shawn Refuse’s new band; he being of the late great Refuse Resist and this is the first time his band is playing Beirut, I mean Boston. And Tenebrae is a band I’ve seen but far too infrequently. So maybe other folks are excited about “the legends” but I’m here to see the present.
Done With You starts with full force hardcore and though Shawn is taking a low key approach in-between songs his vocals remind me of how effective he was in Refuse Resist. He turns out to be the best vocalist of the night in my opinion.
When they take a pause he mentions doing a cover next and how Black Flag had played this club earlier in the week. He spits out the words, “Tear it up!” and the band breaks into “Nervous Breakdown” by the aforementioned band. I’m in safety, being on the upper tier above the mosh-pit, but I can see the mosh-pit explode with energy with his exhortation and with the band going wild along with the crowd I can feel the hairs on my arms stand up. I know that during this set it will be the best one of the night and I’m not surprised to report- it was.
Next up is Tenebrae who I haven’t seen as much as I would like. They describe themselves as a mix of black metal and hardcore and I’ll have to go with that as I can hear a lot of metal influence that goes along with the hardcore. Before the set they play a tape of something that sounds like Gregorian chants and I’m regretting my action of snorting Drano in the mens room before they perform. But once they do start playing I enjoy their intense, able performance and looking at the reaction of the crowd I think they do, too.
The Casulaties are next and they are a New York band formed in 1990 that I think of playing in, more or less, a traditional punk style. We reviewed them once before and though we don’t normally review “famous bands” we will if they’re on a bill with local ones. But, hell, New York is considered local by us now. They turn in an energetic, fun set that has the ample mosh-pit responding enthusiastically. They do a great version of “Rockaway Beach” by The Ramones during their set. I’d say they’re always a fun band to see.
The Adolescents is a California band formed with former members of Agent Orange and Social Distortion. Though I’m sure some folks were thrilled in seeing them I was unfamiliar with the band before tonight. This band is a bit older than the others and I sense a lack of urgency to their set. Though not turning in a bad set it’s my least favorite of the night
Now, it’s time to leave the Middle East, a place of turmoil and political uprising with a few causalities tonight (besides the band). But I escaped unharmed, mainly by staying clear of the mosh-pit!
(Slimedog)
