The Knock Ups / State Of The Union / The New Frustrations / The Imposers
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 5/19/18
The first band to play today is the The Imposers and their first choice of song is a great one. It’s “Rumble” by Link Wray, the guitarist who, one could say, invented garage rock, surf and heavy metal. Well- I know that Dick Dale invented surf guitar, but I’d say Link- was the Jimi Hendrix/Eddie Van Halen of the early days.
And, I also notice this band is made of a bunch of young cats. And I then notice, I use that term because they’re a rockabilly band! And then I notice I’ve soiled myself, once again. But a quick trip to the bathroom with my spare pair of black spandex pants and I’m back to enjoy the show, moisture free!
Now, they’re playing “Oh, Boy” by Billie Holiday or maybe that’s Buddy Holly, I always confuse the two. They cover one of my favorite Elvis Costello songs “Little Sister.” But that might be Elvis Presley, come to think of it, I always confuse the two.
But these three cats are wailing with some cookin’ originals, also.
Some young guy says to me, “This type of music is usually played by old guys.” And I reply, “Oh, like me?” Then I kick him square in the balls.
He went to retaliate, but then I informed him how it’s a felony to hit someone my age. I like that law better every day.
And I love fifties rock’n’roll and that includes rockabilly. To me punk is an extension of rock’n’roll music unlike rock music which, to me, has no connection at all.
And I loved this band.
The New Frustrations are up, a trio who are eighties influenced and have a style that arrives where punk, new wave and power pop have a three way crash up at an intersection with boredom being the only fatality.
They start with, possibly, a great new song, “I Wanna Destroy You”, do a cover of The Ramones “We Want The Airwaves,” and dedicate my favorite song of theirs to me, “Right As Rain,” that has a great arrangement and great harmonies, too.
They have great harmonies, throughout, and I’m marveling at the sound. I congratulate Derek, the Saturday soundman, on always doing a great job, along with Dylan, the Sunday soundman. Good sound engineers are too often taken for granted.
He informs me they both learned at the same school by someone who worked on Joe Jackson’s “Thriller” album. That’s probably, Michael Jackson, I always confuse the two.
Then I kicked Derek straight in the balls.
But I’m not confused when I say, this is the best set I’ve seen them play. Topped off with a cover of The Raspberries “Bastards Of The Young.”
Or could that be by The Replacements?
Next up is State Of The Union who are the third trio today and, if you expect that to change with the last band, as Judas Priest sang- you gotta another thing coming. For me, I have another wardrobe malfunction and am now sporting my emergency lime green cargo shorts.
This band consists of two guys named Joe, that sing and play pieces of wood and metal with strings upon them, and a gal named Sandy who pounds away on animal skins with sticks.
They play an eighties influenced style as well, but a bit heavier and darker, at times.
They start off with a great original “Better Than Blue”, follow with Agent Orange’s “Fast Cars” and continue on creating a great set that builds in energy and intensity.
And they end with a cover of The Ramones “Beat On The Brat” which is much more true to the song than most bands who cover it, albeit it is faster, as no one plays as slow as The Ramones now (though at the time, folks thought they played too fast!)
I meet Sandy for the first time after the set, she compliments me on my writing. And though, she obviously, has poor literary tastes it does not detract from her fine drumming or the fine band she plays in.
The Knocks Ups are the last band to play and to my surprise they have a new drummer who is female and they are, finally, an all-girl band.
I think this is a good sign for them. And when they start to play, I know for sure that it’s a wonderful sign.
Besides guitarist/songwriter Gretchen’s great songs and bassist Cat’s gutsy bass playing, what I like best about this band is it’s strong hint of riot grrl.
Now, I think that’s fully realized and they totally encompass the riot grrl sound.
I think I should mention that, like punk being a continuation of rock’n’roll, I feel riot grrl is the true continuation of punk.
Their new drummer, Marissa, plays in a faster, straight ahead style than previous drummers for them and for me now completes a perfect rhythm section- a solid, energetic drummer with a bassist who plays with balls.
Their set is great, one of the best sets of the year. I find myself doing the Sid Vicious pout during songs. You know, when the music hits you so hard and true that you pucker your lips like you tasted something sour but really the music is pure sugar on your ears. It hits me baby, one more time.
Did they just play a Britney Spears cover?
I notice I used the word “cover” a lot today, also “soiled” but we won’t discuss that. But in fifties rock’n’roll days it was quite common for rockers to cover each other- Jerry Lee Lewis singing Chuck Berry songs, Elvis covering Little Richard.
It’s the continuation of the spirit that made rock’n’roll, that made punk, that made riot grrl- that still makes the music that the bands make today, that played today, whatever “tags” you want to put on it, whatever the critics want to call it.
Me, I’d call it real. I’d call it truth. I’d call it passion. I’d call it fun.
And that’s exactly what I witnessed today.
(Slimedog)
