The Manglers / The Grommets / Kermit’s Finger / Eric Taylor
JP Porchfest!, Jamaica Plain, MA 7/9/16
So I take Harry to get his bath and haircut, he hasn’t got one in about five years. He puts up quite the struggle but it turns out I’m stronger than him.
Harry is my mother’s cat.
So I drop him off at noon (in a room filled with ten barking dogs) and I’m off to porch fest. This is like a neighborhood holiday where calls to the police for noise violations are suspended.
And though, I believe, most shows today are more sedate affairs- this is a punk rock show, I got an invite and I’m there!
I’m at the home of Eric and Kris, bassist/ vocalist and guitarist/vocals of The Grommets- though we’re told if police do arrive we’re to say it’s the home of Owen, one of the guitarist for The Manglers.
Just as I arrive Eric Taylor is starting his solo/acoustic guitar set. Eric has more famous brothers, James and Livingston. (This is an untruth.) But he does have a low-key, low voice delivery and plays some wry songs. Some are bluesy, some are jazzy- this is not punk influenced at all. But at his best he hits a gritty, Tom Waits vibe.
He resists calls for playing “Wild Thing” and instead does a cover of “Air” by Talking Heads. He does a nice rendition and sets a nice beginning of the day.
And though I ate a frozen pizza after dropping off Harry, there are free hot dogs to be had! (I can’t turn down hot dogs!)
While the bands are playing in a garage, the people, kids and several dogs (Harry wouldn’t like it here, either!) are all sprawled about. It’s really a nice change from the dank bar room/ nightclub experience. It’s an (almost) wholesome affair.
Kermit’s Fingers are next to the garage. They’re a trio that goes back 23 years and have an early punk/early hardcore style. Though the bass is electric, the guitar is acoustic and the volume is way down. And though they do make me think of the Violent Femmes at times, what they really make me think of is excellent, early eighties punk and I’m enjoying actually hearing the lyrics as they can even be sung off mike and not be drowned by the sound.
I’m standing next to Brian, lead singer of The Manglers, and we can’t help but notice the moths that are dive-bombing the young people sitting near where the band is playing.
“The moths are moshing,” I say to Brian and I feel I’m talking with a lisp.
They play a funny, awesome set. The song that sticks out to me is “Punk Rock Bus Driver” about school kids driving their bus driver insane. I’ve only seen Kermit’s Fingers a couple of times but I thought today was the best. And I know I’ll be seeing them next Saturday, just a few blocks from here and about the same time. At a punk matinee at the Midway.
After more hot dogs, more beer- the husband/wife duo of The Grommets are ready to play with Ida on the drums behind them.
It’s a very casual show today and Eric seems to have a knack for talking into the mike just as Ida’s started to count off a song. Which brings mildly, derogatory comments at him from Kris and laughter in the crowd.
Their style is basic Ramones influenced punk which I very much enjoyed the only other time I saw them, not so long ago at The Midway. And I enjoy them a lot today, as well. They do a cover of a Donovan song “Colors”. Did you know that’s Donovan singing along with Alice Cooper on the song “Billion Dollar Babies?”
Eric says, “This is the biggest crowd we ever played to. Maybe it’s the free hot dogs and beer? Maybe we should do this more often?” Kris mentions the neighbors might have a say in that but that would be fine with me.
Now, The Manglers I’ve seen many times before and I always have a good time. They’re the only cover band I want to see, or as I say to Brian before they start their set, “All the songs the famous bands stole from you.”
They are an early punk cover band so we get to hear songs by the likes of The Dictators, Johnny Thunders, The Dead Boys, The Undertones etc. My favorite part of their set is a medley of “Twentieth Century Boy” by T.Rex into “Better Of Dead” by early Boston punk band La Peste. I just wish Andy was here as that’s his favorite local punk song of all time. Here’s the video, I make a cameo appearance about three seconds into the song.
https://www.facebook.com/teenage.heart.9?fref=ts
Also, a cover of Alice Cooper’s “Be My Lover” is simply sublime. And kudos to their new drummer Jaymz Purtle for turning in his usual impeccable performance.
Just as I’m about to put some spicy mustard on what must be my twelfth hot dog and just before the band starts another song, I hear my phone a-ringin’ and I know- it’s the Dog’N’Cat Beauty Salon. And I know I must leave soon to rescue Harry and miss the end of the show.
But thanks to Eric and Kris for providing such a fun experience today and thanks to everyone who played. After picking up and dropping off the cat I’ll be back, just a few blocks away to catch some of the Midway matinee.
Hope there’s no moths there.
(Slimedog)
