“Live For Five” and “Live Trash” two live cd’s by The McGunks
What kind of band releases two live CD’s in one year? The liner notes of “Live Trash” leads off with that question and they give a pretty good explanation, but my answer would be this- A great fuckin’ live band! That’s who! A band who is one of the best live bands in New England. I’m sure modesty would prevent them for claiming this but “I calls them how I sees them” and I’ve reviewed this band live, many times, most recently on TNB. And in the end, you can have your favorite bands, I do as well, but live, I’ll put these guys up against any band we have on our site or probably ever will.
McGunks music is about living in New England, or the East Coast; in the barrooms, in the dirty cities, in the brutal weather both outside yourself and in. No fuckin’ palm trees of Malibu or Florida here, no cornfields of Iowa or Nebraska either. You’ll hear none of that in the music here. But if you’ve been in a city and a city barroom, whether it’s Boston, Providence, New York City or Portland, Maine; this music should say a lot to you as it does to me.
Working on another hangover/ Found myself getting lower and lower/ Making my way to the bottom of the barrel again/
The McGunks call themselves “Drunk Punk” and it’s a good description. “Rock N Roll Punk” is another good tag they use. I’d say they sound like early Clash, a bit of Social Distortion, and a whole heaping scoop of Irish tinged sing along Boston/New England punk. With song titles like, “Three More Beers,” “Working On Another Hangover,” “One For The Booze” and “Can’t Drink Here No More,” you might (hiccup) catch their drift. I think a big reason, beside the good songs, that they’re so good live is that they always exude a huge amount of energy. Not the fastest band, they never reach hardcore speed, but they’re always just bristling with energy and this translates into a fun, lively show.
A trio, the lead singer/ guitarist Bob McGunk is not afraid to throw in a lead guitar hook or Hendrix like wah wah solo. Lots of folks think if Hendrix was still around today he’d be doing some avant-jazz type thing but I’m pretty sure he’d be mining the same turf these McGunks sow from.
So on “Live For Five” after the first tune they go right into, “Maybe Tomorrow”- I’m trying/ I’m dying/ Maybe Tomorrow, gonna be another way/ Maybe Tomorrow, gonna be a better day/ – this song goes crashing headlong into, “Three More Beers”- Three More Beers will make me look better/ Three More Beers will make it alright/- and it’s a great start to a great set, once again. One thing about this band, as with their “brother” band, The Doll Eyes, (whose Phil McCafferty spent many years singing and playing along in the McGunks), is that no matter how jubilant and upbeat the music, the lyrics spin a bit more realistic, pessimistic take on things. Welcome to East Coast way of thought and living, folks.
“Live For Five” has a little better sound quality and flow for me and “Live Trash” has only four songs not included in “Live For Five.” Of course, both pale in comparison to seeing them live but I’m happy to listen to them, on the rare occasion I might imbibe in alcohol in a private setting; in my rocking chair next to my squirrel infested fireplace, DAMN RODENTS! I only drink when I’m with people or when I’m alone and never while sleeping or when operating heavy machinery like my steam shovel.
So either of these CD’s are good to have, especially if you can’t see them live enough, though it’s a shame if you can’t because this is a hard working band who play out frequently. Me, I can’t listen to this without picturing the moshing, the PBR’s raised high, the smiles and laughter, sweat flying, the insanity flowing from the stage through the crowd to the bar back where I’m usually sitting.
At the very end of the second live album some girl in the crowd says, “You guys kick ass, thank you!” I want to end with that as well.
(Jim Slimedog)
