The McGunks / Jason Bennett & The Resistance / The Dimwits / Loser’s Circle / Phil McCaffrey
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 4/21/18
“If you’re not completely disgusted with our set,” Jaime the bass player of Loser’s Circle, in self-deprecating humor says, “We have some merch in the back.” Later, in the set, he also mentions that him and his wife are expecting their first child soon, June 2nd. (But it’s already happened!)
And they have Matt, their former drummer, now on second guitar and Matt, their most recent drummer, back after recuperating from kidney cancer. One of my best friends, Lisa, is waiting for a kidney transplant, so I certainly wish him continued success.
Of all the recordings I reviewed last year, Loser’s Circle finished in a three-way-tie for best of the year. Along with The McGunks, who are playing later, and Aria’s Rad Coffin Salesman, who plays bass for Jason Bennett. So, needless to say, I’ve been looking forward to this show.
These Losers play melodic punk at its finest, with the the three string-slingers all sharing lead vocals. They are a rough and rowdy, loose and wild punk band not like some pristine, perfect pop lame-o’s of the same genre.
They play a rousin’, rollickin’, rockin’ set that causes me to lose control of my bodily functions, not like that doesn’t happen regularly, anyways.
And they end with three of their best: “Lock Me Away” which sounds like as if Little Richard had ever written a punk song, sung by Matt in a low, gruff voice. “Small Town Wasteland” sung by Mike in a higher register and “Scars” song by Jaime. “I’ve never been so lost, broken back, broken down. ‘Cause I can’t find a reason in this fucking toxic town. Came to look for answers, but I’m going home confused. Just another useless boy who’s been beaten down and abused. I should’ve known all along, you were never gonna hear this song.”
And though I can’t make out the words today, the emotion shines through hitting my heart, bringing tears to my eyes. Awesome, moving set by Boston’s best melodic punk band.
Andy and I grew up in the late seventies, eighties punk scene but in the nineties we lost touch becoming deeply involved in the underground thrash/polka movement in Bulgaria.
Coming back in “The Naughts,” our favorite local bands were The Spoilers, Zippo Raid, The McGunks and my fave- The Dimwits.
Their style is hardcore without the metal and the angst, more attuned to skate punk with funny lyrics recalling bands like Angry Samoans and The Queers.
They only play out about once a year now- some of them are married, some of them have kids- but they still play their juvenile, fun punk songs and I’m glad for it.
“Leech,” “Mongoose,” “I Wanna Be Canadian,” and, one that I don’t remember- “Titty Fuck” are all highlights to me.
This is very fast, very fun, exhilarating and exciting music and one of the best sets I’ll probably see this year.
It’s fun seeing a lot of folks I haven’t seen in awhile, like Gary (Rotten Drunk) as we converse about insomnia, laziness and being recognized at Uno’s.
And I like seeing Phil McCaffrey, who is playing acoustically in between sets. Phil was a member of The McGunks for awhile and then, The Doll Eyes, (who had Gary on drums), and I consider him one of the best songwriters I know.
It’s great to see and hear his songs and he sneaks in a couple of covers- “You Don’t Know How It Feels” by Tom Petty and one of my favorite Elvis Presley songs “Little Sister.”
Jason Bennett & The Resistance is next playing in the melodic/punk genre and their secret weapon is the rhythm section of Aria on bass and Matt, a guitarist from Loser’s Circle on drums. These cats pour a ton of energy into the music. In my notes I compare this band to The Clash backing up Elvis Costello.
Jason’s gruff voice and well-written songs fit well within the fury of the music. My favorite songs are the one that has a walking ska bass in the verse and straight eights in the chorus and the last song of the set, where in the end, the rhythm just keeps getting faster and faster, another highly, enjoyable set.
The McGunks are the only band I mentioned earlier that are still playing out regularly and they’re still playing their potent mix of punk and rock’n’roll- or punk’n’roll as they like to call it.
And though their fearless leader, Bob McGunk, is lamenting his oncoming 50th birthday- let it be known that they are playing my 22nd birthday party, right here on Sunday May 20th. Five bucks for five bands and all the pizza you can stuff in your face.
The McGunks are one of best live bands we cover and today they prove as much.
Playing songs from their last great album like “Monday Morning” and new ones like “The American Dream” and “Talk Is Cheap.”
But a favorite from their last album “Basement Anthems” contains lyrics I can relate to and that song is “Killing Me.”
“You gotta find out, find out for yourself. It’s a long way back from being someone else.” I’ve disguised something about my private life, my whole life, it is a long way but a good way back, ask me if you’re interested.
They have Phil come up to sing lead on “Last Time”, not by The Rolling Stones, but a great song, too. And they end with The Isley Brothers, “Shout.” (You know, from Animal House.)
A great ending to probably, the best show I’ve seen this year.
A few folks from the early days are still in it. No, not the Bulgarian thrash/polka scene but the Boston punk scene like the folks from Boston Groupie News. Some have died or as Neil Young., more or less put it, “faded away.”
But I don’t feel of hear very much difference, except I appreciate it more now, hearing the bands play now.
So no nostalgia, no “good old days” for me.
Shows like this are the best I’ve ever seen.
(Slimedog)
