The Morgan Knockers / The Radicals / The Rare Characters / RF30 / The Down & Outs
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 9/22/2012
When I try to go to the Midway I always try to bring some wholesomeness to the place. After all it is named, “Midway Cafe,” though no lattes, croissants or espresso are available. So I always bring along some ice coffee in an attempt to bring some respectability to this gin joint of sin and decadence and hopefully, influence others in a positive way. And today I bring refreshments to the dutiful workers- a strawberry banana smoothie for Jill and an ice coffee for doorman TJ. No sooner do I hand bartenderess Jill her smoothie but she starts turning it into Daiquiri’s! Tainting it with alcohol! Why can’t people be more wise like me and completely refrain from all alcohol unless it’s contained in a hair product?
Today is another Saturday afternoon punk matinee but what’s a little different is that there seems to be very little hardcore influence on the bands playing today and more an influence of traditional punk.
First up is The Down & Outs, a pop/punk outfit from Providence. I’ve only seen them a couple of times but I can say they’re one of the best pop/punk bands we have on our website. They always put on a good show and are very active on stage; running around, switching places and generally getting the crowd riled up. Good tunes, good performance and a good way to start off the show.
There’s a fellow who always brings his pug to the bar, or maybe, the pug brings him. He orders a Guinness and the dog sits on a seat while he leans against the bar. The dog always gets a rock glass of Guinness for himself and laps it off the bar where he inevitably, knocks the glass over. The dog only has one as I believe he drives them here.
RF30, from New Hampshire, is second and when the second song starts off with a riff that reminds me of the Banana Splits Theme Song I know I’m gonna like these guys. Their style combines noisy, trashy punk with a bit of ska, the former which catches my ear. They’re a bunch of young guys and it’s good to see young bands interested in this music.
Like The Rare Characters- a bunch of young guys, as well, who are a trio and play traditional punk rock. They have reggae touches instead of ska and a couple of actual reggae songs. They’re a very tight band and have some great songs and for me, end up having the best set of the new bands I’m seeing today.
I’m hanging out with one of the Trans Fats and a young lady from El Paso, Texas that he knows who leaves for a moment to “powder her nose.” While she is gone he immediately takes her almost full glass of Guinness and starts pouring it into his almost empty glass. Then he approaches some ladies at the bar who are sitting facing the stage. Saying he needs a straw he leans past them and proceeds to gulp down one of their Guinness beers. After that I see him moving toward the pug at the far end of the bar but a few snarls and growls, stops him dead in his tracks.
I’ve been hearing good things about the next band, The Radicals, but have never caught them till today. They’re another trio and have a bass player who also sings and jumps up and down while doing so, and wears a bright red shirt. They mix traditional punk along with sing-a-long street punk in their style and this they do quite well. They put on a fun and energetic show and the crowd really seems to like them as well.
I guess this is a reunion show for the Morgan Knockers and there does seem to be a lot of people here to see them. Moshin’ finally erupts in front of the stage though the band is far from being hardcore. Not quite sure how I’d describe them as they almost seem like regular rock to me and though they perform well, they don’t have enough edge to appeal to me.
But all’n’all another good afternoon spent at the Midway, though wrought with smoothie corruption, beer thievery and dog debauchery. But have no fear; my quest to bring abstinence, abdication and absinthe to the Midway will continue on. For I know, in my heart of hearts, that redemption is there for us all.
(Slimedog)
