The Old Edison / Coffin Salesman / Loser’s Circle / Time & Place
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 6/29/19
Time & Place start off the night, nine-thirty PM at the Midway. I wonder, is that Will Good from The Old Edison on lead vocals? It isn’t but you know- these young, white boys all look the same to me.
I had checked out Time & Place’s bandcamp and was expecting something more acoustic related and sedate, but these lads seem intent on kickin’ off the night by kickin’ ass.
Some Celtic punk influence, I sense in the music, lotsa melodic punk as well.
I’ll just say it’s a great start of what I’m feeling might turn out to be a great night.
Loser’s Circle is next and is probably, the best melodic punk band we cover and tonight they remind me why I think that. The two guitarists and bassist share vocals and in this they remind me of another favorite band, The Ratz from Connecticut, who are a bit more garage/hardcore.
They start off with one of my favorite songs by them, “Scars,” and along the way play another favorite “Lock Me Away.” The highlight of their set has to be the medley they play that includes two covers- “Why Am I Still In Massachusetts,” by Refuse Resist (which two of the members were a part of) and “Six Feet Underground” by The Radicals (which one of the members was a part off.)
Another rousing, exciting set with emotionally played, real impassioned songs. By some of society’s outcasts and misfits which probably consists of most of the crowd (I know it does me!) And they couldn’t sound better.
Another member of The Radicals is next with his new band, Coffin Salesman, and that fellow, Aria Rad, created an extraordinary, acoustic release about two years ago. Now, he has a full band with a violinist as the main solo instrument. There’s still a lot of punk influence in the lyrics but a lot of Celtic punk and traditional rock in the music, too.
“White Girl, Wasted” is a highlight for me. But there is as much power and potency in the music, as when he played in the hardcore/punk of The Radicals. It’s just a different flavor.
The Old Edison is an acoustic/punk band that still exists, but plays much fewer shows. Some of my favorite writing of mine on Thrash N Bang is about this band. Which is kind of funny, because it took me several times of seeing them live before I finally “got them.”
They are less like a band and more like a group of friends, (which could describe this whole show, I guess,) drinking at a house party and deciding at 2 AM to start singing songs with whatever musical instruments are handy.
Tonight it’s not that late but the same vibe exists, and what is on hand is mandolin, violin, (When was the last show I saw with two violin players?) acoustic guitar and tom-tom drums supplied by Matt from Loser’s Circle.
Their sound has the drunken revelry of Irish music but along with the flip side of the morose, depression of that style and heritage.
I don’t go to church but I feel that going to an Old Edison show is as close as I get to that.
They play a Replacements cover and their great song about Jesus, (“he’s 33, 45 rpm’s”.) They play a set with great lyrics, moving music and heartfelt songs.
Maybe this band is only half active, but what they express – the camaraderie, the truth, the guts, the passion- this is all in full force when they play. And all of what they express of all of this cannot be exceeded by any “full time” band.
At the end of the show I walk over to Will Good And Aria Rad and tell them- “Three of the best songwriters that I write about are in the room right now. You two guys and Lenny (Lashley) behind the bar.”
I then tell Lenny this, also. And that’s when he told me I was shut off.
Only that last line was untrue. And before that, I do believe that all that’s true.
And what I liked best about this show was seeing so many members from other bands attending. I saw members of Hobo Chili, Fast Times and OC45 tonight. In the olden days, Andy and I would frequently see full bands in the crowd out to support their friends in other bands. And though I know that people are more busy, nowadays. It can’t be overstated how important this is for the scene, for members of bands to do this.
Leaving the Midway now, and I’m giving my umpteenth goodbye hug to CJ from The Old Edison. And as I dart down the sidewalk she calls out, “I love you, Uncle Jimdog,” and I call back, “Not as much as I love you.”
And not as much as I love anyone who reads this. All of “you” on the current punk/hardcore/metal scene. No matter how much you appreciate what I do, I appreciate what you do, much more.
I’m often unsure of many things. But that’s one thing, of which I’m certain.
(Slimedog)
