The Old Edison / Loser’s Circle / Ken Reid / Duck and Cover / Mark Lind
Midway Café, Jamaica Plain, MA 8/17/13
I’ve seen the Ducky Boys before, of course, and I’ve seen the leader of that band, Mark Lind, do his solo thing as well, but today I was in for a surprise (and such a surprise that I, embarrassingly, lost control of all but one of my bodily functions).
I knew he organized this show and was listed to perform but I did not know he was going to do a spoken word performance and also have a comedian. So this show was a mixture of music and words and I couldn’t think of a better concept; except maybe metal and punk, and oh yeah!… on a website.
Mark pointed out he would always talk a lot in-between songs during his solo shows so he thought maybe he should just lose the guitar and speak. He was careful to point out that this wasn’t necessarily comedy or humorous but I found myself laughing throughout. Parts about spending years trying to get his therapist to swear and the differences between how black and white folks shake hands were memorable. A great start to a unique show.
Then we turn the tables toward music with the new band Duck And Cover. This band lays down some rockin’ garage punk headed by Chris Brat who is usually a bands “ace in the hole” but for this band he ably mans the front. They also have a bass player who impresses me with his ballsy, gutsy approach reminding me how bassists played in the eighties like John Doe of X, Richard Hell and Pete Farndon of The Pretenders.
One song they do starts with a recognizable guitar lick from a seventies pop song and I think, “Do they realize they’re stealing this?” A few bars in I figure they’re covering “What Is Life” by George Harrison! Unique cover from a very good band.
Now we spin the wheel once more and it’s time for comedy with Ken Reid who used to be in a hardcore band called “Seven Seconds.” He’s very professional and very funny and has good bits about the dead bodies he’s come across in his life and of his roommates playing pranks on each other in college. Seems they had lived near a porno shop and would find covers of movies like “Grannies Does Trannies” on the street. They would then stick them into folders of roommates doing class presentations.
We switch the dial back to music with another new band “Losers Circle” which consists of most of the members from the great hardcore band Refuse Resist, minus Shawn Refuse, the lead singer. Now, that they’ve gotten rid of that dead wood they can really make things happen.
Only kidding, but they do have a new style that would fall into the pop punk category. But it’s still quality material and some of the songs still blaze with energy. With the guitarist and bassist trading vocals and the drummer (who makes me think he’s Woody Allen’s cousin) laying down a solid groove they play a great set that shows lots of promise.
Old favorites The Old Edison is next to take out the show instead of dining in. A combination of music, poetry and a riotous time is how I’d describe these cats. I never thought I’d like a band with a violin, banjo and acoustic guitar but there you go- madness reigns!
Will B. Good is one of the best, if not the best, lyric writer in Boston in my opinion and the band plays with a drunken reverie that is touching and heartfelt as much as it is crazy and wild-always a blast to see them play live.
I hope Mark continues with the concept ’cause I had a great time and the mixing of words with music is music to my ears or words to my butt, I can’t figure out which, maybe heads or tails,
I say. But here’s hoping this is the first show of many more to come and if you’re interested in adding to the “word” part of the show let him or me know.
And I’m so proud of myself, and glad, that I was here today instead of the free Blue Oyster Cult show at the Esplanade!
(Slimedog)
