Words Of Truth / Zombie Fight / Close To The Edge / Insidious / Struggle King
Midway Cafe, Jamaica Plain, MA 5/2/15
Well, here’s another show organized by Sean Connery, bassist of Words Of Truth.
I know, I know, you’re all saying- “How can you talk about him without mentioning his illustrious career as an actor and being knighted by Freddie Mercury and the Queen? This man is the real James Bond for Christ-sakes!”
All that is well and good but I’m far more impressed by the great shows he’s been putting on at the Midway, so all that movie junk I refuse to even acknowledge.
So don’t think I will.
But anyways, today’s show has a pretty good turnout, which is more impressive considering, today there’s a free show a few blocks away. It’s the May Earth Day Festival at Stony Brook Station Park where all the neo-hippies turn on, get in touch with the groovy vibes and wear horrible clothes and listen to terrible music. It’s all natural, man! All naturally bad!
That is except for the punk stage hidden at the end of the park next to a skateboard rink.
Here I’m sure we’re having a better time. Snuggle Bun is the first band. Wait a minute, that doesn’t sound right- it’s Struggle King!
They’re a new band with a bunch of young guys and play in the New York heavy hardcore style. Their songs have lots of rhythmic changes and are intense, abrasive and passionate. They bring in a lot of different elements to their style but all in the right doses and all performed well.
They play a short, sweet set. (And “sweet” in the new definitions, like “sick”). And to quote Andy Bang, “Short and quick, just like hardcore’s meant to be.”
Insidious is next and they’re another young hardcore band that’s been reviewed favorably in these very “interconnected electronic computer signals.”
They’re so young that at first I thought their bass player was a girl. (Hey, nothing wrong with that band-mates, leave the guy alone!)
They have a heavy, intense style like Struggle King with a bit more metal influence on the guitars and a bit more explosive in the energy.
Both bands turn in great sets, show lots of promise and start this afternoon off right!
Now, our friends from New York are set to play, Close To The Edge, which is comprised of a couple of members from the now defunct Abject- previously one of New York’s best hardcore bands.
Lead singer Jaime has a large presence and a very communicable style on stage, but fear not! He’s not spreading disease but more the brotherhood and community of hardcore along with the truth and realness of punk.
And surprise! Their style is in the New York heavy hardcore genre but they’re very adept and, by example, show the younger bands how it’s done.
A song that’s sticks out as being especially swell during their set is called “Faking It.” But with this band you get no bullshit, uncut, prime one hundred percent hardcore and they play one hell of a set.
The next band on stage is Zombie Fight. I haven’t seen this band before but I find out they’ve been around awhile, are from New York, as well, and have ties with Ryan Bland, the awesome singer from the great hardcore band Ache.
This is some more heavy hardcore but I must say I feel this is the most disjointed set of the day. Also, the guitarist has lots of effects on his guitar which makes the overall sound more metal than I would like.
I have since listened to some of their recorded work, after today, and it’s actually pretty good! But today they play my least favorite set of the day.
Now it’s time for Words Of Truth to put a cherry upon this cake. What’s different about this band’s style is that many songs start out with a groove orientated classic rock or metal riff before eventually, breaking out into hardcore land. Some songs even stay in that groove for the whole song. But what you’re left with is a rockin’ hardcore band that has the speed, the crunch and the balls to make some pretty great music. Maybe call it rock-core!
The young drummer, mentioned in the last review, is still fitting in perfectly in the tight rhythm section, the guitarist is equally able in playing in the punk, rock or metal styles and a modest but effective singer who stalks the floor in front of the stage. (reminding me a bit of “The Sheik” the excellent front-man for The Dimwits).
So cheers to Sean for putting on these shows and I really hope he continues booking at the Midway. He’s really doing a great job and making it a pleasure, when I’m doing mine.
(Slimedog)
