Alex Hits the Pits
Middlebury High School senior Alex Mayer hits the Burlington club scene and reports on the action. This issue, Alex checks out Dick Dale, the Red Telephone, Fishbone, Dysfunkshun and many, many more.
Barbacoa
The Mighty Blue Kings
TOAST 2/25/98
I went to Toast on a wintery Wednesday night to check out one of Elyptical Productions' Jamboree nights and was treated to a cool evening packed with some pretty amazing music.
First up, the surf/lounge lizards of Barbacoa played a laid back set of instrumental rock music. They do a great job of recreating the 60's surf sound with the over driven sound of 2 guitars and saxophone to add to the wailing sound. Some standout songs included a cover of "Harlem Nocturne" and a tune called "Hang em' High" which had the crowd on their feet skankin and dancing.
The Mighty Blue Kings, a seven piece swing/jazz band from the Windy City of Chicago blew onto the stage with a gust of energy and a totally tight sound. They started with an instrumental tune that hinted at Duke Ellington and Charlie Parker influences. The band's vocalist was the clear leader, counting off each tune and keeping up the energy throughout the song with enthusiastic hoots and hollers of encouragement to the other members. The Mighty Blue Kings are just a lot of fun. They asked for audience participation on songs such as "Buzz Buzz Buzz" and a song fit for Sesame Street, "Rag Mop," ("R-A-G M-O-P, RAG MOP!") Their style is very much rooted in the Big Band/Swing era although there is definitely a ska feel as well, leading me to describe the Kings as "ska-infested swing/jazz." Other swinging tunes included "Don't Let Go," "Meet Me in Upton" and "In the Night," which included a great solo section from the two saxophones trading fours. The blues were also well represented by the Mighty Ones, but not the old, whiny, my-baby-is-gone-and-I-am-so-sad blues. Sure they talk about lost love, but they also sing of staying strong and not letting the tough time get you down on songs like "What's a Man To Do," and "I Got Myself." There were some great instrumental segments as well, which highlighted the stand-up bass and the piano player. There was also a section where they went back to the roots of the blues with just a harmonica and guitar for a section before the rest of the band jumped in with full force.
In Harm's Way
Blinded By Rage
Dropkick Murphy's
The Business
TOAST 2/27/98
In Harm's Way is a new band on the Burlington scene and their first show probably didn't go off as smoothly as they had hoped. Within the first minute of their first song "Iron Cross," their guitarist took a huge jump and and twisted his knee. In obvious pain, he continued and during the second song "Stand Against," his finger began bleeding. After that things calmed down a bit. On "Neuter Me" the bassist and the vocalist switched jobs. One other song I enjoyed was "Public Alley 421," about an actual place in Boston.
Blinded By Rage is an excellent example of a band that got off to a rocky start, but improved a lot. In December of 1996 I saw Blinded By Rage at 242 on a night when their equipment wasn't working well, and their lead guitarist threw his guitar down and left. To give an idea of how much they have improved, tonight they recorded their set for a live CD. I must say, they have turned into a tight, hard hitting band. So don't count In Harm's Way out just because their first show wasn't worthy of Madison Square Garden.
Dropkick Murphies, from Boston, played an incredible set of punk/ska, with the emphasis on the punk. They played songs from their debut album Do or Die such as "Live for Today" and "Never Alone," which was dedicated to all the true punk rock kids out there. At one point a drunken woman was reaching for the microphone and obviously pissing off the singer, who said to her "This isn't Phish or the Grateful Dead, this isn't Lilith Fair, so get outta here cuz this is for the kids!" They also played "Finnegan's Wake" an old Irish Pub song that I knew all the words to. At one point, as I was singing along, the singer told me that I had "one hell of a voice." They also played their hit "Barroom Heroes" which also appears on the Hellcat Records compilation Give 'Em the Boot.
The Business took the stage and played through their loud and proud songs, many which turned into giant sing-a-longs, creating a real sense of community. They started out with "Suburban Rebels," "The Truth, the Whole Truth" and "Spirit of the Streets," all off their new CD The Truth the Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth. They also played "Justice (Not Politics)" and "Southgate" from their new album. For "Saturday's Heroes" they brought up three local youngsters to help sing along. I don't know why they do that, but they have done that every time they have come to Burlington so I guess it's tradition. They ended the night with hardcore "Hooligans", "Smash the Discos", and "Harry Mae." During the last song about half of the audience ended up on stage so the only way to get off, really, was to stage dive. A true punk rock show that left the ears ringing for days.
Never Again
Humans Being
TOAST 3/13/98
Humans Being started things off with "First Time in a Hearse," with a blast of energy, guitars and bass players jumping in the air and singer Alphonso throwing himself all over the stage. They played all the faves from their album My Demons Disagree: "Encapsulate," "Fate Throws a Rock" and "Exhausted." They also a played a couple of new ones, one of which will appear on the new Wonderdrug Records compilation Up the Dosage. Many of the songs they played that night turned into sing-a-longs, such as "Amanda Shit the Court" ("I cannot fly away/my feet won't leave their grounded") and the much requested "Patterns" ("This is why they try to blind your eyes"). A great hard-rockin set from the Humans, who seem to get harder and more energetic every time I see them.
Never Again, formerly Last Ones Standing, took the stage and apologized that the CDs weren't ready for the CD release party. Then they played a great set of brutal scream-core, including songs from their new CD Through Bleeding Hands including "Accolades of Compassion" and the hard and fast "Strength to Prevail." They also showed their emo side on songs like "Innocence Lost" and "Moral Obligation." They played a couple of new tunes, which rocked, and ended with "Engraved in Stone" off the CD.
27 Down
Red Telephone
Zola Turn
TOAST 3/14/98
27 Down has a sound similar to Spill, classic rock with a 90's feel. The first thing that struck me about 27 Down was that they had three, that's right THREE guitarists, which made for a very heavy, at times, muddy sound. They weren't very good, and their material, although it was original, wasn't very creative, and at times took on a 80's glam rock feel, especially on the slow songs.
Red Telephone, a loud-pop indie band from Boston, with two members formerly from Burlington, are a force to be reckoned with. However, I don't think that the crowd fully appreciated Red Telephone's hard edged melodic sound, and Matt Hutton's stunning voice, which went from soft on "The World is Loud" to big and powerful on the Tom Waits-esque "I Am Said." Other standout tunes included "Mary" and "Piranha," which I particularly enjoyed. Another very amusing part of their set was a medley in which they combined Metallica's "Enter Sandman" and Duran Duran's "Hungry Like the Wolf."
Zola Turn played an excellent set of tunes from their debut CD Cousin Battie as well as several new tunes. They started out with "Infamous U-Turn" which also appears on the Good Citizen Soundtrack to the 'Zine Vol. Three CD. They also played favorites like "Escape Artist," "Racecar Driver," "I'll Wait" and "Social Obligation," which doesn't appear on the CD, but is one of my favorite songs. Some new tunes included "Tastes Like," which is a real rocker, and "Is This Goodbye?" The latter song is a slow march-like tune with just the bass and drums. Another new one is "Falling" which has a beautiful blending of Julia, Alice and Jen's voices. They played a cover of Jefferson Aiplane's "White Rabbit" and of course ended with their local hit "Bullet Proof Vest." A great set.
Henry Rollins
TOAST 4/3/98
Henry Rollins, vocalist for the legendary 80's punk band Black Flag, now singer for his own Rollins Band and a spoken word performer, recently came to Club Toast to do a spoken word show. After reading Rollins' book Get in the Van: On the Road with Black Flag, I expected Rollins to be a very intense, angry and depressed person. Actually, the three and a half hour show that he did was incredibly entertaining; funny while still getting a positive message across. Rollins griped about minor aggravations at the airport (he bemoaned the horrors of waiting in two hour lines and he shared baggage claim experiences.) He told stories of being stalked by psycho fans in Australia, recalled touring with Sheryl Crow and Marilyn Manson, and described Africa as "fornication and death." Rollins also talked about serious matters in life, such as infringements on people's rights and whether people actually have rights in America. He told the story of a KKK group in Illinois which wasn't allowed to march, and they argued that they had the right to march and be racist and stupid. Rollins asked the question " Rights? What rights? Where were Rodney Kings rights? Where are your rights when an LA cop is calling you faggot and beating you trying to get you to fight?" Overall, a very amusing show. Rollins brand of spoken word is humorous, cynical, intense and in-your face, and carries a positive message. It can make three and half hours seem like an hour and a half.
Barbacoa
Dick Dale
TOAST 4/20
Dick Dale is the kind of Surf Guitar and he plays it left hand. Ever since he first began playing in Balboa, Ca. in the 50's, his style has been totally different and unique. As times have changed and different styles of music have come and gone, Dale too, has evolved his music to different levels. He now plays with two other musicians, a drummer and bass player, to create a sound that seems best described as as "surf-core." But Dale's talent runs quite deep; he is a master on any kind of guitar, as well as the drums, piano, organ and any wind or brass instrument. Over the course of the hour and a half set Dale and his band played, they performed "Misirlou," the theme from Pulp Fiction, and "Banditio," a slick little tune with a lot of volume changes. Dale and his bass player also did a short acoustic set, playing a South America -inspired tune, and a sweet blues song, which will appear on their new album, due out next spring. Dale proved his amazing talents by playing his surf guitar style on an acoustic guitar. Another great tune was called "El Paradiso," (I think) which was written about a very famous club in Amsterdam. On this tune, Dale busted out his trumpet and encouraged audience participation on the "OLÉ!" parts.
Barbacoa was the opening band and they were very good as well. Bill Mullins' competent guitar skills and the wailing sound of the saxophone blended nicely with the rest of the band to create an excellent 60's-surf-spy-lounge music sound. They played "Hang 'em High" a swinging' little tune, as well as "Delirium" from the Sonic Tonic CD. The crowd really liked Barbacoa, and there was a huge band of "Dickheads" who ahd been following Dick Dale around on this tour!
DysFunkShun/Fishbone
TOAST 4/21/98
Dysfunkshun celebrated the release of their new CD Gravy with a party at ground zero with Fishbone. DysFunkShun played a good balance of old and new tunes. They started off with "Homegrown" and a small crowd up front. As they continued, playing "Savoir Faoir," and "Hibachi Girl" (both new), as well as "Jump In", the crowd slowly got larger, and more people came up front to dance. Other new tunes included "Grapevine," (which also appears on Hop 2), "The Big Chill" and "Stand Up." The new tunes are a good mix of funky, laid back groove and hard hitting rap-core.
Fishbone took the stage and kicked off the party with "Another Generation." They continued with songs about various substances such as "Ma & Pa (Wanna have a talk with y'all)" and "Alcoholic." The crowd was on their skankin feet for "Party at "Ground Zero" and "Lyin' Ass Bitch" (with a female guest vocalist.) Fishbone are quite a band to see live; the keyboardist, and both singers play horns, and there were some fat horn solos on trombone, sax and trumpet. ~GC~
Alex Mayer takes all his equipment on the bus. And you can't fuck with Alex Mayer, you can not fuck with this man!