SURF
NITE
May 29
The Long Goodbyes – Atomic Johnny – Rod Mitchell and the
Detractors
The surfiest nite in town brings a triple bill this week, along with prizes,
leis and skimpy-clothed chicks! (And Bobby D. will strip for pizza…)
An early start and a special appearance by the Atomic Johnnys from Dayton,
Ohio, who are the acclaimed “Kings of Gadget Rock”.
June 26
Cashmere Jungle Lords – Slick Fitty
Cashmere Jungle Lords are a dynamic trio from Richmond, Virginia
who describe their sound as Southern Fried Salsa Surfabilly or Western
Surf Jungle Rock.
It’s said that, in this business of music, you have to go where
the work is. For rockabilly revivalists Slick Fitty, that means regular
trips overseas—to Germany, to be specific. We’re not sure
whether they’re getting a sweet money deal or if they’re just
über-fond of wheat beer and bratwurst, but these down-home boys are
ready to try the pizza and martinis at Two Boots Bridgeport.
www.cashmerejunglelords.com/
www.slickfitty.us
July
31
The Wake The Wake + Soul Reapin 3 + The Problematics
The Wake The Wake is a surf/garage band from Providence, RI.
Soul Reapin 3 from New Haven, play psychobilly .. more psycho than billy.
The Problematics are:
Pugs - Git
Live Mike - Throat
Matt Injection - 4-Strings
Kevin - Broken Sticks
Those
Danged Problematics!
Staff Writer Guy Craig Gilbert
06/25/2008
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"I was driving home from practice and I had NPR on," tells Live
Mike, singer for the brand-spanking new punk 'n' roll band The Problematics,
outside one of their recent shows. "And they were talking about,
I dunno, animal testing or whatever they talk about on NPR, and they said,
'Well, that may turn out to be very problematic'. And I said, 'Oh. Problematic,
huh? That's a pretty cool little adjective.'"
See kids? It's that easy to come up with a band name.
Live Mike, along with guitarist Pugs, drummer Kevin MacKenzie and bass
player Matt Injection have just humped their gear into their cars and
are standing outside in the light rain. The rain will help peel the heat
away from the four as they, just minutes before the open mic band set
up on stage, ripped through a shit-all, ass-stomping set of tunes that
punched the bar patrons square in the ears. Now, after the set and a few
rounds of beers, we get to find out just who the hell these guys are.
"I guess we're a super group of bands that nobody ever really cared
about," says Live Mike. And the term "super group" would
actually fit... on a local level. I mean, it's not like any of these guys
were in Yes or are original members of Molly Hatchet or anything. But
each Problematic (or 'problem addict', if you will) has a punk rock pedigree
that goes back further than your Mom's signed copy of her Blink 182 record.
Live Mike did duty in the Defcon 5. Matt Injection did, well, The Injections
and is currently in Elvis McMahon. MacKenzie was in Disaster Party and
is now doing No Image and The Long Goodbyes. And Pugs has been in Iron
Cross (yes, that Iron Cross), Lushlife and does Dead City nowadays as
well as this project.
All those combined years of playing and with each band member being slightly
older than your teenage, GAP rebellion punk fan of 2008 gives the group
and their music a healthy dose of "screw you, we're here to rock".
Live Mike explains; "Kevin and I kind of came of age at the Tune
Inn, in that, y'know, decade I guess."
"And I've known Matt," Pugs continues, "Since the Anthrax
days." (That being the club and not the band)
All that and the multiple musical influences each guy brings to the table
adds to that just-do-it vibe.
"I don't think it's the band so much," MacKenzie gets in. "It's
the feeling, the sound. None of the bullshit. We all just want the same
thing and that's to play rock and roll music." And that they do.
When the Problematics start their set, it's a loud boot to the chest.
It's raucous, it's loose but not faltering, it's pure uncut, fat powdery
rails of rock. There are no pretenses or agendas other than kicking some
ass. The energy is amped up and pulls in sounds similar to The Candy Snatchers
or ADZ or Electric Frankenstein but with sense of slick guitar riffs and
a big dollop of tongue-in-cheek sense of humor. Classic music to make
you wanna have more than one draft beer...and maybe bust out laughing
and chuck the glass at the wall when you're done slugging it back. That
older-so-more-balls-out, carefree sound and fury gets its full treatment
in Problematic tunes like Cesspool, Kicked In The Side, Steal Your Thunder
and On The Prowl; all four tunes to be recorded soon.
"We just blocked out some time recording with Sean Sheriden,"
explains Pugs. "We're gonna do those four songs. So you heard it
here first."
"The whole rock and punk thing that we're doing, I think, y'know
in some ways, it's not like were doing something that the little kids
like this week," Pugs lets on. "It's not a flavor of the month
thing. We're not in our parent's basement with a synthesizer trying to
do anything new with music, by any means."
Having only been in "playing out" form since late springtime,
The Problematics are one the areas solid bands. Just four guys you probably
have seen around at one time or another, either out at a bar or playing
in some other band, playing some driving punk fueled rock and roll and
having a good old time doing it.
"But who knows," Pugs blurts out laughing. "Everybody always
gets along in the beginning. Check back with us in six months. You might
have to conduct that interview in four different rooms."
http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19803221&BRD=2639&PAG=461&dept_id=531126&rfi=8
www.myspace.com/theproblematicsct
www.myspace.com/soulreapin3
www.myspace.com/thewakethewake
www.myspace.com/surfnight
August 28
TBA