When I got to this show I sat in my car for a couple of minutes to try and gather myself. In my haste of leaving I had not only lacked sleep and food, I had also manage to forget a belt for my pants. Though my pants have been fitting me more easily lately (as in, snug), they haven't completely molded to my shape so the waist still has some room and often makes me feel as if my pants are going to fall down.
I rushed into the club (ignoring my pants) not a minute too soon, as Smackin' Isaiah had just started. I had never heard this band before- just heard of them- so when I heard them announce who they were I was quite excited (they were not advertised to be on the bill) Smackin' Isaiah played a nice mix of punk that was coupled with something almost like ska only without horns or even maybe hardcore... Well, no, maybe not hardcore. I don't know. It's not your typical punk, it was more fun. Whatever the hell I'm talking about, the point remains that as a band Smackin' Isaiah was very tightly knit. I like that and think it should be an admirable quality of any band. Their songs were also decent, perhaps some of the stuff they announced as new material, stating they were going to record soon, as the best of the bunch.
Whippersnapper went on next, and they were a lot of the reason why I went to the show. They opened with the first song on Appearances Wear Thin, and went through a number of other songs from their newest release Appearances Wear Thin to the Long Walk and even America's Favorite Past Time. I actually managed to grab their set list, so if curious email me.
They actually played "Blinded" as a request for someone, but not me. If I had my choice of request, I guess I'd ask for them to play "Steady the Walls" or "An Open Invitation". Guess that's what I get for not getting there earlier to talk to them. But nonetheless, they had a nice and even mix of songs from each of their aforementioned releases. They are also fun to watch, as each member seems to have such energy. As singer Andy Munn continued to run around the stage and jump, he stumbled one or two times when trying to climb up on the baracade. It was surely a sight to see.
Digger would go on next and play a nice mix of their songs as well. They actually played most classic song, perhaps, second in the line up, "Hat Back". From their new release, Keystone, they played "Someone Save Me", "Gemini", "Try and Catch Me" and "Tattoos...". The highlight of all that came for me when I got to hear "Gemini" because that was the song that I wanted to hear them play more than anything.
Their set was all about the rock, and much like Whippersnapper who had just played before them, it was all energy. One thing I noticed was that the frontman Chris was actually wearing glasses, which he was not the last time I saw them. Which struck me as funny because a line in "Try and Catch Me" says "And I'm looking through my glasses".
Now I got rather tired and hungry, so I wasn't able to make it to stay to see Mustard Plug, which I regret because I really like them. But to give you a summary of what they were like, in his own words, Chris from Digger:
I have never met a bunch of guys in a band so cool, nice, and
professional. Their live show is fun and energetic. Even if you aren't a
huge ska fan, you'll most likely catch yourself humming one of their songs
as you leave the show or wake up the next morning. They mix the perfect
blend of ska and pop/punk, as well they should, they have been playing for
110 years, whoops I mean 10 years. Wednesday's show was proof of
everything I just mentioned. The show was smaller than normal MP crowd
standards go, but it didn't seem to bother any of the bands. Besides that
it was Connecticut on a wednesday night, and the pouring rain outside
didn't help matters. When Mustard Plug hit the stage all 50 or so people
were dancing and having a great time. They played as hard as they would
have to 1000 people. 60 minutes later, hot and sweaty from skanking, I
left the show singing the "Beer Song" again.
-Nacho
|
