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BOSTON GLOBE NAMES AND FACES MENTION
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NERVOUS EATERS,
LYRES,
ROBIN LANE & THE CHARTBUSTERS
by AJ Wachtel
The Royale, Legends of Punk Show
Boston MA 4/16/11
I am delighted as I look around the floor knowing this bill would have sold out the Rat decades ago. I smirk as I see many of the same punksters I would have noticed back then. Only now with a new salt and pepper background, the night takes on a totally different scenario: visually punk has gotten older and almost retro but sonically the sound still packs the same punch that it always did and hearing the best bands of that era now is as cool and motivating as ever. The decor is vastly dissimilar too—the Rat was dark, smelled of urine and stale popcorn, and had cheap beer; the Royale is clean, has sofas all over, and the drink of choice seems to be $5 Red Bulls. Robin opens and initiates the mood with a blazing pop/punk set. Asa and Pat on guitars play with an unexpected quirkiness that give a real ’80s punk-feel to the music. Robin performs with her acoustic guitar and legendary voice. Great songs including the opener “Hurt,” “Imitation of Life,” and my favorite, “When Things Go Wrong” with its great message and sing-along melody. Scott and Tim, the rhythm section, consistently add something interesting and surprising, both individually and collectively, as the backbone of all the songs.
Then Lyres appear with Jeff in sunglasses and his customary tambourine in his left hand keeping time. He puts the pedal to the metal and gets the excitement going even further. “This is really hard, so if we fuck it up, I’m sorry,” blurts Jeff between songs and with understatement the crowd goes wild. Of course my favorites are originals “She Pays the Rent,” “What A Girl Can’t Do,” and the two covers “I’m Your Guy” by the Blizzards and “Give Your Love To Me” by Les Copains.
By the time the Nervous Eaters appear onstage everyone is ready to party and the aggressive punk/power pop brings the night to another and even higher level, I love when Cataldo whips the crowd into a frenzy with “Eat This,” “Have It With Your Coffee,” “Talk To Loretta,” and an unreleased song, “Today and Tomorrow,” that was originally recorded by Rick Harte years ago. It will be released soon on his The Wasted Years Vol. II CD. This song rocks like a typical Eaters tune and hearing it new and for the first time in 2011 is a real pleasure. What a great night—and I am thankful that Mitch and Jimmy Harold don’t have to escort me to my car. Now, I can exit the club at the end of the evening with only the help of my teenage son Harrison: will wonders never cease? (A.J. Wachtel)
LYRES,
ROBIN LANE & THE CHARTBUSTERS
by AJ Wachtel
The Royale, Legends of Punk Show
Boston MA 4/16/11
I am delighted as I look around the floor knowing this bill would have sold out the Rat decades ago. I smirk as I see many of the same punksters I would have noticed back then. Only now with a new salt and pepper background, the night takes on a totally different scenario: visually punk has gotten older and almost retro but sonically the sound still packs the same punch that it always did and hearing the best bands of that era now is as cool and motivating as ever. The decor is vastly dissimilar too—the Rat was dark, smelled of urine and stale popcorn, and had cheap beer; the Royale is clean, has sofas all over, and the drink of choice seems to be $5 Red Bulls. Robin opens and initiates the mood with a blazing pop/punk set. Asa and Pat on guitars play with an unexpected quirkiness that give a real ’80s punk-feel to the music. Robin performs with her acoustic guitar and legendary voice. Great songs including the opener “Hurt,” “Imitation of Life,” and my favorite, “When Things Go Wrong” with its great message and sing-along melody. Scott and Tim, the rhythm section, consistently add something interesting and surprising, both individually and collectively, as the backbone of all the songs.
Then Lyres appear with Jeff in sunglasses and his customary tambourine in his left hand keeping time. He puts the pedal to the metal and gets the excitement going even further. “This is really hard, so if we fuck it up, I’m sorry,” blurts Jeff between songs and with understatement the crowd goes wild. Of course my favorites are originals “She Pays the Rent,” “What A Girl Can’t Do,” and the two covers “I’m Your Guy” by the Blizzards and “Give Your Love To Me” by Les Copains.
By the time the Nervous Eaters appear onstage everyone is ready to party and the aggressive punk/power pop brings the night to another and even higher level, I love when Cataldo whips the crowd into a frenzy with “Eat This,” “Have It With Your Coffee,” “Talk To Loretta,” and an unreleased song, “Today and Tomorrow,” that was originally recorded by Rick Harte years ago. It will be released soon on his The Wasted Years Vol. II CD. This song rocks like a typical Eaters tune and hearing it new and for the first time in 2011 is a real pleasure. What a great night—and I am thankful that Mitch and Jimmy Harold don’t have to escort me to my car. Now, I can exit the club at the end of the evening with only the help of my teenage son Harrison: will wonders never cease? (A.J. Wachtel)
