Thursday, June 5: A Night when Pop-Punk Rocks One's Socks Off
THE ANCHORMEN
"Bespectacled menaces terrorize library patrons with snotty, oblique literary references disguised as dumb three-chord gunk-punk...Bratty and silly, but with surprising little details that mark 'em as outsiders, and not entirely unserious. They may in fact be pragmatic and ultimately useful members of society."
--The Boston Phoenix
Quoth Vital Music, "Imagine an extremely smart version of The Queers (pre-Beach Boys). Raw, fast. New Bomb Turks with PhDs." The Anchormen--Chris Braiotta, Jef Czekaj (R2-D2 Is an Indie Rocker and the Tardy), Heath Row, and Tom Scanlon (Scrapple, Mile Wide, Smoke Shoppe)--are an all-original powerhouse whose songs about American history, children's books, and not a few lovely ladies have earned them punk points from Maximumrocknroll, The Noise, and Ian Mackaye. Their new EP, Nation of Interns, continues the tradition of historically-informed breakup songs, like Howard Zinn sending a "Dear John" letter to Noam Chomsky. Hubba hubba!
SPOILSPORT
SpoilSport is a Boston-based gang of harmless hoodlums re-imagining pop with a punk soul, a surf sensibility, and a heart of frantic desperation. This supercute DIY outfit embodies the rawness of primitive rock without sacrificing melody and harmony. Spoilsport's speedy, catchy, fun songs attempt to recall The Ramones, pre-MTV Go-Go's and The 5.6.7.8's. The band is Craig Bostick and Suzanne Hinton on guitars, Marla Greenman on bass and Jon Hetman pounding out the beat. They are currently finishing up their debut 14-song album, They All Want Cake. Trouble never came in a more desirable package!
"Two guys, two gals, sweet melodies, rocking guitars, beach-party drum beats. For those who like their Pop Rocks mixed with Pepsi...Dangerously cute [or maybe] cutely dangerous."
--Handstand Command
MITTENS
Mittens is a trio from Boston's Jamaica Plain neighborhood who appreciate songs over playing. With a nod to Nick Lowe, Squeeze, the Violent Femmes, Irving Berlin, and bouncy English Dancehall, the band aims to write, make, and record smart/guilt-free/musical music. Together for just over a year, Mittens are two parts Arizona ex-patriots Tom & Andy, who write the numbers, and native Bostonian Nick, keeper of nice beats. Mittens EP 1 has found a home on WMBR 88.1 FM (where it peaked as the 11th most played disc in February) and WZBC 90.3 FM. Mittens EP 2 was recorded, mixed, and mastered this winter by Pete Weiss at Brookline's Zippah Studio.
