The Takeaways opened up the sold-out evening at the Middle East Upstairs with their 3-piece mix of ska and punk. The kids in the pit were dancing from the very first song. I first saw this band at a basement show in Lower Allston, and they’ve managed to transfer the same manic edge to the stage in this legitimate venue. The music is fast and happy; the vocals are high pitched without being shrill, then switching over to a crust punk growl. The songs range in subject matter from being sad and riding bikes, to the apocalypse and someone dying in a mosh pit.
Then, just for fun, they played a waltz and the crowd split into couples and did a hybrid mosh/waltz!
The second band up was Poor Jeremy, a big, happy, third-wave ska band. They took the stage 7 pieces deep, reminding me of bands like Goldfinger and Reel Big Fish. My first thought seeing them was “Horns, horns, horns!” The horn section of trumpet, alto sax, and trombone pulls the happiness factor into the stratosphere.
This band has so much heart, so much soul, and there was so much dancing.
This is the second time I’ve had the pleasure of seeing them, and I hope for many happy returns. They are a young band, but they already know how to own a stage. Keep your eyes open for upcoming shows, and be sure to get out to them.
Third to hit the stage was FORT! the band, performing their final set ever, due to band leader/bass player/vocalist Bill’s plans to move away. This band, who push the boundaries of punk rock to the breaking point and beyond, has been more than a fixture in the Allston underground scene for the past several years—they have been an inspiration to countless bands and organizers of DIY shows.
As the band set up, the room was full in anticipation: a literal buzz. And then came the chanting, “Fort! The! Band! Fort! The! Band!” It was almost eerie. The crowd sounded cult-like. Then FORT! took the stage, all 8 of them, and
there were circle pits from the first note on. The room was alive.
People especially loved the song about getting bedbugs. Personally, I enjoy songs about things that I’ve done – for example, their next song was about drinking in basements, which I have done plenty of. Coincidentally, I first met Sam Keener (Fort’s highly talented trumpet player) at a basement show. While drinking! This band has so many singers in it that it’s always a sing-along.
The crowd in the sweltering room (the air conditioning was out of order) sent Fort off properly—
a riotous set full of dancing, singing along, smiles, and even letting the band members surf the crowd for a minute during their last song ever as a band.
Once they finished up, it was time for the 2 touring bands. After seeing how much of the crowd looked like they were there mainly for FORT!, I was hoping to hell that folks would stick around for The Taxpayers and Ramshackle Glory. I shouldn’t have been worried; the room felt even more full after the set change. It seems that the locals and the touring folks have a great group of fans in common.
The Taxpayers hit the stage and greeted the crowd, who responded with cheers and whistles, then launched into their set.
I love it when a band can change gears from fast punk to an accordion-led sea shanty, and this is a band that can do just that.
And it’s a seamless change. It’s hard to pick a favorite moment, but here are the big ones:
1. When the accordion player took unstrapped her instrument, picked up a mic, and started jumping like a crazy person as the band launched into a fast punk song. The pit went crazy and the Boston crowd showed out as few others do.
2. When the band taught the audience the “magical fingers tornado” dance, which is a dance that was invented by a 4 year-old.
3. When they taught the crowd another dance:
The Bobsled.
Announced from stage as “the most fun punk rock dance ever,” the Bobsled entails everyone putting their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them, running in place, and then dropping to the floor with their hands up like you had run with and then jumped into a bobsled. They got the crowd to do this most fun of all dances at both the beginning and the end of their last song.
These guys and gals may hail mostly from the Pacific Northwest but the crowd treated them like hometown heroes, and knew the words to the songs like the band played in Allston every week. “One Last Kiss” was a stand-out performance, especially with the haunting cello solo mid-song.
Oh, did I mention that the band included drums, base, 2 guitars, accordion, and a beautiful streamlined electric cello?
The night culminated in a vigorous performance by Ramshackle Glory, a band originally from Tucson, AZ, but whose members are now scattered around the country and only come together once or twice a year to go on tour. They describe themselves as a
“7-piece anarcho-punk band with all the wrong instruments,”
which I would say is an accurate description. They even had a clarinet! The passion was apparent from the moment they start playing, and the kids at the show kept the excitement level up even though it was late in the night.
Although they started very strong with “a song about growing up in New England,” and the crowd sang along as one from the very first lyric, this band, even more than the others tonight, suffered a bit due to equipment failure. I have to give credit, though—they dealt with it like pros (by telling bad jokes), and then by kicking up their performance a notch when the next song started. They were plagued by tech issues 3 or 4 times early in their set, but the rest of their performance was thankfully smooth.
Once they had their flow back, they destroyed it for the rest of the night.
One stand out moment was when the guitarist introduced a song written about and dedicated to 
those who can’t drink and smoke without major problems like everyone else. He spoke about how he had been through that himself and had come out the other side. It was a message of support and love, and a promise that there is hope, no matter what part of that struggle one might be in right now.
The most impressive thing about Ramshackle Glory was the intimate rapport they had with the audience.
It didn’t feel like two separate groups of people. Instead, it was a shared experience, with everyone in the room having a contribution to it. Everyone in attendance knew that they were part of something special, something real. Even the people standing on the couch at the back of the room were singing along to every word. Not many bands can do that.