As 2023 comes to a close, I have to play a bit of ketchup. Yes, thwacking that figurative bottle as globs of concert memories come flowing out. In this entry, I'm writing about some punk acts from the past 40 years. Through two great shows, I got to see them almost a week apart.
First, I'll talk about Billy Idol. He is someone who I came to recognize through Vh1 features when I was in college. Before that point, the closest was the ripple effect in how Buffy the Vampire Slayer had a villain who closely resembled the rocker's iconic look. VH1 introduced me to "White Wedding", with Pandora showcasing his songbook to me years later. I kid you not. Born during the 80's, I had limited exposure to to top 40 music until 1995. Through the magic of streaming radio platforms, I can do deep chronological digs into Roxette, and Duran Duran, Billy Idol, and other greats. My fascination in "Eyes Without a Face" gets people wondering how old I must be.
Scrolling through upcoming shows, I realized that Billy Idol was going to be performing at the MGM Music Hall at Fenway. Having become familiar with so many of his singles, the opportunity to see the man perform live was an opportunity that I had to take, It was a general admission ticket, and the MGM Hall's intimate space gave the feel of seeing him at some medium size club. Billy in fact took time to reminisce touring through Boston during his early years in the U.S. The past converges with the present when the grandfather of two is gifting us in the audience world class showmanship (matching the musical talent). With multiple wardrobe changes, giving away stage-worn concert tee, and throwing some Frisbees into the audience, Billy knew how to work the crowd. By side is his longtime collaborator, guitarist Steve Stevens. Mixed into the setlist was Stevens contribution to cinema. While pushing more on the metal genre, the TopGun anthem fit in with the other 80's material. As Billy continues, his more pop pieces like "Mony Mony" and "Hot in the City" still resonate on that punk level of attitude and audience engagement.
August continued on, and the Dollyrots' show at Central Squ. fell right in the middle of my summer vacation. Squeezing a trip up north in right after a hurricane, Kelly Odgen, Luis Cabezas, and the kids came up north. They were joined by the Shang Hi Los and Tsunami Bomb. Back in the spring, I explained how I usually prefer punk music when it's mixed with some pop. That's not to invalidate the harder stuff and its respective audience, but when the energy of the performance gets more rough and rowdy, I start to disconnect from the meaning of the lyrics and start just vining with the music. In the case of this show, the Shang Hi Los kicked the night off with music reminiscent of early 60's pop bands like the Ronettes or the Crystals (check out "Then He Kissed Me" for a frame of reference). Bands like the Ramones would take that infectious pop style of rhythms, speed up with a tempo that would make Dick Dale grin, and throw in some edge. That formula has become a reliable backbone of punk with a spectrum ranging from the very pop acts like Avril Lavigne, Letters to Cleo, and Lindsay Lohan's band in "Freaky Friday". The spectrum meets more of a mid-section with bands like the aforementioned Ramones, Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, and the Clash. Turning the dial of edge higher, you start reaching bands such as the Sex Pistols where edge and message are paramount. Even if you can't understand the lyrics being yelled, the energy charged up by a furious performance communicates strong sentiments.
The first band playing at Cleo that night approached punk in a way that arguably connected more with those early 60's pop groups that the others sharing their billing. The Shang Hi Los are a Massachusetts band with catchy riffs that seem 60 years time displaced. Dan Kopko sings with with a slight rasp that reminding me of David Lee Roth or Steve Harwell (of Smash Mouth). Jen D'Angora's voice compliments Dan's like yellow compliments purple. Jen's voice has a Debby Harry-like vibrance that gives the music a lemony zing. I was the talking with Jen and Dan at the merch stand, trying to explain the lemon metaphor. It takes on a two-fold meaning when you think of a lemon visually. Look at a lemon (and for contrast's sake, position it next to an eggplant or plum. There's a textural difference between the two pieces of produce, the canary yellow color plays well of the deep dark purples, and the two even reflect light differently. In those differences is a complimentary chemistry. Dan and Jen bring that chemistry to a side project Jenny Dee & Danny the K when not backed by Lee Harrington and Chuck Ferreira. If I were to recommend any one song by the Shang Hi Los, it would likely be "Sway Little Player". Jen and Dan's back & forth duet is wrapped in a fun pop riff that will likely get you tapping a foot and clapping in time with your airbuds.
The next band was the Dollyrots. I've been listening to the Dollyrots for almost 10 years now, and had the good fortune to meet them last year. The heart of the Dollyrots is the dynamic between the husband & wife team of Kelly & Luis. While prolifically recording they unapologetically bring a cheesy amount of heart. I describe them as the Pat Benetar & Neil Giraldo of pop punk. Many songs from the setlist were from the 2019 album "Daydream Explosion", but there was also time to show some love to older classics like "City of Angels', "Twist Me To the Left", and the Dollyrots staple "My Best Friend's Hot". With plenty of help from the lyric videos that the Dollyrots post onto their YouTube channel, the fanbase knows these songs by heart. That makes it so much more special when a venue of people are together singing about "leaving far behind all the kids from small town. The cheerleaders, the jocks, and the guy from the K-Mart.". Bostonians ride home on a different Red Line, but the room is united on that Dollyrots frequency. I tried catching up with the band while Tsunami Bomb set up their equipment. Kelly and Luis were swamped with people wanting autographs and selfies, but I did get the opportunity to say "Hello" to their son River. Following ins mom's footsteps, the lifelong Dollyrot was collecting fans' autographs on a leather jacket.
Though with a more niche level of exposure, Tsunami Bomb like a Green Day Los Angeles punk counterpart to Paramore. catchy music and strong narratives. Okay, Tsunami Bomb has been around longer. Part of what makes their set so much fun is the chemistry created when Kate Jacobi and keyboardist Oobliette Sparks play off each others' energy when sharing the performance together as lead singers. While Kate's been with the band for almost ten years (check out "Lemonade" for an example of the band's more recent work).Although a founding member, Oobliette wasn't in the band when Tsunami Bomb recorded their first album. On the flip side, Kate didn't join the band until it was reformed in 2015. When Kate Jacobi sings a song like "Take the Reins", you can sense her internally fangirling as Emily Whitehurst's successor.
Bringing summer to a close, I spent the next day at Castle Island in South Boston. Yes, that included me swaying to a Shang Hi Los recording as I waited for the bus to Fort Point. It had been a long time since I was last at this state park, but it still gets me excited. It's not just the historic military installation, or the animal sculptures which may have been around since before the Flintstones premiered. Castle Island is right by a huge transportation hub. In the sky, you see all kinds of aircraft flying into Logan International Airport. By sea, it's all about the shipping freighters and Norwegian Cruise Lines. Walking around the park, an NCL vessel came up right next to me on it's way around Provincetown. A treat when visiting Castle Island is a meal from Sullivan's. This Southie institution has been serving hot dogs and seafood since 1951. It closes for the winters, but devoted customers will be seen lining up in late February. In the photo below is an order of fried clam bellies. I got some fish & chips as a inner to take home with me.
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