Guitars, Drums, Tones, and Saxophones

So here we are, wrapping up twenty-aught-nine, and once again, Boston’s own ska-core heroes The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are throwing their annual (minus some years in there) Hometown Throwdown. HTTD XII took place at Boston’s House of Blues for the first three nights, and wrapped up with a final show at the Middle East downstairs. And now the boys are playing in support of the recently-released Pin Points & Gin Joints. With a pair of reunions opening (Darkbuster on night 2, and Bim Skala Bim on night 3), this Throwdown certainly ranks up with the best that the ‘Tones have played.

Night One

The first night, at the House of Blues, featured local hardcore act Razors in the Night, and well-known NYC ska band the Pilfers, playing one of their sporadic shows of the last few years. I was unfamiliar with RITN’s material, but was quickly won over by their energy and catchy, pummeling sound. The Pilfers have long been a favorite of mine, and they did not disappoint, playing a great selection of songs for a receptive crowd, and got the majority of us pumped up for the ‘Tones.

The Bosstones kicked off the Throwdown with the “single” from their new album Pin Points & Gin Joints, “Graffiti Worth Reading,” and the assembled crowd loved it. They turned out a good mix of old and new, also playing “Sister Mary” and “Wasted Summers” from the new album, and a live debut of “The One With the Woes” from 2007′s b-side compilation Medium Rare. A great surprise was Dicky calling out a long-time fan to play the song he had waited years to hear, the title track from Don’t Know How to Party. I was right up there with him, stoked out of my mind to hear the song live. As has become a tradition at this point, the band also played “The Day He Didn’t Die.” All in all, a great set to open the series of shows with.

Night Two

Night two saw local favorites Darkbuster reuniting for the show, along with the Void Union (made of partially of members of Westbound Train). Void Union were similar in feel to Westbound Train, and with WBT’s current hiatus, might me your best source for ska/reggae in Boston. Darkbuster are perhaps the most drinkinest punk band around, and their fans are a rowdy bunch. Some of them were dicks, some were fine, just like any big show. The band themselves played a good set, though one that reminded me that I’m not at all familiar with their album 22 Songs You’ll Never Want to Hear Again.

The Bosstones’ set on night two was excellent. Some people may have been turned off by Darkbuster, but the Bosstones made up for it with this collection of songs. Opening with “Old School Off the Bright” from 2003′s A Jackknife to a Swan and “Nah Nah Nah Nah Nah” from the new album, things were off to a high note. They pulled out “A Reason to Toast,” another b-side that found its way onto Medium Rare, as well as “Another Drinkin’ Song,” “Tin Soldiers,” “Hope I Never Lose My Wallet,” and personal favorite from the new album, “I Wrote It.” But the real highlight of night two was the encore. A piano (or, rather, a keyboard inside an upright piano) was brought on stage, and 9th Bosstone, John “JG” Goetchius, came out the play a bit. The rest of the band soon joined, and after a brief introduction, launched into “Toxic Toast.” Perhaps my all-time favorite Bosstones song, hearing it with the piano intro brought tears to my eyes.

Night Three

Night three featured the Pietasters and a reunion of the classic Boston ska band Bim Skala Bim. The Pietasters played a solid, if short-feeling set to open the night up. Bim Skala Bim played a longer set than previous nights’ openers had. Their set was great; the guys look older, but still play great. Vinny, in particular, is a ball of energy. Great to have these guys back, if only sporadically.

“Dr. D” began things for the Bosstones on night three, and they again broke out a few deeper than usual cuts, such as b-side “Wrong Thing Right Then” and “Finally” off of Pay Attention. However, at the end of the main set, they called Vinny from Bim Skala Bim/Pilfers out to join trombonist Chris Rhodes on “A Little Bit Ugly” from their debut, Devil’s Night Out. It was pretty amazing; the bridge featured Chris and Vinny going back and forth in a trombonist duel that whipped the crowd up. What a way to go, huh?

Following the main set, some people in the crowd noticed that original Bosstones guitarist, Nate Albert, was hanging out side stage, and that a second guitar had been placed on-stage. When the band returned to the stage for the encore, they were in fact joined by Nate, to great applause from the crowd, for “X-Mas Time (It Sure Doesn’t Feel Like It)” and “Kinder Words.” Nate then departed, and the band played the six-and-a-half minute closer from the new album, “A Pretty Sad Excuse.” For the unfamiliar, the song spends its first few minutes as a slow ska number, until very suddenly ramping up into a big rock/punk song. So when the pit opened up, it did so very quickly. It was, well, awesome.

Night Four

Night four saw the Bosstones return to the Middle East downstairs, the traditional venue for the Hometown Throwdowns of the past. The Side Effects and Far From Finished opened. The Side Effects had a rather drunken demeanor, and their guitarist looked like a coked-up LA rocker. Oh, also, their songs all sounded the same. And I listen to punk rock. I had heard that Far From Finished was a hardcore band, but maybe that was some other Far From Finished; the guys I saw played pop songs. Most of the songs they played couldn’t even be considered melodic hardcore.

So what, of all songs, could the Bosstones play to open the last night of their hometown stand, back at the one and only Middle East? The polar opposite of a deep cut, that’s what: “The Impression That I Get.” Getting the “single” out of the way so early was a bold choice, and really kept the crowd on their toes; typically, hearing that song signifies the end of the set fast approaching, but here, the set could be whatever, wherever. And the set was extra long. They played songs like “Don’t Know How to Party,” “Illegal Left,” “It Can’t Hurt,” “Cowboy Coffee,” and many others. The encore was 5 songs, including “A Pretty Sad Excuse,” and closing out with “The Pirate Ship,” a fan favorite that is only available on the vinyl version of Question the Answers. A fitting end to four nights of high-energy shows that left us four-nighters pretty exhausted.

Conclusion

The Bosstones played four excellent nights that managed to keep a good balance of the “hits” with the less-played songs, most notably perhaps being the two playings of “Don’t Know How to Party.” The band is very gracious and appreciative of their dedicated fans, and those fans give it right back. In addition to the shows, the band did a meet and greet and McGreevy’s Saloon in downtown Boston (owned by Ken Casey of the Dropkick Murphys), and did a free raffle for prizes and tickets to shows. They not only play great music, they care a lot about the people who come to see them, and that elevates them from a good band to one of the greats.

On a Personal Note

I met a lot of incredible people this extended weekend, primarily thanks to the Bosstones’ official message board. These people made the entire experience even more enjoyable than it already was, a feat I’d have previously thought impossible. If these people are indicative of the overall fanbase- and I’d say they are- Dicky might be right that these are the greatest fans in the world.

Many thanks to Bosstones forum member XraphieX for the photo at the top of this post. Check out her gallery here!

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