Guitars, Drums, Tones, and Saxophones

Carry the Torch: A Tribute to Kid Dynamite

OK, let’s be frank; not many people, I assume, buy tribute records because they’re a huge fan of the artist being paid tribute. You buy the album because you like the bands (at least some of them) who are performing the covers, and maybe enjoy some of the originals. That’s more or less what brings me to this record. Prior to placing the order for this album, I was only familiar with Kid Dynamite’s Shorter, Faster, Louder, which I enjoyed. But I saw Broadway Calls and the Ergs! on the line-up of artists taking part, and I was sold.

And so now that this long-awaited 2xLP is available to the public, how does it stack up?

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Broadway Calls - Broadway Calls

SideOneDummy’s latest signing, Broadway Calls, is a trio of pop-punkers from the great state of Oregon- which is apparently not all hipsters, as I’d previously heard- who so impressed the venerable label, as well as punk fans all over, with this, their self-titled debut LP, as well as their magnificent split 7″ with Teenage Bottlerocket.

Musically, these guys follow a seemingly tried-and-true formula- slower verses mixed with fast, gang-shouted choruses. Opening song “Call It Off” kicks things off well, laying out the blueprint of their approach for the listener, and pulling them in with great hooks and vocals that are tuneful, and nasal-y in a way that’s not nearly as annoying- for some reason- as other bands in the genre.

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