Boston, Pt. 2

Joe McMahon has a NOFX sweatshirt. It’s the one with the ripped off Bad Religion logo, where instead of a slashed-out cross it’s a slashed-out “FX.” Get it? I feel like I’m not describing it well enough. He also has a Twelve Hour Turn tattoo. I wanted to talk to him about it, but to no avail.

Speaking of which, Gwomper, the bassist of Avail is also the bassist of Smoke or Fire. Both bands are from Richmond, although the latter spent its early years here in Boston. Never mind.

Smoke or Fire played fourteen songs, taking the stage at about eleven-thirty. I was exhausted at that point, but luckily I hadn’t been standing in place all day, which is usually the case for most shows. For this one, however, I didn’t leave my car until nine. The show was eighteen and up, so after checking my ID the person at the door drew an obnoxiously large X on each hand. I made my way to the front of the stage and stood there for a while, while most people hung out at the bar. After losing hope that the show would start at a reasonable time, I eventually sat down in the corner. I texted Soleil, mostly to look preoccupied with something. Everyone around me hung out in groups of two or more. I must have looked pretty lonely.

They opened with “What Separates Us All,” then continued to play a good amount of songs from both full lengths, plus one from their latest seven-inch, which I picked up at the merch table. Joe told us that they had only sold three shirts on the entire tour, so I guess that made me numbers four and five. The guy at the table was nice enough to sell me the second for half-price. The record, Prehistoric Knife Fight, came on blue vinyl. There are two hundred and five copies, all of which are only available on the tour. I know I’m a vinyl nerd, but this makes up for me missing out on the pre-order (Fat Wreck Chords gave out slightly less limited orange vinyl).

“Fire Escapes” made my night, along with “Culture as Given” and “Irish Handcuffs.” “Irish Handcuffs” is such a realistically bittersweet song about growing up and losing touch with old friends. It’s about being connected to past acquaintances only through formal reunions like weddings and funerals, at which every memory is suppressed by a permanent reliance on alcohol. I know that sounds strikingly similar to Alkaline Trio subject matter, but perhaps that’s why I love it. The emotion is sincere, and it translated well in the live setting.

I didn’t get home until two in the morning, but it was well worth it. In fact, I think I did well on the Music Appreciation test I took six hours later.

“Have a shot and wash it down with another drink. To tell the truth, this shit is starting to make me sick. And the years go by.”

Setlist

What Separates Us All

Cops and Drugs

Filter

Delawhere

Melatonin

Culture as Given

Fire Escapes

The Patty Hearst Syndrome

Modesty

Little Bohemia

Goodbye to Boston

Cryin’ Shame

Irish Handcuffs

California’s Burning