The only decent show while I was in Boston was KARP. I was disappointed because Boston *always* have happening shows, right? Just two weeks later they had these shows on consecutive nights: Ruby Falls, Smog, Versus, and Rebecca Gates/Geoff Farina. I would have just died on the spot. The day before I arrived The Renderers played for the first time in the US. The day after I left Fuzzy played. I have no luck at all.

Anyhow this show. I walked from MIT down Mass Ave in search of the mighty Middle East. I was by myself but I didn't care. It wasn't far at all. The show was upstairs. You have to walk through their resturant to get to the room. The Downstairs part is bigger I am told. There was some hardcore show going on Downstairs. Upstairs was small.

The first band, Fun In The Kitchen, just got on stage. I guess they are local. They were tolerable. They reminded me of a more emo Gray Before My Eyes but nowhere near as good. Some of the songwriting was disjointed and choppy. I saw the guitar player/singer on two seperate occasions during my stay. The next band was god-awful. I don't even remember their name but I really thought that bad hair metal went down at the end of the 80's. I had to leave the club and walked down Mass Ave to pass the time. The bands groupie went around asking people if they wanted in the mailing list. Gak!

The Davis County Panthers were next. They are former members of the Tulips but I wasn't sure which cause I couldn't recognize the sound. They sounded like a fusion of rockabilly and Jesus Lizard. Strange comparison I know. Their gimmick is let the woman singer get drunk off her ass during the performance and wander around and stumble. She was an asshole if you ask me.

KARP is insane. I heard their first album on K Records a long time ago. I knew they were loud and noisy, the black sheep of the K family. No, maybe they are funny. The guys look so cuddley and smiley.... until they start playing. Loud. Rukus. See the veins pop out in their necks and forehead. Hear their piercing screams. When they stopped playing they revertes to being "cute." They played both songs off the new 7", which are super if you haven't heard them. KARP is heavy metal. Black Sabbath rules these guys lives you can tell.

Pictures:

Karp.

Karp.

Video:

Links:
Karp on Wikipedia.
Karp on Myspace.
Karp Lives - A documentary film about the band.