All the bands at Jesco Fest '06 deserve some credit for helping out a feller in need, but I was taken with a young trio of punkers from the land of the Mothman. Maybe it is that this little group combines three of my favorite things: People from southern Ohio, people from West Virginia and Punk Rock.
The Frontier Bastards are classic punk rock in the old Clash, Toy Dolls and non-racist “Oi!” vein. I will be honest and admit that I hate hardcore metal and most thrash mainly because I find both the music and the vocals harsh and incomprehensible. While I find it often difficult to understand the live vocals in classic punk acts and the guitar is a buzz, the simplicity of the cord changes and the accessible rhythms make live punk shows thoroughly enjoyable for me even when I don't know the songs. I didn't catch most of the lyrics but that is nothing that a few listens to a CD could sort out or a few live shows.
The Frontier Bastards' original tunes didn't try to reinvent the wheel or put their own mark on the music world. It was good old punk. Meat, potato, two veg and no bullshit. The boys' choice of a cover also endeared them to me. The Clash's Career Opportunities was the first song that my old band Glasgow Handshake learned as a practice exercise. I don't think there is another song that would have been able to elicit such a feeling of nostalgia from me.
Beyond being able to play solid punk originals and covers with an accent that would be at home on the docks of London, the guys have a good stage presences. I am not talking '80s hair band stage presence which is basically synonymous with oblivious ASSHOLE. These guys had mastered the art of self deprecation- under promise and over deliver. Yet they still maintained the punk aloofness with the “you may know this song and you may not, we don't care.”
As regular blokes they were pleasant to talk to as I find to be true of most punkers who don't have a needle in their arm. Hats the bass player and Carney the guitarist/ singer are from West Virginia while Earl the drummer is from over in the aforementioned Gallipolis, Ohio. Carney was sporting such a bitching pair of sideburns that I must suggest he change his nom de guerra to Chops. Even if he takes a razor to his face (a very punk thing to do) Chops would still be very descriptive of his guitar licks.
My only other criticism of the band is that their gear was too nice. No self disrespecting punk band has such nice looking rigs. Get some shitty stuff. I always think a guitar looks better with a Ken “The Squeeg” Gilbert antique bottle opener mounted to the bridge. Nothing like seeing a guy trying to play with drunk fools opening beer bottles on his guitar.
My advice to any big club owner in the tri-state area is to get theses guys on speed dial. They are solid and fun with a very small footprint. Indeed they are the perfect opening act for almost any Alternative/Punk national act as they come with minimal setup hassles and maximum fun.
Oi! See you Jimmy!
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