Live Shows: Hard Nips and Minibeast, Ralph's Diner, Worcester, MA 5/6/22

As part of Matthew Flynn of Thought Bomb w/Matthew Flynn's fortieth birthday celebrations, Ralph's Diner hosted an evening of unique, experimental, and at times odd music. We got Providence's Minibeast and Brooklyn's Hard Nips teaming up for a birthday celebration.

The night had a very laid back feel, more like a party than an official show. Part of this was most likely because I seemed to be the only person in attendance who didn't personally know Matthew Flynn and was just there for the night. Minibeast, led by Peter Prescott (Mission of Burma, Volcano Suns), took the stage as a trio. Prescott took vocal, guitar, and electronic noise duties along with a bass player and drummer. Minibeast take the loops that Mission of Burma trailblazed with and pushed them even further. It was loops upon loops upon loops. At one point in mid song Prescott left the stage to order a drink from the bar, and the song just kept going. It was a high energy performance heavy on noise, but just as heavy on groove. As noisy and experimental as Minibeast may be, they straight up rock. This isn't just beard stroking noise rock, this is dance along (or at least lightly bop around) rock music. Plus, drummer Keith Seidel might be the most talented non-household name drummers in New England. His drumming was an absolute revelation that at times stole the show from all the chaos happening on Prescott's end.

Closing out the show was Hard Nips. The Japanese/American four piece of out Brooklyn truly treated the show as a party. Their music is a bit more traditional than Minibeast, but it's hardly mainstream. They played a set of upbeat party punk that had even the biggest music snobs dancing around. Songs like "Blender X" and "Motto" are perfect fun songs for a party. This is a band that formed before they knew how to play instruments and just for the sheer joy of music, and that love shines through during their live shows. This is a band I once compared to "The Crystals and The Ronettes partying with Blondie and The B-52s," so you're obviously going to have fun at one of their live shows.

Live Shows: Service and Miracle Blood, Ralph's Rock Diner, Worcester, MA 7/16/21

As venues open and shows are ramping up again, I haven't been quite comfortable going inside a venue yet. My COVID anxiety hasn't settled down yet, so for right now I'm sticking with outdoor venues. Luckily, Ralph's, everyone's favorite dive bar/punk and metal club in Worcester, is currently hosting shows outside on their "patio." Patio is in quotations since it's really more of the end of their parking lot that's kinda cordoned off with some tables and chairs. There's a PA, but no lighting system except for streetlights and some string lights. In other words, it's pretty perfect if you know and love Ralph's.

I finally made it down to one of these since Service was playing. They are one of my favorite discoveries from last year, and I couldn't wait to see their ultra-aggressive noise punk in person. For a band that hadn't played a show in who even knows how long at this point, they mastered that tight but loose combination I need in a live show. It may not have been technically perfect, and there were a few sound issues, but it's literally an indie punk show in a parking lot, so that's a requirement. Plus, they played loud to the point that free earplugs were handed out to whoever wanted them for an outside show. It was a little strange seeing a show like this with the majority of the crowd sitting at chairs and tables, but it's how we're all adjusting right now. But a loud, screamed filled rock performance by musicians who are shockingly talented was exactly what I've been missing all this time.

Next up were Miracle Blood, who I didn't know of before this show. Sporting a singer who kept informing the crowd about how much distortion pedal was being used in each song (much more humorous in person than it sounds when I write it), the Boston band played a blistering set. Even the song that was almost a ballad ended up being crushingly loud (and distorted!) by the end. This is a band that made a song about a Pomeranian be one of the loudest songs of the night. To me they sounded like if Jello Biafra jammed with The Melvins without ever sounding like when Jello Biafra actually played with The Melvins. Miracle Live in that area between punk and metal while refusing to commit to either. They're a band we'll be keeping an eye on from now on.

Apologies to both Pillowman and Dando Fever for missing their sets. I had an early morning on Saturday, so I needed to bail early. Plus, my baby steps to live music includes building up to a four band bill. Normally I'd avoid a cover band on purpose, but Dando Fever specialize in the music of The Lmeonheads and Juliana Hatfield, so missing them was a true bummer.