[bomp] My Friday night...

[Blair Buscareno <blairb@xxxxxxx>]

I went to CBGB's Friday night for the first time in quite awhile.  
(Let's face it, all too rarely is there anything worth seeing at that 
place these days.)  However, Chris Collins of Mod Fun - with help from 
Jersey Beat's Jim Testa - put together All Mod Cons on X.  I think there 
were something like 7 bands:  The Knockouts, The Anything People, The 
Dark Marbles, The Black Hollies, Mod Fun, The Ravens, and the Anderson 
Council.

I'm not writing a review of the night.  For one thing, I've never been a 
Mod Fun fan, so I can't really comment on them.  I will, however, say 
that The Anything People did a fine job, especially with a fill-in 
drummer. 

The big surprise of the night for me, of course, was the opening act, a 
bunch of soon-to-be high school juniors from Connecticut called The 
Knockouts, who played a Power Pop/Mod kinda thing and really LOOK their 
age.  (They're mostly 16, with one of them still a couple months shy of 
that age, I believe.)  But they've got some damn good songs *and* they 
play pretty well,  too!  Plus, they really look like they're having fun.

For me, though, the most enjoyable part of the night was the chance to 
see The Ravens again, 20 years down the timeline.  Seeing these guys at 
The Dive in the mid-80s was mindblowing.  Of course, many people know 
Frank Mamlin from his time drumming for The Optic Nerve.  (These days, 
he's rejoined the band on bass.)  But Frank was also in the Philly-based 
Ravens, playing lead guitar and singing.  And - DAMN! - he can do it!  
(Note:  Frank was also in a band some of you may remember from the early 
80s called The Fad.)  The Ravens, for this show, featured 3 of the 4 
original members, the lone exception being Optic Nerve guitarist Tony 
Matura doing a fine job filling in on bass. 
Seeing The Ravens again was truly great...The songs sounded as good as 
ever...Both sides of the single, "Ravenous" and "Nevermore", plus other 
favorites like "Rain Spattered Day" and "Maryann".  The harmonies were 
there, the playing was there, and there was still that cool Ravens' 
energy, especially from Frank.

After the show, I asked them if they'd play again.  "We're talking about 
that right now!"

My Miscreants' bandmate Jeff and I already owned a copy each of the 
single, but we both bought another.  Our singer, Matt, picked one up,  
too.  Heck, they were selling them for two bucks!

Here's hoping The Ravens keep it going.

===> To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe bomp" to majordomo@xnet2.com <===