Photos and review by PAUL MCALPINE
BOSTON – Once upon a time there was a basement night club in Boston’s Kenmore Square nicknamed “The Rat” (The Rathskeller). One night, a dancer friend invited me to go there to see her friend David Robinson play drums in a new band.
The atmosphere at The Rat was much like New York’s CBGBs, complete with a real funky bathroom where anything goes, as it should be. David had left The Modern Lovers, and became the drummer for this new band we saw that night: The Cars.
I still remember someone yelling in my ear about each band member and that Greg Hawkes the keyboard player worked with Martin Mull, which made me smile, humming “Suburban Blues.”
My dancer friend later became “My Best Friend’s Girl” if memory serves, during a time when Boston was the music hub of America with Aerosmith, Boston and The Cars.
In life, we’re lucky to experience the birth of one great band, but the city was rocking with great bands playing gigs at the various venues nightly, leaving you with the decisions of who to see, when to sleep?
For me, the recent news that Aerosmith have packed their last road case meant a big part of my youth had just died. Yes, we age and grow older each day, but great music has always been a vital part of my life and, I imagine, yours, if you are reading this.
Some of us were there back in the day while others watch old MTV videos on Youtube. One thing is certain, though, you can never go back, but you can move ahead with old friends.
The other night was a perfect example of this, seeing Greg Hawkes perform a set list packed with classic songs by The Cars with Boston’s Eddie Japan at the Spire Center for Performing Arts in Plymouth.
Greg recounted memories of the historic Live Aid gig, working with Flo & Eddie, Todd Rundgren, Martin Mull, The Motels and other artists over the years, then perform one of their hits.
Eddie Japan on their own is a fantastic band out of Boston and has recently released Pop Fiction on Rum Bar Records. I said to someone moments prior to show time – Eddie Japan with Greg Hawkes is a perfect storm for a really fun night out!
Check out the music of Eddie Japan:
