Tag Archives: Tommy & the Terrors

Live

Tommy & The Terrors, Hudson Falcons, The Skels, Darkbuster – The Middle East, Cambridge MA, (July 28, 2001)

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There were a lot of reasons to make tonight’s sold out show a great one; a Tommy & the Terrors/Darkbuster split CD release party, a Boston v’s New Jersey showdown and ‘Darkbusters’ last ever show.

Tommy & the Terrors
First up were Tommy & the Terrors (wasn’t there an Irish Punk band called Terry and the Terrors once?); now stripped down to a four piece after the departure of guitarist Kevin. Tommy & the Terrors can be best described as “Yobcore”; a cross between Oi, Street Punk with a good dose of old school Boston hardcore played with the f**k you attitude of a soccer hooligan. A good live set which included a great Bad Brains cover thrown in. If you’re into fast, catchy Street Punk check’em out.

Hudson Falcons
Next up were New Jersey’s Hudson Falcons; a band I really admire. Easily the best of the new Punk band that have arrived on the scene over the last couple of years. Mark Linskey and Co. can easily claim to be the hardest working band in America; two split CD’s a full length CD in the last six months and always f**kin on tour. The Hudson Falcons took control of stage like the road master they are and played a blistering set of Rock’n’Roll influenced Punk. Nice to see “Come out you Black and Tans” back in the set, “The Rat is Dead” ripped some faces off down front and “Alternative Ulster” would have made Jake Burns envious in ’79 let alone 2001.

The Skels
Chants of “Yankee’s Suck”, “Yankee’s Suck”, resonated around the now near full to capacity Middle East as the Jersey flag laden Skels claimed the stage to do battle with the Red Sox nation. The Skels are a bunch of Jersey lad’s playing some of the finest Punk-Folk this side or that side of Hoboken. Anyone who said you can’t mosh to banjos was never at a Skel’s gig.
High points of the set were; the bruising cover of Shane MacGowan’s “Donegal Express”, “Broken Heart in Every Empty Glass” dedicated to Darkbuster, the encore of “South Australia” and Scott Heath keeping his clothes on.
Low points; no “Finest White Girl” (guys I had brought my Ska dancing shoes just for it) and Chris taking his clothes off.

Darkbuster
Let Darkbuster be a warning to you! Don’t ever bring that friend of yours who happens to be a Sawdoctors fan to a punk show. They will jump right into the mosh pit, arms and legs flailing and come out with a busted head so you’ll have to leave with them within five songs. From what I did see of Darkbuster, I just can’t believe it was the first time I’ve ever heard them (and the last). They were excellent, imagine if Blink-182 was any good or Greenday had balls and a fondness for Budweiser only Gang Green in their heyday could match.

Live

Tommy & The Terrors, Hudson Falcons, The Skels, Darkbuster: The Middle East, Cambridge MA (JUly 28, 2001)

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There were a lot of reasons to make tonight’s sold out show a great one; a Tommy & the Terrors/Darkbuster split CD release party, a Boston v’s New Jersey showdown and ‘Darkbusters’ last ever show.

Tommy & the Terrors
First up were Tommy & the Terrors (wasn’t there an Irish Punk band called Terry and the Terrors once?); now stripped down to a four piece after the departure of guitarist Kevin. Tommy & the Terrors can be best described as “Yobcore”; a cross between Oi, Street Punk with a good dose of old school Boston hardcore played with the f**k you attitude of a soccer hooligan. A good live set which included a great Bad Brains cover thrown in. If you’re into fast, catchy Street Punk check’em out.

Hudson Falcons
Next up were New Jersey’s Hudson Falcons; a band I really admire. Easily the best of the new Punk band that have arrived on the scene over the last couple of years. Mark Linskey and Co. can easily claim to be the hardest working band in America; two split CD’s a full length CD in the last six months and always f**kin on tour. The Hudson Falcons took control of stage like the road master they are and played a blistering set of Rock’n’Roll influenced Punk. Nice to see “Come out you Black and Tans” back in the set, “The Rat is Dead” ripped some faces off down front and “Alternative Ulster” would have made Jake Burns envious in ’79 let alone 2001.

The Skels
Chants of “Yankee’s Suck”, “Yankee’s Suck”, resonated around the now near full to capacity Middle East as the Jersey flag laden Skels claimed the stage to do battle with the Red Sox nation. The Skels are a bunch of Jersey lad’s playing some of the finest Punk-Folk this side or that side of Hoboken. Anyone who said you can’t mosh to banjos was never at a Skel’s gig.
High points of the set were; the bruising cover of Shane MacGowan’s “Donegal Express”, “Broken Heart in Every Empty Glass” dedicated to Darkbuster, the encore of “South Australia” and Scott Heath keeping his clothes on.
Low points; no “Finest White Girl” (guys I had brought my Ska dancing shoes just for it) and Chris taking his clothes off.

Darkbuster
Let Darkbuster be a warning to you! Don’t ever bring that friend of yours who happens to be a Sawdoctors fan to a punk show. They will jump right into the mosh pit, arms and legs flailing and come out with a busted head so you’ll have to leave with them within five songs. From what I did see of Darkbuster, I just can’t believe it was the first time I’ve ever heard them (and the last). They were excellent, imagine if Blink-182 was any good or Greenday had balls and a fondness for Budweiser only Gang Green in their heyday could match.

Live

Tommy & the Terrors, In Harm’s Way, Suspect Device, Musclecah – The Middle East, Cambridge MA (December 19, 2001)

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Musclecah opened this one. Personally, I’m already sick of the so-cheesy-it’s-cool hard rock schtick, but I’ll say this about Musclecah: these guys aren’t being ironic; they really are old long-haired rockers from Worcester. They actually bought their mesh baseball caps in the ’80s at the mall, not yesterday at the Salvation Army. Anyways, some good heavy riffs and an entertaining singer.

Next up was Suspect Device. For an explanation of their anthemic street-punk sound, refer to my gushing review of their CD, also in this issue. And if you have the CD, well, tonight they played several songs from it, such as “Another Day,” “Carry On,” and “Street Rock Soul.” Suspect Device are a non-flashy, inspiring band who rock the house. Even when he’s singing, Jay Bennett does not stop moving and jumping around, throwing his guitar neck up in the air at every hit as the drummer pounds away. The growing crowd perked up immediately.

I was surprised at the next band, In Harm’s Way. These young hardcore kids were not bad at all – I didn’t take too many notes because I was suddenly moved to jump in there and rhythmically punch and kick the air as if it was a real show. So that says something about In Harm’s Way and their good blend of old and new school HC.

Last up was Tommy & the Terrors. Tommy on stage is a well-spoken soccer hooligan. He humbly deflects applause and says what “an honor and a privilege” it is to play with the other bands. Then, suddenly, when a song starts, his face goes red as he furiously barks lyrics, pounding the air and wrapping the mic cable around his arm like a man possessed. The Terrors’ talented new lead guitarist gives them a professional, Skynyrd-esque element in the form of solos and a leopard-print guitar strap. The closer was “I Love Rock n’ Roll” by Joan Jett (or whoever the hell did that song originally).

By Pat Kennedy

Review

Tommy and The Terrors: 13 the Hard Way

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In their early days, Slapshot were called “the closest thing to American Oi since Iron Cross” and in many ways, it was an apt description. Choke and company sang about things that mattered to the kids in Boston, all set to a background of hard and chanted hardcore punkrock. It wasn’t about phony British accents or dressing to the tee like a wannabe Joe Hawkins – it was about music and attitude – a lifestyle. American skinheads. American Oi.

In many ways, I see Tommy and the Terrors as heirs to the Slapshot throne. The similarities are all there: Boston bands made up of unpretentious types, skinheads and non, who are telling things like they see it, all the while sounding similar to how Choke and co. did it – more rock’n’roll but complete with an old-style hardcore attitude meets chanted British Oi choruses.

T&TT have matured by leaps and bounds since their first offerings. They come at you with a double guitar-style led by Lance and Mike and it shines, with Ryan on bass and Anders on drums, rounded out by the mighty Tommy the Terrible on the microphone, barking orders to Boston crowds like a skinhead Lee Ermy.

If Boston steetrocknroll appeals to you, then check this out for sure. Highlights for me include: “Pull the Plug” the catchy as hell “Turn the Screw,” “Washed Up,” the nice guitar work in “Looking Glass,” and “Radioactive Radio.” “Lot 11” is also a winner, with its Boston sports provincial subject matter – the New England Revolution. Makes me grin thinking about the crew attending said games – although I’d have to argue the Chicago Fire are the team to set a tune around.

In the end, all the tunes hit you in the face like “a train pulling 20 cars of aggro” to quote my favorite poster on the now defunct DKM message board. Boston pubarios rejoice!!! You’ve got a house band to rival the might of the legendary Slapshot.

September 2003

Sean Holland

Review

Darkbuster V’s Tommy & the Terrors: Split (CD)

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Darkbuster (5 tracks)
This is Darkbuster’s swansong (very Led Zeppelin eh?), who have sadly split up after their Middle East show last month. This is fast catchy Budweiser soaked party punk with balls. A little mellower then live; more a pub punk feel especially on “Good Times” with its boozy barroom chorus, also check out the bastardization of “Danny Boy”, where Danny moves to London and ends up on the skids.
Recommended.

Tommy & the Terrors (4 tracks)
First off apologies to T. & the T., last month I claimed they were now a four piece in my live review; actually Mike is now playing guitar and a new bass player has joined – must have been real drunk guys. T. & the T. play “Yobcore”; a cross between Oi, Street Punk with a good dose of old school Boston hardcore played with the f**k you attitude of a soccer hooligan. With the exception of the Oi-ish “Washed Up” with its fluid guitar playing the T. & the T. songs on offer here are tipping the needle towards the hardcore end of the scale. Defiantly music for those with more extreme taste.

September 2001