Mad Caddies, Belvedere & The Missing 23rd

I'm always uneasy about going to shows when I am not familiar with any of the bands performing. If I'm going to spend the time and money, I want to be sure I'm going to enjoy myself. Besides, I feel awkward when I'm in the middle of a crowd that's whooping and screaming at the opening chord of a song, singing along with the lyrics, and I haven't got a clue. But sometimes I get lucky and get turned on to a band I've never heard of and end up really enjoying myself. So why not?
The first band to perform was The Missing 23rd, a politically charged hardcore act from Ventura, California. With screaming vocals from frontman John and fast, hard music led by Mike on guitar, they ran through their set with reckless abandon. The overall effect, however, was disjointed and noisy with heavy feedback. The band did put together an intense cover of the Descendants' "Hope," but most of their original material, such as "Struggle" just came off too preachy for my tastes.
The night took on an international flavor as Belvedere took the stage, hailing from far off and exotic Calgary, Alberta, Canada. They made far better use of the sound, playing loud, but not noisy, and came off more polished than their predecessor. Belvedere carried a pop punk sound accosted by thrash and hardcore. "Not My Problem" had great breaks courtesy of Chris Foster on drums and Jason Sinclair on bass and a bright, catchy guitar sound from lead singer / guitarist Steve Rawles and Scott Marshall. "Malpractice" proved the band could succeed at playing something heavier as well. Belvedere played a tight set, and I was impressed…even if they were Canadian.
Finally, Mad Caddies brought their diverse brand of music to The Brick Works. They mixed punk rock with reggae, ska, jazz and whatever else you can think of. The Caddies had great dynamics, and they never got boring. The band even blended punk and polka with "All American Badass." The strangest part was that it worked. Lighthearted songs like "Monkeys," a fluffy ska jam, and "Weird Beard," a swashbuckling, pirate anthem, showed off the band's great sense of humor, while "S. O. S." carried a more serious tone. Chuck, the band's beer-bellied frontman who swayed drunkenly about the stage, showed surprising vocal talent, but Mad Caddies' two-man horn section, featuring Eddie on trombone and Keith on trumpet, stole the show with a powerful sound that wasn't drowned out even when guitar distortion got heavy.
The attendance was rather light, but the people that did show up were loud and appreciative, and I was too. I like hearing bands that are new to me, and the price was right.
- James Barone
- Photos by D.C. Ramirez (mama's boy)

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