The Providence Payback, March 2, 2001, Lupo's & The Met Cafe
Amazing Crowns, Darkbuster, Kings of Nuthin', Lost City Angels, Hudson Falcons, Java the Cat, Shanty Sounds, Louisiana Hayride, Turbo AC's, and Sinners and Saints
This year instead of having a three day Payback, the Amazing Crowns booked both Lupo's and the adjoining Met Café' for one evening packed full of music. They scheduled the bands so that it was really possible to catch them all, and it went off without a hitch.
I arrived to see Shanty Sounds skanking up the Met and was surprised that it was already fairly crowded. Shanty Sounds was pretty good and I hung around watching them before heading into the big room to see what was up.
Poster Punk Pete Cardoso was selling a Payback poster so I hung out with him and Mike from Moneyshots for a while. Moneyshots played their farewell set at this year's payback and I'm sad to see them go. I caught Hudson Falcons, who were really good. Fast, loud, and rocking. I think they are from NJ or NYC, but they will be playing around New England so keep an eye out for them. They did a really good song called, "Bad Ass Bitch." I think they'll have a new CD by the time you read this.
Louisiana Hayride did a nice set of old 50's rockabilly/ swing. Jack from the Crowns plays stand up bass for them and their singer Chris has a good voice. They did lots of covers like, "That's Allright Mama," "Mabalyne," and "Shake, Rattle, and Roll." I don't know if these guys are a full time band or a side project for Jack, or what, but it was really good. Sure they played lots of covers, but it was fun.
I hung around for Lost City Angels and Turbo Ac's. They were both ok, but really I was waiting for Darkbuster at the Met. I did watch the Moneyshots tear it up one last time. It was a big guitar finish with lots of goofing around but they got a big pit going and really got people fired up.
Darkbuster is known as one of those bands that you can throw your beer at and get on stage to sing. For some reason Lenny and the guys don't mind getting pelted and soaked every time they play.
They of course started their set with "Amazing Royal Shaft," a dis about the singer of the Crowns. Jason, the offending shaft I guess, sat by the stage while they sang it. He and the band don't have a beef, he even posed with Lenny for a photo. [top right] The stage was a mess the whole time with kids flying across and beer and silly string getting sprayed everywhere. Darkbuster ran through their repetoire of drinking songs and ended with "Hometown Loser."
The Kings of Nuthin' were still on stage at Lupo's when I went over. They're a good Boston 50's kind of band with piano and a guy on the washboard. They've got a brass, and the singer had plenty of tattoos and hair gel to go with their rave up. At one point I think they lit the piano on fire. I know that washboard guy was pretty drunk, but he played his heart out. They were good.
The Crowns rocked this year. Jason and the guys are totally tight and they've been on the road for like five years or something. They did pretty much their whole recorded catalogue as well as some new songs.
Since this was the Amazing Crowns annual hometown party they got a big reaction. Providence loves the Crowns and every year they stay out there more people get turned on to them. I have to admire them for doing the Payback every year, and keeping it real on the road when the chips get down. The Crowns haven't had the best luck with record contracts and shit like that, but they keep plugging on hoping that one day the whole world will tune into their greasy rock.
