Boston Rock Photos And Stuff
Despite playing numerous shows with bands I’ve seen multiple times over a span of many years, I somehow never saw Preacher Roe. I’m still baffled by this. Well, that’s all in the past. I finally got to take in a set from these no-frills rockers at Radio to kick off the month. Phew.
Gymnasium put their top-notch, classic rock inspired sound through its paces at Radio as part of the Bands For Babs benefit. Sweet.
Old school metal for a good cause. Rule closed out the first night of Bands For Babs at Radio with a blistering set. You know, typical Rule awesomeness.
Here’s Rule barreling through their song “Das Brute” at Church last week.
Rule opening for Manitoba?* You know I’m there. The band blasted through their set (and a kick drum head!) at Church. Rule doesn’t mess around.
* I know they aren’t local, but I’d be remiss not to mention how great Handsome Dick and his band of merry men were. Hopefully Manitoba will be back around these parts again soon.
Growing up we had a cat. When we got him, he was a tiny little kitten. My mom named him Pudge. He pretty quickly grew into his name.
Pretty much the same thing is happening with Rule.*
* Living up to their name, that is. Not getting pudgy.
Rule
“Bloodletter”
2011
Remember when I asked you to remember when you liked metal? This is why…
“Bloodletter” is Rule’s first single and it’s awesome. The future classic metal riffs come flying right from the start. John Brookhouse’s throaty guitar riffs are propelled by the bombastic duo of Greg Beadle on drums and Jim Zavadoski on bass. This metal has a groove. Even when they thrash through the song’s outro they never lose the heaviness. The guitar solos have just the right ratio of flash to trash.* Above it all, Mike Soltoff’s vocals soar to metal glory. The dude can wail. Rule can wail.
Where to get it:
* This is metal and John Brookhouse is on guitar. You knew there would be guitar solos, right?
Do you like metal?
Wait! No no no! Don’t go anywhere. Let’s try this a different way.
Remember when you liked metal?
Rule plays that kind of metal. It’s Ronnie James Dio fronting a reinvigorated Black Sabbath. It’s Joey Belladona-era Anthrax without the Jams shorts, backward hats and goofy rhymes. It hints at Judas Priest, Ozzy, Maiden and early Metallica while, amazingly, not relying on nostalgia.
I know it sounds like I just contradicted myself with the whole “remember when” thing and then saying Rule isn’t nostalgic. I get it. It’s true, Rule plays a very classic sort of metal. However, my enjoyment of their debut show was not based upon my fond memories of being a mulleted teenager blasting Painkiller in a wood paneled basement with my fellow misfits.* Rule’s set seemed vital. There was no irony in what they were doing.
Rule is metal.
* Although my mulleted teenage self would have loved Rule.
This is my first time seeing Brownboot. When I wrote about their record back in June, I mentioned that their sound reminds me Humble Pie. Well, here I am at night number two of Radio’s existence and Brownboot is covering “30 Days In The Hole”.
I love it when a plan comes together.
