So I went to see Anarchy Club at Harper's Ferry this week. When I got home, I opened a copy of The Noise - a local rock magazine. They had a "20 years ago today" section and on the cover, 20 years ago, was Zug Zug (a previous project of Anarchy Club frontman Keith Smith). Keep it up, Keith. Your voice sounds as good today as it did at Bunratty's in 1990.
When Starting Cancer Killing Gemini, I wasn't sure if I wanted to be the singer / front person. I talked with Joe Goretti in NY about maybe collaborating with singer Kelli Scarr and creating kittymonkey 2.0, a more downtempo, female fronted endeavor. But as I started to write, I knew CKG was going to be more aggressive. The only person I could envision taking the spotlight (if I wasn't going to step up) was Keith. A quick look online turned up Anarchy Club, Keith's latest project, and whaddayaknow, he's already doing industrial music! But I never made the call; it became more and more apparent that it was time for me to return to the mic.
My very short list of truly great bands from Boston:
-Come
-The Pixies (if you need a link, there's something wrong with you)
There was a magic to Zug Zug... Keith's instantly-recognizable throaty vocals, Dan's ridiculous virtuoso soloing / noodling, Drew, John and Buzz holding it all down with heavy, grinding modern rock. The songs were great, the shows were great, it was a great moment in rock history.
Back to the present, and Anarchy Club. They have 3 albums out now, so a 45-minute show is filled with the high points of those 3 records. The band is solid and confident. The songs are focused and well crafted. While their earlier recordings were more industrial / electronic, the latest release is straight-ahead metal / hard rock. Live, Keith's charisma shines as bright as it always has. Adam and company hold their own. If you like loud guitars, go see this band. They will show you how it's done.
Anarchy Club at Harper's Ferry
