The Porchistas
- The Baby Album (Independent)
From Montclair, NJ, The Porchistas are an interesting
proposition. They combine an accessible, retro, pre-hardcore punk sound with
island vibes, folk-rock and a gritty New Jersey demeanour. They’re worldly and
wordy, with plenty to say, but seem perfectly comfortable with the concept of
big pop songs. Songwriters Adam "Devil Hands" Falzer and Alan "Sucia"
Smith bring a wealth of experience to the project. Falzer’s studied
Music Synthesis at Berklee School of Music, he sings, produces and plays lead
guitar. Smith sings and strums an acoustic guitar, and enjoys making things out
of shit and straw – houses I think, rather than boiled sweets. Drummer Jonathon
Riordan and bass player Gerry Griffin complete the line-up.
As far as I can ascertain “The Baby Album” is the
band’s third long-player, which they begin with “Friends in the Underground”. It chugs along like a
well-bred Dead Boys’ number, with just enough sneer on the vocals and what
sounds like a saxophone solo – and it’s catchy as hell. “Tooty Tooty Ta” is a
Cracker-esque tree huggers call to arms that alternates between ramshackle
country rock and rickety indie-cowpunk. Again, you will sing-a-long. “Make a Wish” reveals a Caribbean
bent and “Zombie Jesus”
wont makes friends amongst the faithful. “Frankly, You Can Thank Me” sounds like a title
Morrissey might have come up with, but it’s nothing like a Smiths song. Instead
it unwinds like a folky-post-punk Chili Peppers and I like it a lot. So a
smorgasbord of sounds, styles and influences, yet it all comes together. I
think I need to start checking out their back catalogue.
Rob F.
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