That perennial menace “humidity” had firmly set its grasp around the Philadelphia region by the night of June 16, 2018, and famed dive bar Connie’s Ric Rac was feeling the wrath, with its long and narrow floorspace some fifteen degrees hotter than the outside air. Still, ever the consummate professional Duncan Reid, iconic singer and vocalist for early power-pop punkers the boys, took the stage in a full suit- heavy slacks, suspenders, and heavy dinner jacket. Now fronting the newish Duncan Reid and the Big Heads, Reid and crew seemed to be facing mountain after mountain. Not only was the heat abrasive, but the soundtrack was comically troubled- no one could seem to figure out how to get the monitors to actually function.- and to boot, the Dickies and Queers were playing across town, sharply dividing the local punk populace.

Of course, having busted out three chord bangers since 1977, Reid, who still has the energy and presence of an young man, made a deliberate stance to cut down the troubles- the band took about a minute to regroup once the surmounting sound troubles were (mostly) solved, and then blasted right into their high energy, fast charging set. Thankfully, by then, the hall had filled out to a packed house and the energy was contagious.

Not one to live in the past, Reid and his band made it a point to pack the set with a lot of newer tunes… and it’s a good thing they did. Reid seems to have mastered that rare feat of honing and perhaps sculpting his latest songs as seen through the eyes of someone with experience, but he has kept that initial “pop” and hookiness in the new songs that many acts seem to lose after the initial wave of their career.

It helped that he was backed by some younguns that were raring to go. Sophie Powers and Nick Hughes on guitar understood the underlying philosophy of Reid’s music fundamentally. Many acts in the power pop vein keep the energy high and keep tunes tuneful. But somehow, lose the edge and bite of punk itself. Poers and Hughes seemed aware of this trap and kept these tunes snapping. Meanwhile, drummer Karen Jones crack the drums like she was driving a hardcore band, and really, that’s exactly the kind of attack a band like this needs and deserves.

The band’s newest were remarkably string. “Just because you’re paranoid” was driven by a new wave bounce piano before a sharp guitar strike jumped in to wreck the place up. “Kelly’s Gone Insane” was about a record store clerk going berserk shooting up punishers. Nice!

There’s a reason Reid was placed in the hallowed punk pantheon with boys and there’s a reason he’s still there today- the dude is a dynamo. For one thing, he played really fast. For another, he seemed to be bouncing around the room, pogoing, darting, and even a kick here or there. (It’s also important to add that these moves seem to be spontaneous jolts of the limbs as propelled by the music, and not some put on affectations, which really, tells you pretty much everything you need to know.) Meanwhile, Reid’s voice still sounded as great as ever, wrapping a fundamentally AM radio warmth around a more dangerous core that was flashed every once in a while.

Near the end of the set, the band thrashed out some of the Boys’ heaviest hitters like “I Don’t Care” and “Neighborhood Brats”. And especially “Sick on You.” The tunes ripped as the crowd jumped forward pushing the concert to a close. Tellingly though, while the older songs were more identifiable to the crowd, the fit right within the tone, energy, and punch of the earlier songs, making about as strong a case as any for the merit of the new jams.

At the end of the set, Reid left the stage, his suit having looked like he had jumped into a swimming pool in full dress. The old cliché is “leave it all on the stage.” Reid and the gang did just that, figuratively and literally.

Notes:

-If Mexican food is your thing, the area around Connie’s Ric Rac is the place to be. Taquera La Prima is aptly named. Tacqueria Veracruzana? You will never replaced the similar named taqueria located both in Santa Clara and in my heart. (1510 Jackson Street, Santa Clara, CA)

-There are few things that I love more than “tour only releases,” even if they are as simple as a new foldover placed over the original cover- ala Ceremony and Night Birds record release show specials. Bands, please make these more often. I will buy.

-CELEBRITY FASHION WATCH:

-Rory of the now defunct Posers was spotted trying out a new “biz-caz” look, his iconic patch jacket nowhere to be seen. Was this a bold new style statement, ala Bowie circa the avid Live tour, or merely the practicalities of living in simmering city of brotherly love? His next gig, where he will open for Crazy and the Brains in July should yield more details.

-Rachel of the Droogettes was in full on Met-Gala mode, wearing a striking black dress accentuated by some tasteful accessories. The prevailing view of Philly punk is often stripped down and casual. Rachel seemed to be making the opposite argument and her bold move may just be what changes the Philly fashionatti collective mind.

-Molly of the Up! Up! Ups! Debuted a new crimson Chelsea cut. Be on the lookout, as the style maven will likely evolve the color once again before the band’s upcoming set at Atlanta’s Summer Stunner fest.

-Trendsetter Pat of Violent Society was spotted wearing a crisp Menace shirt. Yours truly overheard him remark to a friend, “Stay sharp -The trend this summer will be shirts by bands that never released a full album during their original run.” I immediately ran out and purchased a Screamers and Mau Maus shirt to be prepared for the upcoming season.