Untitled
7 Inch
In a small town where the Saw Mill and the NY State Thruway almost criss cross is the small town of Ardsley. Not much there but stores, a bike path that runs along the Saw Mill, and certainly not a place where your average punk band stays-- honestly the average band gets out of Dodge. Rock dreams usually get on the local Metro-North and head south to the city. The Enthusiasts do the same but as they say in punk rock-- don't forget your roots.
On their frist 7-inch they bang out two originals which meld the garage stylings of The White Stripes/ Bloody Hollies with English style Power Pop, without hesitation throw in Misfits patented "Whoa-ooh!" or a breakdown with a few psychedelic riffs. "In the City" with a little added scuff could easily sit on any of the Shake Some Action - UK and Ireland comps. Joey F., tackling vocals and guitar, puts every ounce of energy into to his playing and singing. The song itself is the Punk Rock dream-- singing songs, going to the city, and getting away from where your from. Dylan H. and Matt G. are a steady rhythm section and follow Joey F's lead pretty well. On "My Two Words" the "psychedelic breakdown" actually gives them a half a minute to shine. Though to be honest the last minute of the song might serve another song a little better. Stylistically the two songs might jump around a bit too much, but why stick to a formula.
While every other band from the far corners of the earth descend on Brooklyn there is something refreshing about three guys coming down from the NY suburbs playing "catchy" punk rock that feels a little more authentic. Maybe it's our own roots that let us dispense this credibility, maybe it's two pretty good songs, or maybe it's a little bit of both. One things for sure The Enthusiasts only have a couple of miles to go before this 7-Inch is part of history or they make more of their own history.
* You can download the 7 Inch and a Live set over at their Bandcamp page, here.
