Boathouse Rock

May 13th, 2008

Please excuse my lame title for this post, but the last floor I expected my dancing shoes to receive a hearty worn-down happened to be, you guessed it, on the swarthy planks of a boathouse. Not just your average boathouse either, but one of many along a lighted and not-so-historic strip in Philadelphia called Boathouse Row. Up until I found myself mixing and mingling inside the Crescent Boat Club, the whole event was all kind of a mystery. I knew it was the Chimeras record release party. I knew it stamped the return of one of my favorite Philly bands, Casual Viking. I knew my other highly-touted favorite band, The Tough Shits, possibly could be playing as well. But, the phone calls and questions continued: “Wait, you’re playing on Boathouse Row in a boathouse? What? Uhh? OK? You have a ticket for me? See you there.” Ending with a click and followed by the scratching of a furrowed brow.

Once I found out the cut of the jib, or rather the rhythm of the rowing, it kind of all turned into an exciting, slightly awkward, and arousing experience like prom night for a virgin. I’ll leave out some details, but that’s the kind of thing best saved for folklore and documentaries. And, forgive me for using the tired cliche, but it certainly was a night of triumphant returns on so many levels. Allow me to regale you with my favorite events from an evening spent on the banks of the splendid, impressive, and mighty Schuylkill River.

After an all too long hiatus, an added member, and a literal game of musical chairs, Casual Viking decided to showcase their new licks, line-up, and frankly all-around better songmanship in front of a crowd of friends and fans drooling at the ears for their Fall-like aural pleasures. With Kevin #1 staying on “vox” and guitar, Kevin #2 sliding from drums to keyboard/synth, Pat walking down the rhythm line and sitting behind the drums, and new recruit Steve taking over on bass, the boys unleashed a whole new set of songs that Tough Shits bassist, Eggs Gruskatell, could only describe as “spyrock.” Please note: picture 4 (bottom right) would be perfect if they were a hardcore band putting out a picture disk. Just saying.

After CV’s set ended, a mass of overheated bodies trod out on the deck to chat and play catch-up with faces they hadn’t seen in a while. Suddenly, a boom and a blaze burst out near the horizon, or rather, from across the river and down a bit. It seems we were being treated to a fireworks display, and it wasn’t even the Fourth of July! As the snaps and crackles caused ooh’s and ahh’s, the Tough Shits ran out to their van to grab some of their on-tour pick-ups: a handful of large bottle rockets. And, what better way to celebrate an event than by lighting one up and letting it fly from your crotch (bottom left photo: James from the Tough Shits) and your ass (bottom right photo: same).

After The Chimeras (I didn’t snap any pics of them, bummer. I was too wrapped up in their songs) played their set, including songs off their new album, Party of God, and a few old ones too (including the first song they played the first time they played with CV and the TS’s), the Tough Shits pooped out their first show since arriving home from a six-weeks plus tour of the country that included a basketball to the face after a self-described “horrible” show at a California Mexican restaurant. Let’s just say, the home crowd made things rowdier than usual thanks in large part to an anxious and drunk crowd itching to hear their nice rock and roll. The usual craziness ensued during the set: several people (band members also) crashing to the floor, Gregg (Tough Shits bassist) breaking a string for the first time, James (Tough Shits drummer) knocking over his kit twice before they were even finished, and some asshole (wonder who that could have been!) up on someone’s shoulders. Fun times as always, everybody. Definitely one of the best times of the year.

Entry Filed under: Music