EATERVILLE #1 - The Nervous Eaters (Penniman)
If the Nervous Eaters had only left us with “Just Head,” it would have been more than enough. Recorded in 1975 and pressed up on an unreleased promo single in 1979, the song is the phoenix rising from the ashes of Raw Power-era Stooges and re-fanning Iggy’s flames to the point that you can almost smell the burnt speaker cones. An overload of pre-punk guitar, gruff vocals, tight playing and a killer riff, it’s arguably the greatest song to ever come out of Boston.
“Just Head” wasn’t quite typical of the early Eaters, who were more like the Rolling Stones being muscle-car sideswiped by the Asheton brothers at high speed, but it is indicative of the quality of "Eaterville #1", which documents their collected works from 1973 to 1975 - or at least what’s left of them. As revealed in the extensive booklet interview with guitarist/vocalist/leader Steve Cataldo, one reel fell off the roof of a car back in the day, other tapes were lost in moves and studio snafus, but all told, what’s left is still pretty impressive.
Their A-side of their other single, “Loretta,” is a catchy stab of Dollsy fervor, while “She’s Gonna Be My Baby” and “Planet Fever” are guitar-heavy numbers slathered in rock ’n’ roll attitude. “Guitar heavy” would be an understatement for “On the Avenue,” where Cataldo cuts loose with a Wayne Kramer-esque solo in the middle of a song otherwise reflecting a Stonesy vibe. “I’m a Degenerate” bridges the gap between ’60s Stones iconoclasm and ’70s punk attitude, and “Get Stuffed” (originally called “Get Fucked”) - the flip of “Just Head” - has punk written all over it, plus the relentless firepower of the A-side.
The remainder isn’t quite as great, and the sound quality is variable, but all in all, "Eaterville #1" is a cool - if slight (only 33 minutes) - pre-punk document. Hard to see any fans of ’70s punk or high energy rock ’n’ roll coming away disappointed. - Doug Sheppard
EAT
THIS! - Nervous Eaters (No Tomorrow
Records)
Must be one of the best "comeback" albums to shake these aural faculties in
many a year. But first, the back story...
Nervous Eaters were one of the wave of Boston bands (Real Kids, Willie Alexander, DMZ) to climb out of Boston's Rat Club in the late '70s/early '80s. In fact, they pre-dated that place (essentially, Beantown's version of CBGB). Essentially Steve Cataldo and a revolving cast, they carved out a back catalogue that had the likes of Aussie Bostonphile Sir Dave Laing (he of the late, great Dog Meat label) singing their praises at every opporunity. (Dave's contributed liner notes for this release, by the way.) So after a buncha singles and two albums, "Eat This!" is, as alluded to earlier, the comeback effort for a band that's been around for 30 years, off and on.
Nervous Eaters are a band that many have heard of but few have heard (counting myself in that category). This album is on a Spanish label and is, or has been, suppported by a tour of that fine place. Cataldo sings and plays guitar and is joined by Real Kid Alpo on bass , primo guitarist Billy Loosigan and drummer Jeff Erna (ex-Dropkick Murphys). It was recorded in three sessions over two years.
OK, there's the facts out of the way. Now, how it feels...and, in a word: 'fantastic'. This is honest, loaded with energy and the sort of gritty attitude that only a lifetime of living this sort of music can impart. In a way, the songs remind me of those on the pending album by Scott Morgan's Powertrane, in their simple directness and authority. Cataldo and Loosingham brew up a shitstorm on guitars a la Powertrane's Gillespie and Morgan. And the songs are killer. How a US label didn't pick this up, I'll never comprehend.
Veterans they may be (no crime around these parts) but a collection of youngsters we'd care not to name could do worse than take their cues from the Eaters. Fitting then that "No More Idols" namechecks a heap of musical notables with a descending chord pattern and lyrics for the sadly lamentable contemporary music scene that radio's obssessed with. "Don't You Cry" is a tightly-wound chunk of tuneage that recalls Iggy's "Five Foot One" before wrapping itself around a killer chorus. "Melanie" is the most commercial thing here, by streets, but there's no reason a more enlightened radio station couldn't run with most of these songs and not offend. (At least not offend me - but I'm offended by most of what's on the airwaves). It chugs along on a Kiss-like riff before a wailing chorus. Catchy as cold sores and much more palatable.
"Poe Boy Bluez" puts the
pedal down hard. It's nothing flashy but this sort of rock gumbo, you can make
a staple. "On Off On" is supercharged riffage. "5-2-8" with its "Rock and roll/You
are the way" could sound cliched, if in lesser hands, but it doesn't and it
ain't. "New Face" is the mellow tune with tasteful guitar and "Over My Head"
the sort of song bands half their age would trade a nut to write. Sorry to gush
but that comment applies to most of this album. - The
Barman
1/2
