Parasites, The Ergs, and 3 others Saturday, December 2, 2006 @ The Ottobar, Baltimore, MD

By: Ivy Lopez, Field Archivist

I’m used to Florida shows where things rarely start on time, and usually, when they do start it’s not until a few hours before the bar closes. So, as habit would have it, I was late to the show and missed the first three bands. And, as poor memory would have it, I don’t remember their names. So, I apologize that I can’t comment on any of the opening bands.

The Ergs began their set by playing bits of Black Flag songs and insisting that it’s not necessary to hear more than ten seconds of any Black Flag song that was released after 1985. With that, they launched into their set. The Ergs play concise, and solid punk rock. Their songs are exactly what needs to happen, without sounding at all predictable. It’s hard to describe The Ergs without drawing a comparison to The Descendents. From the “noodley” basslines, to the subject matter, to the “catchiness” of their songs, it’s evident that they’ve been largely influenced by one of the great punk bands of all time. However, they still maintain an overtone that’s uniquely their own. In fact, they did a cover of my favorite Descendents song “Bikeage” which I liked more than the original. What I love most about The Ergs is that their songs are innate, which translates into them being perhaps one of the “tightest” bands out there. They played a mix of mostly old songs from the “Dorkrockcorkrod” album and the “Jersey’s Best Prancers” album.

Thrown in for good measure was not only a Descendents cover but also a Black Flag cover (this time they played more than ten seconds worth), which I still can’t figure out the name of, and the Gin Blossom’s “Hey Jealousy,” which I’m convinced would be the bee’s knees if it were truly an Ergs song. They also played three brand new songs that are slated to be released on their new album that’s coming out in 2007. These songs seem a little more developed and more dynamic……Sounds like the makings of a damn good album.

Ahhhhh, Parasites. Not the kind that eat your intestinal tract, but the kind that makes you feel warm all over. It’s pop punk at it’s best and pop punk in its hey-day. Dave Parasite has resurfaced to make peeps such as myself very happy and nostalgic for yesteryear. Life and music was much simpler then. Pop punk was big for a reason. People were starving to hear songs that were simple, tangible and down right catchy. People were starving for bands like The Ramones. Although Dave Parasite is the only original Parasite, I would venture to say that he is the most defining element of the band. His vocal style is the signature sound. His melody and register remind me of The Beach Boys if they sang half an octave lower. With that said, Dave Parasite sings songs in a similar vein as the Beach Boys. Songs that tug at your heart strings and remind you of that day at the state fair when you ate cotton candy to your heart’s content, rode those nauseating rides and won a stuffed Tweety bird. All the while, the sun was shining and there was not a cloud in the sky. Such bubblegum type vocals are properly anchored by thick (mostly three) chord progressions giving it just enough grit to qualify it as punk rock.

Due to the fact that Dave Parasite is the only original touring, he was backed up by The Ergs. Double duty!! They did a great job and maintained the integrity of it being a Parasites show. They played old songs (I guess they’re all old at this point), and one new song. A new song? Does this mean a potential new release? We can only hope…Now, if only The Beatnik Termites would get back together.