East End Badoes
East Coast Oi! Fest
May 2008
By Jillian Abbene
(SugarBuzz Wash Dc/Richmond)
SugarBuzz Magazine
Taking a serious stance, the East End Badoes are silhouetted under the colored lights. With no poking or prodding, this band cracks the egg wide-open, delivering consistent, melodic oi. Terry, the lead vocalist, a man raised from the 1st generation of punk, stands comfortably in front of the crowd. The first chords of, ‘Forever Proud,’ cabinet a studying predominant American crowd, as he spurts out heavily-accented monotoned yet melodic verses. Halfway through, the crowd joined in on the gang-vocalled “oi’s!” Terry is standing with his right foot on the front speaker as if the captain of a ship, singing with guttural fierceness. There was a lot of nodding in overall mental agreement from the crowd at the end of this song.
Opening in counted German, the bass solo opens up in hard pluckings as heavy guitar chords crank out intense energy in the sing-a-long chorus of, ‘Gary Doesn’t Glitter.” Terry has as much exuberance as those twenty-something’s! tirelessly, he navigates from one corner of the stage to the other. The crowd steps in closer on the highlighted chorus, “Do You Wanna Touch No!?” unraveling the song in a jumped octave on the last verse. The crowd is wide-awake.
Awesome guitar-chugs on, ‘Stereotype Football Hooligan,’ adds energy by Dave, guitarist, who is banging out slammin chords straight on the verse. Joining in chorus, Terry bumps fists with Gel, chorus-participator and member of the UK outfit, ‘The Darn Rustlers’. Ending the song in a dragged noted affair, exerted passion from Terry to the crowd is now clear. Hard staccato clean drum thuds has the crowd cheering, at the end of the song.
‘Blagger,’ is my favorite—unique in musical variation on quickened 4-noted zips sums up a chunk of agitated therapy. A slight tempo-groove varies in the chorus, adding a dash of creativity. Terry joins bassist, Andy at the microphone for the chorus, and while singing to the audience, maneuvers himself in squatted position, face-to-face with yours truly, while spurting out the second verse. In a natural form of camaraderie, I pressed my hands against his sweaty face cheeks and squeezed---with both of us grinning and just having fun. The set ends with Terry crash-hitting the cymbal that punctuates a shove-kick into the air at the crowd.
‘21st Century Civil War,’ has fast cadence and guitar syncopations between drum and beat-down bass impacting the crowd in particular. As a guitar squeal follows a quick riff, the band seems animated. Including Terry-- with lyrics referencing how religion and government do not mix, he gestures the, “The Father-Son-Holy-Ghost,” as drummer, Cherry, kicks it with triplicated drums, running opposite of the beat. Ending the chorus, “Civil War Riot!” in resounding multiple repeats. It was really mint!
In closing the set with, ‘That’s The Way It’s Got To Be,” squealed-feedback rhythm leads as Terry immerses himself once again into the crowd, riling them with fists in the air, as shouters closed the gap behind him. Despite the slower tempo, the middle bridges a guitar switch inclusive of very clean drums, burning till the end with a quick riff ending the set.
East End Badoes’ are known for their distinctive tight cohesion and culminating strength. Terry’s inked vocal-snaps, gives muscle and leverage to their set, making their East Coast Oi Fest debut a memorable one.
[note: a very special thanks to Dom and Phil for guiding me through. You guys are ace!]
www.myspace.com/eastendbadoesmusic
www.myspace.com/eastcoastoifest