Another gem of a night in Boston sometime in the 80′s (probably ’87). Tonight’s show was a record release party for Buzz And The Gang whom I have no info about. Next up was the punk band Last Stand who recorded on Taang! (remember them). It was probably getting pretty sweaty when the next band took the stage and that’s who’s featured in this post. fIREHOSE was the band that arose from Minutemen‘s ashes. I was never a huge fan of Minutemen but the story is compelling. Two guys grow up together, become best friends, start a band, gain success and then one of them dies in a horrible car crash (D. Boon at age 27). Mike Watt is the remaining friend and he eventually pulls himself together to start firehose, when as the rumor has it Ed Crawford knocks on his door, says he loved the Minutemen and wants to start a band. Each subsequent release for years is dedicated to D. Boon.
For me fIREHOSE’s music surpassed Mike Watt’s previous band in just about every category. Their first three records on SST are essential while the latter two on Columbia not so much. I’ve got 5 songs (they’re all short) from “If’n” :