On their second album, Matt Herbert leads this Western Massachusetts crew through his defeatist worldview, borne out by vivid images of longing, frustration and regret. It’s no dreary couch session about romantic mishaps, though. The songs shine through, framed by sweet harmonies and Matt Cullen’s ringing guitar, Herbert’s enduring drawl propelled by his tight band.
From the anxious “Hurry Up” to the strangely estranged affair of “Not A Question”, Herbert makes something out of his sadness, covering all the angles, getting too bitter or sentimental; Moe Bandy would be proud. Living in a pyro world, Herbert is the kind of guy whose girl burns up his letters, wants to torch the radio station (which probably won’t get him much airplay) and lets a house fire warm his coffee.
To balance out the antisocial urges, he does find some solace in “Goddess Of My Street” and strength in a hardship case in “It’s OK”. In the end though, he’s strongest when he kisses off optimists (in the opener, “Knock Wood”) and the righteous life (“Pull The Trigger”); he’s clearly proud of his pessimism and his crappy life. Why deny the man his misery if he can make so much out of it?
A tip-off came at a recent live show with a blaring cover of the Replacements’ “Can’t Hardly Wait”. Like the ’Mats, though nowhere nearly as intoxicated or shambling, Ware River Club is a good ol’ rock combo with rousing tunes. That’s something we’re seeing less and less of nowadays, so don’t take it for granted.
