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Thurs. Jan. 31 "I wanna rock and roll all nite/And eat tea and biscuits every day!" - Alioacha Merker, Upper Crust fan. We've known Nat Freedberg, singer-guitarist of the Upper Crust, going back aways to his band the Flies. And then there was the Titanics, the Satanics and various others. But Nat has made his bones, really, as Lord Bendover, the uppity leader of the Upper Crust, the quintet that dresses up like French nobles of the 18th century, talk like British fops and write AC/DC-ish songs for the masses ... often about the hardships of being an upper class twit. It sounds like a one-trick pony, but it isn't. The Upper Crust, nomi nally a Boston band, has been pulling this off time and again for 16 years. Their latest release, "Revenge For Imagined Slights," - excellent title! - is available only as a digital download through the band's website, iTunes, and other online retailers. It's "Roque and Roll" as only the Upper Crust do - full of tongue-in-cheek stadium anthems and hilariously written songs like "Class Up the Ass" and "(You're So) Rococo." There are also some rare moments of reverb-heavy psychedelia and, of course, a continuous drip of heavy shredding. And they're coming to back to town, playing Precinct Thursday Jan. 31 at an early 8-10 p.m. show. We asked Lord Bendover to address the readers of JSInk for the 2011 New Years's Eve Bash at Church and he emailed us this. (We have to think most of his points remain salient for this Precinct venture.) Good, Honest and Worthy People of Boston-
We, the Lord Bendover, of the Upper Crust, have wrested away the quill from our secretary and manservant Bumbles to send you this missive—a personal greeting for the holidays.
We should like to inquire after your health, and that of your families. We should like very much to know what spirit moves you as you contemplate this season. Are you hale, hearty, and of good cheer? Do you look forward with levity or gravity to the holidays and the coming New Year?
Regrettably, as much as we should wish to know these things, we never shall, and so we shall dismiss these concerns from our mind without a second thought.
As for myself and my companions the Duc d'Istortion, Count Basie, and Jackie Kickassis, we are in the fullest flower of our manly vigor, and wish to thank you for your concern that overindulgence in ether, laudanum and aquavit have dulled our capacities.
Far from it. These indulgences, and the company of loose women, have only made more robust our appetite for Rocque.
In addition, we have kept ourselves in top physique with our favorite sport of badminton.
In short, we are not in the least jaded, we only require that you present yourself as an audience at the Church this New Year's Eve, and you will see Boston rocqued far harder than it has ever been before.
We propose a toast to those hardy souls who will brave this storm of Rocque, so furious yet so exquisite in refinement. We shall see you very shortly indeed, and quaff a glass of champagne in celebration.
Until then we remain, yours in Rocque,
Your most Charitable and Benign Lord Bendover Tickets: $10 (cheap). 70 Union Square., Somerville, 617-623-9211 www.precinctbar.com |
