Boston Groupie News - Reviews by John Keegan

Justine's Black Threads, Mill Pond Falls,

Nat Freedberg's Devil Rocking Band

Lizard Lounge

March 7, 2019

Justine's Black Threads

Justine brought her clean doppelganger out for her first official spin in the surry with the fringe on top. She’s in fine company with Sludgemiesters Johnny Sciascia on upright bass and Jimmy Scoppa on Tele and acoustic.

Sprung from the confines of the 3 songs Messaround format everyone gets a chance to stretch the set. They stick to the late great American twang book. Justine’s high, nasal vocals sound like a young Wanda Jackson.

Johnny Sciascia - Justine's Black Threads

Sciascia provides sympathetic backup vocals and thumps and plucks the big blond bass. Scoppa keeps the rock roots in the country. Justine uses her co-host with the most Messaround skills to chit chat with the crowd in the living room atmosphere of the luxuriant red Lizard.

The band opens with the Goffin/King, Cookies associated classic, Chains. They reimagine the Unclean’s I'm in Love with You Jackass and emphasize its ready to go honky-tonk bones. They ease through Linda Ronstadt’s, When Will I Be Loved and the Everly’s Bye, Bye Love and Wake up Little Suzie. Justine’s Black Threads are a smooth Bourbon cocktail with a tart twist.

Mill Pond Falls

Mill Pond Falls take a ride on the crazy horse. The tunes are catchy with powerhouse drums and pop dynamics. They slide the volume up and down to make sure you’re paying attention. They are not enrolled in the short solo school. The guitars don’t rush as they build big solos, weave into and out of each other.

Like the rest of the bill, Mill Pond isn’t out to flash their punk bona fides. Their stream goes back to a muscular early 70’s American source.

Nat Freedberg's Devil Rockin' Band

Nat Freedberg’s Devil Rockin’ Band strip off the powder, the wig, and the cheek and take a bone and sinew look at life and love. The devil gets his due on the opener, the Titanics' The Right Side of Satan. After that, the band's new Better Late Than Never disc is the order for the night.

The title cut’s circular guitar pattern sets a strong tone. That’s followed by the redemptive Devil Rockin’ Man - check out the great vocals on the chorus on the recording. All My Love emphasizes how well Freedberg’s voice fits these midtempo tunes.

Nat Freedberg's Devil Rockin' Band

They upped the rock ante quotient from the disk on the Queen for a Day chorus. Madame Butterfly cranks on record and is even stronger live. Freedberg’s SG and Kevin Barry on Flying V do a Lou/Quine thing and sound sharp all night long. Ducky Carlisle is impeccable on the traps. Mark Hickox's slippery, melodic breaks on bass are a low key secret weapon. Late in the set, The Titanics Man’s Inhumanity to Man reminds that even though time moves our collective habits lag behind. Like the man says, better late than never.