Huck CD Release Show
Ralph's Diner
Worcester MA
November 5, 2005

I have never listened to a Huck album and until last night I have never owned one. I won't listen to this one either because I know a couple of 16 year old twins that love the band and would appreciate the CD more than I ever would. To me, going to a Huck show is a social experience. You go, see your friends, drink, chat, listen to unobtrusive music, dance and have a good time. A Huck show is always a good time and I would estimate that since the band's inception in the early nineties, I have seen them around 100 times.

That being said, I have never been a fan of Huck. I was a big fan of Scott's old band Childhood and am old enough to remember when they were the biggest band in the state. Yes. I am that guy. The one who says "Remember when music was great? Remember when Ralph's was packed at 10pm every weekend? Remember when Childhood won the WBCN Rumble and were the best band around?" That's me now. The problem is I do remember all of that and things were different "back in the day" and I always thought of Huck as Childhood Lite. Sure the songs were good: All four of them that seemed to repeat over and over for a one hour set. That's how I thought of Huck. Did I mention that I never listened to a Huck album ever?


Last night at Ralph's I listened to a Huck album as they played their new CD "Never Been Nowhere" in its entirety as the first set for their CD release show. What struck me most was that for the first time Huck seemed more like a band than "Scott's new project." Paul Dagnello sang lead on some songs, and played some organ, Danny was not just keeping the beat but was actually a part of the songs, and Scott...well he was Scott. They all seemed to mesh together. Perhaps it was the material. The new record is loaded with the well-written power pop songs you would expect from Huck if you had bothered, unlike me, to listen to any of their records. What I wasn't expecting was how strong some of the new songs are. Emotional, powerful and melancholy, all played with brilliance. Seventeen (or was it eighteen?) songs, around an hour of music that made me stand, listen and take notice of a band that I have always overlooked. Huck have put together a collection of songs that have turned me into a fan.

I will say this about the show. Huck as a three piece band put on a show that you will love. They will play music that gets into your head and you can't help but sing along to. Huck "and friends" as a five piece (adding Roger Lavallee on guitar and Steve Mossberg on organ) are quite simply the Best Band in New England. They could, and should, be world famous, playing stadiums and selling millions of records. No exaggeration.

Buy the CD and see for yourself. Or do what I do and go see them live. They will be playing at the Grafton Inn, Grafton Ma. Friday Dec 2nd. I'll be there, with my friends, drinking, chatting, dancing. Only this time I will be actually listening to the band.

www.huckmusic.com