Pegboy is one of the most important punk bands hailing from the Chicago locale. Featuring members punk rock legends Naked Raygun as well as the Effigies and Bhopal Stiffs among others, Pegboy was virtually a punk rock supergroup. Their albums overflowed with passion, brutal honesty and super-charged, anthemic choruses. Larry Damore displayed a penchant for writing unforgettable lyrics that needed to be sung along to.
A tribute album recently came out immortalizing and memorializing this great band. I don't know whether this tribute serves as a eulogy; whenever I hear the band is done, they show up for one more set somewhere. And everytime they decide to show, I do my best to make it out to see them. Last time I saw the band, Damore needed to sit through a couple songs. They were all a little older, some fatter than others. And some, Damore particularly, worse for the wear. Even so, they soldiered on, putting on one of the finest punk rock shows I've ever had the pleasure to witness. Plowing through a song like "Never a Question" would reawaken the young man in Damore, and give him the energy to go crazy for 3-and-a-half more minutes. He spends most of his time with half his body in the crowd, getting spit on by the fans (who are also a little older and a little fatter) who are screaming along with him.
The tribute album includes some gems, some clunkers, like any other tribute album. Some of the highlights are Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio doing an acoustic version of "Field of Darkness" and the Blonde Alibi giving "Sinner Inside" the hardcore treatment. I should disclose that I work with the singer from the Blonde Alibi, so I may be a little biased. I also really enjoyed Haymarket Riot and Vic Bondi, and, even though both of these do nothing more than ape the original, The Story So Far (with Denis from 88 Fingers Louie) and the Dutchmen both turn out performances that tap into the same energy that Pegboy did.
If you are already a fan, I would recommend picking this album up. If you are not a fan, become one. Pick up "Strong Reaction" and the "Fore" EP to begin with, then move through the rest of the catalog. I only lament that you are not likely to have the opportunity to see the band live. But then again, never say never.
1. "Method" - Vic Bondi
2. "Strong Reaction" - Full
3. "Louisiana" - Rollo Tomasi
4. "Mr. Pink" - the Phenoms
5. "Superstar" - Munition
6. "Through My Fingers" - Haymarket Riot
7. "Walk on Bye" - Deminer
8. "Spaghetti Western" - Shot Baker
9. "Planet Porno" - Dreadnok Ripper
10. "Blister" - My Big Beautiful
11. "Locomotivelung" - the Matics
12. "Field of Darkness" - Matt Skiba
13. "Sinner Inside" - the Blonde Alibi
14. "Never A Question" - Bill Henderson (from x ONE WAY x)
15. "Time Again" - Break the Silence
16. "You" - the Invisibles
17. "Still Uneasy" - Nine Lives
18. "Dangermare" - the Littleman Complex
19. "My Youth" - Lynyrd's Innards
20. "Minutes to Hours" - Robotboot vs. What's Missing From Your Life?
21. "Fade Away" - Don't Worry About It
22. "You Fight Like a Little Girl" - the Dutchmen
23. "Hardlight" - Dead Town Revival
24. "Line Up" - the Story So Far
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