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mp at The Saint July 29, 2009
Standing on Asbury Park’s Main Street prior to their July 29 gig at The Saint, Maybe Pete leaders/guitarists Frankie and Kelly McGrath were talking about the banners you see on permanent display at arenas that give props to frequent performers. The McGraths thought their band was worthy of such an honor at The Saint. They’re not looking for a fancy marker or even prominent placement – maybe a paper napkin scrawled with the number of times Maybe Pete has played the Asbury Park club, then the napkin could be taped to one of The Saint’s sticker-coated walls. And below that number in fine print, Frankie joked, would be the words "not nearly sold-out performances." Following a short road trip – one that included the misfortune of being bumped by a Jimmy Buffett tribute band on Long Island – Maybe Pete was back at its de facto home club for its latest High Life Wednesdays show. And while the crowd was on the sparse side, the troupers who did fight their way through the summer evening downpour to get to Asbury Park looked as though they didn’t regret making the trek. (Full disclosure: For about five years, Frankie and I were in a band that backed ex-Red House singer Bruce Tunkel. Since then, I’ve kept in touch with Frankie. For obvious reasons, I’ve avoided reviewing friends’ bands during my career, but when asked to cover this show, I chose to make an exception and looked forward to the unique journalistic challenge of respecting a former band mate and providing a musician’s perspective while also upholding the fairness and accuracy that’s at the core of my profession.) Maybe Pete’s recent road trip denied the band some quality sleep, but the McGraths, bassist Will Cooke and drummer Johnny Macko rode their drive and adrenaline for all it was worth on this night. Lean and lanky Frankie, who back in the Tunkel days would crack everyone up with his spot-on Keith Richards moves, went through his repertoire of dips, spins and stances throughout the set. He’s developed into a genuine frontman, and his vocals – seasoned by years of smoking Marlboros -- are equally as authentic. With her new white Gibson Les Paul Junior, Kelly cut a commanding figure and played a great onstage foil to her husband. And don’t mistake this redhead for Patti Scialfa, who during Bruce Springsteen concerts plays a guitar that nobody hears: Kelly’s rhythm playing is prominent and precise, as are her short but effective leads and licks. Backing the McGraths is a skillful rhythm section that gives some extra character to the band’s rough-and-tumble tunes. Bassist Cooke doesn’t merely pump out eighth notes, and drummer Macko isn’t a human metronome, and their fluidity and movement (which can be hard to find in other roots rock/punk bands) elevated the energy level onstage. As is the band’s custom, Maybe Pete focused on select cuts from its two albums, 2005’s "Between the City and the Stratosphere" and 2008’s "Straight to Red," while also throwing in a choice cover – on this night, it was a revved-up version of The Replacements’ "Can’t Hardly Wait." From that point on, it was as though Maybe Pete caught a second wind, and it sustained the band all the way through to the show closer, "Close Enough for Rock-n-Roll." That song says a lot about Maybe Pete. Onstage, the band shows a lot of heart and makes the most of what it has in the tank on a given night, and if the show includes a few technical bumps and bruises like on this evening, so be it. That’s life -- and that’s rock ’n’ roll, too. By Chris M. Junior * Chris M. Junior has written for Goldmine, Pop Culture Press and the Asbury Park Press, among other publications. He is the founder/editor of the music blog Medleyville.us.
Setlist:
Exit 140A
Between the Love and Fear
Ours for the Takin'
The Guitars Got Louder
Whatever You Want Me To Do
Someplace We've Never Been
Battery Park 3/14/06
Walk Forever By My Side (Alarm)
This Town
Somehow
Can't Hardly Wait (Replacements)
So Damn Easy
Last One Standing
Through the Static
Close Enough For Rock-n-Roll
11:48 AM
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