Life, Finds A Way

The Skrims appear opaque until lit from behind at Midway Cafe on Saturday, 1 July 2023.

David Rubin and Early Bird Special sandwich the triple-stack bill.

Report: Jurassic Park-themed Jeep Wrangler spotted in local parking lot.

“Life, Finds A Way.” The phrase from Jurassic Park is emblazoned across the back window of a Jurassic Park-themed Jeep Wrangler.

Wait, there’s no comma between ‘life’ and ‘finds’ in the famous epithet from the movie, right?

The dinosaur-fueled franchise from Steven Spielberg had a few famous lines. Unless you read the book, you’d have no reason to question the punctuation. Except this particular line was used in a lot of advertising so there’s documented evidence for or against the comma.

And the evidence speaks against the comma. Does it change the ultimate meaning of the phrase? Not really. But like a tattoo, if you’re going to commit to burnishing a well-known phrase on the body of your vehicle in perpetuity, do some light copy-editing first.

It’s not known whether this Wrangler regularly parks at this lot, which will remain anonymous. (Hint: it’s somewhere along a walking route from the Sam Adams Brewery to Midway Cafe). But if you’re lucky enough to run across it, it deserves a closer look. The quick video we inserted at the end of the Instagram video below doesn’t do it justice.

David Rubin

David Rubin is a regular jammer at Midway Cafe, appearing every fourth Wednesday every month with Diamond Blues Jam, his Jerry Garcia Band tribute at the Jamaica Plain dive.

He can go big with the bluesy, bluegrassy ensemble or take a solo turn on any given night.

Saturday was the latter, as he strapped on an acoustic guitar for a more intimate set. An intimate set alongside intimates, as he knew every band on the evening and played bass for a hot minute in one of them (for Early Bird Special?). Shout out to the Rolling Stones’ cover and a saddlebag full of hot licks.

The Skrims

The Skrims shined in the second spot, bringing a soulful mix of blues rock and jammy Saturnalia.

The five-piece uses a dedicated frontman vocalist to divide and conquer, freeing up the guitars to shoot toward the skies while the vocals burrow seven layers below the earth’s surface into the far reaches of your rock n roll id.

Shades of Joe Cocker on some songs – the Skrims are going for that kind of grab-you-by-the-cockles throwdown.

And did someone say that the band has a beer collab on its resume? Holy moly, that’s a new one. Sounds like Aeronaut Brewing, Julio’s Liquors, and The Skrims teamed up to crank out a NEIPA “Attack of the Skrims” in honor of their new single “Here I Go.” Why not?

Early Bird Special

It was a crowded house on stage with six musicians, but it may have been more than Early Bird Special in the closing slot. One or more members of The Chops sitting in as well? The ensemble enjoyed a Saturday night romp through a mix of originals and covers, including Thin Lizzy’s “Boys Are Back In Town.” Strong vintage vibes on the playlist and big personality delivery. Not always easy performing new covers on short notice with a hybrid ensemble, but life, finds a way.