Frances and the Boof Machine fozzies the bear at Midway Cafe on Monday, 18 December 2023.

Crushdepth and Float Stanley waka waka the opening slots.

Ever been to BMS Paper Company?

The Jamaica Plain kitchenware and restaurant supply wholesaler also offers retail service so any schmoe can park out front, grab a shopping cart, and explore the arena-sized store.

Does the “paper company” sell actual paper? Sure, probably, maybe? You can buy paper napkins, paper plates, paper cups, all of that…

The coolest stuff, though, is the breadth and depth of the kitchenware. Restaurant-style woks, bunsen burners, stand mixers, industrial popcorn poppers, pro-grade espresso makers, nacho cheese fountains, cake tins of all dimensions, utensils of every shape, size, and scope. It’s a kitchen nerd’s dream!

If you ever worked in a restaurant and thought, wow, I wish I could bring home that piece of hardware – this is the place for you.

Plus, bulk food and pantry items are available at wholesale rates. You want ten gallons of molasses for a gingerbread mansion? You got it. Or a bag of flour, sugar, or salt the size of a milking cow? You got that too.

Extra points for the in-store deli as well. Snacking on a roast beef sandwich is the only way to shop.

Float Stanley

Float Stanley is one of those bands where everyone gets a turn at lead vocals. It’s kind of like the Sonic Youth approach, except they never let Steve Shelley on the mic. Or maybe he just didn’t want to?

The four-piece kicks out jammy indie rock vibes. Occasionally they sounded like a southern rock band – with a touch of country – but the cover of the Cure’s “Friday I’m in Love” pulled them back into the alt pop zone.

Shout out to the completely electronic drum set. You don’t see that too often at club gigs around town. There was a conventional drum kit available with the baseline but the drummer was rocking the plastic instead.

Most drummers prefer the tactile and kinaesthetic qualities of a conventional drum head. Different strokes for different folks.

Crushdepth

Is Crushdepth three or four musicians? On Monday it was three musicians, though Tony Basile is the bandleader on this project, and he’ll invite whatever musicians aboard that are needed to fit the bill, whether performing or recording.

Speaking of recording, the band played its recent EP The Late Bloomer from start to finish. Which is about fifteen minutes, so they played a few other songs too.

The EP was recorded at Point Break Sound in Stockholm, according to Bandcamp. As in, the capital of Sweden.

Is that right? The ‘Point Break Sound’ that comes up on Google is somewhere on Cape Cod. It’s the kind of place that welcomes you to “a realm of unfiltered creativity and sonic exploration that's at the crossroads of punk rock rebellion and alternative music innovation.” Does this realm also have wizards and Shake Shack locations?

Maybe the Stockholm thing is an inside joke.

Frances and the Boof Machine

You wish every headliner committed to the gig the way that Frances and the Boof Machine did. They were the number one fans of every opening act. Strong pance party vibrations. Shades of Andro Queen.

Onstage the band is a five-, six-, seven-piece rock n roll ensemble that sucked in the crowd with shout-along refrains, patty cake choreography, and glam punk shenanigans. There was a rubber chicken at the foot of the stage. Not sure if it got roped into the mix.

Extra points for the keytar. But it was hidden in back! If you’ve got a keytar on your roster, you’ve got to let it shine up front like the Muzzins stage show.

Rumor has it Frances and the Boof Machine have a new single coming out on Friday. Available on all Boof-able platforms.

Cheer Camp was a late cancel on this bill.

Photo Gallery