Screeching Weasel live @ The Middle East, Cambridge MA [10-19-26]

We all wrote off Ben Weasel, right? After what happened at SXSW 15 years ago, we thought it was all over for him. His band quit on him, he put out a statement actually TAKING the blame for something he did, and all the punk rockers started disassociating with him, including his label. After all this time, I still don’t know how to process it. It’s a low point for everyone involved for sure, and it’s something Ben Weasel has never been, and never will be, able to shake off. Even when you go on Reddit, any mention of Screeching Weasel will prompt accusatory comments. But carry on he did, and after some major rebuilding and putting out a rock opera, Ben just kept doing Screeching Weasel. It would be upsetting except the post-incident albums have been really great. Are we ready to separate the art from the artist? Maybe? I guess so. Preparing for this show, I put on some old Screeching Weasel songs and there’s just something about them that still really resonates with me. No one can put a punk rock melody together better than this band. The music sucked me right back in.

It’s also a bit funny that the band is finally back in Boston/Cambridge this time at the Middle East, considering the venue’s history. But this night is full or irony and controversy.

The band itself is incredibly tight, and far from being a legacy band, they played songs from their entire catalog. It was 28 songs in an hour which fits my attention span just fine. Ben is backed by a younger band this time and their endurance shows. Adding to the intrigue is that Hailey Crusher from Hailey AND the Crushers herself is filling in on guitar. The setting was appropriate, the crowd was into it, the music was great, and we even got a little bit of Ben’s ranting. It was hard not to feel part of the moment, singing along to the new songs and the old hits.

Whatever you may think of him, Ben Weasel is going to keep doing what he does. Like him or not, at least you know what you’re getting with the man. And as far as the live shows go, it’s top notch and explosive. Let’s hope it’ doesn’t take another 10 years for them to come back.

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