Recently Heard: Eatin' Ain't Cheatin'

Eatin' Ain't Cheatin' by Sweet Cheater

When I think of these guys, the first thing that comes to my mind is not the music.

I think of Charlie's cool poise and presence and Tommy's boundless energy. Great guys.

Of course, you won't be picking up this disc because it was made by a bunch of your friends. You most likely didn't play guitar (or something somewhat resembling that) with mutual friends, and there's a pretty good chance that a larger number might have - but most of you didn't - catch them at one of their shows Back in the Day (which was a Wednesday, according to certain recognized experts on the subject).

No, you won't be picking this up for that reason, or, most likely, because you're a friend of mine, and so are they (although that would be cool if you did). The reason you should pick up this disc is because you like glam, 80's hard rock, and/or hair metal. Because it's good.

Tommy puts that boundless energy to good use behind the drumset - he was definitely one of the better drummers on the scene. Charlie had that poise and presence for a reason - six of them or nine, depending on how you count (that would be EADGBE or imrptimrp). Not that Mike, Tom, and Mark were slouches, but I knew the Leger brothers a bit better, so it's almost reasonable that I'm somewhat unfair on focusing on them.

It's funny, because listening to this tonight, I am reminded of exactly how good they were - I think if Nirvana hadn't imploded on the music scene when they did, you'd already know these guys, and dozens of others from all genres, because the Boston music scene had some incredible musicians.

Just give the track Summer a listen, and tell me that doesn't take you back to the late eighties/early nineties, cruising along Hampton Beach on a hot summer night... or riding the Subway Train into South Station, and then crossing the bridge to check out the local and national lineup playing at The Channel that night...