Eight Bucks Experiment

Evan and Paige O'Meara have been at the punk-rock thing with the Eight Bucks Experiment since the mid-'90s. To say this project has changed its sound over the years is a bit of an understatement. In the late '90s, Eight Bucks (due at the Gothic Theatre on Saturday, April 18, for the Lola book release party) sounded like a collision of experimental rock and hardcore, and the outfit's live shows were an aggressive, dynamically confrontational affair. Each performance was unpredictable and seemingly gilded with a sense of danger and exhilaration. These days, instead of a mid-'80s TSOL vibe, the O'Meara brothers, along with bandmates Bob Temme and Bobby Sears, trade in a more thrashy sound. Maybe punk has been bought and sold, but Eight Bucks still has the ability to surprise. - Tom Murphy-Westword

The next act, Eight Bucks Experiment (Extreme Corporal Punishment) takes to the stage. This time though, the set is a bit more scripted. During the bands set up, the actor who plays Heroin Bobs son jumps onto the stage to give a speech to egg on the punks. While the cast and crew get things ready for this segment of the concert I make my way toward the merch area to peruse the records and get some insight regarding tonight’s event. Catching Ulteriors’ Eric Morris Anderson manning their merch table along with his wife, I ask him for his take on the film. “Based on my experience,” he says, “it was very much accurate in a funny way.” Though he takes care to point out that the original is not a documentary, but it inspires kids to get into punk. This thought is furthered by Giles (Gwendolyn) who says Dog Party’s reason for being here is “Getting people about punk, bringing it back.”

Walking back to observe the Eight Buck Experiment segment of the show, one cannot help but notice the over enthusiastic participation of the audience. This is perhaps due to this group being the most featured part of the new film, as well as being from the original. Eight Buck Experiment brings forth a powerful blend of street-punk meets hardcore into the fold. Their heavy numbers invoke the full monty of moshing and crowd surfing. Their performance gives the show a certain passion that remains a standard through the rest of the gig.

After what seems like a lengthy break after the Eight Buck Experiment performance, the Dwarves bring on the brutality of raw hardcore punk rock. Their presence is commanding and the studded jock strapped, luchador masked guitarist definitely adds to the effect. Blag Dahlia’s words, “We are your politically correct band for the evening,” sets the tone for their segment, since it is clear they are not anything near politically correct. Wasting little time for meaningless pleasantries, they launch into classic numbers like “Let's Get High and Fuck Some Sluts,” and “You Gotta Burn." Their performance on stage seems to inspire a certain captive obedience from the thrashing audience. This is obvious from the constant cheering on from the crowd, which serves to egg on the Dwarves savage show. - Nick Kuzmack-Slug Magazine

8 Bucks Experiment is one of those bands that make their home here, but seldom get the opportunity to play locally because they’re too busy playing some otherwhere. Most the guys look pretty young, but they make a lot of racket and get the job done. The name gave me visions of ska, but it’s a hardcore thing with them. If they’re in it for chicks they’re not compromising anything to do it. Lead screamer Evan howls and crows, bending his body around to get every ounce out. The same contortions your member goes through when you’re writing your name in the snow. I believe Paige and Alfred are his brothers, as they share the last name O’Meara. They weren’t offering any deals on trucks though, just putting out with the raucous. Unlike the energetic singer, Paige doesn’t get too out of hand. Only looking up to confront the mike when backup is required. He scrubs out a lot of tuneful amplitude, letting the Les Paul represent him. During "Crocodile", he lets loose with some unexpected flanged insanity. On the drums, Al is frantically smashing shit left and right with a shocked look on his face. He’s like a living cartoon back there; a happy puppet that doesn’t realize what he’s capable of. A few songs in, bassist Joey Decline says ships ahoy and joins the Navy. Right then and there! Now they share Todd Rat with the next band up. (Note: Todd, introduce yourself to all your band mates because neither band knows your fucking surname.) The boys make sure every song has its own identity, going from a slower hardcore number into the hippie loving "Marijuana Americana", a super speed punk tune with plenty of cymbal accents. The best is "Squawk Box" which sounds like Evan screaming "Attica" over and over while Godzilla is showing on the bar TV. "Fuck You Punks" has a nice breakdown, like if Nirvana had been punk. One song seemed like an ironic take on metal, until the joke went too far with the true-to-life drum solo. I was left with a strange English Dogs aftershock. - Ewan Wadharmi-Hybrid Magazine