The Bollard Bulletin for March 3, 2025
Local Music Monday: A strong shot of Midwestern Medicine
LOCAL MUSIC MONDAY
The Portland punk trio Midwestern Medicine has released a new EP, Ripped Headline, jam-packed with punchy riffs and singer/guitarist Brock Ginther’s tricky lyrical knots. It’s like T.C. Boyle fronting the early Clash, with a distinct affinity for Adderall-addled trucker country. Which is to say, you’ll love it!
The title track charges out of the gate on a fuzzy and menacing bass line by McCrae Hathaway, and they’re off, spurred by Brian Saxton’s manic drumming and Ginther’s scratchy-flat guitar tone. But the high-school-basement-band chords are paired with Ivy League–dropout wordplay, leaving you something to chew besides ice while your mouth bleeds from the mosh pit.
“They’ve got a draft of my unauthorized biography,” Ginther sings on “Next Door Hell.” “It’s big enough that I’ll get crushed if it gets dropped on me / So put the audience inside and let the fire do its swallowing!”
“Credit Line” recalls the way The Minutemen gleefully turned blue-collar country into working-class blasphemy — “Wonderin’ why you lie to God sometimes,” Ginther drawls on the chorus — and is a good reminder that D. Boon also wrote lyrics worthy of an Indie National Book Award. The tightness of the playing here, which nevertheless sounds loose and energetic, is likewise similar to that Pedro band’s chops.
Midwestern Medicine plays SPACE this Thursday, March 6, with the stellar Maine dream-pop band Crystal Canyon, U.K. slacker-rockers Teenage Tom Petties, and locals Ladybrain opening at 7:30 p.m. Tix: $12-$15 (all ages). space538.org.
Music
Slim pickin’s for live music tonight, but Draudiga, the psych-folk incarnation of former Cadaverette vocalist Rebecca Theresa Burgess, is the featured artist at Hi-Fidelity’s weekly open mic (200 Anderson St., Portland), which starts at 7 p.m. and is free for fans of all ages (parent or guardian accompaniment may be required). More info at hifidelitybeer.com.
And check out songs by artists playing Portland this week on the Sounds of the City playlist compiled by Peter Jacobs with Portland Noise’s music listings.
Happenings
Maine Jewish Film Festival screening of Torah Tropical, a drama about a Columbian family trying to emigrate to Israel, followed by a Q&A with the producer, at The Hill Arts (76 Congress St., Portland) at 7 p.m. Tix: $15-$20. 347-7177. thehillarts.me.
Ada Calhoun discusses her debut novel, Crush, with Caitlin Shetterly at SPACE (538 Congress St., Portland) at 7 p.m. Tix: $5. 828-5600. space538.org.