Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
The title of Darkbuster's most recent masterwork, A Weakness for Spirits, pretty much says it all. When it comes to drinking to drinking songs sung by drinking types, it doesn't get any better than Darkbuster, a punk band with a sense of both humor and style.
-Matt Ashare - The Boston Phoenix
... "But local punks Darkbuster were perfect Stiff Little Fingers gig mates and got roars of approval from their own fans at the show."
- The Boston Herald
..."Local openers Darkbuster have a reputation as lovable screw-ups, but they sounded perfectly tight and polished, adding a horn section and downplaying jokier tunes in favor of melodic punk and ska. You had to love "Happy Days," perhaps the first ska anthem about Richie Cunningham and Fonzie."
- The Boston Herald
"Darkbuster is the kind of punk band that titles an album "22 Songs That You'll Never Want to Hear Again." The kind of punk band that covers the Budweiser theme, Steve Miller and the King gives shout-outs to the cast of "Happy Days" (from Potsie to the Tuscaderos) and attacks the Lilith Fair (which, last we checked, is ancient history) with misogynist glee in ways that NOFX -- yes, NOFX -- would envy. "They've got Suzanne Vega and Sheryl Crow/But that's still not enough to make me wanna go/Even if those women were all in their underwear/I wouldn't want to go to see the Lilith Fair."
If you think punk should be more fun than Sheryl Crow (and, granted, that's not everyone), don't miss these drunk-punk vets from Boston when they hit the stage tonight at Gooski's for a night of spectacle and drink with Pittsburgh ska survivalists the B-3s."
- Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Discography
Darkbuster-Demo
Darkbuster-22 Songs You'll Never Want To Hear Again!
Darkbuster vs. Tommy and the Terrors-Split E.P.
Darkbuster-A Weakness For Spirits
Darkbuster-Drink and Fall Over (DVD)
Photos
Bio
The band was formed by singer/guitarist Lenny Lashley, drummer Eric Edmonston, and bassist Mike Gurley in 1996 and developed a following around Massachusetts' South Shore area. In 1997 the band recorded a nine-song demo tape, and in 2000 released their debut album, 22 Songs You'll Never Want To Hear Again! The album instantly cemented their reputation in the Boston punk scene, filled with songs about beer, being a loser, and even a few juvenile-but-hilarious potshots at other local bands (and even the group's own members).
That same year the band added a second guitarist, Paul Delanno. In addition, Danny O'Halloran replaced Edmonston as the group's drummer a few months later, and it was this lineup of Lashley, Gurley, Delanno, and O'Halloran which won the WBCN Rock & Roll Rumble that year.
In 2001 the band recorded five songs for a split EP with Tommy and the Terrors. The new songs received mixed reviews from the group's fans, some of whom felt that the new songs were "too serious." The Band briefly broke up shortly after.
In 2003 all of the ex-members of the group (including Edmonston) reunited for a few shows, and began recording a new album in 2004, though Delanno left the band shortly before recording commenced. The new album, A Weakness For Spirits, strikes a balance between the more mature subject matter of the split EP and the cheap laughs of the first album, while displaying Lashley's knack for writing concise, catchy punk rock songs to fine effect. Indeed, Darkbuster embodies the concept that "brevity is the soul of wit" since many of the band's funniest songs clock in at under a minute in length.
In May 2005, Lashley injured his left hand in a construction accident at Boston University, leaving him unable to play guitar for several months. The band temporarily brought Amy Griffin (Raging Teens/Avoid One Thing) onboard as a second guitarist. A DVD containing concert footage of Darkbuster and Lenny and the Piss Poor Boys was released shortly after the accident, with proceeds set aside to help Lashley with his medical bills. A 2005 benefit concert featuring both of Lashley's bands performing with guest singers also raised money to help cover his medical bills.
In December 2005 it was announced that Edmonston would again be leaving the band at the end of the year, with Griffin becoming a full member and Lashley returning to guitar duties.
In May 2006 the band signed with I Scream Records.
The band is currently working on its follow up to "A Weakness for Spirits"
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