Local Bands Bring Down the House at MOON’s Noise-Rock Show
The crowd holding up signs during the Gut Health performance.
A night filled with dancing, wall-shaking music, and a toilet paper gun, MOON Base One held an unforgettable run of shows on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. With bands Fat Randy, Tysk Tysk Task, S.C.O.B.Y., and Gut Health blessing the venue, the evening left me banging my head and dancing so hard I was sore the next morning - which, if you ask me, is proof of a lively and fun night. And I personally will take another slightly achy morning if it means getting to see more of these bands in the future.
The night began with Boston-based noise-rock band Fat Randy taking the stage. Before getting into their set, they advertised their band's pickle brand, Dr. Randall’s Pickle Collection, which they’ve been making and selling for four years now, and were selling at their merchandise counter at the show. While it had nothing to do with their set, I felt it was both too funny not to include in here and gave some background into the - and I mean this as the utmost compliment - chaotic energy that is Fat Randy. When they started their set, I felt instantly blown away by the high-powered vocals emitting from their lead singer, Stephen Friedland, as this man who was just standing there casually talking about his pickles moments prior had dropped his voice much deeper in an instant and produced such guttural vocals into the microphone. The power and control he had over his voice was truly amazing and I found myself just standing there for a moment, slack-jawed and in awe. The instrumentals pulled me out of my “impressively shocked” daze, with drum beats so hard you could feel it thumping under your feet and guitar so passionate and charged you could feel its rattle in your jaw. To say Fat Randy opened the show with a bang would be the ultimate understatement.
Following the first set, Lowell-based grunge/rock band Tysk Tysk Task took the stage, which they had adorned before their performance with fake flowers coating the stage. The second the lead singer, Samantha Hartsel, took the stage with her flowing, Stevie Nicks-esque robe and floral guitar, I knew I was in for a thrilling set. Immediately, upon the first strum of the guitar, delivering a dreamy, hazy wall of sound to the audience, it feels like you’re being put under a spell. When hearing the vocals atop this, it becomes an instantaneous mesmerizing sound that just pulls you deeper in. The vocal range truly blew me away, with her voice going from commanding and forceful to light and melodious in an instant. Hartsel’s ethereal and hypnotic vocals combined with the distorted guitar effects genuinely makes you feel like you’re floating through a dream in the best way possible - and a way very few bands have made me feel previously. Hartsel described her experience at MOON as, “We loved playing it, and also watching other bands perform here as well. The folks at MOON are really doing a beautiful thing here and we’re fortunate to have been a small part of it early on.”
S.C.O.B.Y. igniting the energy during their set.
With a complete 180 to pull you out of the dream-like state delivered by the previous set, Maine-based progressive-metal band S.C.O.B.Y. bounced onto the stage next with a vibrant energy. This energy remained throughout not only their set but into the next set as well (but we’ll get into that in the next paragraph). Their buzzy, intoxicating guitar captivates you in an instant, with a sound I can only describe as pure electric at its core. Matched with the bass and drums that flow so well together and create a richer layer to their sound, this is the kind of band that gets you sucked in and moving before you can even realize you’re dancing. Some tracks delivered were instrumental only, but when we were graced with vocals, they did not disappoint, with a deep, growling sound that accompanied the high-powered guitar and drums seamlessly. The band itself bounced off one another so well, it felt like a highlight of my night just being able to see how much fun they seemed to be having on stage, and that energy easily transferred into the crowd.
Closing out the night, Worcester-based rock/hardcore band Gut Health took the stage, putting on the most thrilling performance I have ever seen thus far. I knew I was in for some excitement when I saw their mascot, a rag-doll mannequin with pink spiky hair and decked out in tattoo-sleeves, propped up in the corner as they prepared for their set. The explosive drums and exhilarating guitar initially pulls you in and the instant those meet the charged vocals, it feels like you’re surrounded by a force field of sound. Trying to pin a genre on them feels impossible, because they deliver everything from alternative rock to sounds of punk and hardcore, matched with psychedelic pedals on the vocals that draw you in even more. What would sound like an overwhelming fusion to some was delivered so seamlessly and gave you a taste of different sounds without having to tie themselves down to any specific genre, creating a blend the audience couldn’t get enough of. During this set, the band threw streamers and even a toilet paper gun into the crowd as they bounced and rocked out to the set. At one point, signs were being held up with different phrases pertaining to the band, such as “Gut Health Forever,” and the mannequin managed to find its way dancing with S.C.O.B.Y. as they moshed along to the gripping set. With only two singles gracing their spotify as of writing this, I’m going to remain on the edge of my seat anticipating their next release and hope to have them bless MOON Base One again with their riveting sounds at future shows.
If you’re interested in experiencing passionate, enthralling shows like this one, check out MOON Base One at 24 New Derby St in Salem, Mass. You can find the upcoming shows on MOON’s website under the “shows” page.
Additional images from the night. From left to right: Tysk Tysk Task entrancing the crowd, Fat Randy delivering an electric performance, Gut Health swinging from the rafters during their performance, and Gut Health’s mannequin mascot.