Mark Boulanger (Massa Nera – drums/vocals)
SPB: What was your first live show?
Boulanger: Our first show was on 05/09/16 at The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ. We played with Wastelands, Without, Yashira, and an insane NJ powerviolence band called Uncle Mark.
If you aren't familiar, The Meatlocker is an absolutely legendary punk venue. It's grimy as hell and exudes raw character. The cause AND cure for innumerable diseases can be found in that place. It's definitely a great spot for an inaugural show.
As I recall, the gig was very well attended. Thank goodness people were stoked for the other bands! Fortunately, a good amount of people arrived for our set (most likely because Meatlocker gigs typically didn't begin until at least 10pm). We played well, despite a lot of nervousness. At the time, we were a six-piece with three guitarists, so we were definitely loud enough to appease the hardcore lifers. That being said, I remember some kid being disappointed that our music didn't include breakdowns, so maybe the other people in attendance were just being polite.
I was blown away by Yashira. Their old drummer, Seth (RIP), was an excellent musician. He had a technical-yet-loose style that had a lot of personality. He was also a lovely person! That being said, the band I remember most from that night was Uncle Mark. In the middle of their set, their vocalist pulled out a bust of the Virgin Mary (seemingly from thin air) and proceeded to pummel it like a semi-professional wrestler who's gone off script. He then threw it onto the utterly filthy floor, whereupon the vocalist of my other band (Our Wits) used it to bodysurf across the room. My ex-partner, who was definitely not into punk rock, tried their best to be supportive, but I could detect equal amounts of bafflement and alarm on their face.
More than anything, I felt like I was finally becoming part of a broader music community, one that I'd heard about and read about but had only fleetingly experienced. It felt like the true beginning of a journey that I'm still on to this day!
Find Massa Nera on bandcamp.
