Word: burma
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Dates: during 1980-1989
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...Somerville High--the best education in Somerville," teases drummer Peter Prescott, who, like his mates, displays an indulging patience for Psycho's over-enthusiastic rebelliousness. She traipses around the dingy with magic marker: "THE DAMNED," "FLIPPER," "MISSION OF BURMA"--all he favorite hands. "She's the leader of the troops; I wouldn't know what to do without her," says bassist Clint Conley, tongue firmly embedded in cheek. Psycho smiles and slashes at the wall with her Permo-marker. Back out on the dance floor a thin-lipped woman is distributing pamphlets on a Dada-ist art exhibit...
Psycho is the link between Burma's two identities, and that may be part of the reason the band members let her hand around so much. The Saturday before the Jasper's show, Burma was at the Paradise--a far more prominent club on Commonwealth Ave.--and, of course, Somerville High's littlest punk was there, too. The show was a special all-aged performance; no alcohol was served. The ages that showed up were mostly pre-18, like wrecking machines...
...Burma men clearly enjoy playing to a friskier audience--even if these fans have to clear out of the club by 5 p.m. There's lot more sneering and growling on stage than at Jasper's--still posing, but with slightly more abandon. "Fame and fortune is a stupid game, I play," Miller bellows at the crowd...
...Miller wrong; he doesn't pass harsh judgments on audiences. Contrary to reports in the rock and roll journals (including a favorable write-up in Rolling Stone). Burma isn't really on the cutting edge of anything. The music is aimed at WBCN's top-40 list--new electronic twists on old motifs; pretty raunchy live, but so is every other competent bar band...
...Burma isn't seeking the true spirit of rock and roll along the lines of the 1976 British punk revolution. The sound is contemporary, but it isn't really different. Martin Swope is no Brian Eno, nor does he pretend to be. His goal at the moment is scraping together enough dough for a new sound system. Redefining the art isn't even on the agenda. Above all else, Burma is flexible, the way New Wave is flexible...