Back to the Future

Being new to the nightlife scene, I often find myself depending on friends' suggestions for a night out. Unfortunately, sometimes their taste is ... questionable. So, as I continue to be dragged from one dive to another, I'm getting a little tired of the same old haunts. As we made our way to the Purple Shamrock in Faneuil Hall Friday, I was already prepared for disappointment.

The crowd was a mix of young and old (sometimes in unexpected ways). We snagged a table and grooved to R. Kelly's "Ignition (Remix)" as more patrons began to pile in. The people-watching was pretty stellar, but still, I began to wish I was home watching Animal Planet with a glass of wine instead. The night seemed to pick up -- as I yawned into my gin and tonic -- when a band began setting up. My equally unimpressed compadre mused, "I really hope this is some sort of sweet cover band."

Boy, were we in luck.

The banner hanging behind the drumkit read "Spike the Punch!" and when they broke into Filter's "Take A Picture" we could hardly contain ourselves. I frantically tore through my wallet for receipts on which I could scribble down some notes. By the light of my cell phone I tracked their set-list, which took listeners on a journey through the 90s and into the 80s. They tackled the Goo Goo Dolls, Bon Jovi, and Cheap Trick; but once they reached Toto's "Africa" the excitement moved my previously unaffected cohort to scream "Oh my God, it's Toto!" like it was Beatlemania.

What began as funny in that sort of ironic way, soon had us singing along. As they began Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" we shouted, "It's as if they're in our heads!"

We weren't the only ones digging the tunes. A surprisingly large group of folks decked out in flannel danced awkwardly in front of the band. Had we actually traveled back in time? What exactly were in these drinks?

When the band packed up, so did we -- and we returned to 2006, whether we liked it or not.

Hear some of this madness for yourself courtesy the lead singer's website. It's a pretty "rad" medley of tunes.

Rock on.