Mighty heavy heroes

Meet the Goonies, a ska-meets-hardcore unit about to save the world

by Joe Gagne

The eight-member hardcore act the Goonies may take their name from the 1985 Steven Spielberg movie with the same name, but lead singer/trumpeter Kevin Driscoll says the selection goes beyond a mere fondness for the film. "We chose the name because it represents youth empowerment -- kids overcoming a huge obstacle. The Goonies save the day by succeeding where the adults had failed."

The Goonies do triumph, at least against boring, generic hardcore music. When you first hear them, you're tempted to dismiss them as another standard, if talented, hardcore outfit. But when their four-piece horn section kicks in, this young band (ages range from 16 to 19) bring another layer and endless energy to their music. It's what Minor Threat might have sounded like had they a brass section, or perhaps a straightedge Rocket from the Crypt.

The Goonies, who appear this Friday at the Space, formed about a year ago, though from early 1997 to mid-1998 several members were in Argyle Socks, who played a straightforward brand of ska/punk. As they graduated high school, their tastes evolved; and they wanted the band to reflect those changes by playing faster, more aggressive music. But at the same time they wanted to keep the horn section; and after the addition of three new members, the Goonies were born. Their music is clearly influenced by classic hardcore acts like Gorilla Biscuits and the Trouble, but the Goonies also point out that they all share a love of '80s music, from the Buggles to the Bangles, and that's obvious in their songs. It's a sense of fun that shines through, even in songs that center on serious topics.

In March, the band teamed up with their friends/mentors, Boston's hardcore funksters Kicked in the Head, to contribute three songs to a self-released split EP All in the Family.

The release includes an ode to the power of friendship ("Friends"), a rant against phony punks ("Nemesis"), and, of course, an anti-police song ("Probable Cause"). Other Goonies songs cover youth-centric topics such as drug abuse, frustration, and teenage apathy.

"The subjects of our songs are pretty broad," Driscoll says, "but they all share the common theme of youthful enthusiasm and are definitely born from our own lives."

However, it is their live show that has won the Goonies their acclaim, and rightly so. Their performances are sweaty, chaotic affairs that often feature Driscoll leaping into the audience and passing around the microphone.

"Sometimes before a show, A.J. [Adams, the band's drummer] will pull me aside and say, `We have to flip out tonight.' That really just about sums it up," Driscoll says.

The Goonies have an array of covers at their disposal, from the Misfits' "I Turned into a Martian" to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger."

"We want to try and break the stereotype of straightedge nazis and self-righteous moralists," Driscoll adds. "We think of straightedge as an active rejection of the societal norm. We're sick of kids hurting themselves and those around them with irresponsible drinking and drugging. It just seems like a terrible waste of time and energy."

The Goonies are young and talented, and, like '80s icon Cyndi Lauper once sang, they just wanna have fun. Just as the movie Goonies saved their town, these Goonies could save Worcester from the forces of boring music everywhere.

The Goonies appear at the Space on May 28 to round out a bill featuring 30 Seconds Over Tokyo, Statue Factor, and the Terribles. Tickets are $6. Call 753-0017.