The Keepers “Where Strides the Behemoth”

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Back down from his woodsy home in Oregon, Fred Fight (Dirt Clod Fight) descended to hand in his  Master’s Thesis on the Long Beach punk scene with The Keepers. Consisting of the unstoppable Ed Kampwirth (Suburban Rhythm, Dios Malos) on bass, the incomparable Patrick Butterworth (Shoegazer, I’m Gonna Stab You, Alleged Gunmen, Dios Malos) on drums and of course Fred Fight, the noblest shredder and metal screamer. From the opening notes of “45” it was right back to the past, like the notes had never left and time had never passed. Ending the set with “Last One Out,” a paean to everything screamed with righteous, gorgeous fury and fading out to the final measures of “She’s So Heavy,” The Keepers let loose with their immeasurable mastery of Rock Which Is Good and Shall Save You like it never left their hands. Let me tell you something about each one of these musicians: no one can beat them. It’s not a competition and they’re not out for the Hall of Fame, but the command each has over his music is just this: unmatched, unparalleled and enviously effortless. And even if you don’t know them, you should at least hear them. Then you can beg them to put out their unreleased one-take (no, seriously) album with Mike McHugh. You heard it here.

— Chesney Higgins