I’m sure there are thousands of great party bands out there, but I thought it would be fun to build a case for why I think Murphy’s Law from NYC is one of the greatest of them all. Murphy’s Law is one of the original NYHC bands from the 1980’s and unlike most bands from that era, these guys weren’t trying to craft socially conscious lyrics about restrictive lifestyle choices and friendships gone awry, they were just trying to party. And that’s completely apparent in their music and lyrics. Maybe that’s why Murphy’s Law has continued to exist for over 25 years, they’re just trying to keep the party going. Here’s some photos I shot in Philly last week, along with some reasons why Murphy’s Law flat out rules.
FUN.
Number one, Murphy’s Law encourages you to have fun. “I don’t care what you say, I’m gonna have fun today.” Words to live by if you ask me.
HORNS.
Nothing makes music more festive than a good horn player. And if your horn player happens to be named Raven, even better.
SING ALONGS.
Murphy’s Law is all about the sing along, as any great party band should. Cavity Creeps is a great example. It’s based on an old Crest toothpaste commercial and the chorus is “We make holes in teeth” over and over. It’s so easy to get into, you gotta love it.
BARBEQUE.
If you’re running for greatest party band of all time, you better have a song about the mother of all parties, the all day BBQ.
BEER.
Every time I’ve seen these guys it’s been in a bar that sells beer, yet the band is handing out free beer to the crowd. Because this makes no business sense, this party atmosphere is immediately amplified. It also helps to have multiple songs about beer.
WEED.
Let’s face it, everybody loves weed. And people who love weed love songs about weed. This one is pretty much a no brainer.
THIS AIN’T NO NAZI PARTY.
So three guys decided to come to the show in full Nazi field uniforms. I showed up too late and missed the whole thing, but apparently they got their asses handed to them and their little Nazi hats stolen. It was a pretty big deal and even made the news. Seriously, Nazis? What year is this?
SMALL VENUES.
Bigger is not always better, especially when it comes to live music venues. There’s nothing better than seeing a band play live right in front of your face. The most memorable shows I’ve seen have always been in the smallest shittiest place. Murphy’s Law knows what it’s all about.
1980’s.
Did I mention Murphy’s Law began in the 80’s, the decade that invented the party?
SITTING AROUND AND DOING NOTHING.
Let’s face it, we can’t party all the time. Murphy’s Law even has a song about that. They have all the bases covered here. I rest my case.
