Album review: ‘That Was Then…This Is Wow!’

The
8 Balls Youngstown

‘That Was Then…This
Is Wow!’

Self-released

cdbaby.com/cd/8ballsyoungstown

I usually stick to
Rochester bands when reviewing records, but I liked this CD from The 8 Balls
Youngstown so much that I simply had to pull on your coat for a minute. The 8
Balls Youngstown formed in the beginning of the 1980’s as a loud-and-fast bar
band, like The Real Kids and The Heartbreakers.

Flash forward, the Ohio
band is older but still giving it a go, with music that’s in-your-face and
raunchy. It mirrors a time when punks had no punk to call their own – you know,
the dark ages. “That Was Then… This Is Wow!” ain’t nothin’
new for most of us, but it’s exciting for all. Now let’s get them to
come to town. 1-2-3-4!

This article appears in Nov 7-13, 2018.