Boston Band The Neighborhoods Return to the Ocean Mist

Boston rockers and local music legends, The Neighborhoods came to rock the Ocean Mist once again on Saturday night.

Not a traditional punk, classic rock or grunge band, The Neighborhoods brought their unique brand of garage-style sound back to the beach, after a hiatus spanning almost two decades. Promoting their new double CD, "The Last Rat," released in September, the boys from Boston kicked it up a notch as they played to the Rhode Island crowd, sending shout outs to Kevin Finnegan, his staff, stage and sound crew.

Mixed with loyal Hoods fans, newcomers and traditional Mist-goers, familiar faces in the throng included MikeYarworth and Stumpy Nation, members of the Rhode Island punk rock band Neutral Nation. In shows dating back to 1984, a ticket pairing the two bands guaranteed sell-out crowds at local venues such as the Living Room in Providence. Tom Piche, sound man at the Ocean Mist, remembers: "I've known David since 1979. I saw the Hoods in Boston and told Randy (Hein) that he had to see the band. We took a road trip, Randy, Brian (Hein), Carl (Sugarman) and me, to see them play in Boston. Randy really liked the band and wanted them to play Providence."

Playing a set that included four new songs, a few covers and a litany of Neighborhoods favorites, Dave Minehan lead the pack by holding forth on his guitar, haranguing tunes and owning the stage. In perfect sync with bassist Lee Harrington and set to the steady peal of John Lynch banging the skins, Minehan performed with style.

 Catching up with John (Johnnyrock) Lynch, newest member of the Neighborhoods, post show, Patch had the opportunity to talk about "The Last Rat" and the future of the band. "I met David in 2000, through his production company, Wooly Mammoth. I didn't know the Neighborhoods at the time and was given a copy of Reptile Man and other tracks by a friend. I immediately became a fan." Lee had been living in Philadelphia at the time, giving Lynch ample time to familiarize himself with all things Neighborhoods. Returning in 2002, the three men got together and played a few songs at a private party. Benefit shows had the boys uniting, including the benefit for Randy Hein at the Living Room in 2004.

In discussing the release of "The Last Rat," and his induction as the newest member of the band, John was cognizant of the imprints made by those who came before. Pointing out that there were tracks left dormant during transitionary periods, Lynch says, "The Last Rat" is a great compilation of the music we play now. It touches on every era of the band."

When asked what he thought of the band's return to the Ocean Mist , John had this to say, "I played in a band called, Avoid One Thing, with Joe Gittleman of the Mighty Mighty Bosstones for a few years. On the band's second album, Chopstick Bridge, Side One Dummy gives a shout out to the club. I finally got to play the Mist after all these years."