Darkbuster

Darkbuster came together in Boston during 1996, built around vocalist and guitarist Lenny Lashley, bassist Mike Gurley, and drummer Eric Edmonston. The hard-drinking punk trio, propelled by inexpensive beer and rowdy camaraderie, tracked and independently issued a nine-song demo in 1997 that paved the way for the 1999 full-length 22 Songs That You'll Never Want to Hear Again! Boasting ample velocity, wit, absurdity, and hooks, the record spread through word of mouth across the band’s hometown area of Brockton and featured irreverent standouts such as “I Hate the Unseen” and “Amazing Royal Shaft,” the latter containing the memorable couplet “It's not as funny as it sounds/My girl fucked the singer of the Royal Crowns.” By 2000 the lineup had expanded to include second guitarist Paul Delano and drummer Danny O’Halloran, and strong hometown backing propelled the group to victory in WBCN’s yearly Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble. After issuing a split with Tommy & the Terrors in 2001, Darkbuster headed out on tour that summer. Although the month-long run produced solid shows, mechanical troubles with the van and cramped conditions ultimately led to the band’s dissolution once the dates concluded. Former members subsequently appeared in a range of other local projects, among them Lenny & the Piss Poor Boys, Avoid One Thing, Linus, the USM, and the Marvels. Persistent demand in Boston nevertheless prompted a reunion for select performances in 2003. The DVD Drink and Fall Over surfaced the same year, and the lineup of Lashley, Gurley, Edmonston, and O’Halloran eventually completed the follow-up A Weakness for Spirits in 2005. Upon finishing the album Edmonston departed, allowing O’Halloran to assume the drum chair full-time and creating space for guitarist and organist Amy Griffin, previously of the Raging Teens and Avoid One Thing. I Scream Records then reissued Spirits in August 2006.