Classic Western Mass. Power Trio Buffalo Tom make a rare stop at the Iron Horse tonight! (Friday)

I went to UMass in the '80's. How was one to focus on an English major when the Stranglers played Rahar's (now Osaka), Dead Kennedys, The Buzzcocks, 999, Bow Wow Wow played The Rusty Nail in Sunderland' the Violent Femmes at Hangar One in Hadley...The Ramones played The Hatch. Black Flag played the Student Union Ballroom. Dinosaur formed in Amherst, then added the Jr. after the whole hippie lawsuit. Husker Du played Ralphs in Worcester while they were still on SST, then UMass for their Warner Bros debut. Sheehans in Northampton was pulsating with the Pajama Slave Dancers, The Malarians, even the Flaming Lips got one song off before the fire department shut them down. And through the middle of it all shot Buffalo Tom, as good or better than any of them. As power trios go, they were among the best, and anyone from that era in W. Mass. (or in the wake of their national success) will back me on this. It's a joyous occasion that they are playing the Iron Horse this Friday. Put the little orange plugs in or let it bleed, but be there for Bill, Chris, and Tom's gentle juggernaut. (Watch the Teeth, Kate.)