Many scenes come to mind when you think of innovative punk music. The explosive hardcore movement that birthed many legendary Southern California bands and the equally rowdy D.C. movement are the two that come to mind, but another Northern city was cultivating its own tight-knit group of ferocious punk. In the late ’70s and early ’80s, Boston was home to a network of college radio stations, local venues, and independent labels that helped cultivate some of the era’s more exciting and underrated punk bands. Of all these bands, Mission of Burma created one of the most enduring legacies the genre has ever seen.Â
Guitarist Roger Miller, bassist Clint Conley, drummer Peter Prescott, and mysterious tape manipulator Martin Swope deconstructed punk tropes to build their abstract vision of the genre. Initially formed in 1979, the band enjoyed massive local success that, unfortunately, never translated to cities outside of Boston. While life on the road was unfilling, Mission of Burma was heroes back home. They became famous for their abstract live performances that implemented Swope’s tape manipulation and adhered to no setlist, allowing the band’s freewheeling chaos to come to life.
For this Golden Age Thursday, we have a taste of Burma’s iconic live show. The nearly hour-long performance is from the 2008 reissue of the band’s legendary studio album, Vs., and showcases the undeniable connection Mission of Burma created with the Boston punk scene. You can watch the full performance below.Â
