Karen Ponzio Photos
Zombii.
This past Saturday was the first of many things: the month of May, new state-level bar and dining guidelines, and a return to live music for two local bands at The Cellar on Treadwell. Local trio Zombii shared a bill with the Manchester-based Johnny Mainstream for a punk-punctuated night on the patio at the Hamden venue.
No one was more thrilled than co-owner Erik Vikmanis, who spoke about the changes already made at the Cellar and the venue’s plans for the future, noting that this date was the one when it could start allowing patrons to drink outside without ordering food. He also noted that while the Cellar would be continuing with its current schedule of live music Thursday and Saturday — and Mixtape Match with Digital Tracks Entertainment on Fridays through May — the ultimate goal was to increase the number of nights the Cellar is open and offering live music.
“Restrictions lift again on May 19 so we are aiming to be open Tuesday through Saturday beginning in June,” said Vikmanis, who also noted that the Cellar is already booking bands into August and will continue to “reevaluate” what works and what does not for everyone involved. “We are going to go by what’s comfortable for the bands and for us,” he added. “We want to keep moving forward safely. We’re so glad to have live music back.”
My hummus platter. I miss it already.
As Vikmanis continued to set up sound and lights for the show — as well as patio heaters for the patrons on this slightly chilly evening — platters of The Cellar’s signature burgers and massive chicken sandwiches made their way to the surrounding tables, along with a variety of beers and mixed drinks. This reporter simply had to partake and ordered a Dignified Metalhead, the bar’s version of a Manhattan, as well as a hummus platter that arrived so fresh and bountiful that I was almost full after merely witnessing it.
Johnny Mainstream warmed up the stage immediately as the foursome shared a super-fun and fresh set of songs that leaned easily into folk and punk — often within the same tune — serving the crowd a sweet yet supercharged sound that made you want to hear them play outside every weekend for as long as the weather allows.
Johnny Mainstream.
Vocalist and guitarist Matthew Maynes said it was the band’s first time playing the spot as The Cellar. The last time it had played at the place, it was for a Save the Space show; he noted the Space did not serve alcohol as the band went into a drinking song called “Number Nine.” The song ended with the lyrics “take one down and pass it around, 99 bottles next to me on the ground,” that had the crowd singing along and one member of the audience yelling “nice!” during the rousing applause.
The band — Maynes, Daniel Garaffa on bass and vocals, Michael James Anderson on guitar and vocals, and Brendan Donnelly on cajon — played both old and new songs. These included “Georgia,” from the band’s first album, “before we sold out for the big bucks in punk rock,” and “Radio Violence,” from a seven-inch vinyl split the band put out last summer (Here’s Where My Friends Come In: Part II) with songs from Zombii, Johnny Cab and the band’s own Michael James Anderson.
Maynes thanked The Cellar for having the band play, this being its “first real show since February 29 of 2020.” The band then added another drinking song, “Whiskey for Dinner,” with the lyrics “whiskey for dinner, before dessert, you think you got it bad but I know I got it worse.” The sound of the applause answered yes, we all understand.
Next to the stage was Zombii, a trio consisting of Jeremy Zombii on guitar and vocals, Zachary Yost on bass and vocals, and Ray Hilton on drums. “Welcome to the punk show,” announced Yost, adding “we’re gonna knock some hits out and then play our new record. That’s the plan.”
The first song, about a dog the band met in West Virginia called Bosch, set the tone for the set. It showcased the hard, fast, and fun guitar solo-studded punk songs the band is known for. “We drank up all the whiskey, we drank up all the scotch, now we’re hanging out with Bosch,” Zombii sang. The band brought the stage banter, and quite a few laughs, between songs as well. Yost asked the audience, “how many people have seen live music?” then asked, “for how many people is this is their first show?” responding to those who raised their hands, “I’m sorry.”
The band members also got sentimental as they asked the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” along with them to their friend Paulie Boy before launching into selections from their forthcoming album Fail Harder, named that “because we haven’t failed hard enough yet,” said Zombii. Songs like “Give It All Up” — which they dedicated to “all the bands out there and the people who support them” — and “Captain of the Ship” — which they only put together two weeks ago to add to the album — sizzled and set the now-darkened sky alight as the stage’s flashing red, blue and green lights seemed to change in time with the band’s onslaught of sound.
When they finished playing those new songs, the band members added covers like “The Anthem” by Good Charlotte and a rousing version of “99 Red Balloons” by Nena, with Yost taking on a verse in German. After it was all over, the audience offered gratitude with much applause, and even though this show had ended, it felt like we were all just warming up for more.