Impending Doom

~One of Cape's newest bands, Doom in the A.M., specializing in old school punk and outspoken opinions.

Meet Doom in the A.M., the best band you've never heard of.

Moreover, this punk quintet is easily one of the best groups, punk or otherwise, around -- and they don't really care to get caught up in any kind of hoopla.

"We're only going to be a band because we want to be a band and do bandly things," says drummer Jon Thrower. "And we're not going to do anything just to make anybody happy, except us."

As a matter of fact, they don't even have a demo recorded yet, a cardinal sin among local bands trying to win over fans and radio airplay. However, lead screamer Amelie Bertram and the gang gather more and more admirers with every show, as well they should. Doom is just one of those bands better when seen live as opposed to when heard on a recording. They are very creative with their performances (you never know where Thrower will play the drums from) and Thrower is one of the best around.

But Bertram alone is worth the price of a cover charge.

While females in bands are rare enough in this area, Bertram is the "frontman" in a punk band -- a role not usually reserved for women. Every word she speaks sends chills up your spine, and you will never have a problem with boredom at a Doom gig -- it's just unexpected and impressive to hear such a big noise out of such a small human being.

And Doom, not unlike their more famous punk counterparts The Clash, The Ramones and, more recently, Green Day, also have a penchant for expressing their opinions, and that includes the Cape Girardeau music scene.

"I think there are some very talented musicians around here, and some very misguided youth," said bassist Chris Talley. "There are some bands around here I like seeing live, like Rock Solid. But the last thing Cape needs is another blues band. I was glad to see the Enchanted Forest all-ages venue open up, but it was sad to see The Camp close down. No matter what I think about Bob Camp, it was a great place to play."

Nor does Doom shy away from talking about other local bands -- even taking shots at hair metaliers Drivin' Rain. It's the kind of talk that can start a music scene feud.

"Drivin' Rain is a really, really boring band that plays 20-year-old music," says Thrower. "And they get so much respect, and they have done nothing but play shows for bikers and people stuck a century ago, and, to me, that's one of the most offensive things. I love it that there are all of these young bands that are trying different things, but I think that band is just stuck doing the same thing over and over and it's just boring as hell."

The group also had something to say about the much-maligned 2006 City of Roses music festival, in which they did not participate (although they did open for Rock Solid at the Pour House on the opening evening).

"When we got there, we heard 'Rockin' in the Free World', and 40 minutes later we heard a song by the Steve Miller Band," said Thrower. "It was like somebody had loaded juke boxes on to the stage and played them, instead of having a band playing something inspired and human and creative."

It's only natural that a punk band that features songs like "Wide As She Is Tall" (which Bertram says is a "satire about the G.O.P.") and "F*** Thor" ("Thor" is short for authority, and the song is "gender-political," according to Thrower) also have their own take on the November general elections.

"That cigarette tax is crap," said guitarist Jay Copsy. "Pure crap."

"And the minimum wage is designed to keep the poor poorer," said Curtis B. "It's been below the poverty line for so long it's a joke and a lie. They'll never pay what people deserve. And since we have a minimum wage, why don't we have a maximum wage?"

Bertram heartily agrees on the minimum wage saying, "People are constantly in debt, so they are trapped and the wage they make is not enough to cover bills."

When it comes to Amendment 2, a never-ending argument in Missouri and everywhere else, Doom is in agreement.

"If the stem cell amendment doesn't pass," said Thrower, "just based on the pure soft language of the law, then you will know how intelligent and religious people are."

Curtis B. silences everyone for a moment with his "The ignorant are easily spooked."

Doom are outspoken about politics, but fiercely independent.

"We're talking about the whole fine line of what is human life, and each party is corrupting it," said Talley. "There is a big gray streak there, and people need to look into the gray instead of the black and white all the time."

Politics aside, Doom says that they plan to have something recorded as soon as possible and when finances permit.

"We will record after people give us the money at shows," said Curtis B. "As for right now, we're poor! So poor, I couldn't even afford to buy heating oil this year."

And as for future aspirations, the band says they have none, aside from "recording and playing more shows until we die."

So, unless there is a death in the band in the near future, you can expect to hear more about (and more from) Doom in the A.M. Just as the band's MySpace page says, "Punk's not dead,

it's Doomed!"