Saw URSULA for the first-ish time last night at the Black Lodge in Allston, kicking off what would be a memorable night of rock ‘n roll (as most nights are around the Boston underground in the year 2014). I say first-ish ’cause the <real> first time was at Last Haus, but I only caught maybe the last 5 minutes of the set and being squished back couldn’t really see what was going on. Either way I recognized their “cub scout” demo, thought damn this is it!

Yesterday afternoon I was jamming along to the rest of their bandcamp Demos. I connect with this 2sum maybe because of their noisy, amateur aesthetic. Random but not really. I won’t claim I know their secrets. Whatever so there in the fusty Black Lodge netherregions, URSULA is about to play. Kurt Dorito pops on some Delta 5 who I mistake as The Slits or The Raincoats. Alright so I was close enough in time period and style. The key here is the DIY Spirit, not so much the sound although the conversational-yelling vocal varieties and sustained, head boppable beat is reminiscent of those groups. I recognize some of the tunes from the demo, which come in a couple choice flavors (among others) — the first is like a fuzzy power punk, more structured and the other is more experimental, with some guitar playing that I never knew existed. What I’m saying is the motion is like cutting the strings or using them as percussion. Some funky noises came to be, so sweet!

I always get a little more excited seeing something a little different in live performances. URSULA do it for me, much like a couple other bands on last night’s bill – Miami Doritos and Saralee – go about their business uncharacteristically. Atypical rock ‘n roll. Throw early Fat Creeps on there as well for a bit of a point of reference. Well anyway, go at it, you’ve already got the Demo open, just waiting for me to shut up. I gotchu.