In the interest of openness and honesty, I have to note that Jaya the Cat is technically a band that exists in Amsterdam, and hasn’t played Boston much in recent memory. That being said, they are a “Boston band” through and through. They got their start here and their tracks are littered with loving references to Boston landmarks like Columbus Avenue, Central Square, and the Combat Zone. Given this connection and the fact that they’re dropping a new album this Friday, it seems fitting to honor one of their most notably “Boston” tracks.
“Government Center” is a gritty, grimy reggae-punk number that catalogs a late evening in the life of a Beantown ne’er-do-well. Jaya the Cat has a talent for celebrating the seedy, yet utterly charming underbelly of any town they’re in, and “Government Center” gives Boston the full treatment. Set in the bitter darkness of a winter’s night, it’s the type of song that blends realism and romanticism, making you wish you were there while grateful that you’re not.
Enjoy, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for their new record, A Good Day for the Damned on Nov. 17!
Boston Punk Rumblings 