Hero Pattern play final farewell show/benefit at Maxwell's

Last night I went to a typical Hero Pattern show. Typical because it was at Maxwell’s, my oldest friends were there, and because as usual the band sounded even more amazing than they had at the last show. Even though last night’s events had all of the same elements of a good time that any Hero Pattern show has, I will not remember it as just another night of hanging out with my best friends and listening to good music. The reasons being that I haven’t seen this band play in over a year and also because it’s (supposedly) the last time I ever will see them play.

After playing together for almost a decade, they’ve decided to disband. They did so in an honorable and classy way by not only playing one last show in the intimate and familiar venue that is Maxwell’s but also by using the ticket money to benefit friend and fellow musician, Dan Duggins of Hot Rod Curcuit, who recently had a stroke and is dealing with recovery and medical bills without health insurance. It warms the heart to think of it, but really that’s just the kind of guys that they are.

They played all of the hits like “Monster”, “Don’t Say Anything”, and “Cut You Out” as well as newer favorites like “A Face for Everyone” and what had become a highlight for me in the later Hero Pattern years, “Shout and Twist”. Jay’s voice was strong, Pete’s guitar solos were superb, Mike’s drumming was powerful, and Rob’s bass playing was excellent, even without the hair flips. At one point, Jay jokingly announced that after all these years they were finally going to add acoustic songs to their set. He then strapped on an acoustic guitar and played two songs, which really displayed his natural abilities as well as the confidence as a musician that he’s developed over the years.

The in-between-song-banter came mostly from Rob who (and this is no secret to friends of the band) is prolific when it comes to the spoken word. Rob’s lengthy and hilarious stories are widely known, and requests were made for him to tell one. It’s not a typical sold-out show where the band is playing to roomful of people that they have an inside joke with.

The crowd were in great spirits as they danced and sang along to beloved songs, like “What Do You Have to Say?” and “Don’t Even Miss Me”. Among them was Jay’s lovely wife, Melissa, who proudly and excitedly waved from the bleachers when Jay introduced and thanked her. Jay, Rob, Mike, and Pete were beaming with genuine gratitude for the fans and the opportunity to play rock n roll for them one last time. They thanked all of the important players in Hero Pattern history, but didn’t overdo it with sappy speeches. There was no need since it was obvious that they were pumped to be there, and that their friends and family in the audience were just as thrilled.

It was about seven years ago that I saw my first Hero Pattern show. I was hanging out with some high school friends who I’d recently been reunited with, and they had gone to college with the bassist. I was pretty sure that I’d seen the singer a few times at Rutgers and assumed that the drummer, his younger brother by four years, was his twin. Jay and Mike Kundrath had similar haircuts and looked amazingly alike at the time. I was surprised not only that a friend of a friend’s band was good, but that they weren’t at all cocky, just really nice guys. All these years later, I’m happy to report that those high school friends are now like sisters to me, and one of those friends is that lovely wife of Hero Pattern’s frontman.  So in some capacity, I’ll know these four true gentlemen for a long time, and while, sadly, this show was my final chance to know them as Hero Pattern, it will be awhile before I come down from last night’s high.