Pop Music Reviews : The Best of The ‘70s Lives With Dramarama

“Drum solo!” announced Dramarama singer John Easdale during the middle of a tune titled “ ‘70s TV” Thursday at the Palladium. This is a proper post-punk band, so of course the instrumental break was tongue in cheek, and the sweat-soaked kids just kept doing the monster-mosh (proving the mocking dictum of the opening act, the Dead Milkmen, that “you’ll dance to anything”). “Just like the ‘70s!” Easdale added at solo’s end.

Funny thing is, Dramarama is just like the ‘70s--mostly in the best possible ways. Like the Replacements, these guys grew up on the sensitive pre-punk street-rock of Mott the Hoople; an upbeat version of Ian Hunter’s tender ballad “I Wish I Was Your Mother” was a tasteful complement to their own material, which is increasingly reflective and less anthemic.

But it was only the rants, and not the reveries, that worked in concert. Easdale, a fine songwriter and capable singer, lacked confidence in his distracted frontman role, commanding the hall only when screaming the signature tune “Anything, Anything.” Likewise, the rest of the quintet brought nothing to the uneventful live show that isn’t already there and in far better shape on the albums. Drum solo aside, of course.