In 2022, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones broke up. The band never confirmed it, but it sure seemed like the breakup was a response to frontman Dicky Barrett being loudly anti-vaccine. Just before the breakup, Barrett recorded a song for a Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. anti-vaxxer rally. He also parted ways with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, after 18 years as the show’s announcer. Barrett started a new band called the Defiant with former members of groups like the Offspring. Apparently, he’s still welcome in Boston hardcore circles, since he joined Haywire at Boston’s FTC Fest on Sunday night.
Boston’s own Haywire have had a tremendous year. They’ve been touring like crazy people, and their shows have become spectacles. Haywire live videos — the Title Fight cover in Wilkes-Barre, the table powerbomb at Furnace Fest, the Brooklyn block party — are the stuff of instant legend. This past weekend, tons of hardcore bands came to Boston for the city’s version of the annual benefit fest FTC. Local heroes Bane and Fiddlehead headlined the first night, with Haywire closing out the second. Haywire opened their set by covering the Bosstones’ 1997 radio smash “The Impression That I Get,” and a fully suited-up Dicky Barrett joined them. Also, Barrett posted a pic of himself posing with Haywire leader Austin Sparkman.
I have complicated feelings about this! But also, my feelings don’t matter! Haywire are going to do what Haywire are going to do! Watch it yourself below.
