Bands: Snow Wite, Secret Lover, Fat Creeps, Miami Doritos
Venue: A Basement In Boston
Date: Friday, July 26, 2013

I think arriving to shows early is a very great thing. I’ve always felt this way. Going to a stranger’s basement to see a rock ‘n roll show early is even better. In that time between when the first band comes on, you can get to indulge yourself in talking to other attendees and the bands, and drink your own beers. This particular show didn’t kick off ’til much later than planned, but when domes came down the stairs, they came in bunches.

I was really excited to hear Miami Doritos, being a fan of previous performances of ThighMasters and Nice Guys…other bands of Kurt and Alex, respectively. Kurt belted out these tunes and Alex crushed drums. I remember being immediately impressed by the jams. It was like seeing the full Ty Segall Band drive forth with brief tantalizing punk tunes. These songs were really catchy – at least to ears that can readily identify hooks underneath loud loud noise. Like other fascinating duos, Miami Doritos made the most out of just a little. For local garage punk, I’d stick these dudes right up there in the ranks. I got a tape of theirs that is bound to be reviewed on this very site soon.

The KLYAM obsessed/debut KLYAM Records signees Fat Creeps played second. I haven’t reviewed them in a while as that has been the forte of Chris, rock ‘n roll’s youngest dirty old man. According To Jim. The 24th time (seeing them live) is the charm. Not to say the other 23 weren’t the charm, oh you bet they were. My eyes had not previously witnessed the Creeps in a true basement setting, Starlab not included. Seeing them at a rate now three times that of the Black Lips – an incredible feat given our steadfast devotion to those dudes – I sort of know what to expect of a Fat Creeps performance. Yet not really. There’s Gracie switching between her three guitars, by all means something we take for granted given the outrageously amazing sonics which I call tasty swells that are procured throughout the set. So you know, tonight brought all the classics of old (like on the EP), several new-ish jams that deserve their own acclaim, and a cover – ‘Sex Beat’ by The Gun Club, which brought back old memories of last summer when I heard the Creeps play it for the first time. I really dug seeing the Creeps in this setting, the unmanned PA system doing its job just as nice as any old sound guy.

Secret Lover gathers their instruments. This Worcester band is one that I’ve seen before. And I’ve listened to them after the fact as well. I can’t help but chuckle to myself as I’m standing inches away from the singer who is making rounds in and around the invisible stage. I say they’re like the Barbaras or Ariel Pink instrumentally with a spooky, Disney Rock n Roller Coaster vocalist. I’m blown away compared to the first time I saw them. I’ll take more time out of my daily regiment to recall this truly bizarre group. Even bizarre doesn’t seem like the right word, it’s just that in this day and age, rock ‘n roll combinations of Secret Lover esque proportions are rare. Maybe the closest modern comparison could be Screaming Females, if only in the singing department.

Last up is the headliner from LA. This is Snow Wite. The logistics of this band, the members more specifically, include three members of Secret Lover as backing musicians to vocalist and guitarist, Andy. Snow Wite’s an interesting character for sure. There’s a legion of what I presume are genuine fans from a distant past (one year, tops) standing at the front, gushing over Andy for the duration of the set. These folks are having what appears to be the time of their lives. On the other side of me is Chris, who is not impressed one bit by Snow Wite. My stance on this issue is sorta like how I was standing: middling. I saw all the music videos before this show and I had some suspicions. It seems too intense to be purely pretentious or jokestery so I didn’t make any superficial judgments (as I try not to). The music itself, for the most part, is a blend of late ’90s mainstream pop rock and classic guitar rock psychedelia. Don’t count me in as a meaningful fan of either of those, but I did appreciate some of Snow Wite, particularly his flashy guitar work.