Bands: Ty Segall, Chris Cohen, David Novick, ARP Date: Friday, August 30, 2013 Venue: Bowery Ballroom (NYC)
Ty Segall – We the KLYAM make an annual (or sometimes biannual) trip from Boston to New York City to see our favorite bands, and this time we’re coming for Ty Segall (again). Before the show starts Glen and I meet up with our favorite guy in Queens: Coolie Rich. After hitting up some local bars and pizza joints, we depart for the Bowery Ballroom to see the monstrous Ty Segall whip through his latest feat, Sleeper in its entirety.
Ty Segall is a household name around here, so it’s always a blast to see him live. Initially, I was perplexed by the concept of an acoustic Ty Segall set, having experienced two rowdy, highly energized electric sets from Ty in the past. But, when the band (which includes Ty Segall Band drummer Charlie Moonheart) hits the stage, it’s just as electrifying as ever. I know it sounds cheesy and nuts, and it sort of is, but Ty and the whole band make it work.
Although this whole set is acoustic, there is the inclusion of drums as I noted before and this certainly makes the difference. It’s not a wimpy acoustic ballady bullshit kinda deal. This is still very much rock ‘n’ roll. If John Belushi came across Ty, he wouldn’t smash his guitar to smithereens, he’d shotgun a beer and stage dive into the crowd of twenty somethings and incoming freshmen college students alike.
Indeed as Ty concludes the Sleeper set things get a bit more fiery as he prowls through with a cover of David Bowie Classic, “Moonage Daydream,” and a select bunch of his own heavy classics. Songs like “Caesar” and “Girlfriend” get the crowd all riled up and a fine mosh pit ignites within seconds.
With the help of some gentlemen I plant my two feet up on the Bowery Ballroom stage, only to plummet right back into the beer soaked audience, thankfully able to catch my fall. I lose a shoe, babes help me find the shoe. We make out. I find Glen he’s making out with babes. All at Ty Segall! It sounds like a Ronnie Nordac number… Needless to say, it’s a great journey as always. Ty Segall for life.
Yo Yo, one of our top cats, err bunnies, Nobunny! is racing around the country this November,so be sure to catch him when he hits your town.
Tour Dates:
Wednesday October 30, 2013 San Francisco, CA @ The Elbo Room
Thurdsay October 31, 2013 Oakland, CA @ The Stork Club
Friday, November 01, 2013 Los Angeles, CA @ The Echoplex
Saturday, November 02, 2013 Tucson, AZ @ Night of the Living Fest
Sunday, November 03, 2013 El Paso, TX @ The Lowbrow Palace
Monday, November 04, 2013 Austin, TX @ Red 7
Tuesday, November 05, 2013 Dallas, TX @ Bryan Street Tavern
Wednesday, November 06, 2013 Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory
Thursday, November 07, 2013 Memphis, TN @Hi-Tone Cafe
Friday, November 08, 2013 Bloomington, IN @ The Bishop
Saturday, November 09, 2013 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean
Sunday, November 10, 2013 Milwaukee, WI @ Miramar Theatre
Monday, November 11, 2013 Madison, WI @ The Frequency
Tuesday, November 12, 2013 Iowa City, IA @ The Mill
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 St. Paul, MN @ Turf Club
Thursday, November 14, 2013 Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
Friday, November 15, 2013 Winnipeg, MB @ The Pyramid Cabaret
Saturday, November 16, 2013 Saskatoon, SK @ Amigos
Sunday, November 17, 2013 Calgary, AB @ The Palomino
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Vancouver, BC @ Electric Owl
Wednesday, November 20, 2013 Seattle, WA @ Barboza
Thursday, November 21, 2013 Portland, OR @ Backspace
Friday, November 22, 2013 Eureka, CA @ The Ink Annex
No Boston :(, but fear not, for Nobunny has an album coming out this month (10/15 on Goner!), so I feel confident that the Bunnyman will be gracing us with his presence soon enough. I sure hope so.
Bands: Wavves, King Tuff, Jacuzzi Boys Date: Tuesday, October 1, 2013 Venue: The Sinclair (Cambridge, MA)
Jacuzzi Boys – It’s been a couple of years now since I first heard Miami FLA’s finest: Jacuzzi Boys. They have been on my list of bands to see live ever since that time, so going into this show I am really pumped. Normally, I prefer seeing bands in smaller settings, but I have to admit Jacuzzi Boys look and sound great on the Sinclair’s massive stage. Their growling, surfy, poppy take on garage punk never sounded more excellent.
The teenage crowd of what appears to be Jacuzzi Boys newbies eats up the punk slime flavor that they unleash with each fast, hard hitting tune. Kids are moshing pretty hard and just having a great time. I honestly didn’t expect this. I figured like most big shows I see that the youngings would politely listen to (or worse repudiate) the comparatively trashier sounds of tonight’s opening acts, and then start slam dancing during Wavves’ set. Luckily, this is not the case and every band receives a great reaction from a city that often doesn’t deliver in this regard.
King Tuff – Much like Jacuzzi Boys, King Tuff is more of the garage pop, slam em’ out real quick variety. In fact, when I first saw this tour line up I was somewhat surprised. On one hand, King Tuff and Jacuzzi Boys are fairly popular bands with several, sharp pop records under their belt. Then again, they aren’t as clean and accessible as the headliner, Wavves. King Tuff is more akin to Nobunny, Hunx and His Punx, and even Thee Oh Sees. Looser, wilder, grimier.
Also like Jacuzzi Boys, the crowd loves the set and there’s even more moshing this time around, hardly sparing a single moment for a breather. The love is mutual however, as King Tuff appreciates the audience’s admiration and enthusiasm. At one point he even brings a young man in the front row up on stage. This kid has a black eye and King Tuff applauds him for being a rock ‘n’ roll warrior. King Tuff presents him with a customized sun medallion necklace for his rugged character. Keep rocking son. Indeed, all of you kids keep rocking and listen to King Tuff, he’s the right role model for you.
Wavves – Though we have been fans of King Tuff and Jacuzzi Boys for years, this is the first time we had a chance to see them. Wavves is a completely different story. We’ve been Wavves devotees since the Zach Hill days. It’s been fun seeing the band evolve over the years. Alas, it has been two full years since we’ve actually seen the band. TWO YEARS! I know a fucking eternity for rock ‘n’ roll fans, but tonight we’re back.
Wavves open with “Post-Acid,” a classic from their third full length LP, King of the Beach and immediately the place is off the hook. It’s practically impossible to stand up as kids bop and mosh about, running up to stage dive every three seconds. This lasts for the remainder of the show as they perform various hits from throughout their career.
Nathan Williams introduces “Friends Were Gone” as an older song, which is true, but it sounds funny in the grand scheme of things when you’re describing something that only came out four years ago. This and “No Hope Kids” are the only pre-King of the Beach cuts on display this evening.
Speaking of King of the Beach, it is one of my favorite albums and so hearing a steady number of choice tunes from that LP is a real pleasure for me. I still love screaming out some of the classic, self-deprecating Wavves lyrics. I swear you could start a Wavves drinking game based on self-deprecating lyrics in Wavves songs. Take a shot each time Nathan insults himself. I wouldn’t recommend it, you’d probably be dead before the song is over.
My favorite line has to be “Myyyy, my own friends hate my guts… ahh so what? Who gives a fuck?” from “Green Eyes,” the song that garners the largest crowd reaction I’d wager. It even was requested several times before it was played. Perhaps because it exemplifies what it so great about Wavves, that unabashed apathy toward, well everything. Some of the lyrics are downright childish, but it works. There’s a suspension of reality in Wavves that celebrates what music should be – an escape.
Other King of the Beach gems include “Idiot,” (people love to say “It doesn’t mean SHIT”) Stephen Pope penned “Linus Spacehead,” “Super Soaker, and the title track. All of these songs sound just as fantastic as they did in previous years. On a similar note, I wasn’t flabbergasted by this year’s Afraid of Heights, yet I still find myself fully engaged with these tunes and even singing along to them as well. “Demon to Lean On,” “Sail to the Sun,” and “Afraid of Heights,” are just some of the many songs we hear from the new LP.
As a whole, Wavves kill it again, cementing their status as one of my top live bands and this show is among my top five favorite shows all year… thus far.
Lastly, following the show I run into guitarist Alex Gates (he is the other main dude that gets plastered, possibly raped, and killed in the video below) and I compliment him for his work in Wavves, but more importantly his work in various Memphis bands over the years including Cretin Stompers (which are stomping your way shortly), Magic Kids, The Barbaras, Kazalok, and most of all, Girls of the Gravitron. This really trips him out because he claims that no one has ever approached him about Girls of the Gravitron before and that he hasn’t even thought about those songs since they were recorded. Nonetheless, he is appreciative and a generally swell guy. As is Stephen Pope, whom I got to chat with about The Barbaras and Cretin Stompers. I didn’t get to see Nathan, but that’s cool. So yeah, I know this last paragraph means nothing to most of you, but do yourself a favor and look up all of the aforementioned bands. I can’t urge you enough. And if you are Alex Gates, Stephen Pope, or just someone else in existence that knows and loves those bands, please leave a comment. We have so much to talk about. Love Chris.
Bands: Atlantic Thrills, Party Pigs, Idiot Genes, Future Carnivores Date: Sunday, August 25, 2013 Venue: O’Brien’s Pub (Allston, MA)
This show was the last in a series of BYOBurger shows that took place over the course of summer twenty thirteen. This final one was known as BYOBurger Fest. We showed up a little bit late, but these other fine bands played on the bill before our arrival: Future Days, Vundabar, The Zookeepers, Fantastic Liars, St. James & The Apostles, Polaroidz.
Party Pigs – Love this band’s name! Though, Matt (Drums/Vocals) and Chris (Guitar/Vocals) aren’t as filthy as their moniker would lead you to believe, but their music sure is. These dudes are loud and messy, rough around the edges yet they also have their shit together. A contradiction that is surprisingly appropriate. Drill Sargent shouts, in your face guitar licks, and fast, pummeling drums. Short, simple songs. This raw sound is akin to local gah ridge legends The Tampoffs as well as The Oblivians, whom Party Pigs cover with their version of “Never Change” (Soul Food, 1995).
Ohh yes and I cannot forget to mention that we once had the pleasure of seeing Party Pigs open for Nobunny over two years ago at Boston’s Church. That was a sick show and this set is equally saucy. Getting sauced with Party Pigs is an excellent way to go through life. Listen up: http://partypigs.bandcamp.com/
Idiot Genes – “Devotional,” “Beer,” “Drink,” “Effeminate,” “Mostly Gay,” “Weed,” and “Boston” are some of the tags that appear on Idiot Genes’ Bandcamp page. I’d say at least half of those descriptions are accurate – mainly the ones that refer to any form of substance abuse, for Idiot Genes are of the gunk punk, slammin’ drinks and never looking back variety.
Songs such as “Drunk Consistently” and “A.W.O.L.” solidify this reputation. Not to mention the group’s quirky, amusing in between song banter. At what point, they note scoring some Nitrous after a Philly show the night before and their futile attempts at acquiring some meth. I’m not sure if the latter is a joke or not, but I’d rather not know the truth. The mystery of Idiot Genes satisfies my own sick mind.
Another key weirdo tune in the Idiot Genes’ savage punk catalog is a song about Charles Manson known as “The Charles Mansion.” Haha, I told you these guys are funny, I think I did. Let me read back, nope, well now you know. Additionally, the drummer constantly has a bizarre, paranoid/bugging out expression on his face as if he had just ingested a thousands hits of acid and if he stops playing for even a second then his dick will fall off – yeesh, that would freak me out too.
Much like Toronto’s Soupcans, one of the guitarists makes use of his PBR can by playing guitar with it and putting forth a valiant effort to sing into the empty can, but it doesn’t quite work out as one would hope. I’ll just have to see it next time. I don’t know when that time will be, but there will be a next time for sure. http://stupidpants.bandcamp.com/
Atlantic Thrills are kick ass tonight as always. Alas, the crowd is sparse, but the Thrillz deliver the same performance you would see with a packed, sweaty crowd of maniacs feverishly dancing as though they ingested one too many psychedelic rice krispies treats – it don’t matter, Thrillz are Thrillz. Kelly’s death stare, Eric’s Jared Swilley esque boppin’, Dan Tanner’s demonic guitar solos, and Josh Towers perennial grinning; he’s always having a blast, I swear he must sneak someone behind that drum kit below him.
Point being, Atlantic Thrills are among the finest in contemporary garage punk slime aka rock ‘n’ roll music. So, when they return to O’Brien’s Pub on Thursday, October 17th your ass better be up front or I’m going to know about it.
Set-List:
“Almost Anything”
“A Day At the Beach”
“Boozing”
“Drugs In It”
“Light Shines”
“Lies”
“So Long”
“Shotgun”
“Acid Rain”
“Salvaie”
“Demolicion” (Los Saicos cover) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NcfpuVk8ARs
Future Carnivores – Future Carnivores are a synth/keyboard driven group and they close this evening’s show. They are fairly laid back, almost like the anti-Atlantic Thrills, if you will. The sound is very droney and dreamy with elements of psych and shoegaze. In many ways, they feel like a chiller, softer, less aggressive version of Lost Sounds. Anyway, not really my kind of band, but they may be yours. Check them out here: http://www.futurecarnivores.com/
Firstly, I have never stepped foot in this place Roggie’s. I’ll take a step back and say I don’t even know if I am pronouncing it correctly. Row geeze? or Raw geeze? OR Rogue eeze, ehh that just sounds lame. Going into this, I am a bit perplexed by the sports bar reputation, though the basement of this place is a different story. It seems pretty legit, I’m feeling Moe’s Lounge/Radio Down vibes, a small, cozy spot. On the other hand, it kind of feels like a wannabe version of that. Either way, I can’t really complain, it’s still pretty chill and I am really digging the 25 oz Busch drafts for $3! Anyway, since when did we become a bar reviewing web site? Fuck it, let’s get to the bands…
Strict Agnostics – Strict Agnostics, my kind of band. This trio consists of familiar faces in the form of NIce Guys Jake Gilbertson (vocals/guitar), Cam Smith (drums), and the incomparable Kurt Eggheart (bass/vocals) of Miami Doritos and Thigh Masters fame – apparently it is always his birthday, happy birthday Kurt!
Going back to Strict Agnostics being my kind of band, I’m not just stroking their salamis, I really do appreciate the style of music they are embracing and producing, and defecating. It’s off the wall, grimy noise garage garbage punk a la Reatards and Oblivians. Fast, shouted, mumbled vocals with the grit of a garage band and the speed of an early hardcore group.
After spending a not so healthy chunk of my free time with their bandcamp, I recognize most of their fiery adolescent themed anthems on display, such as my favorite, “Huff My Smoke,” why thank you Jake I will. I recently heard some lady lecture about the hazards of second hand smoke, it was pretty boring, but this song was racing through my brain the whole time.
Set- List:
“Pilgrim In An Unholy Land”
“American Chop Suey”
“I Wanna Be A Sociopath”
“My Baby Got Splattered”
New Song
“Analysis Paralysis”
“Huff My Smoke”
“Dingus”
“Destructive Behaviors”
“Weird Life”
Dirty Fences – These dudes hail from New York and Roggie’s is the last stop on their current U.S. tour. Cheers! I’ve actually never heard of Dirty Fences up until this show, so I am pleasantly surprised by what I hear. To me, it’s a combo of 70s’s punk, smooth garage, and power pop. I liken them to fellow New Yorkers, Ramones and Hector’s Pets. Overall, my one gripe is that it seems like they stick with that specific punk rock fused power pop sound for most of their songs, but that isn’t a terrible thing either because it’s a sound I enjoy gracing my ears. http://dirtyfences.bandcamp.com/
Fat Creeps – So, it’s cool to see Fat Creeps as a full band again! I’ll admit upfront that this performance is a little blurry for me, but generally speaking a solid show. They open with either “Blue” or “He Comes In Loudly” and they roll out at least a couple of newer songs as well.
Some other highlights include “Secrets,” mainly because it’s my bro’s favorite Creeps song and he frenetically slams me on the shoulder to let me know that he LOVES this song, calm down now. I also dig hearing “Cherry” again, since it’s been quite some time since I have had the pleasure of hearing this number during a live show. For this tune Mariam and Gracie switch from bass to guitar, respectively. As a whole, it’s sweet to see Fat Creeps in a little, packed bar without a stage – I guess intimate is the word I am looking for. You could say, it has a basement feel, but I think that may just be a slight exaggeration. So yeah, we’ll stick with intimate for now. http://fatcreeps.bandcamp.com/
Yeah Yeah I know this show is old as shit, but just go with it.
Bands: Vundabar, The Ghost of Electricity, Atlantic Thrills, Televibes Date: Saturday, August 24, 2013 Venue: Wilder Zangcraft (Lowell, MA)
Vundabar – It’s a pleasure to be back at the Wilder Zangcraft, since I haven’t been to a show here since April, damn. Ahh Lowell how I have missed you all Summer… but at least I’m here now, back in my old stomping grounds. And indeed stomp I will. I’m actually a little zonked at this point, having spent the previous evening slobbering over Hunx and His Punx at Brighton Music Hall. That was a fun time and I’m still recovering, luckily Vundabar is loud and epic enough to wake me up,
I heard of these fellas at least a few months back, but I have only listened to bits and pieces of their music. Nonetheless, this is my first Vundabar live experience and it is going well. The songs are relatively smooth and easy to get into. I liken them to The Walkmen and Tapes ‘n’ Tapes, but that’s just me. Take it for what it’s worth though, those are great bands. Vundabar feels like a decent soundtrack for one of those lazy nights at the beach (I don’t like beaches in general, but if I had to pick I’d go at night), when you do nothing but lay back, drink Coronas, and let the water soak your restless legs.
Vundabar make it a point to note that they spent the day playing at Allston DIY Fest and had a blast. Way to go dudes. I’ll see you around. http://vundabar.bandcamp.com/
The Ghost of Electricity – The Ghost of Electricity is a two piece featuring the likes of Kevin Dacey (drums/vocals) and Ray McNamara (vocals/guitar). As with Vundabar, this is my first time seeing the band, but I have seen Dacey slay on the drums in previous groups such as The Real Tom Hanks, Twin Cyclist, and the far out trance that is Chillcity Icon. Ghost however is very different from all of those institutions (are band institutions? I think so). The pair play a folky psychedelic jam styled take on pop music for lack of a better term. It’s not too experimental, but not your run of the mill rock band either. It’s in that luscious sea of middlegroundness.
One of the more memorable aspects of The Ghost of Electricity’s performance is vocalist, Ray McNamara’s distinctive, faux British accent, making him sound like John Lennon or one of those characters. This British voice often comes up in between songs when Ray chats with the audience.
The band concludes the set with an unexpected cover of Animal Collective’s “Peacebone,” which really energizes me because this is easily one of my top five favorite Animal Collective songs and it is the opening track off of the greatest Animal Collective LP Strawberry Jam (2007). For a healthy five minutes or so I am set back to junior year of high school, what a confusing and frustrating time in a young man’s life… ehh.. despite the crazy emotions this song evokes in me Ghost create a decent cover that sounds vastly different from the original, yet still has that amped up feeling that an Animal Collective tune can elicit so well.
The Ghost of Electricity also spent their day performing at Allston DIY Fest and in fact they play many a show including a couple this weekend. Tonight (9/26) they will be playing at UMass Lowell’s Fox Common and tomorrow they are hitting up Lowell’s unchARTed art gallery. Sweet, check em’ out: http://theghostofelectricity.bandcamp.com/album/the-ghost-of-electricity
Set – List: “Moonrise Satellite” “Murder Song” “Love Destroys” “Cat With No Name” “Bike Song” “Chelsea” “Good Thing Going” “The Last Beautiful Thing” “Aw Shit…” “Jellyfish” “Black Sky II” “One Thing” “Peacebone”
Atlantic Thrills – Atlantic Thrills are typically described as “garage,” “punk,” “rock ‘n’ roll,” and that’s all valid. But, it’s just really excellent music to get sloppy drunk and stumbling around to – which is usually great rock ‘n’ roll music orrrr Lady Gaga. It could go either way. Thankfully in this instance, it is truly great rock ‘n’ roll music. For me, they are like the ultimate party band with Black Lips being probably the only exception to that. With the Thrillz, it’s always a wild, drunken, hooting and hollering time; I find myself unable to stand up straight and behave like a regular dude. Regular dudes suck though.
At this point in the evening, my 12 pack of Natti Ice is vanishing, placing me in the perfect frame of mind for a Thrillz set. And the Wilder Zangcraft is one of the best, if not Thee best places to catch an Atlantic Thrills show. It’s a tiny little space, a tight squeeze, everyone is all sweaty and on top of one another anyway, might as well dance.
Well, tonight’s show is definitely fun and some moshing ensues, but it’s not as ‘crazy’ as the last Thrillz show I saw here and I attribute this to a lower number of people in attendance. Nonetheless, I still get my rocks off, if you will, going nuts over the classics and stumbling about – what a daring soul would call dancing. You know you’re shit cocked when you’re trying to dance with Kevin Dacey instead of attempting to make out with fine babes. That’s ok, it’s the spirit that counts. LISTEN right here to one of the best bands around! https://soundcloud.com/atlantic-thrills
Set – List: “Almost Anything” “A Day At the Beach” “Booze” “Drugs” New song “So Long” “Lies” “Light Shines” “Shotgun” “Acid Rain” “Salvaie” “Demolicion” (Los Saicos cover)
Televibes – Straight up, I don’t recall much of this set and by much I mean practically nothing. Not a flaw of the band by any stretch, but after Atlantic Thrills I sort of “browned out” to quote It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, where you can only remember bits and pieces (see this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QePQTMY9dv0). I remember watching the band, being mere inches away from their psychedelic soulss and gazing in admiration. I also met some of the dudes earlier in the evening and they were swell guys. I’ve heard some folks compare them to The New Highway Hymnal and I can see that. So yeah, go ahead and check these cats out if that aggressive psych rock style is your thang. http://thetelevibes.bandcamp.com/
Bands: Miami Doritos, Dylan Ewen, Zebu, Fat Creeps Date: Friday, August 16, 2013 Venue: JP Drive In
Miami Doritos – I don’t see any Miami or any Doritos, I feel like rioting, I feel like inflicting pain upon each and every one of youuuuu KLYAM readers. Just kidding mom, I love you.
The Miami Doritos are best appreciated in a basement setting such as this JP Drive In, though I am completely full of shit because I have only seen them in basements, so I have no means of comparison anyway. I guess I just like the intimate feel, which is what typically makes two pieces special to begin with, and tonight the Doritos are kicking off this whole two piece hootenanny.
The Doritos are rough and crunchy, but not difficult to swallow, they go down rather smoothly with a watery beer and a broken heart. In terms of comparisons, well I know I say this often when I see two pieces, but they remind me of KLYAM favorite No Age, mostly in the instrumentation and odd pop sensibility.
I suppose I should also mention that the Doritos consists of Kurt (Thigh Masters) on vocals and guitar and Alex (Nice Guys) on vocals and drums, they are good dudes and if you haven’t checked out those bands then I don’t know what else to say, you better get on that shit brah. And while you’re at it, quit being a pussy and listen to Miami Doritos here: http://miamidoritos.bandcamp.com/album/scoop-dreams
And hey, also watch this vid of them at Allston DIY Fest: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-GJFO_5VrY
Dylan Ewen – Dylan Ewen, yeah you know Dylan Ewen, in a way you may just be Dylan Ewen. Every teenager and twenty something is – and maybe even some of you thirty somethings. Dylan likes to write songs about bitches and booties and sadness, all topics that have been covered a gazillion times in pop music long before any of us were even twinkles in our daddy’s eyes. Yet, with his brand of garage spunk Dylan brings back a bucket of fresh water from the old stereotypical rock & roll well.
Dylan sings/screams and rages on guitar while a fellow named Chris sings along and brutishly slams the drums behind him. Together they smash through a fuzzy set of Dylan Ewen tunes including “Lead Me On,” (watch the crazy music video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl-jSFP_6DY&feature=youtu.be). It’s a catchy little number that will stay with you forever like herpes. I myself was drunkenly singing this song the other night and didn’t realize it until a friend pointed it out, it’s that powerful. The dudes also unleash a sick ass cover of one of my favorite Ramones songs, “The KKK Took My Baby Away.”
If I may slide down a slippery slopey rant for a few lines, if you would be so inclined… Dylan Ewen is like if Blink 182 sounded garagey and not like pop punk shit. It’s like all of his songs are about things that suck, but they are all fun and happy at the same time. Content wise it’s all frustration and disappointment . And that’s exactly why I dig the joy that comes out of my speakers when I listen to his bandcamp. That’s my argument against all the sad bands that sing about jerking off alone at night – or something else “dark and mysterious,” I don’t know I don’t pay attention. After a while, if I get bored I just make up my own plot. Those bands seem to be not having as much fun and make sad, sad songs. You can still make songs about sad stuff and still have fun, and having fun can be the focal point of the performance. You picking up what I’m putting down? Dylan Ewen does that like a true rock ‘n’ roller. Listen to all of his songs about youth and sex and such: http://dylanewen.bandcamp.com/
ZEBU – So, I saw these two dudes before at their Fat Creeps Split 12″ Release show at the Discovery Zone a few months back and this performance is not too dissimilar. The pair, which consists of Ted Lee (vocals/drums) and Steve D’Agostino (vocals/guitar), put on a fairly entertaining show that really makes use of the small, intimate basement space tonight. At one point, Steve playfully waltzes through the crowd and pops a squat on a conveniently open chair in the middle of the room. He sits back and relaxes as if the song has to wait for him. It’s antics like this that makes me think a Zebu show in an above ground venue would be comparatively dull or at least lose some of its charm. Either way, their oddball take on pop music (?) is strong enough to endure in any setting.
Fat Creeps – A few years from now when I am an old man, about 27, I will be standing alone at a show, nursing a Narragansett and trying to relieve myself of an ailing hangover, when some young scrawny, pimple faced lad, about 16, will approach me and ask “what were the early Fat Creeps shows like?” to which I will respond, “fuck off, get me another beer junior. Let’s go find your sister.” Fortunately, I am still young and only 70% bitter, so I will enjoy these last few years before the remaining 30% takes over.
Fat Creeps or should I say Fat Dweebz as they are calling themselves tonight round out this two piece shabang. Gracie strums the guitar and sings while Mariam takes care of the drums and sings as well. I’ve never seen them as a duo and I may never again, but it’s pretty cool, a different take on their usual three piece sound. I miss regular drummer Jim Leonard, but Gracie and Mariam do a fine job with some of the Creeps originals as well some sick covers; I swear they play The Vaselines’ “Monsterpussy,” but I haven’t confirmed this.
Both women are decked out in some eye catching spandex suits, it look likes they are competing in American Gladiators or WWF (fuck WWE, it’s still WWF to me).
Kids Like You & Me (KLYAM) 