2004, Jul-Dec

Eagles of Death Metal; Walking Concert; Bantam
@ CBGB
New York, NY – December 3, 2004

In what’s probably my last concert of the year, it was sort of fitting to go to the place I first went to for the first concert of the year – the legendary CBGB’s. In
a semblance were the hard driving, groovy, funky hard rockers known as the Eagles of Death Metal. Harder than on their album, the EODM were both real heart rock n roll as well as funny gimmicky schlock – personified by their leader – the Ned Flanders-looking Jesse Hughes. Usually assisted by Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Holmes on drums, the band was backed up instead by the one and only Claude Coleman of Ween, with Boognish in tow on the drum. The truth is that EODM is centered all on Jesse Hughes – but he smartly surrounds himself with the most able of musicians. The penultimate act, Walking Concert, were a boring, bland modern rock band who think their music matters. The first act, Bantam, were a straight up hard rock band led by a chick who knew how to carry herself on guitar.

The Cramps; Gore Gore Girls; The Brimstones
@Irving Plaza
New York, NY – October 18, 2004

The Cramps remain a solid though gimmicky punk rock n roll band all these years later. Consummate frontman Lux Interior was charming though he did oddly look somewhat like Tony Curtis when he took his sunglasses off. The Gore Gore Girls, an ever changing line-up of Detroit rock chicks rotating around the actual Gore Gore Girl Amy Sirdu, did not play all the songs I expected/wished for, which is sort of disappointing considering they were the real reason I came to this show. The songs lacked the structure they have on the studio, and gone were the production-aided vocals harking back to Little Eva and the girl groups. Add to all this the audacity of charging 15 bucks for a 7 song EP where as the opening act put out a 15 track LP for 10 bucks. Never the less, they put on a good show. Speaking of the opening act, the Brimstones wished to be over-the-top Satanic gimmick 60’s rockers, but all they really could muster was being a good rock n roll band.

Social Distortion; Tiger Army; The Explosion
@ Roseland Ballroom
New York, NY – October 15, 2004

Having already been to two concerts in less than 24 hours, it was quite a task for me to have the stamina to see the legendary Social D. And the squalid opening acts made it more of a challenge, but by the time Mike Ness led the boys out and opened with Mommy’s Little Monster, all worries were gone. The crowd was full of rough and ready madness, which is a bit surprising since Social Distortion songs have occasional pop/honky-tonk sensibilities to them (how punk can it be when there is a keyboardist on the stage?). Never the less, it all came together in a truly rock n roll fashion – Prison Bound (despite an interruption from an ass in the crowd), Ball and Chain, the concert ending Story of My Life, and other fan favorites were as good as they can get. The opening acts were actually harder than the headliner. The Explosion were typical hard punk fare, and Tiger Army has some substance in that rockabilly/psychobilly avenue, but more often they not, they chose to just be hardcore punk, bordering on thrash metal. And as their name might suggest, they were a little too militant in that bad sort of way.


Blanche; Buck 65
@ Housing Works Used Books Café
New York, NY – October 15, 2004

Now holding the title of the only band I have seen twice in less than 24 hours, Blanche has struck a musical nerve. They don’t play the garage-rock, blues-based music of their Detroit peers, but they seem to fit right in. Is it Lisa “Jaybird” Jannon’s occasionally pounding drums? Is it Dan Miller’s forceful voice? Is it the basic song structure? Is it the lyrics? Blanche is equal parts simple and complicated. They are not merely a retro band of old spiritual and traditionals, despite the 1930’s attire. Their songs are full, their lyrics, though comparable with the haunt of Depression-era folkies, are strongly deep in their own way. The banjo picking may seem simple, but the overall song structures are neither radio-friendly, nor exactly Sunday morning bluegrass. So beyond the definition conundrum-that-isn’t-really, Blanche is also a thoroughly solid live band. Dan Miller – though never smiling – is a congenial host, full of wit, (notice his gesture to the audience to give it up for Jack Lawrence’s banjo picking). Steel guitarist Feeney matches Dan’s wit, and Dan’s wife Tracee matches her hypnotic look with gravitating smooth vocals. And the venue was perfect for them: the cozy, wood-paneled Used Book Café. Opening act Buck 65 is yet another unique oddity, a country-western rapper. At times, this native of Nova Scotia is more of a spoken-word artist, and he tells stories of his fictional small Canadian town of his birth in the manner of Garrison Keilor and Lake Wobegon. But at other times, Buck 65 – or just Richard – can rap it with legitimacy. His affable nervousness and shyness makes his gimmick even more suspect or heartfelt and endearing. I choose the latter.

The Paybacks; Holly Golightly; The Sights; The Greenhorns; Blanche; Mr. Airplane Man; The Shout Out Louds
@ Mercury Lounge
New York, NY – October 14, 2004
*As a total complete night of fun, this may be the single greatest gig I ever went to (as of May 2007).

As part of the CMJ music marathon, the Mercury Lounge served as the site, on the second night of the fest, for some of the premiere bands in the world rock n roll revival, primarily from Detroit. Little Steven was in attendance, evidence of the Cool of the night. Starting off things was Germany’s the Shout Out Louds – a pleasant if tame band, with the requisite Eurowench playing a simple note on the keyboard. The lead singer summoned the aura of Rivers Cuomo and Conner Oberst, but the band had more jingle than just to be emo. Boston’s Mr. Airplane Man – the girl-girl guitar/drum duo last seen opening for Horton Heat, played their reverb-laden blues in style. Their sweet attitude a fine contrast for the raw blues they pump out. Then came Blanche, one of the more unlikely Detroit bands. Arguably THE band of 2004, there is no band quite like Blanche, and they finally returned to New York. Dan and Tracee Mae Miller lead the band in their haunting, ethereal, and sometimes rock n roll take on bluegrass and old folk country. Dan Miller has one of the finest male voices in all of music today (rivaled only by fellow Detroiters Mick Collins and Jason Stollsteimer). Recent new member Little Jack Lawrence stuck around to play with his regular band, The Greenhorns. Third time was the charm for the Greenhorns. They finally got the job done for me. Detroit’s The Sights lack a bass but they make up for it with keyboards. The sound system wasn’t on their side but they delivered decent rock n roll. England’s Holly Golightly dished out her go-go 60’s blues, but if you want to get the sense of how things go in this world, she changed a line in one of her tunes to a very purposely spoken: “Hope to be discovered”. Last but certainly not least came Wendy Case & The Paybacks, one of Detroit’s more successful acts. When this writer is sharing a beer with Sights’ lead singer Eddie Baranaek and the enigmatic Ms. Case, while she’s performing, you know it’s rock n roll mayhem. The Paybacks are the purest definition of rock n roll, nothing else. No fancy music category descriptions, just straight down-to-the-bone rock n roll. Wendy’s guitar solos over my head are just the slimmest of proof of that. It’s the crisp song structure, and Wendy’s focused wail that solidify the Paybacks standing in this rock n roll revival.

Flogging Molly; Street Dogs
@ Roseland Ballroom
New York, NY – September 29, 2004

Nearly two years after first seeing Flogging Molly, and with a new album out, it was good to see the LA Irish Folk-Punkers doing their thing. They remain as vibrant and as solid as ever. When your only complaint is that they didn’t play every song you wanted to hear, you know you’ve been to a good show. Dave King remains one of the best front men in music today. It was a politically charged night, sponsored by Punk-Voter.com, a distinctly anti-Bush organization. Jello Biafra hosted a video segment that featured Will Ferrell as the Chickenhawk-n-Chief. The crowd wasn’t much into it, but there was some spirit. Dave himself tried to rally the crowd, but it was clear these suburban kiddies just wanted to jig. Oh well, I guess you can’t win them all. Opening act Street Dogs were typical modern punk-rock fare, but a little harder on the edge than say, Sum 41 or garbage like that. These guys have balls at least. And for Boston boys, they had a lot of respect for New York, so….Slainte!

The Von Bondies; Auf Der Maur; The Sun
@ Irving Plaza
New York, NY – September 27, 2004

I had fears that the Von Bondies would be stiff and dull live, as they have been in their television appearances. But on the contrary, Jason Stollsteimer and his Detroit co. are indeed a lively bunch, playful with the crowd, and delivering intense stomping rock n roll. This bunch includes new bassist Yasmine Smith, who I believe only heard one shout of “Where’s Carrie?!”. Pixie angel Marcie Bolen doesn’t seem to do much in the way of guitar, but if this is what counts for spectacle in rock today, I’ll take it. Drummer Don Blume remains the most fun member of the band. The opening acts left much to be desired. Melissa Auf Der Maur is still a smart, funny, and foxy chick (and proud to be from Montreal), but her music is as tired and sludgey as her work with Hole. Grunge is dead, and the twist of metal does not help. Seeing the Sun, from Columbus, Ohio, for the second time, and they are still rather boring. One good song but I already forgot it. That was the problem with these opening acts: They were so concerned about how to rock, they forgot how to roll. Fortunately, the Von Bondies still know to put the roll in rock n roll.


Philly Freakout XI: Mondo Topless; The Blue Van; The Young Werewolves; The Misteriosos
@ Pontiac Lounge
Philadelphia, PA – September 18, 2004

Over a year since my last freak-out, it was time to pay a visit to see the boys in Mondo Topless do their thing once again – and once again, they were on their game. A short but textbook set with their new bassist, Mondo remains the best band never to make it. The Blue Van came from Denmark and didn’t disappoint, despite their snottyness in the crowd. The Young Werewolves are still kitschy and gimmicky, and they are good, but it is going to get old. The Misteriosos started off the night – and while the lead singer came off more like John Belushi than Jim Morrison as he was hoping for – and were the best of the non-Mondo acts. Straight up 60’s jangle rock n roll – and it always sounds better live than in the studio.
Alice Donut; Gore Fock; others
@CBGB’s
New York, NY – July 30, 2004

Grunge-Metal mayhem but Alice Donut is considered hardcore punk. Very artistic, very deep – lead singer has a David Byrne/Wayne Coynish quality to him. Not my kind of music, but I respect it. Most interesting thing about AD and penultimate act Gore Fock – trombones n’ hardcore. Fascinating.

The Dirtbombs; The Greenhornes; The Starlite Desperation
@The Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY – July 24, 2004
*I like how I left out of this review the fact that I drunkenly stumbled up to Little Jack Lawrence at the merch table and DEMANDED all the Dirtbombs records available. Poor guy didn't have a shot at selling Greenhornes merch to me that night.

Mick Collins is the rock legend of Detroit these past 20 years, and he’s been doing the rock n roll thing long before Jack White led the horde out from the Motor City. The latest incarnation of Mick’s Dirtbombs are an intense experience, a tight group – 2 drummers (Pat Pantano and Ben Blackwell), and 2 bassists (Ko Shih of Ko & The Knockouts and Troy Gregory) – back up Mick and his axe as they tear through garage, punk, and Motown soul with ease. What first sounds as noise turns into a solid, rhythmic experience. The Greenhorns, the second time seeing them, they again churned out decent, if unexceptional rock. And The Startlite Desperation got things started with some haunting hard rocking garage. More of an experience, than a straight up rock band, the SD got the job done.

The Hives; Sahara Hotnights, Reigning Sound
@Irving Plaza
New York, NY – July 22, 2004
*At least I didn't think Greg Cartwright was from Scandinavia!

The Hives are insane. These matching black & white suit Swedes play furious non-stop rock n roll garage punk. Led by Howlin’ Pelle Almqvist, The Hives may be gimmicky but they play their redundant rock with an authentic flush of energy that is pretty much unmatched among their peers. The aforementioned Almqvist is the most dynamic of front men in the world today. Pelle has one purpose in this life, and it is to be Mick Jagger. Not just inspired by, not just an imitator, not just a tribute, but to be Mick Jagger himself. In his Swedish accent, Pelle – like Mick – believes that in order to summon the spirit of rock n roll, he must talk like an ol’ blues man. And that’s another thing – The “Howlin” one doesn’t shut up. In between songs, and even during songs – Pelle showers the crowd with his wit and his extreme cockiness. Overall, between the music, the crowd surfing by Pelle and guitarist Nicholaus Arson (who looks disturbingly like Mr. Bean), and Pelle’s other antics (singing atop the speakers over the crowd, leaping into the upper balcony, running through and coming out the other side), the Hives leave a most unforgettable music experience. Their fellow Swedes, the all girl Sahara Hotnights have tempered their garage punk with some 80’s style pop, and they provide a catchy, happenin’ buzz. The first act – the American-bred Reigning Sound – deliver the goods with 60’s inspired rock, done with a crashing guitar. Covering the spectrum of country rock, old-fashioned rock n roll, and fast insanity, the RS may have actually stolen the night, if the Hives weren’t so overwhelming.

Village Voice Siren Music Festival: The Ponys
@ Coney Island
Brooklyn, NY - July 17, 2004

I only stayed for the first band on one of the stages. The Ponys were pretty good. Straight up rock n roll fun.

The Black Keys
@ World Financial Center Plaza
New York, NY – July 6, 2004

Weird sounding venue? Yeah but that’s what you get a free show. But who wouldn’t want to see the Black Keys for free? A duo that could be written off by an inevitable comparison to a certain other duo, Akron, Ohio’s the Black Keys offer a sound all their own, delivering hard, rock-driven blues with vocals-from-the gut. Solid, solid music.