2004, Jan-Jun

The 5,6,7,8’s; Sit N Spin, Sato & Johnny
@ Southpaw
Brooklyn, NY – June 23, 2004

The band that will forever be known to a select few in the States as the “Kill Bill Band”, the Japanese All-Girl trio the 5,6,7,8’s brought their world tour to Brooklyn, NY. In a good move, they played their “Woo Hoo” song from the Tarantino film to start off their set. Including covers of “Green Onions” and “Hank Panky”, the blast-from-the past trio made their kitschy surf rock sound raw and powerful. Sato & Johnny were another surf rock – but more 50’s styled rock as well – quartet, led by a talented Japanese female singer. S & J’s Hawaiian shirt/Crew Cut look for the boys, summoned spirits of the beach movies, but in the spirit of the night, the music sounded raw and hot. The first act, Sit N Spin, were the real stars of the night. A New Jersey band that has been earning its chops for a decade (not unlike the headliners), this 3 girls, 1-guy outfit pump out consistent, well-oiled rock n roll. Surf rock, Hot Rod rock (including a cover of Commander Cody’s “Hot Rod Lincoln”), and even a couple of Rockabilly hoedowns, were so intensely fine, they probably made the night what it was: A great exercise in rock n roll.

John Doe, Grant Lee Phillips and the Whole Damned Band
@ Northsix
Brooklyn, NY – June 9, 2004

The underground legend that is the co-leader of X, John Doe, teamed up with 90’s indie pop-rocker Grant Lee Phillips to share the stage with a neat little country rock band. The Doe set was country-rock while Phillips bordered on the ethereal, as his voice doesn’t sound much different from Bono’s. “Burning House of Love”, “White Girl”, and a classically dedicated version of “The New World” (to the recently departed inspiration to the song, Ronald Reagan) were the X favorites, plus another redux of “Silver Wings”. Phillips contributed the Graham Parsons favorite “Hickory Wind”. Both Doe and Phillips were comical and witty, keeping the crowd active. They were especially dynamite together, both musically (Phillips edging out Doe in guitar magic – the acoustic distortion was amazing) and comically.

The Jam On The River: Ween; Galactic; Particle; Hank Williams III
@ Penn’s Landing
Philadelphia, PA – May 30, 2004

Day 2 of the Captain Morgan-sponsored music festival served one real purpose – Ween. The duo from New Hope – and their three band mates – was known to turn their multi-styled debauchery into a good ol fashioned rock show live, but this night, Ween mixed it up. Unfortunately, they delved once too often into psychedelic jams, and their rockers were distracted by the frat-boy moshers in the crowd. They also did not play the pinnacle of this attendee’s Ween-dom, “Even If You Don’t”, but solid displays of “Take Me Away”, “Spinal Meningitis”, “Pandy Fackler”, “Stroker Ace”, “Pork Roll Egg and Cheese”, “Transdermal Celebration”, “Bananas and Blow”, and “Zoloft” satisfied. In part due to Gene Ween (Aaron Freeman)’s front man appeal (equal parts flamboyant and subtle), and Dean Ween (Mickey Malcihiondo)’s guitar talent, the night still rocked. In an unlikely scenario, I saw Hank 3 for the second time in 4 months. His country set was as good as last time, but he did Assjack again, and that went on for way too long, even if some of the riffs did start to kick ass. The other two acts were long-winded jam bands – Particle doing it by lame techno trance method, and Galactic a little more soulful and jazzy. And both of them did Zep’s “Whole Lotta Love”! That’s embarrassing. Galactic was pretty good actually, but neither my friends nor I cared. We wanted Ween. Plain and simple.

Reverend Horton Heat; The Detroit Cobras, Mr. Airplane Man
@The Bowery Ballroom
New York, NY – May 28, 2004

The master of psychobilly rock n roll, the band and man Reverend Horton Heat stormed through New York for a 2-night stampede at the Bowery Ballroom. The good Rev. and his cohorts, bassist Jimbo Wallace (with his fire-laden stand-up bass) and drummer Scott Churilla, churned out number after number in a textbook display of rock n roll prowess. The trio delivered the goods and then some. I was disappointed by the lack of “Lie Detector” but it was a thoroughly amazing time. What made the night so utterly perfect were the two hot opening acts. Mr. Airplane Man, a two-girl guitar/drum garage blues outfit from Boston delivered foot-stomping, head-bobbing rock blues like they way it is meant to be seen. The Detroit Cobras, a classic garage band led by cigarette-puffing chanteuse Rachel Nagy, performed their 50’s/60’s covers with enough spark and flare to be headliners. The only problem with the night was the shortness of the opening acts, particularly the Detroit Cobras. The night was more primed for a three-band festival rather than 2 solid openers for a headlining ass-kicker. Oh well, you can’t have it all.

Sleater-Kinney; The Thermals
@Irving Plaza
New York, NY - April 26, 2004

Olympia, Washington’s Sleater-Kinney have become such a quality rock band that the label of “chick band” has long lost its appeal. Gender is a meaningless concept for this band – it just becomes irrelevant. They are musically tight as any band can get. Vocally, Corin Tucker and Carrie Brownstein have two of the greatest female voices in rock music today (rivaled only by Karen O of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). It’s a damned shame that SK has yet to score a radio single but maybe it’s better that way. The worst thing that could happen is to hear their music drowned to death on radio. The opening act, the Thermals, was a good speed punk band opener but their high-octane punk rock pressed on a little bit too long.

Aerosmith; Cheap Trick)
@Wachovia Center
Philadelphia, PA – April 14, 2004

Touring in support of their new polished blues album, Honkin’ on Bobo, America’s most illustrious rock band, Aerosmith, kept the wheels turning in the City of Brotherly Love. They played their new songs with finesse – maybe a little too much finesse, but it sure sounded good. They played the usual classics and the 90’s pop hits but ignored Nine Lives and all but Jaded from Just Push Play. They did crank out The Fever – a little hard rockin’ gem from Get A Grip. For the most part, it was a standard Aerosmith show but the blues kicked ass. Stealing the show was Cheap Trick. Former brief natives of Philly, Cheap Trick solidly played their hits, including starting the show with their biggest hit, “I Want You To Want Me”. They continued the surprises by actually playing their later but still solid catalogue as they went on. By ending with the stellar “Scent of a Woman” and playing “The Flame” in the middle of the set, Cheap Trick actually eclipsed their American rock brethren in Aerosmith. A truly happenin’ American rock show.

The Star-Spangles; The Bamboo Kids
@CBGB’s
New York, NY - April 10, 2004
*Despite my review, the Star-Spangles never really took off after this and quickly faded away due to whatever issues, and the Bamboo Kids wound up becoming the best rock band out of New York City (as of May 2007).

This up-and-coming band, with a look of the Rolling Stones of the 60’s, playing a musical hybrid of the New York Dolls and the Ramones (maybe with a slight dash of X), is the consummate neo-punk garage band. While all the cornball Sum 41 and Good Charlotte bands continue to vomit their “music”, the Spangles – who literally come from down the block from CBGB’s, have taken their message of good time rock n roll across the nation and on to Europe. Their only problem was the lack of encore and not even playing one of the songs they made a video for, the crunching “Stay Away From Me”. The only opening act on the bill I caught was the penultimate Bamboo kids. A label has just picked up these Brooklyn rockers, who never the less have a southern twang. While their songs range from classic riff-tastic tunes to typical, if bland, numbers, they make up for it, with powerful stage presence, including a lead singer/axe player who runs through the crowd and jumps on the table.

Hank Williams III; Scott Biram
@CBGB’s
New York, NY - February 16, 2004

I finally made it to CBGB’s, the historic club that brought the world The Ramones and Talking Heads. On this night a descendant of another institutional legend took the stage. Hank 3 is both like and unlike his grandfather. He is the outlaw, the rebel. But he is extreme. He is metal. Before he was twanging his disgust with songs like “Trashville”, Hank 3 had his own roots in Assjack, a thrash metal hardcore mess that he actually played following the country and hellbilly set. The country aspect was down-home fun and the metal/punk undertones were extra savory. The brief hellbilly portion was also extremely fun – reminding one of Reverend Horton Heat dashed with Hank’s associate: Phil Anselmo. But the Assjack set was too mindlessly extreme for this listener’s taste. I really missed the fiddle and steel guitar. The best part of the night, no question, was opener Scott Biram. This Austin, Texas one-man machine played tight, fast paced, yet in synch country-blues ala Mississippi John Hurt. Couple that with his furious hard rock, near-metal voice, this whiskey & wimmen’ Texan jolted the Yankees in the crowd awake. By far, this was not only a fantastic performance, but also a legend in the making. How fitting to see him at CBGB’s.