‘Twas damp and cool within the Bug
Jar’s walls Wednesday night as a damp and hot Clockmen banged on the beautiful crowd like a brass-knuckled Basilio
with a body bag. I’ve seen these cats a number of times, and this show’s
particularly ragged onslaught was one of the best. Recently the phrase “food-truck
rodeo” has popped up in our lackadaisical lexicon. And I got to thinking: The Clockmen are the soundtrack to a truck rodeo where larger-than-life
dudes in big hats wrestle Mustangs and Broncos and Rams, and busty midget
cowgirls on horseback fire confetti cannons and firehoses
hooked up to tanks of Genesee Cream Ale, and monkeys with jetpacks fly a…
Ahem.
Anyway, the band’s superiority is a result of its raw
imperfections. At one point the bass and drums seemed to be playing at
different time signatures. If this wasn’t on purpose, it still sounded pretty
cool. The set was loud and urgent, and slightly celebratory as it was announced
that a little Clockman is due in November.
After that set the four members of Fox Force 5 took the
stage for the band’s highly anticipated world debut. All musicians know that you
can only have one first time. You can have a pile of crappy shows, a pile of
great shows, but that vertigo-inducing belly flop you get from popping your
bandstand cherry only happens once. I was thrilled to see and feel this new
punk outfit’s utter glee as it raged through its raunchy set. The tightening up
I was initially going to say the band needed actually happened while it was on
stage. Give ’em a listen,
they’ll rock your pants. The hard part’s over.
This article appears in May 29 – Jun 4, 2013.
Nevermind that another band was on the lineup that night. Thanks.
Was it Tuurd? or perhaps Craap?