Maybe it’s Eddie. Maybe it’s Alex.
Maybe it’s the gyrating schoolteacher in a bikini. Whatever. Van Halen’s “Hot
For Teacher” is probably my favorite music video and consequently one of my
favorite songs. One-man band Skull threw in a version of this tune last Friday at Spy Bar, a joint that’s starting
to make some live music noise.
Skull (Bernie to his pals) is an
amazing guitar player who plays electric drums with his feet — not programmed
drums or triggers but different pedals for each drum sound. It was Delta metal
and a whole lot of fun. Skull heated up for The Franks, whose guitar player’s cable added a new static edge to
their sharp twang ‘n’ bang.
Missed David Poe’s set on the Yellow
Umbrella Tour’s stop at Milestones, but got to watch him mack on the same
chick as the soundman. Sarah Bettens (ex-K’s Choice) played a mellow, acoustic, barefoot set that was beautiful
without being too sweet. I think I believe altos more.
Headliner Duncan Sheik looked like he had slept in his clothes (he had bed
head and bed face) but sounded great with his bare-boned trio (cool abbreviated
trap set) and about 100 guitars all over the stage. He opened with “Good
Morning,” a haunting, sleepy tune where the devil reminds the protagonist of
their terms.
Later the same night, at the Bug Jar:
SF’s Thee More Shallows played
primitive and Pink (as in Floyd) with the guitar player plugged into a American
Tourister full o’ goodies. They sounded a little edgier than on record, with
just a hint of dissonant descent.
The relatively new Keith
Parkins-fronted Tiger Cried Beef followed with a smooth overcast tone. Not happy, not sad, but hopeful. It’s
interesting and evocative music that, despite its nonchalance, moves with a
complex intensity and charm. Not sure why I like ’em, but I do.
LA’s Deke Dickerson blew through Rochester so fast last week I had to
catch up with him at NYC’s Rodeo Bar. Dickerson, with just bass and drums
behind, leaned into his Joe Maphis double neck and burned like a raggedy Les
Paul on a surfboard.
This article appears in Oct 26 – Nov 1, 2005.
