I
dunno. Maybe rock ‘n’ roll lost its punch with the introduction of grammar. As
soon as songwriters got clever, or cleaned up their English, or started
straying outside the jungle, the primal urge was lost.
So
the next time you sit down to bang out the next rockin’ ode to whatever, here’s
a good test to see if your rock doesn’t out-sophisticate itself. Just ask
yourself, could Tonto, Tarzan, Frankenstein, or Charlie Chan sing this song? If
so, you’ve got a winnah. The Quitters’ Dave
Snyder agrees, while also suggesting that there aren’t enough slow songs for
lovers anymore.
Snyder
and the rest of The Quitters (including new bassist Steve Kincaid) blasted
through a set of Quitters pop nuggets four weeks ago. Some I hadn’t heard in
years, like “Born In Love” and “Weekend In New England.”
The
new all-skirt ensemble The Scarlets warmed up with tight, metal-leaning rock. Miss Christina Ginger held down the
bottom end and looked like she was born to be on stage.
However,
the overall energy on stage didn’t really match the sound as the gals came off
more casual, tough, and cool. I’m sure a couple more shows and we’ll get a pogo
or two out of them. But who am I to judge? The
White Devils opened up this beautiful Saturday night catastrophe at the Bug
Jar, and we play sitting down.
The
next Wednesday the Montage Grille was packed to the ceiling with bluesers as
Kansas City’s Kelley Hunt boogied
and woogied on the piano and belted the blues. It seems her show was preceded
by some pre-show airplay and hype. See what a little radio help will do? I’ve
been to shows by artists as good and you could hear crickets while tripping
over tumbleweeds.
Hunt’s
show was solid but has come and gone. Will she get any airplay now? Unlikely.
She’s too good and — God forbid — something new.
A
mile or so away the same night, San Diego’s Eric Sardinas torched the Dinosaur with his Steve Vai, dive-bomber,
Delta blues. This man is a guitar monster, doing things to a burnt-up dobro
that’d make Hendrix blush. His trio’s music is so raw and sexually charged you
can feel the heat coming off the stage. He’s a good lookin’ boy as well, with
his flowing black hair, tattooed olive skin, and sensuous swagger. There wasn’t
a dry seat in the house.
New
theory: The Village People aren’t
gay. They danced so poorly while karaoke-ing there’s just no way. I still think
the Indian is kinda cool, though. What was left of this wedding-reception
staple opened up for Cher, who must
look like the Crypt Keeper up close since no one with a camera was allowed
within 200 yards of her.
The
old gal has still got the pipes and plenty of glitzy Vegas-style pomp to parade
around in, though. She opened the show with U2’s “I Still Haven’t Found What
I’m Looking For.” She defended all the divas in waiting and heirs to her throne
between songs, but still warned them, “Follow this, bitches.”
They
smile pretty in California. I’ve got a pile of black-and-whites to prove it. I
flew out to spend Thanksgiving with ex-Rochesterians Steve Edwards and Ron Mesh (also Switchfoot’s tour manager). Mesh makes a mean turkey. The secret: let it
catch on fire and burn out of control for a minute or so.
I
was lucky enough to catch two classic LA punk bands on their home turf. Though
frontman Mike Ness is the only original member left, Social Distortion sounded loud, greasy, and great. They sampled
stuff off the new record and heaped on a healthy helping of classics that are
virtually anthems now. I’ve always been drawn to the band’s singleness of
purpose and simplicity and was surprised when Ness whipped out some pretty
slick guitar breaks.
The
next night: the Hollywood House Of Blues with Mesh and the Red Wings’ Thurm
Costello and his wife to see X and The Blasters. Again there were only two
original members in this Blaster line-up, but after all this time the music has
truly transcended the musicians, who played it rough and mean.
X
mixes such a perfect blend of chaos, classic rock ‘n’ roll, and wry poetic
insight. Every song struck like a hit as Exene tantrumed in front of the mike
like a girl half her age, and guitarist Billy Zoom zoomed his Duo Jet with an
ever-present creepy smile spread across his mug.
X
and Social Distortion still embody the outlaw spirit they helped to create. How
appropriate that both bands’ intro music was Bobby Fuller’s “I Fought The Law.”
This article appears in Dec 8-14, 2004.
