Whole Lotta Live Reviews by EAK

including one not found in the print edition

Electroclash 2002, EMP, Seattle, 10/23/02 - If you’ve been out of the loop, you may not realize Brooklyn and a genre of 80s inspired new wave music has gotten to be a pretty big deal. If Electroclash is a big top tent, Larry Tee is the guy with the tall hat - as he started up a series of parties, a record label, and the Electroclash 2002 tour to enhance brand recognition for the movement. Some of these bands, such as Tracy and the Plastics, were a bit tedious; Tracy uses loops to literally rap with herself - I’m sure this has post-modernist implications but is less than enthralling to watch. Headliner Peaches pulled off a punchy set of ribald rap, while Chicks on Speed coupled punk lyrics, industrial beats, and dissonant new-wave sounds - borrowing from many places without being merely imitative. After Peaches, you’re mostly likely to hear about Whatever It Takes (WIT). Musically, they sound late disco, pre-new wave, like Berlin with heavy synths but crowds will tend to remember the breathless voices from the three female singers in Olivia Newton-John haircuts and tight gold lame disco gowns. The crowd at Electroclash was unique in that these folks have always been the ‘others’ and have probably never been in a crowd of other folks like themselves. Think of the outsider, gay confidante to the pretty female leads in teen angst flicks, then fill a concert hall with clones. Electric Engine, Luna Lounge, NYC, 7/20/02 - Fans of the now-dissolved Moths were pleased to find that many of the elements of the former band have carried through to its latest - playing either as Engine or Electric Engine. With two Moths alums - Tim on guitar and Tom on bass sharing vocal duties - Engine displays the somber brightness of indie rock guitar sounds and the clever whimsy and off-kilter world view of its lyrical themes. Perhaps a bit less caustic than the Moths, the instruments of Engine produce a pleasant wail, key changes, and a chiming sound. Engine drew a nice crowd despite competing with the Shins and CamperVan Beethoven’s reunion the same night. And lest rumors of an unamicable Moths break-up surface, the crowd included most of the other Moths alums. Five Points Band, The Colony, Woodstock, NY, 8/15/02 - Although the Five Points Band’s bayou blues geared for voodoo gangsters conjures up the raucous celebrations of second line bands on Mardi Gras morning, its inspired performance played well to this spacious coffee shop. The band, named for the NYC neighborhood where they formed, (not the Martin Scorsese movie location) spans not only many 20th century decades of blues and roots development, but also includes members who cut their teeth in three different decades. Guitarist Robin “The Hammer” Ludwig first wended pliant notes out of a Dobro with the Pterodactyls in the 1960s, while Mike Esterson spanned the cusp of the 70s and 80s in a number of funk, soul and hip-hop acts. The band’s youngster, Jason Babcock, won national drumming competitions as a high school student, joining Esterson and Ludwig in the 90s. The Hammer leads the band with expressive blues vocals andthe shimmering tones of the Gibson and dobro while the rhythm section encircles him with sinuous grooves that channel the punky minimalism of the Violent Femmes. This band is touring to points beyond Woodstock, tho’ not necessarily to your ‘hood, as their debut CD “The Roots and the Spirit” on High Times Records has gained distribution in Canada and France - setting the stage for overseas tours. Traveling is nothing new to these soul troubadours; they have previously played Amsterdam at the Cannabis Cup gathering. - EAK DOA, Portrait of Poverty, Hell’s Kitchen, Tacoma, WA, 11/24/02 - Most young punk purists probably believe punk bands should consist of snarling upstarts were all under age 20. Believe it or not, DOA was celebrating its 25th anniversary tour with this ferociously good show in Tacoma. This band has paid its dues, putting out records independently, touring in vans, and enduring minor riots and police hassles. About the same time this band introduced the word ‘hardcore’ to the punk vocabulary (on their release Hardcore 81) and flannel to the punk wardrobe, they also saw frustration spill over into violence at plenty of shows - both their Seattle appearances in 1984 were shut down.

DOA also turned a small town rock fanatic into a punk fan when he traveled to Seattle for his first punk show featuring DOA. His name was Curt Cobain. Despite the passage of years and many miles on the van, Joe Shithead still leads DOA with cranking guitar broadsides, a swaggering attitude, and songs about red necks, beer, fucked up wars, fucked up presidents, and fucked up drug laws. Joe screams through manic overdrive rip saw guitar while the rhythm section smacks cadence for a mosh army of punk troopers - many of whom weren’t born until punk was celebrating its first decade. DOA has kept the DIY punk ethic alive with its own label (suddendeath.com) and activism with attitude as voiced in DOA’s long-time slogan “Talk - Action = 0.” Here’s to 25 more! - EAK Rocker T, Dub Championz, Rainbow Nightclub, OSEAO Gallery, Seattle, 3/20-21/03 - Rocker T has a fairly high profile through his role in NYC ska pioneers the Skadanks and as a member of the Cannabis Cup band. His shows in Seattle to celebrate the release of his new album, More Luv, were well-timed and well-received by sizable crowds. T’s message of non-violence, tolerance, and love were a salve to frayed nerves a mere two days into the latest war. In addition to a DJ set, the OSEAO show featured a rare acoustic set with Rocker T on guitar and melodica accompanied by Jah Yzer and Adrian on percussion. The 2nd Seattle show was impressive as Dub Championz had neither performed nor practiced with T, and the show consisted of an improvisational, incredibly tight, and powerfully energizing set of dub reggae . - EAK Hot Rod Circuit, Graceland, Seattle, WA, 03/03/03 - There are plenty of hot bands putting out pop-punk and HRC’s live set shows it deserves the attention it’s been getting in this fairly crowded genre. The band combines the tight but hard-edged sound with lyrics that meander comfortably between screaming punk and pining emo-rock that insures wide appeal - a large number of teens at the all-ages show sang along to several cuts. The band also has cut its teeth through extensive touring in the 5 years since it emerged from Alabama. In addition to the majesty and volume of the band’s performance, the guitarist did a fairly convincing imitation of Pete Townsend back in the day - not only did he sport a beard, tousled mid-length curls and jumpsuit, but he reprised a fine repertoire of windmills and leaps while hitting all the right notes. HRC competes not only with the pop-punks at-large but also with fine label mates on Vagrant Records such as Alkaline Trio. - EAK Fine Arts Militia, Future of Media, EMP, Seattle, 3/7/03- The draw here was

Chuck D, whose reputation as the hard-hitting, politically trenchant MC for Public Enemy proceeds him, and his new outfit Fine Arts Militia. Chuck D fights the Powers That Be not just through rap and rock but also through 13 years on the lecture circuit. Tonight he entertained and educated,with able assistance, on two serious dangers - an impending and senseless war and further consolidation of the media by a small number of powerful corporations. Chuck D was in town to testify at an FCC hearing on proposed rules to continue media deregulation started in 1996. FCC chair Michael Powell, inclined to allow big owners to gobble up more media outlets, had decided a single hearing in Virginia would give them ample input on which to decide the future shape of US media; commissioner Jonathan Adelstein disagreed, demanded more hearings, and appeared at the Future of Media concert to report that he had not heard a single comment in favor of consolidation. Several speakers mentioned the chilling effect of corporate ownership of the Big 4 (radio stations) and the Big 5 (record labels) on artists, diversity, and freedom of speech, especially speech opposing war and music with positive messages. Fine Arts Militia, with a CD release in March, rocked hard with jazzy key overtones while Chuck D fought the power, again. - EAK Reverend Horton Heat, Graceland, Seattle, 2/21/03 - The Rev’s songs are a marvel of heat lightning, sinuous swing, and redneck twang to hear on CD; but to see he and his crew wrangle that much noise, energy, and emotion out of 3 instruments in front of a rabid sweating crowd is even more awe-inspiring. He mixes the melodious traditions of roots rock in the Sun Records vein with the manic franticism of bands like Butthole Surfers and Ministry whose members who produced several Rev albums. - EAK Peepshow, Purusa, Central Tavern, Seattle, 2/15/03 - Peepshow, a Seattle band in its 5th year, corners a bit of territory in the hard rock genre by reprising what is appealing about those bands on the cutting edge nu-rock stations while maintaining its own sound thanks to lead-singer Brian Armstrong’s distinctive voice and a generous dollop of jam rock inspired guitar sounds, close but refusing to give way to hair metal clichés. Portland’s Purusa joined the alliterative bill with its own organic version of indie rock. Like Peepshow, they wring some emotion out of their vocals recalling 80s bands like Red Rocker or the Cult, along with some 80s style rock guitar. The cleanish sqwonk of the guitar riffs sail into bluesy waters that have caused many reviewers to describe Purusa as a soul/rock hybrid. Their set closer mated dreamy wah-wah guitar peals with breathy Thom Yorke-style vocals. - EAK 3 Inch Max, Blue Moon Tavern, Seattle, 12/03/02 - Seattle’s fabled haunt of literary types (including 3 Pulitzer Prize winners and Tom Robbins) is also the home of free music several nights a week. Sometimes they roll back the pool table to make room for folk singers or novelty acts, but tonight they had some fine punk rock. 3” Max plays punk on the rockabilly tip with fast surf guitar and funky bass thrown in for a complete feast for the ears. Perfect accompaniment for a bar full of books. - EAK