Junk Rock

Review - She Wants Revenge @ the Larimer Lounge in Denver 02/02/06

First, let me say This band is going to be huge!

I'm in Denver this week for work. I was hoping that perhaps the Black Halos or the Chelsea Smiles would be playing, but no such luck. However, I did discover that a new band who I have just heard a few songs from, but really liked, She Wants Revenge were playing. I decided all work and no play would make me extremely dull so I decided to go check them out.

The show was at a place called The Larimer Lounge. The Larimer Lounge reminded me quite a bit of the Bottom of the Hill in SF (although I have to say the SF definately pulls in a cooler crowd). The Larimer Lounge did find favor with me in a big way for their awesome jukebox selection. They had the Dirtbombs, The Forty-Fives, the Hellacopters, Turbonegro, Love and Rockets, etc. I could go on and on. I've never seen a jukebox like that.

On to the show. There were two opening bands that sounded so non-descript they are not even worth mentioning.

If you like gothey 80's music you will LOVE She Wants Revenge. The singer reminds me a bit of Ian Curtis from Joy Division, both in the sound of his voice and he also had some of those jerkey movements that Ian Curtis used to do (however, he is definately not copying Ian Curtis, IMO). They were awesome live. I'm not familiar enough with the names of their songs, but they did play the two songs that people are most familiar with. They also have a song where the beginning sounded quite a bit like the beginning of Bela Lugosi's Dead (it was the weird chord changes part). The only downer part of the show was when the keyboard player (who wears the 50's style hat) did this weird solo. He was the only one that was into it.

Now, here is what made me fall in love with this band. The singer was the one selling t-shirts after the show. How awesome is that. I know he won't be doing that for long, because I predict they will be huge.

They are going to be in SF in March at the Great American Music Hall (I will definately be there).

If She Wants Revenge comes to your town, don't miss them. Here is a link to their web site if you want to check them out:

http://www.shewantsrevenge.com

Black Halos, American Heartbreak and Flexx Bronco Live at the Grant and Green in SF 01/05/06

 Well, here I am at the Grant & Green anxiously waiting to see the mighty Black Halos. I still can’t believe I have never seen them live. They were supposed to be on the bill in July with the Backyard Babies, Chelsea Smiles and American Heartbreak at the Bottom of the Hill. But somehow they were not there (fellow Canadians and label mates Crash Kelly replaced them).

 
If you don’t yet have the Halo’s new CD, Alive Without Control you really are missing out. Run and pick it up if your local record store even carries it (but that is a different story all together).

 
Billy Hopeless, the Halo’s lead singer has an amazing and unique voice. The closest I can describe it to is my most favorite bandit Tyla, from the Dogs D’Amour. Billy has one of those whiskey and gravel voices that people either seem to love or hate (I happen to love it), there are no shades of grey here when it comes to people’s opinion of Billy’s voice.

 As I sit here in the Grant and Green waiting for the show to start it is very empty. The 1^st band is setting up, and other than myself, the band and the bartender there is just one other person here. I hope there are more people here later (it is really early right now, 7:40 p.m.). I am reminded of an episode of Frontline from 2004 that I watched a few nights ago about the music business. It was a very sad show. It talked about how crappy the state of music is right now and how there is not a lot of substance about what is played on the radio. Basically if you look good but sound like crap you are good to go for the radio. I have to say that I agree with that assessment. I thank the Goddess for Satellite Radio and Podcasting (American Heartbreak's own Michael Butler hosts the best Podcast on the planet, the Rock and Roll Geek Show). I have not listened to regular radio for about a year. I have Sirius Satellite Radio and it doesn’t get much better than the Underground Garage channel (my fav. and the one I listen to most often). I recommend that station to everyone. When was the last time that you heard Demolition 23 on the radio? Unless you have Satellite radio I would guess the answer is never!hahahaha! There is definately great music out there but the public is either not ready for it or not willing to go out and discover it.

 

On the Frontline show the manager for Outkast said that if you put out good music that the public will buy it. I agree with that assessment to an extent, I feel that that is a very small portion of the public. As long as Lindsey Lohan and Hillary Duff have music careers (if you can call what they have that), color me skeptical. Why is crap like that played on the radio on a regular basis and music like what is being played here tonight must continually struggle? I don’t know the answer to that. If I did, I would be rich and sign all the amazing bands and make them rich too!

 
Well, the club has gotten crowded with what appears at face value to be a bunch of drunk local yuppies (some of whom are wearing matching red shirts). Yikes! I hope they leave when the music starts, they are scaring me. If they stay they have no idea of the junk rock extravaganza they are in store for! hahahahaha!

 
Well, about 10 minutes has gone by and the club has thinned out. Thank the Goddess. Now there are a few assorted colorful locals and mainly members from the assorted bands. I hope there is a good turn out of fans for the bands. If only 1 person showed up, this is still the best rock and roll show in town.

 
I should also say how extremely excited I am to see American Heartbreak tonight. I haven’t seen them since they opened for the Backyard Babies in July. They were awesome then as I’m sure they will be tonight. Why aren’t those guys huge? I really don’t know. Probably because the general public has crappy taste in music! They truly are one of my fav. bands and I feel very lucky that they are local so I have more chances to see them.

 
The show has started with openers Flexx Bronco! Wow! These guys sound awesome. Catchy songs and tight riffs. They fit this bill perfectly. I’m not sure if they are a local SF band (so far they haven’t said if they are local or not) but I’m guessing they are. They remind me of a punkier version of Junkyard (if anyone remembers them). Usually the first opening band is not that exciting but these guys kicked major ass! I expect to see much more from them in the future.

 
Next up is American Heartbreak! I don’t think these guys could be bad if they tried! Rock and roll lives with American Heartbreak. I really love their new songs, Last of the Superheros and Things are Looking Up…both of which will be on their new CD which I understand will be out in April! Make sure to pick it up when it comes out. I’m probably extremely biased because I love these guys so much. I really hope they make it big! They are nice and humble and just play amazing music!

 
Now up, the mighty Black Halos. OK, for what is supposed to be my Black Halos’ review I did not write very much about them, mainly because I was busy rocking out during their set. Also the club was small and the sound was distorted so I wasn’t able to keep track of a set list like I would have liked. All I can say is they gave 110% and the crowd loved them. Billy went into what I think was a diatribe about the state of so-called music videos (and as I’m sure you can tell, if you have read this I love a good diatribe) and then seemed to channel Iggy Pop. Tonight he really was a street walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm! t was pure junk rock and it was awesome!