I was so excited last Friday night to see the infamous Black Lips play a live show finally. The show lived up to everything I thought it would be. However, if I had known that such crappy acts were going to be opening for the Atlanta boys, I would have come to the show later in the evening. http://www.myspace.com/theblacklips
My wife and I got to Sonar about an hour after the doors opened. The place was full of twenty-something’s with a few of us late-thirties people around. Unfortunately, there was a wanna-be dj attempting to pump the crowd and it was not working. When a band walked on stage, I was so happy. Finally, some music. That was until I realized that the band sucked. The band was Popo. Which is a Philly band of three brothers who were stoned or drunk or both. I think they were of Indian descent, but I can’t be sure. They really sucked. It was so bad, my wife was willing to hang in the smoking area outside with me. I have enjoyed a bad bands in my time that were entertaining. These guys were not entertaining, could not play, and simply did not care one iota about the audience. http://www.myspace.com/popobros
Then, this DJ called Ninja Sonik played for what seemed to be two hours. I was in hell. It did not feel like a punk rock show or garage rock show at all. Then these “club kids” starting appearing and chicks dressed up like sluts as if they were going to da’ club. Yeech. I had no idea who Spank Rock was. I found out quickly that they are the filthiest rap group I have ever heard in my life. We didn’t stay in there for an entire song (I use the word ‘song’ loosely). They were disgusting and not a good fit for an opening band. Maybe the Black Lips were trying to be funny? Who knows. Spank Rock sucks.
The Black Lips were amazing. They were solid on every song. They played stuff from the first albums as well as the new stuff. The energy of the band was awesome and they just sounded good. I wish the idiots at Sonar could have adjusted to sound system with less bass, but other than that – the band was awesome. The jangling guitars, the harmonies, and the out of control drummer gave me what I came for. Needless to say, I would definitely see them again. But come on, you can’t go on at 10:00? Guess I am getting old.