Live Rock Update

Man, it's been too long since I filed a rock 'n' roll show status report, so I guess I'm overdue. Honestly, the summer was filled with what seemed like more Mets games than rock shows (May their season R.I.P.).

A few recent shows were worth mentioning, though. Earlier in September I finally saw the comeback of The Live Ones, following Mike's hurt hand and tour with The Fuzztones. They're back in their natural state as a three piece, as they belong, writing new tunes, and playin some old ones (like "Right on, Sister"). Evidently they're recording soon, too -- finally -- but I'll believe it when I see it.

A couple weeks ago we caught a great show at the new Bowery Ballroom clone, Williamsburg Music Hall (old Sine, same owners as Merc Lounge and Ballroom). The place is so new you could still sniff the sawdust and fresh paint. First up was Cheeseburger whom we hadn't seen in ages, whoopin' it up with songs from their latest album, which I dig a lot. They swilled beer, showed ass crack and tossed around a couple of pinatas filled with gummie cheeseburgers. Super fun.

They were opening for the also raucous but much more artsy/noisy Les Savy Fav. They sounded amazing, too. Can't beat the lead singer's antics -- fat belly rubbing, crazy outfits, crowd infiltrating. But the music's great, and even if he just stood there you wouldn't care much.

Speaking of fat belly rubbing, we saw a perennial fave, Turbonegro at the annoyingly sterile and Times Square-located Nokia Theatre last week. They played a variety of old and new, two encores, and of course, Hanky luxuriated in his flab. Everybody did what you expected. I had lots of fun, but we agreed it seemed a tad, uh, like they were going through the motions. Not quite as inspired as other times we'd seen them (OK, barring that one time a few years ago when they stopped after about half a song 'cause some dick threw a bottle at Hank's head). Can't blame 'em at all. I can't imagine being on tour and playing every night, trying to stay fresh, even if you're switching up the set list.

Either way, the latest album, Retox, is a good one, even if it is even more a cliche of their masterpiece Apocalypse Dudes than the last couple. Some of the lyrics (like when Hanky proclaims "Semper Fat" in the intro for a tune about his largess), are pretty lame. But the intro lyrics in "What Is Rock?" are just damn great (and totally crack me up):

What Is Rock? Rock is the area between the balls and the anus of a dog or another man.

What Is Rock? Rock is the possibility of choking on your own vomit in the back of a rapist's van.

What Is Rock? Denim-clad Satanists making love in the sewers of Birmingham during Maggie Thatcher's prime.

What Is Rock? Meeting the grim reaper in a sports arena stampede at the tender age of nine..."

Luv it.