black lips at turf club
The Black Lips’ powerful, psychotic-blues style is incredibly absorbing live. I sang along to all my by sam watson favorite tracks with perfect strangers, and at one I’ve been a fan of the Black Lips since point unironically did that goofy hillbilly dance which high school, when I first heard Bad Kids involves grabbing one’s belt buck and kicking side to pumping through my friend’s blown-out car side. I was not the only one. speakers. Although they certainly aren’t When the show came to a close, Alexander dethe only rockabilly punk act, their tenalivered a monologue about hangovers, sunsets, and cious, hell-bent sound and juvenile lyrics dirty women in his charming southern drawl. As he have kept me listening for years. So when neared the end, a sweaty drunk dude up front exI found out they were playing at the Turf tended a palm. Alexander locked eyes with him, and Club I knew I had to go. gave the most solemn high-five I have ever witnessed Although I will admit, I was somewhat hesitant. I love crazy shows, but the Black before exiting the stage. If there ever was a spiritual high-five experience, I’m pretty sure that drunk dude Lips have a reputation. From Wikipedia: “The Black Lips are noted for provocative got it. theatrics- including vomiting, urination, nudity, fireworks, a chicken, and flaming guitars.” Oddly, Wikipedia makes no mention of their penchant for sucking each other off on stage, or guitarist Cole Alexander’s talent for playing his instrument using his cock. I’ll go ahead and spoil it: the show did not involve any sex organs. Which was frankly a little disappointing to me. Like I just want to know how that even works. The opening act Natural Child performed a solid set. Their swingin’, rockabilly vibe (with frequent references to drugs and weird sex) makes them an obvious pairing. by henry southwick In the last issue of No Fidelity, I wrote a review of Although Natural Child is by no means Chevelle’s new album La Gargola. I was extremetame, when the Black Lips came out it ly excited about the album, and then I got to see was like experiencing a manic shift. They them live. This was my second time seeing the band opened with Family Tree, an intense tune in the last 8 months and, holy shit, did they up their with squealing guitar hooks that get all game. The lifeless Loefflers of last summer came flyup inside your head and chest. The audience responded in kind, happily screaming ing back with new energy and a very visual excitement. along and instigating a sweaty, ceaseless The concert was the second 93x radio event I’ve pit. Even though the band didn’t get crazy attended in the last 9 months, and it blew the first that night, that didn’t stop the crowd. Thankfully, the Black Lips are comfortable one out of the water. Chevelle have been popular with chaotic energy: When one enthusiastic for years now, and the people came in droves to drunkard surfed on stage during Drugs and see them live on a Saturday night. Thousands of started yelling the chorus back in Alexanpeople were packed into Myth before the end of der’s face, Alexander lightheartedly tipped the first warm up band (called nothing more, also him back into the crowd with an index excellent), and they proceeded to get loud and finger. No sweat. rowdy. George and I fought our way up to the front
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