Manu Chao
A barrage of Latin drumming washed over the sold-out, heavily international crowd at the Fillmore Auditorium last Thursday as Manu Chao and the shirtless, tattooed funk band the Radio Bemba Sound System unfurled a raucous, eclectic live show – a first for Denver and a rarity in general for this part of the world. The high-energy act is well known in Europe and Latin America. But judging from last-minute ticket sales, Manu Chao enjoys more North American fans than one might expect. The group launched into its amped-up Latin world beat with the vigor of early-era Red Hot Chili Peppers and the crowd connectivity of live Bob Marley. The eclectic, politically conscious and intensely instrumental show changed quickly and often, oscillating between energetic reggae, conga and alt-rock rhythms. The crowd-pleasing set included the street-smart “Clandestino,” the dub-tinged “El Viento,” the seductive “Por El Suelo” and the rowdy “Bongo Bong.”
-Elana Ashanti Jefferson
X
Cute girl to Ogden Theatre bartender: “Is this the Henry Rollins Band?” Bartender: “No, but they rocked the house. This is X.” Cute girl: “Who’s X?” Bartender: “Dunno. Never heard of them before tonight.”
This is what it has come to, five years after the second-most important American punk band (after the Ramones) lingers on after having delivered a blaze-of-glory farewell tour in 2001.
The band did its part: John Doe (in uncharacteristically casual jeans and a T-shirt), rock goddess Exene Cervenka, drummer D.J. Bonebrake and “Chucky”- smiling Billy Zoom zoomed through hits like “Soul Kitchen,” “White Girl” “In This House That I Call Home” and “True Love” before a fiery encore of “Johnny Hit and Run Paulene” and “Blue Spark.” But the highlight was, as always, “New World.” Written in such utter contempt for Ronald Reagan, it’s now a more ferocious rallying cry than ever with a Bush as its target. X still matters because these loveable old fogeys continue to leave their every ounce of sweat on the floor to be mopped up in their wake.
-John Moore
Eddie Spaghetti
Nobody can deny the Supersuckers’ zeal, sleaze and fervor. The punkabilly band is absolutely undeniable. Which isn’t to say that the group’s frontman is undeniable, because his set Aug. 4 at Bender’s Tavern was lackluster in presentation and attitude.
Spaghetti started off as a duo playing album tracks and hits for the hardcore fans who filled the room. It was a slow start, and while The Railbenders added a much- needed kick when they boarded the stage as Spaghetti’s backing band, it never quite recovered. Sure, some of the jams were kicked out in the true punk spirit, but Spaghetti seemed to be sleeping through most of the set, just going through the motions.
-Ricardo Baca
Evangelicals
No, Evangelicals aren’t a wimpy Christian punk act but rather a thrilling indie maelstrom from Norman, Okla. The band’s unassuming but pummeling Tuesday night Hi-Dive set ruled over solid local openers D. Biddle and lackluster headliners Get Him Eat Him. Perhaps it was the unexpectedness of the band’s force, or Josh Jones’ satisfying Steve Malkmus-meets-David Byrne vocals (often sung in seeming epileptic fits), or the unpredictable chord changes in “Another Day.” Regardless, the band owned both the room and the night, providing the meat in an otherwise unremarkable musical sandwich.
-John Wenzel
