After 33 years, and after losing nearly as many bassists as Spinal Tap lost drummers, still has it. “It” being the ability to plod through heavy, repetitive bass-laden sludgy punk for an hour or so, mesmerizing a slow-slamming crowd and laughing through it all.
Friday night, the aging four-piece led a packed through just over an hour of that signature proto-hardcore, fronted by screamer Bruce Loose (who – with the exception of bassist Rachel Thoele – easily looked the youngest in the band, not much different than in pictures from years ago).
They took to the low, tiny stage comfortably, with easy banter. Thoele, ironically, was concerned that her bass was too loud, and slowly folded into “Thatap the Way of the World.” Guitarist Ted Falconi hovered at stage right, flailing with long, distorted noodling and oatmeal-thick chords, and looked strangely like a dreadlock-bedecked Abe Vigoda. He stayed there, usually looking towards the back of the stage, away from the crowd, for the entire set. Meanwhile, Thoele and drummer Steve DePace kept the sturm-and-drang thudding for each eight (or so) minute song.
Eventually, crowd-swaying and slow fist-pumping changed to lethargic head-banging, and finally into a slow but determined slam pit. The morass opened up in front of the stage and sucked in most of the audience, but it only lasted for about a song.
Loose was the spitting image of ‘80s hardcore — spiked hair and a wry smile, always ready with a few snarks about the crowd or the band. The band covered some good historic ground, a lot of it from “Generic Flipper” (if you’re familiar with Flipper’s pantheon of repetition). Highlights (meaning those that stuck out as more recognizable messes than others) included “(I Saw You) Shine” and “Life is Cheap” played sloppily and perfectly.
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Billy Thieme is a Denver-based writer, an old-school punk and a huge follower of Denver’s vibrant local music scene. Follow Billy’s explorations at , and his giglist at .
Michael McGrath is a Denver area photographer. His work is available at . Visit .
