Saw just a down-home rock'n'roll show at King’s last
weekend... No Eyes, Zack Mexico, and the Love Language. I'd never seen No Eyes before, and they aren’t really in my listening wheelhouse. But they were tight, fast, loud… and not
too metal for my taste. Great
stuff. Then Zack Mexico played a
stunning show as usual. I don’t know
how these guys can consistently play a 5- or 6-song set and you never feel
cheated. Maybe it’s because they’re long,
intense, driving jams that never sound like they’re just jamming. I often say, as I did after they played to my
friend Iggy, that I think Zack
Mexico is THE best band operating in NC today. He seemed to agree save for the great Whatever Brains (which I can't really argue with).
Then the Love Language played. I’m a big fan of theirs, but I’ve seen them a million times, so I’m usually not dying
to see them play anymore. Truth be told,
I came for Zack. But it’s interesting
that frontman Stu McLamb posted after the show that he was feeling rejuvenated about the
band again. As a fan -- after that show
-- so am I. They played as a 4-piece for
the first time… ever? (at least that I’ve seen; but then I wasn't watching'em in Greensville in 2008)
But they rocked so much I almost believed the onstage joke that
guitarist Andy Holmes was playing remotely backstage (I even checked J). By the time they lit into the stunner Pilot Light from their latest album Ruby
Red, I was re-assessing my “Best Band in NC” opinion from just a few minutes
earlier.
If you read this blog, you've probably run across the social media meme that's been making the rounds to the effect
of “List Ten NC Bands” or “Your Favorite NC Bands”. I weighed in with mine… Zack Mexico and Free
Clinic were 1-2, I think. Well, the Love Language, who were lower in myTop 10, just pulled up to a tie for the lead. But then on the
way home, a song (Tenements) from Gross Ghost popped up on my iPod, and I switched to their
album Brer Rabbit, and thought “How the
HELL did I not remember to put them on my list?!” And I realized: there are WAY too many great bands in this
state to list the “10 Best”. At most, you
could say “these are my favorite bands
that I’m listening to right now”. For me, it’s a constant revolving
door. We have an embarrassment of riches
here in NC… from Kill Devil Hills to Asheville, from Winston-Salem to
Wilmington. Too many fucking good bands to listen to right now.
It’s sickening, really.
It’s sickening, really.
Some photos below, but I’ll try to post all the photos on myfacebook page soon. See also videos here and here.
No Eyes...
No Eyes...
