Tonight was a night of psychobilly so Lady J and I decided to park several blocks away from the venue. I thought arriving in a Japanese sports car might be embarrassing. I wish I had that huge, old, American car I saw in Tokyo. It was squeezing its way through narrow streets, loaded with Japanese men in leather jackets and oversized quiffs playing loud, American rock’n’roll.
Brigitte Handley and the Dark Shadows’ look has psychobilly elements, and their sound does owe something to the original rockers, but I see them as modernized, sexed up, fun loving, twisted, old school punk. They are like an all grrl, three piece version of The Damned for the 21st century. And that is a description devoid of any negative aspects.
Brigitte Handley’s voice is strong and menacing and sensual and unique. She plays a mean guitar riff devoid of pretentious and irritating solos. Carly on bass is a bundle of energy that never stops smiling. I tried taking pictures of her, but she never stays still long enough. The latest addition to the lineup is Ned on drums. I have seen a lot of drummers in my time, but none have ever made playing them look slinky before. Simultaneously ferocious and graceful. Tonight they delighted us with new songs and teased us with the promise of new recording early next year.
Second act were the ghoulish Zombie Ghost Train. The singer/guitarist was doing his best to be an undead Elvis Presley, while the band reminded me of the Blues Brothers playing Rawhide. Over and over again. They were enjoying themselves and, from my vantage point, ostensibly enjoying themselves more than the audience. Their look and sound was right for the night, but they lacked that certain something that makes a band good. I think it is something to do with songwriting ability.
As the night went on and the venue filled, I felt shorter and shorter. I was in a tattooed forest of rockers, dwarfed by heavily inked men dressed in thick soled brothel creepers and mile high quiffs. I decided to play my version of train spotter, and become a Dark Shadow spotter. I went looking for the drummer Ned, and I found her bouncing around the club. Ned was asking people about election results, and was very excited at the prospect of a change in government.
My stalking of Ned was abruptly halted when the Casino Rumblers took the stage and immediately set out to prove they were going to play faster and harder than anyone else on the bill. (The bill being the bands playing that night not the British cop show). I was going to call them a rockabilly, ska, hardcore band but that is not quite right. Lady J commented, “It’s *System of A Down*”, “It’s *Metallica*”, “It’s *Fred Durst*”, as their set progressed and they tried to be every ‘heavy’ band around. They were intense and macho, and that clearly appealed to some men in the audience. I like my bands to appeal to both genders.
During the break I went looking for Dark Shadows bassist Carly. I found her near the merchandise stand in front of the Extreme Hunting video game. Was she staging her own anti-hunting protest? Is she a hunt saboteur? Does she like guns? Does she like video games? My thoughts were interrupted when the crowd starting cheering and I knew the headliners were taking the stage. My Dark Shadows obsession would have to wait for another time.
The Meteors have been the defining psychobilly band for 27 years and it’s easy to see why. Tight, energetic, and focused on having a good time. It is a pity the singer knows this and acted like human embodiment of arrogance. Australia just voted out a prime minister for his egotism and lack of respect for voters. I wonder if P Paul Fenech is in danger of being ousted from the band.
The Meteor’s obsessions, mostly to do with horror movies and all things violent and nasty and undead, may not be to everyone’s taste, but those people weren’t in the audience. They were probably at home underlining passages in the bible. The set was wild on stage and wild off, as the crowd shouted and danced and drank like it was the best night they had ever had. For some of them I think it was. Songs were mostly from the middle period (nothing to early and nothing too late) which disappointed one fan I overheard.
The Meteors finished leaving me to my final train spotting event of the night, Brigitte Handley. I followed her discretely, watching as admirers would approach for autographs and to buy her drinks. She would smile and oblige. I saw men in suits approach her with deals and the opportunity to appear on Dancing With The Stars. She smiled and pushed them away. Despite doing my best efforts to hide, Brigitte saw me watching her. I panicked and turned to run, but The Meteors and their fans were blocking my exit. I signaled to Lady J to get the car and meet me out the back while I slowly edged my way through the club. I didn’t look to see if Brigitte was following. It is best to avoid eye contact in these situations. I made it through the club and outside to Lady J. I jumped in to the car and, as we sped away into the night, I knew I would be back. I always come back to The Annandale.
