Dash Rip Rock / Interpreters / Maxwells / December 9, 1998

Experienced boozy New Orleans swamp rockers, Dash Rip Rock, never fail to deliver adrenalized good-timey party tunes. And they kept their streak going with a two-hour set at Hoboken’s regenerated Maxwells, performing tracks from their eighth album, Paydirt, plus seasoned faves and a host of cheery covers.

Relying on hilarious wit, rockin’ good hooks, and nifty cocktail-soaked harmonies, the game trio opened with a rip-snortin’ take on Hank Williams’ enlightened “I Saw The Light” that was immediately countered by a downtempo hillbilly treatment of Guy Mitchell’s downhearted hootenanny “Singing The Blues.” Then, these shot-glass shootin’ mojo bohos offered the drunken love ode, “Locked Inside The Liquor Store With You,” righteously claiming at the song’s conclusion, ‘we have more drinking songs than other bands have songs.’

Part of the fun was seeing them rumble through cheesy oldies like Grand Funk’s “We’re An American Band,” Big Star’s “In The Street” (made popular by FOX’s vogue-ish That ‘70s Show), and Rush’s “Fly By Night” as well as ‘90s indie rock like the Muffs “Sad Tomorrow” and Vaselines “Molly’s Lips.” They even added a slow burning “Please Come Home For Christmas” for seasonal affect.

Able to rock and roll ‘til the cows come home, Dash Rip Rock showed off tricky flashes of brilliance and a fanatical pop knowledge, finally bowing out when the late hour forced all but thirty hardcore fans to retire.

An astonishingly propulsive live band, Philadelphia’s the Interpreters led off the evening with the thrilling “Glorious,” a garage thrasher neatly based on the emphatic opening riff of The Who’s pre-punk rouser, “My Generation.” Far more powerful onstage than on their no-less-wonderful Back In The USSA, the trio’s primitive attack and raw energy kept the somewhat reserved audience enthralled, especially during blazingly chanted anthems like “Shout!” and “I Should Have Known Better.”

Singer-bassist Mark Gaer’s goofy antics peaked on the punk-stimulated closer, Uptight,” where he cracked up fans by squirming on the floor to do the Worm while the band temporarily slipped into emblematic Philly hometown Rocky theme, “Eye Of The Tiger.”

This show offered some of the best damn electric music you’re likely to find anywhere. So all hedonistic pleasure-seekers should feel welcome to get liquored up and enjoy either band next time they come ‘round.

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