Saturday, September 5, 2009

Got a good reason for taking the easy way out

D is for "Day Tripper". As performed by Cheap Trick.



Last night I saw the CT-related supergroup Tinted Windows at the Great American. I was kind of 50/50 about attending this show, because I found the Tinted Windows album a little reductive and repetitive, but they bring the rock live. They're like a 21st century Cheap Trick, with Tyler Hansen as Robin Zander, James Iha as Rick Neilsen, Adam Schlesinger as Tom Petersson, and Bun E. Carlos as Bun E. Carlos (accept no substitute!). They played every song from their album (bonus tracks and all) and ended with a cover of the Buzzcocks "I Don't Mind".

The opening act, Bay Area pop supergroup the Magic Christian, also brought their rock boots. They're led by former Flamin' Groovies legend Cyril Jordan with vocalist Paul Kopf (the young Roy Loney) and the current Plimsouls rhythm section (Eddie Muñoz and Clem Burke of Blondie fame).

The Magic Christian are like a 21st century Flamin' Groovies featuring Cyril Jordan as Cyril Jordan (accept no substitute!). Last night was the release of their long-awaited (as in a decade in the making) album Evolver, so they mostly played songs from the record, wrapping up with energetic romps through "Teenage Head" and "Shake Some Action". The last time I saw the Magic Christian, they didn't play any Groovies songs, which is like John Fogerty not playing any CCR songs.

The best thing about this show was seeing two of my all time favorite drummers, Bun E. Carlos and Clem Burke, in action. The next best thing was that both bands have just one album's worth of material, so a 9pm show with two bands wrapped up by 11pm. It's always nice to be home before midnight.

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