This is an expanded version of a review that appeared in this post, from this blog. The show was in Jersey City at Uncle Joe's on September 14.
Next up: Rye Coalition. A Jersey City band--and proud of it--that has gained limited national recognition for RAWKING. This band does rock. Really rock. I had been briefed on their schtick and was skeptical, as I tend to be leery of riff-heavy rock. I ended up being very impressed. Kind of like Soundgarden but less serious and more unabashed in their rockingness...more willing to let out their hair (if they had any long hair) and just rock. Think AC/DC meets Led Zeppelin through a Seattle circa-90 filter. Kinda like Mudhoney but stronger riffs and less gratuitous fuzz.
Highlights of the night were "Prosthetic aesthetic," an epic dirge built around interwoven, circular guitar riffs (they're a quintet now) and a stunningly heavy rhythmic undertow that recalled some of the earlier Rollins Band material; and, a raucous cover of AC/DC's "Whole Lotta Rosie."
Gratuitous lead guitar wankery was restrained, with only a few relatively brief indulgences. This band isn't about dazzling you with chops, it's about pounding you with superbly rendered rock and roll that doesn't sound cheap or overly retro. They're worth the price of admission alone just for the singer, a true front-man if ever there was one. No shoe-gazing here.
Tour dates (courtesy of Eric Olsen):
Fri. Nov 1st: Brooklyn, NY @ Warsaw (Tiger Style CMJ Showcase w/ James
Chance, Broken Spindles, The Mercury Program, Lo-Hi & The Dears)
Sat. Nov 2nd: Chicago, IL @ Fireside Bowl
Sun. Nov 3rd: Omaha, NE @ Sokol Hall
Mon. Nov 4th: Lawrence, KS @ Replay Lounge
Tue. Nov 5th: Denver, CO @ Climax Lounge
Wed. Nov 6th: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
Thu. Nov 7th: Portland, OR @ The Blackbird
Fri. Nov 8th: Vancouver, BC @ Picadilly Pub
Sat. Nov 9th: Seattle, WA @ Chop Suey
Tue. Nov 12th: San Francisco, CA @ The Covered Wagon (w/ Drunkhorse)
Thu. Nov 14th: Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland
Fri. Nov 15th: Las Vegas, NV @ The Rock (w/ Nebula)
Sat. Nov 16th: Mesa, AZ @ The Mason Jar
Tue. Nov 19th: Oklahoma City, OK @ Green Door
Wed. Nov 20th: Kansas City, MO @ Davey's Uptown (w/ The Gadjits)
Thu. Nov 21st: St. Paul, MN @ Big V's (w/ Soviettes)
Fri. Nov 22nd: Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club
Sat. Nov 23rd: Cleveland, OH @ Beachland Tavern
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