Everlounge / The Orphans - Buddies Tavern
Parlin, NJ March 15, 2008
In their continuing series of No Dough Shows
(there's no cover charge), the combined manic
musical forces of Buddies Tavern (Myspace.com/Buddies_Tavern)
and Mike Grau (Myspace.com/mikegrau) - and
while we’re at it, let's not forget
Lazlo of BlowupRadio.com, who has put on some
very cool shows at Buddies - have helped to
keep the indie music spirit alive and well,
with some of the most amazing shows this side
of Jersey City.
How amazing you ask? Well, like Asbury Lanes,
you don't have to be too familiar with the
bands (each venue usually has two or three
bands each show), as the genres range from
the obvious to the obscure, so you're sure
to see something you like!
On this particular night, those whirling
dervishes, Everlounge (www.Everlounge.com)
were at their swankiest, as they proceeded
to dare and delight the crowd with their special
brand of, well... what can only be described
as Liberace-inspired Garagelounge, for a better
word. You see, Everlounge are like The B-52's
of Punk. They take a little of this and a
little of that, and mix it all around, and
it comes out unique and exciting! A good example
is "Ace Of Spades" which was originally
done by Motorhead. At Buddies, the originally
heavy metal rocker now, complete with a propelling
guritar/organ/precussion/drum sound that lead
singer Don Dazzo added a swank and sophisticated
vocal to, with country western overtones.
I don't know how they come up with these marvelous
covers, but they are ingenious!
With Amy (percussion), chimimg in on the
blues rocker, "Wine Women Rock"
the song was also flavored with some gritty
Motown R&B. The rest of their set was
sprinkled with surf rock (The Riveras' "California
Sun" was fast, loose, and fun), Samba,
Bossanova (Spirit's "I Got a Line on
You" opened up their set, and the dance
floor- maximum high energy), all things Everlounge.
One of the last numbers, a cover of Nancy
Sinatra's "These Boots Are Made For Walking,"
sung my Amy, was a barn burning, honky tonk
rocker, that was eclectic and cool!
Everlounge's kitchy and campy attitude was
emphased by Don Dazzo's slick schtick, which
is part of what separates them from any other
band. They've been playing for many, many
years (their alter ego The hirling Dervishes
are still playing around), so check out their
web site for show dates, and to get their
two CD's "Nice Set Of Maracas" and
the live album, "Everlounge Recommends."
Between bands Tony the Kid and Megan aka Little
Miss Christmas were working the sound board
spinning tunes by John Lennon, ACDC, and a
cool potpourri of genres that titillated the
taste buds, all good music should, as well
as your tummy. (You gotta try the thin crust
pizza)!
The Orphans were the winners of the “1981
Westfield Battle of the Bands," and as
it also says in their press kit, "Most
of the songs you are about to hear were written
27 years ago (most of the guys are in their
40's on up), by frustrated 10th and 11th graders.
This will be obvious in a few minutes."
And that's exactly what you get at The Orphans
live show, and on their current album, "The
Old Dudes Brought the Power" (www.orphansmusic.com).
Snot-nosed teen angst prevailed in all their
songs, as The Orphans opened their set with
a cover of The Electric 6’s "Gay
Bar" that was just amazing! If you ever
heard the original, The Orphans revved it
up and shot off into the stratosphere! Hey,
The even have a theme song (I think every
band should). "Orphanage," which
also opens their self-produced album, is about,
yeah, you guessed it, living in an orphanage.
If there's any justice is this world, "Orphanage"
would be a boss, hit-bound single! It's full
of pop punk (heavy on the punk), with snarly
vocals and heavy duty riffs.
The band brought out the juvenile delinquent
in all of us on "Killing Little Animals."
It was psycho-funny! That's part of what separates
The Orphans for other bands that have been
around for a long time. They believe in these
songs from 27 years ago now, as much as they
did then. Sure, some of the lyrics are dated,
but The Orphans keep it all vital, and fun!
Whether you've heard them before, or it's
your first time (my first), by the end of
their set (in the middle, you’re on
the dance floor doing your best to keep up
with them), you re standing up cheer for them,
wanting more! Their closing number, their
self-proclaimed "Free Bird" (it
was really long), was cool-as- H-E-double-hockey-sticks!
Heavy, heavy riffage - it's like, if Golden
Earring ("Radar Love," "Twilight
Zone"), were a punk/garage band, instead
of being slick, and overly produced, than
that would give you a good idea of what this
fine, rockin' tune sounds like. The Orphans
set was full of power and promise!
Coolest Song in the World - This Week: "Rock
N Roll Beach Bum." They didn't include
it in their set, but listening to it on their
album, it's got a cool, fun vibe, with Beach
Boys-like backing harmonies. If it were back
in the 70's, you could almost picture Springsteen
sitting on the beach strumming this rocker.
- Phil Rainone
Live
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