On the Road Again
Live Reviews:

Toronto Club Crawl II
Featuring:
Huevos Rancheros/The Reverend Horton Heat (July 24)
Man Or Astro-Man? (July 26)
Davie Allan and the Arrows (July 30)

Hey there brothers and sisters, its the Mouth checking in after a week of splendid summer rock n'roll. Since most rockers can't handle the cold, the summer in Canada is always packed with tons of great stars constantly flying through. And this past week was no exception, rocking from start to finish and ending with a smokin' performance by a genuine original.

After lying in the afternoon heat and watching Woodstock highlights all day on Saturday, heading down to Lee's Palace to see the Hostess main event of Huevos Rancheros and The Reverend Horton Heat was just what the doctor ordered. It had been so hot that day, that I figured only a rockin' double bill of this ferocity could get me moving. Before things even get under way, I bump into Huevos guitar slinger Brent Cooper who tells me that the band has several new instros that they'll be playing. Alright — the night is heating up, but it in all the right ways.

Huevos take the stage in one of their usual fireballs of screeching, raunchy guitar; tight yet maniacal drumming and some bass playing equal to a drag race down a lonesome county road. Even with tonight's substitute bass player, these guys still tear it up, slashing through favourites from their two CDs and gazillions of singles. The only problem is that being the opener, they just got revved up and then had to stop (however, fans were also able to check them out the next night at the Horseshoe). But I swear that I had heard a distinctly Motörhead-style lick in one of the new numbers, so the short set didn't seem so bad.

Now, after Huevos, its very easy to think "how can this be topped?". They rocked out so hard and fast and traveled through rock territory from Link Wray to AC/DC. The Rev certainly had his work cut out for him, but in the first of many rock n'roll miracles this week, he was more than up for the challenge. Gracing the stage in a beautiful aqua blue suit with bright red racing flames, The Rev and his cohorts (Jimbo Wallace on bass and Scott Churilla on drums) instantly set the pace with their 50's style, 70's punk-fueled rock straight from the Devil's (and Saddam Hussein¹s) ass!

It truly is the equivalent of drag race out of control — fast, sliding and hanging by the balls all the time. And I don't know how old the Rev is these days, but he can't be anything close to what he looks like since I know my dad can't rock like he did.

Thanks to his latest release being a greatest hits comp (and, might I add, the one to get first if you don't know the Rev), no one in the audience came away disappointed since they got to hear all the favourites from the Tequila inspired "Marijuana", to the decidedly NOT easy listening of "It's Martini Time". And if it wasn't enough having your ears and brains frying to the r n'r beat, stand up bass player Jimbo provided visual acrobatics by constantly throwing his giant bass over his head. A totally electric performance from head to toe. Why Lee's wasn't burnt to the ground, I'll never know (probably something to do with water not being 5 bucks a bottle).

Next up on the r n'r tour was Monday night's feature attraction at the Horseshoe, Man or Astro-man? But before we go into space, a few words about the Lonesome Organist, who opened the proceedings. This was a one-man show with this guy playing the drums and an organ that had that full, old Deep Purple kind of sound. He sang into some kinda weird voice distorter and thumped out his odd songs with vigor. If Jon Spencer was a solo act, it might sound like this. But the best part was the crowd getting down with this nutter and really digging him. They even surprised him into an encore. My faith in Toronto audiences is renewed (even if it only lasts a day).

After the departure of the opening act, the Man or Astro-man? technical squad took to the stage and began converting it into their latest research facility, complete with the giant computer Eeviac (also the title of their CD). There was three banks of those old-style computers you usually see in old NASA tapes — six feet tall, big reels of 2-inch tape on them, and lots of lights and buttons. Finally the band themselves appeared and rocketed off into the stratosphere immediately. While playing the same kind of rock instros as the Huevos, these spaced out, surf nuts have more of a Devo quirk to them. Their guitar wig-outs are liable to put out your back, thanks to the spastic, snapping sounds filled with computer blips, strange keyboard effects and bad 50's sci fi movie dialogue. For anyone attending one of these shows for the first time, there is no doubt that this would be a freak out! But seeing it now for the third time, coupled with the fact that the band's material seems to be getting weaker at the expanse of the gimmick, I felt just a little bit less enthused than in the past. Still, a worthy addition to anyone's concert-going history.

After what was already two fine r n' r encounters, Friday, and the legendary El Mo, offered the piece de resistance. This was my chance to complete seeing the Holy Trinity of 60's rock instro guitar with Davie Allan and the Arrows (the other two members being Link Wray and Dick Dale). Back in the day, Davie Allan was the master of the biker soundtrack with his lean yet fuzzed-out guitar attack that simulated the roaring thunder of a youth culture gone mad! His only major ride up the charts was "Blues Theme" from the Wild Angels soundtrack which made it into the top ten back in '66. But he has continued, right up to last year's Fuzzfest CD, to produce some of the best rock guitar instros ever. And this, his first appearance in Toronto EVER, simply added to the legend. Taking the stage all in black and with swinging rock and roll biker pendant firmly in place, Allan and the boys tore off an amazing opener with "The Shape of Things to Come" from that 60's teen rebellion flick Wild in the Streets. Following this, he effortlessly mixed newer tracks like "Chopper" and "Open Throttle" with older numbers such as "Blues Theme", Henry Mancini's "Experiment in Terror" and "The Born Loser's Theme".

It was obvious that Allan was enjoying the enthusiastic crowd too, telling when one hyper guy that kept yelling song titles "You should be at every show" (I told him I would if I could). An absolutely stellar performance that shows that not every one in rock n' roll has to become a burnt-out skidmark and that you can age gracefully and still kick ass!

So there it is — one week, three great shows! Now get off your ass and see some rock and roll today!! So says the MOUTH!!!!