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Three rare U.S. tours happening right now you absolutely don’t want to miss!
There’s a lot of veteran bands/artists out there; so much so that if you live in a major market and came of age in the punk rock late ‘70s or the post punk and indie rock ‘80s, you can see at least one old favorite play pretty much any given week of the year!
That said, three extremely rare tours by longtime Big Takeover favorites are hitting the U.S.; one American, one English, and one Australian. And take it from this writer; you need to see each one of these if you can!
1) First, the most surprising, albeit this tour only hits the Northeast: the first U.S. shows by a lost great in about 13 years. Even those who fondly recall late ‘80s/early ‘90s English punkish pop greats MEGA CITY FOUR may not know that mainman singer/songwriter/guitarist WIZ has continued to make music since that group called it quits a decade ago, since his two bands since have released so little. The first, SERPICO, managed but one EP, 2000’s Everyone Vs. Everyone and quit. But Wiz’s newer, harder/harsher group, IPANEMA (which also includes Megas bassist GERRY BRYANT, though Bryant won’t be on the U.S. dates), has done a little better, giving us the incredible single “Je Suis Un Baseball Bat,” and, last year, a mini LP Me Me Me. Both are on fine British label Boss Tuneage, and both were Top 40 picks of mine in recent issues. Now the group is shockingly crossing the ocean to play seven dates from D.C. to Boston, and it will be great to see the always emotive, ultra sincere, passionate and smart Wiz wail into a microphone again. To hear some music (check out “Je Suis!”), since most of you will likely by unfamiliar with the new group, go to Ipanema. For now, here’s the tour dates; I myself will be in attendance at the final, New York show at Arlene’s Grocery, Stanton and Eldridge in Manhattan, Sept 13. See you there!
IPANEMA U.S. NORTHEAST TOUR
Sep 7: Worcester, MA, Lucky Dog
Sep 8: TBA
Sep 9: Westminster, MD, Jahannsons
Sep 10: Philadelphia, PA, Veggieplex Theatre
Sep 11: Baltimore, MD, Ottobar
Sep 12: Cambridge, MA, Middle East
Sep 13: New York, NY, Arlene’s Grocery,
2) One of the five greatest punk rock bands in American history, alas, San Francisco’s absolutely incredible Avengers, never played anywhere in their 1977-1979 heyday other than California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia. And since they reformed seven years ago, they’ve also barely left the West, outside of one 1999 New York gig at a substandard club, Life, and a European jaunt or two. So news of their first-ever American tour is big news, indeed; all the more so, since lucky patrons in Minneapolis and Chicago will also get one of the truly best early ‘80s punk bands ever on the same bill, Chi-town’s also reunited EFFIGIES (with three out of four original members)!!! Having seen The Avengers three times since they came back (I once pledged when I was 17 that I would fly anywhere to see them if they ever reformed; so glad to have gotten my wish!), I can vouch for what an anthemic, vicious pleasure they remain, with original legends, loudmouthed, soaring singer PENELOPE HOUSTON and blasting guitarist GREG INGRAHAM joined by two younger new members, bassist JOEL READER and drummer, LUIS ILLADES (pulling double duty, these two’s group THE PLUS ONES will also perform on these shows). But don’t take my word for it, two searing 2004 versions of two great old songs and two vintage 1978 recordings are yours to hear at http://www.myspace.com/avengers. Any of these four should make anyone salivate to turn up at the below dates. (Yep, I’ll be at both CBGB on the 8th and Maxwells on the 9th; see you there. Only scheduling conflicts precludes my intense desire to see the Midwest shows.) And to find out more about The Effigies, you can go to MySpace and/or Effigies.
AVENGERS U.S. MIDWEST/NORTHEAST TOUR
Sep 2: Minneapolis, MN, Triple Rock Social Club (with Effigies)
Sep 3: Chicago, IL, The Beat Kitchen (with Effigies)
Sep 5: Pittsburg, PA, 31st St. Pub
Sep 6: Philadelphia, PA, Sep 6, The Church
Sep 7: Washington, DC, Black Cat
Sep 8: New York, NY: CBGB
Sep 9: Hoboken, NJ Maxwells
Sep 10, Cambridge, MA, TT the Bears
3) Finally, U.S. fans of Australian punk co-founders (along with THE SAINTS), RADIO BIRDMAN have waited 29 years since the release of Birdman’s first, classic LP released here on Sire, 1977’s Radios Appear to see the band blitz an American stage, but have never had the pleasure before now. Long revered as one of the hottest live bands down under, the group has apparently lost nothing these last 10 years since they shocked the subcontinent by returning—judging from the live bootlegs of their reunion gigs and a new LP. That’s right, with still four out of six original members in the fold, they’ve just released their first album since their sophomore LP recorded in 1978. Two songs from this new opus, Zeno Beach, released here via Yep Roc, as well as two vintage late ‘70s classics, are listenable at MySpace. Needless to say, given how expensive it is for Aussie bands to come here (the real reason they’ve not played here since their return, even though one of them, key guitarist DENIZ TEK, is a native Michigan-ian and lives in Montana), there’s no guarantee that, having waited this long to see them, we’ll ever get another chance. So best to arrive with bells on to see Tek, tough-voiced singer ROB YOUNGER and mates at one of the following places (I will be at Irving Plaza Sept 8 before heading down to CBGB to see The Avengers; I’ve been assured by The Avengers booking agent that that won’t be a problem, as his band will be going on later.)
RADIO BIRDMAN U.S. TOUR
Aug 31: San Francisco, Great American Music Hall
Sep 1: Seattle, WA, El Corazon
Sep 2: Chicago, IL, Double Door
Sep 3: Detroit, MI, The Majestic Theater
Sep 5: Cleveland, OH, Beachland Ballroom
Sep 6: Washington, DC, Black Cat
Sep 8: New York, NY, Irving Plaza
Sep 9: Cambridge, MA, Middle East
Sep 10: Philadelphia, PA, First Unitarian Church
Man, what a bonanza!! Again, hope to see you there at these shows’ New York area dates! My poor wife; she won’t see much of me from Sept. 8-13!
