I just saw Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 play at this same venue, one block north of much-missed CBGB, last December. But it was such an invigorating, rocking show that I jumped at this chance to see them again, a few short months later. Even more enticing, the band announced they would be changing up the set list to satiate us repeat attendees, and they kept their promise. December’s show focused almost entirely on the last two (of three) Miracle 3 albums (2010’s Northern Aggression and 2006’s …tick…tick…tick) and The Dream Syndicate’s classic 1982 debut The Days of Wine & Roses. This time around, however, the band cherry-picked more generously from Wynn’s prolific career; more than half of the show’s set were songs not appearing on those three aforementioned LPs. While not quite as start-to-finish blasting as December’s show, this more well rounded overview still rocked like nobody’s business.
It helped that three of the December show’s hottest tunes – the opening “Resolution” (from Northern Aggression), the main set closing “Amphetamine” (from 2003’s Static Transmission), and “Death Valley Rain” (from 2001’s Here Come the Miracles) – all made return appearances. Each of these were fueled by the explosive dual guitars of Wynn and Jason Victor, and the driving rhythms of bassist Dave DeCastro and ex-Zuzu’s Petals drummer (and Wynn’s wife) Linda Pitmon. Likewise, the group’s focused, sharply honed attack added extra weight to more mid-tempo Wynn solo numbers like Kerosene Man’s “Younger” and My Midnight’s “Out of This World”. They even dusted off the tribute song “Lester Young”, from Wynn’s 1990s “supergroup” Gutterball (which also featured members of House of Freaks, The Long Ryders, and The Silos).
The encore, which the band seemed to improvise at the last minute after asking for suggestions from the audience, included two Dream Syndicate compositions, Out of the Grey‘s “Boston” and the extended jam “John Coltrane Stereo Blues”, from Medicine Show. (They also did two Wine & Roses songs in the main set, “Then She Remembers” and “That’s What You Always Say”.) It’s a ton of fun to see a legend like Wynn in such a small, intimate place – if he wants to continue playing here with his rip-roaring band every few months, you’ll get no complaints from me!
