the l.a. shakedown

LA SHAKEDOWN
Review by Kastle
Photos by Kastle & Frank

While it got off to a truly "shaky" start with last minute venue changes, band cancellations and crowd control issues, it wouldn't be a weekend of punk and garage rawk without a little anarchy. Choosing to avoid the chaos downtown, I headed for the Garage for most of the day Saturday where all my weekend faves were scheduled to play. I got there in time for the Hyperions whose hypnotic pyschobilly sounded better than ever. Then Custom Made Scare proved why they're calling this the Shakedown with their rabble rousing, bad boy snarls that cross Johnny Cash with Motorhead. Up next was Portland's the Weaklings who groove with all the anything-can-happen reckless abandon of Iggy Pop. And one band I always get excited about, the Super Bees charged the place up like nobody else can. When I heard Deadbolt had been moved to the downtown venue, I hopped aboard the party shuttle bus which was packed with hootin' and hollering scenesters including Ricky Vodka, Johnny Stitches, Custom Made Charlie, Gabriel of Blessing of the Cars, and Annette from the Hyperions.

It was all good times until we arrived at Grand Avenue only to be greeted by the fire marshals saying they were shutting the place down and a horde of angry concert-goers wanting their money back. We decided to head back to the Garage before things turned ugly, as did many of those seeking relief from the Grand mess. The party raged on with the Lazy Cowgirls, Nine Pound Hammer and others until the wee hours.

I was back for more on Sunday at the Grand Avenue venue where things were slightly more sedate. It's funny how hangovers will mellow a crowd! Most were slow moving in the afternoon but I caught an impressive set by Boston's Kings of Nuthin whose eight-piece horn boppin', swingin' punk woke me up for sure! From there the race was on to catch all the bands I could on the three stages. I bumped into SF Cool Grrrl Alisha Amnesia and CG publisher Frank Davern taking in the weekend's madness. I caught a bit of the Candy Snatchers and Texas Terri then jetted downstairs for the soulful sounds of the Flash Express. I took a break to hang out with the boys of Acetate Records – home of the Super Bees, Hangmen and Dragbeat -- who were pushing the LA Shakedown 2-disc compilation, which is a great souvenir of the weekend.

I then caught a bit of the Stitches and San Diego's Dragons as I anxiously awaited the set by Throw Rag who always put on a crazy show of rollicking punk. This set didn't disappoint as they pulled a bunch of rabid German fans at the front of the stage into the action. Then I raced over to catch the Hangmen who were switching off drummers with former Cramps skin-beater Harry and Flash Express' rhythm keeper Lance. It was a mob scene going upstairs to catch Tokyo's Guitar Wolf. By the time I got up there they were ripping the stage apart and busting out the last few chords of their high octane primitive rawk. I then caught a bit of jittery new wavers the Epoxies. But I really got my rocks off to the sounds of Boston's the Upper Crust. With their tongue-in-cheek image of 18th century garb, powdered wigs, pancake makeup and knickers, they busted out the ballsiest power sounds since AC/DC, all with a wink and a nudge of good humor.

I rounded out my evening with a bit of Exene's Original Sinners who I have to say fell flat after years of hearing Exene's voice mix with John Doe to create the signature sound of X. And I capped my weekend with one of my favorite bands of cool grrrl rock, the Muffs with cutie Kim Shattuck bouncing between pigtailed thrift store punkess to roaring aggro rocker. And big congrats to her and her fiancé who plan to tie the knot next month. Then it was home to rest my feet that were achin' from overworking my leather go-go boots with the four-inch heels. Hey, it's better to look good than to feel good – and the Shakedown had me feelin' good all weekend!