Scoliosis Jones at the Spitfire 4.24.10

Ahhh Spitfire with your glorious cage you beckon me in once again to see some rock and roll.  The place itself was pretty damn crowded on Saturday night for this show.  It is always great to see that many people coming out especially in the shitty cold weather and rain we had all day.  It was so packed it was hard to really move around too well with the camera, however I did get some great shots.  Drummer shots unfortunately for the Jones band were eclipse by that giant bass.  The Spitfire added a little something-something in an upgrade since I was last there.  Since the vantage point is blocked by the giant beer cooler and some stupid supporting beam (who needs that right?) they put in a camera that hooked to the flat screens they have at the bar.  This baby is pointed right at the stage House of Blues style.  So, you can actually see the show without getting doused in beer like some slutty chick in a wet t-shirt contest or won't have to duck from the occasional angry mosh pit elbow in the gut.  Nice little added touch Spitfire, well fucking played.

So, I got to say this first and foremost.  The opening act the Hellbound Grifters had a lot of support in the crowd.  A lot of hooting and hollering done by family members doesn't mean you got it down to a science just yet.  I will say this last time I saw them they had no PA and were playing straight from amps, and they didn't have a bass player either.  The sound from that show was night and day.  You could tell they had done some work since then to polish up for this show.  If I am not mistaken this was their first real gig.  I could be 100% wrong but let's just go with that.  I get what they are doing, and they are having a shit load of fun up there.  But...you knew that was coming.  The guitar was really out of tune and they were all off a bit at times.  It just wasn't 100% gelling for me at times.  What they lacked in that blended sound they made up for in enthusiasm for what they were there to accomplish, which was rocking that fucking place out.  I don't think the Spit has monitors so part of it could have been not hearing the mix right.  I am not sold on them yet but I think in time they could have their shit together.  

The Randy Rhodes guitar however I think needs to go.  If you are ballsy enough to play that fucking thing you need that shit tuned up right from note 1.  I think Vince has the swagger to pull that off but looks ain't shit if you can't deliver on it.  The vocals were decent, and as much of a fan everyone else was of the Johnny Cash cover I just wasn't into it.  Jake, the Bass player was actually keeping up pretty well and the drummer Levi was pretty good on his kit.  So you ask did I like it?  I sure am criticizing the fuck out of these guys honestly, but with practice and a few more gigs under their belts they are going to turn out alright in time.  Just don't rush it, tune the guitar off the bat and bring what you brought to the table Saturday only slow it down.  The adrenaline rush of the packed house had a lot to do with them being somewhat off.  I'd like to see these cats again in like 3 months time.  I have no doubt that they actually do have the swagger to rule that stage.  Hints of some good stuff were in there Saturday night they just need some practice to put it all together.

Scoliosis Jones, with a new drummer mind you were also a little bit off.  Nothing to do with the drummer.  I thought he did a fine ass job.  Did I dig the show?  Abso-fucking-lutely.  However the between song banter sounded canned a bit, but the rock was still there at the very least.  I think Singer-Bassist Ty might have been hopped up on 'roids because there was a rage thing going on with him.  At times he came off almost too serious.  The first time I saw these cats they were laughing and having a good time.  I didn't think the hillbilly drummer added anything to the mix in the old line up so with him out I was actually kind of pleased.  A.C. Jones looked like trucker Elvis, it was a great look with those shades.  For not being with them for too long I would have sworn he was with them for years.  But like I said there was some element of the "just having fun playing some rock and roll music for some fans" was lacking.  It lost some spontaneity from the last show.  It was a bit stiff is what I am getting at here.

I think the Spitfire has a decent enough sound system but without floor monitors and being used to hearing the mix would throw anyone off.  I think it threw both bands off enough to take them off their game a bit.  I think a lot can be said though for the musical ability up there in the Jones family.  Ty knows how to manhandle that bass, Heidi Sue has some decent pipes and Leroy knows how to play that guitar like a champion.  I mean really knows how to play it too.  Watching him in the moment on stage you can tell he is 100% focused on that thing.  So while the openers were too relaxed I think Scoliosis Jones just wasn't relaxed enough at times.  Lesson to learn kids?  Just have fun on stage.  The people that come to see you want to be entertained.  Just get up there, play some rock and roll music and have fucking fun.  Lose the ego, but keep the swagger.  I would rather see a tight band, having a good time up there than the shtick any given night of the week. 

In other news there was this fucking guy.  I understand he goes by the name Drunkin' Art from Stibbs over at Smedley's.  Well maybe he doesn't go exactly by that.  He probably just goes by Art.  So apparently he gets around if he is known miles away at Kamm's Corner.  At first I thought he was the father of one of the kids playing in the Hellbound Grifters because he started yelling at the Drummer like a pissed off T-Ball dad would if his kid didn't hit the ball hard enough.  As a matter of fact he was talking nonstop shit to pretty much anyone that would give him the time of day.  I wasn't even drinking and I wanted to pop the loud mouth in the face.  There is just something about a belligerent drunk acting like an asshole that can spoil an evening for everyone.  Beyond the heckling the guy was smashed to the point he walked like he shit his pants.  I really didn't see him actually drinking so I assume they might have cut the guy off, and if they didn't they should consider it.  Coming from a life working behind the bar a lifetime ago and DJ not so long ago I know what people like that can do to a bar.  It's funny for like a minute then it gets old real quick.  Other than that I had a pretty decent time Saturday at the Spitfire and I still don't like the cage.