12 Oct 13 - Scary Cherry & the Bang Bangs

...Who wants to fuck?!...

They banged SouthSide ...Texan glitter glam/punk rock style!

Don't worry they didn't bruise her too bad ...but they did get her on stage to sing?! More about that part in a minute...

What a wild and crazy Saturday night deep within the heart of Wrigleyville rockin' Underground Lounge with Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs, blogspot readers! This band traveling from Dallas, Texas made their only Chicago stop on their Get Banged tour both fun and memorial for all. They introduced this local reviewer to Texan glitter glam/punk rock while she introduced the band, Tweetie the tour manager and guests to Chicago-style deep dish pizza after the show at Beggar's Pizza. Plus she also met Wolfie's (aka Debbie) family who found Chicago's expressways confusing but liked how downtown is not only a business district but a livable area to play, entertain and shop. SouthSide highly recommends checking out the fun interview she did with Scary Cherry and Jinx the Minx - http://southsideonthetown.blogspot.com/2013/09/one-on-one-with-scary-cherry-bang-bangs.html.

Despite being the only band scheduled to perform, Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs turned their debut into a full length rock concert featuring all of the glitz and glam this tiny underground venue could possibly handle, blogspot readers. Upon entering, those who attended the show received a "Hello, my name is" name tag to wear as well as two signs - one reading FUCK and the other a Scary Cherry head. Both to be used throughout their set. Next, be prepared to get banged whether you're in audience watching and/or being volunteered to be part of the show. SouthSide received the opportunity of being both. Funny thing is - she hadn't sung in front of people in years! 

Anyway ...kicking off their show with Don't Wanna (track 1 off Girl) and Tonight, this band wasted no time blasting the ears with such powerful female vocals amidst furiously fast punk sound. This reviewer enjoyed how Leslie (aka Scary Cherry) had the voice of two female vocalists from the 80s - the raw rock tone of Joan Jett and the heartfelt voice of Pat Benetar to which she was able to put either heated spite and/or frustration into the lyrics throughout the performance. As Scary Cherry, she was a fireball of energy, blogspot readers, personifying that Girl in each song. She was that Girl who wants to kick your ass or fuck you and/or a little of both while working not only the stage but also the bar. Yes, this vocalist was the first (to SouthSide's knowledge) to stand as well as dance on the Underground Lounge's bar counter. Wolfie as Scary Cherry's partner in crime added her own badass attitude moments on stage whether she's doing backing vocal harmonies or exciting the audience with her exuberant energy. Together, these gals showed off some true girl power amongst the band of rockin' male musicians.

Speaking of the males of Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs ...yeah, Jinx the Minx, Tony Coke, Alan and Andrew - these guys banged hard and loud, blogspot readers. Performing other songs like Glitter track 3), Tracked Down (track 11) and Anita 69 (track 10), the guys brought out the ferocious intensity of Scary Cherry's glitter glam sound. Then again, ferocious may not be the right word to describe it. Let's try - explosively hardcore (and sometimes unexpected) to the point you will feel the energy to get banged with other people in the audience i.e. moshing and slam dancing. Yet that's the true beauty of attending a show like this, blogspot readers. The more the intensity this band produced the more explosive they become. And you simply don't watch it either ...you are part of it along with the band. Even the band gets into the act of slam dancing while performing the roller derby anthem - Slaughter. Now, what's this ...about SouthSide singing with band she hinted earlier in this review. Well ...somewhere in the YouTube universe there's probably a video or two as well as photos on the net of this local reviewer singing on stage with Scary Cherry and Wolfie during the song Cherry Bomb. To be honest, she may have sounded off key but who cares?! She was having too much fun dancing and singing with the band on stage.

However the fun didn't stop after the show was over, blogspot readers. Since she had no other plans and nothing else to do, Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs got a chance to witness and experience part of the midnight hour nightlife in Wrigleyville. While loading their bus (one of those mini buses/vans that are used as transportation for senior centers), the bar hopper crowd was out and about up and down Clark Street checking out the band ...trying on the Scary Cherry head and snapping photos with the band before enjoying a late night meal at Beggar's Pizza for deep dish pizza! Now that they had tried our local delicacy, Scary wants to try ribs next. Sadly, the band had to catch some Zzz's before heading back on the road for points eastward in Detroit and New York (currently they are in New York performing random shows during CMJ, blogspot readers). SouthSide hopes they return to Chicago again with a longer stay for pizza, ribs and Texas BBQ.

Getting banged with Scary Cherry and the Bang Bangs is a must, blogspot readers. SouthSide highly recommends picking up their CD - Girl and try other songs like S.T.F.U. (track 7) and The Secret, Frankie? (track 9) ...just for fun. For more information and where to get yourself banged with the band, visit http://www.scarycherry.com.

Until next time, support your local scene,

SouthSide

16 Mar 13

Hey, blogspot readers, it's St Patrick's Day eve and there are plenty of Irish eyes smiling all over Chicago tonight! Besides celebrating everything that's green, SouthSide did most of her Saturday night partying underground (literally in the basement) at Underground Lounge with friend Lair Scott and many of his invited guests and friends. Not only was it his birthday but also a celebration of his Queer Fest America aniversary too in which he was raising money for the organization. Yet, blogspot readers, this wasn't any ordinary birthday bash. No. It had music, comedy and a special surprise by the birthday daddy himself!

 

The first comic, Darren, had some hits but sadly that was outweighed by the misses as he opened the birthday celebration with a couple of Lent and Pope jokes (like former Pope Benedict gave up being pope for Lent) before poking some fun at Pope Francis I. She did experience quite a few ha-ha moments when he dished puns on Lindsay Lohan however this reviewer didn't find him and/or the other jokes funny, blogspot readers. This comic really didn't connect with the audience around him during his performance. In the meanwhile, Kate, when performing her comedy act, immediately popped with a burst of energy while poking fun at her recent weight lost ...if she loses 25 more pounds, she gets white boy sex. HA! Also, a notice to all - she absolutely LOVES her dick ...9 inches of it too. Plus she had the audience cracking up as she simulated her big "O" on stage. Kate also talked about her love for porn and her ex-boyfriend who would have sex with anything. Oh, there were plenty of hecklers during this act who just loved to egg her on with jeers. SouthSide was rolling in her seat while she ragged on the martini drink names (like Apple-tini to Herpes-tini, the gift that keeps on giving). What a belly-busting time with this comic.

 

Then, Thomas Bottoms who was totally hilarious about pinching people not wearing the green tonight. Oh yeah, if he sounded a bit bitchy tonight it's because he gave up smoking pot for Lent. So, watch out, blogspot readers. He lightly touched on how terrible traffic was on Clark St claiming that St. Patrick's Day was [Gay] Pride Day for the straight! HA! HA! He concluded his act with a funny music number in which this reviewer wouldn't dare repeat. Sorry, you simply had to be there to hear it. Finally, Marcos - looking a bit dashing as well as daring in his kilt, opened with a pun towards Lair. He didn't know Sandy Duncan was hosting the event. LOL! He went on to crack puns about homophobia, arguments  against gay marriage, and transgender (on how they don't fit one gender but the other ...yet instead they're transcending into something better). He had SouthSide laughing while poking fun at Tyler Perry's Madea (it's RuPaul with the extra pounds) before joking about Samuel L. Jackson as a Black Nick Fury.

 

Now with our funny bones busted to the hilt, it was time for Lair to do his special act to roxy music, blogspot readers. It was, in a nutshell, ultra hip, sexy and very provocative all at once. *Fans self* Smurf Daddy knows how to tease. After that sensual glam dance, the fuming fury of Evil Twin Sister (http://www.reverbnation.com/eviltwinsister) took over the stage to open the music part of the celebration. They crank up the volume to fully blast the audience with loud, "in your face" female frustration and anger (something likened to women experience while having PMS). Performing songs like Alone, Gasoline, Evil Twin Sister and Fork and Knives, this band electrified the stage with instense guitar riffs and screamo vocal rantings even though the music tends to be somewhat chaotic at times due to the mesh of chords and percussion rhythms going everywhere. It's hardcore ...angry and punk - the way it should be when you want to vent your frustrations at everyone around you. Also rockin' the stage this night was Kickstarts and boy did they continue where Evil Twin Sister left off, blogspot readers! This duo was definitely loud (like Evil Twin Sister) yet had more of a rambucous punk rock scene going unlike Evil Twin which is mostly hardcore screamo punk. This band instantly perked the audience to life again with plenty of electrified riffs and clashing percusssion rhythms to get you bobbing your head to the music. However, this reviewer does suggest upping the mic a little so the lead on guitar could be heard above thunderous sound. Kickstart had the a few people wildly dancing or clapping along to their songs like Destiny Smestiny (or something to that effect).

Oh what a fun night, blogspot readers ...Lair Scott definitely knows how to rock a show.

Until next time, support your local scene,
SouthSide