Get Stoked! Not Stoked...
January/February 2001

By Steve Soto

I'm going out on a limb here …I'm going to review my own show. That's right The Flock of Goo Goo (my New Wave band) at Barfly's in Long Beach. Now hold on…I'm not going to bore you with some ego drenched play by play of "MY" performance (Which by the way was spectacular). But what I can give you is a look at this new wave extravaganza through the eyes of the performer. If you were ever a fan of David Letterman you might remember when he would strap a camera on a monkey thus creating the "monkey cam"…think of it in those terms only the monkey is wearing a skinny tie, really dumb sunglasses and the loudest shirt in the LBC…. And wait…I'm no monkey. Anyway…to my right (actually everyone was to my right as I was the guy on the left…so to my IMMEDIATE right) was Adam Antista everyone's favorite "dandy highwayman"…(you may also know him as Greg Antista from the rock combo FOXY or as "Lord of the Doll Hut"). Well folks tonight he was "lord of the dance". How he managed to play the bass while unleashing his 80's dance steps on the ladies will forever be a mystery to me but he did a splendid job. Then there was One Hit Wonder frontman Dan Root…a name that says quality rock if I've ever heard one…. (Dan who was also to my right and decked out in a very stylish pair of parachute pants) delivers new wave like a postman brings the mail…through rain or sleet or snow… His version of 99 Luftballons will remain untouched by any of those new wave wannabes who try to reach the mark. On the drums was the newest waver to the flock. In his debut performance Chris Lagerborg proved that being sexy and holding down the beat are indeed possible to do at the same time. We proceeded to do as much damage as possible to a set of so called "hits" of the 80's. We spun the kids "right round" till they were "walking on sunshine" We also had a guest appearance …Nancy from Junk records jumped up and sang Bow Wow Wow's Candy…not only did she bring the house down but she looked damn good doing it. (That's right Nancy …I was checking you out…you just couldn't tell because I was wearing those stupid new wave sunglasses). Anyway it was a great party …God bless Alex (Barflys owner) for having the vision…. For those of you who missed it… you can begin your New Wave penance by viewing Valley Girl and Pretty in Pink…then a little sixteen candles and your soul will be cleansed.

Ok let's leave the new wave behind and get to the rock…

Rocket from the Crypt - Group Sounds (Vagrant Records, release date 3-6-01) - Stoked

Ok it's Saturday afternoon and I'm doing a few of my favorite things…. Watching "Caliente" (my favorite show on Mexican television) with the volume down and listening to Rocket from the Crypt. If you've never seen Caliente it's a Latin version of Soul Train where they jump from various beach locations and promote all the hip New Latin bands. Why is the volume down you ask…It's all about the eye candy…ok and you never know when you might need a few new Latin dance steps…. Now…if you've never seen Rocket…you're missing much more than a little eye candy my friend. Rocket could quite possibly be the best band out there…. And for those of us that know…well we are definitely one up on you. Live there is no match. They come in and hit hard and you don't stop moving 'til it's over…. Now there have been a lot of bands that are awesome live but never seem to get it to record. Thank God that RFTC doesn't have that problem. This record sounds huge…and there are guitar riffs here that would make AC/DC jealous. The opener "Straight American Slave" jumps right out into your face and it's nothing but hits after that. Not radio hits mind you. (Radio is so far removed from the kind of music RFTC delivers. That fact in itself sums up all that is wrong with radio these days and quite possibly American society, as we know it). RFTC work the standard rock format (2 guitars, bass and drums) like no other and when you bring in the horn section it pushes it all over the top. These guys aren't playing "ska /pop' horns. In fact, "playing" is the wrong word to describe what they do. Children play…these guys are …well it's like they are looking for a fight. That's right it's a fight club and eveybodys gonna get there ass kicked tonight. Every song on this record rocks. John Reis (aka Speedo) and the boys went the extra mile with this one. The group moved from studios in LA to Memphis and back to hometown San Diego constantly searching for the right "feel" for the songs. Anyway if you are looking for a band to get your blood pumping RFTC is it. I must say be careful what you mix it with…the RFTC/Caliente Combo sent me into a testosterone frenzy…I spent the rest of the day lifting weights and working on my car…

The Bellrays - Grand Fury (Upper Cut Records) - not stoked

So … unless you live in a cave or have given up reading the local "rock magazines" for Lent you won't need me to tell you who the Bellrays are. If you do need me to fill you in, The Bellrays are a four-piece rock n roll combo from Riverside, fronted by Lisa Kekuala - a most amazing singer. The Bellrays are often described as "Tina Turner meets the Stooges"/Etta James meets the MC5/Areatha meets the Ramones" if you saw the press kit that came with the CD you'd think "Everybody loves the BellRays"(especially the Bellrays). Well… almost everybody… I guess I am the doubting Thomas…that fifth dentist that just can't bring himself to recommend carefree sugarless gum in spite of the kudos it was given by my four other prestigious dental colleagues. It's just rock…nothing new, nothing outrageous. People are quick to make the Stooges /MC5 comparisons…. Back when Iggy and the Five were coming up music was in the midst of a pretty laid back state…James Taylor, CSNY mellow rock…. Iggy came barreling into the music scene making a noise…shaking things up, something akin to a Stormtrooper strolling through the Museum of Tolerance. So in these desperate times when music is run by the TRL kids what are the Bellrays gonna do about it? Play a style of music that is 30 years old? They remind me more of The Zep inspired Black Crows than the Stooges anyhow. Anyway it just sounds like something I've heard before. It's 70's rock. Now there is nothing wrong with bands doing 70's rock. Soundgarden, the Crows,... Hell - Lenny Kravitz owes his whole career to the seventies…those bands made a lot of good 70's rock in the 90's but lets see them as they are …RETRO... To their credit Kekuala is an awesome singer and the music for what it is (30 year old rock) it's ok…. I guess I just expect a bit more from a band who has been touted "band of the year " etc. Sorry kids…but the emperor really is naked.