Before Boy Kill Boy took the stage at the Avalon, I was pretty fired up. First, Modest Mouse’s “3rd Planet” came seeping out of the loud system, followed by a rush of adrenaline from Black Rebel Motorcycle Club’s “Love Burns”. Second, the guy’s proposition to the two girls standing next to me was VERY interesting. And, finally, to top it all off, I was reviewing the show for the Ice Cream Man. Sweet!!!!
About that time, BKB took the stage. Never seeing BKB before, my first impression was of their front-man, Chris Peck. (I guess the lead singer is usually the source of first impression.) Dressed in nearly all black, his hat, tie, coat and black shirt reminded me of Nigel Tufnel, as did his mannerisms, particularly during Tufnel’s Tinesmen days. Mostly, he displayed a very suitable, comical and complementary attitude to his music that said, “This is just rock n’ roll, let’s not take it too seriously”.
Along with Peck, BKB includes Shaz (drums), Pete Carr (keyboards) and Kevin Chase on bass, and like all English bands, when they banter between songs, they cannot be easily understood. (I wish I could of fully understood the entire “Woody Woodpecker” reference.) The band played several tracks from their first LP, Civilian, and managed to generate a lot of energy. Notable tracks from their new record that they performed included “Back Again” and “On and On”. (Since the show, I’ve developed a particular affinity for “Ivy Parker”, which I don’t remember them playing it during the show, and I was sober, too.)
By the end of the show, BKB had played a solid and entertaining set, though they never seemed to totally separate themselves from the better than average fair you hear on the radio on a regular basis. I guess the young band needs to get better. Of course, I said the same thing about Metric after their first show (at the Silverlake Lounge), and they did.
Now, I’m off to Bonarroo to help cover the festival for the Man. I go with renewed faith in the Lord, because any show that pairs My Morning Jacket and Radiohead confirms that there is a God, and he loves music, too.
And, remember, “In ice cream we trust”.
