So I walked in to the dark room of Alexs bar on a late Sunday afternoon to meet up with a friend and to get some tasty BBQ. While we waited for the show to start and for the chicken to come out (which never did) we just sat and talked.
The Heartaches were the first band to kick off the early Sunday show. I’ve seen these guys a few times now and they have yet to disappoint me. This show was no different. They sounded better then I have ever heard them. They stole everyone’s attention in the bar playing some good down and dirty rock and roll that makes you want to jump up and say f^ck yeah. After a half hour of playing we sat down to recuperate before the next band.
I was glad we sat down to catch our breath, because we needed it for The Marked Men. Once they hit the stage everyone crammed in as close as they could. They sounded like a dirty version of the Buzzcocks. They rolled from one song to the next without stopping at all. Before the end of the first song I had already decided I was going to pick up one of their CD’s, but by the time I made it to the merch table, they were all sold out.
It seemed like forever for The Sultans to take the stage but, as always, it was worth it. . They started into their first song as if they where attacking everyone one in the bar. After that, they did indeed kill it. Playing an ode to rock-n-roll punk that had everyone jumping and screaming for more after every song. They played songs from all their releases and a few new ones. I was a happy lil’ camper to be witness to it all. This is a band that doesn’t play that often and if you get the chance to see them, don’t miss it.
A few words from Ice Cream Man
The Sultans, and any other project coming from the roots of Rocket From the Crypt, RULE. I’ve been fortunate enough to catch a couple Sultans shows at Alex’s along with probably the best show I’ve ever seen in Long Beach, Hot Snakes. If not the best, definitely the most rockin’.
I walked in on Sunday, just before The Sultans went on, to a bar full of most of my friends. That’s always a great way to begin a show. As I bopped along to their classic full-bore rock-n-roll I thought about how I could see them play once a week forever and never get sick of it. It reminded me of a thought I had while seeing Los Lobos last month. They both could be Heaven’s house band. It may sound corny but both bands make music from the purest roots of rock and roll.
I’ll see if I can track down some Sultans pics from the West Coast Choppers No Love afterparty a couple months ago. If I can dig ’em up I post em here in a couple days.
To the good life!
