Normally I would just post a bunch of pictures from this show on my Facebook page, but I may as well lump them all together here and save myself some time.
This was a great show! Pat Todd’s always asking me to get him some shows in San Diego (not that I’m a promotor or anything, but I do go out a lot and know people), so I hit up Tim Pyles (local legend DJ and promoter) about having Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders play a gig at the Casbah. As usual when I ask promoters, the response is “Who would I get them to play with?” My answer is “practically anyone”! Schizophonics, Creepy Creeps, Mistress 77, etc… My wife and I hit him up with The Loons and the Hector Penalosa Gang. And then when Tim texted me this show was happening and he needed a band for the back bar in between sets, my wife suggested Saguaro, and thus it was booked.
Hector Penalosa Gang started the night off. Hector broke a string first song, but had a couple people help him get the string changed while he borrowed a backup guitar from the other guitarist Alan (who used to be in Motorcycle Boy, by the way!) Hector, Alan, and bassist Matt all traded doing vocals on a number of songs, from not only Hector’s long history (including Flying Color), but also songs that Alan and Matt also brought to the table. And there wasn’t even a need to play any Zeros songs, as Hector’s history, old and new, is extensive enough. Jarrod, formerly from the Dragons, was backing everyone up on drums. I’ve heard people say that Jarrod is the best drummer they’ve ever heard, and it can’t be denied that he is amazing. Hector Penalosa Gang needs to get an album out!
Saguaro were playing the back bar in between sets. Two short sets that left you wanting more. They’re a young band, they got something to prove, and their hearts are in the right place. Not to mention they’re all extremely talented! If there was a place to bet on who the next guitar hero would be, I’d be placing my money on their guitarist Henry. Not only does he have some smokin’ leads, he knows how to put the notes in the right places with a lot of feeling, which is the most important thing. Musically, they’re kind of a mishmash of Deep Purple, The Faces, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Definitely a band to watch out for!
Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders were up next on the main stage. The last time they played the Casbah, it was over 10 years ago when they opened for the Woggles. It was an amazing show that left us floored! I remember interviewing Pat Todd for Flipside in the mid ’90s and there was a “Let It Be” CD from the Replacements on his coffee table. I pointed out what a great band they were and he goes “I think Paul Westerberg’s solo stuff is even better!”, which was a bold thing to say when 14 Songs just got released. You can’t compare one album to another band’s whole catalog. Of course Westerberg has written so much more since then, I think Pat was eventually right about that. And I may be as bold to say that Pat Todd & The Rankoutsiders are even better than Pat’s former band, the Lazy Cowgirls! The songs just keep on coming. There are not too many bands/artists that get BETTER as they age, but somehow Pat Todd finds a way. They just released a couple of EPs, including one called “After The Dolls” where they cover three Johnny Thunders songs and three David Johansen songs. Reviewed here. They got another full length album in the can ready to be released later this year, and are already working on the follow-up to that one. Anyways, they completely rocked the Casbah. If I have a complaint, it was Valentine’s Day, and they didn’t play “Why Don’t You Marry Me?”??!! That’s almost as baffling as when Metallica played Antarctica and didn’t play “Trapped Under Ice”! But oh well. People were happy, as they were dancing non-stop throughout the hard hitting, hard rockin’ set.
The Loons finished the night off. They just got back (last week!) from a successful tour of Spain and were in top form with their brand of ’60’s style hard hitting garage psych rock, closing the night off with a smokin’ cover of “I’m Stranded” by the Saints.
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