“Oh my God! It’s the Los Straitjackets! I can’t believe they’re playing them in a place like this! No one knows about this band but me!” This is what we overheard at Frankies Tiki Room in Las Vegas on a Friday night about 10 years ago. Still laughing at that. Because everyone knew who they were. And what other place in the whole world would you EXPECT to see them, but on the TV at Frankie’s Tiki Room? Only tonight we weren’t at Frankie’s and we weren’t watching videos on the TV. It was LIVE in the flesh. And nothing beats that.
Los Straitjackets are touring with 30 years under their belts. Someone was asking me when I first saw them, and I honestly can’t remember. I think up in Los Angeles sometime in the mid ’90s. Maybe not. But probably. Seen them a few times with various singers, Nick Lowe and Marshall Crenshaw for two. And everyone is always blown away by the Los Straitjackets. They came to see Nick Lowe and Marshall Crenshaw, but leave being fans of Los Straitjackets. It’s amazing how much 2 guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer can do. Tonight they attacked the Soda Bar like they were headlining Petco Park, complete with some choreographed moves, drum, guitar and bass solos. They easily could be an arena or stadium band.
So it was no surprise that the Soda Bar was packed on this night. And early. Big line to get in when the doors opened. Los Straitjackets play mostly instrumental surf rock music, with a lucha libre edge to it. Very creative band when you take into account their talent, stage presence, song selection, and album covers. Highlights of tonight’s show was when they had Deven Berryhill from an excellent local surf rock bands the Tourmaliners play guitar with them for a couple songs (sorry, I didn’t get any pictures; I was at the bar getting more beer), their excellent mashup of the Bat-man theme with “Wipe Out”, and a cover of “Surfin’ Bird” (which was their only song with vocals). Add in another hour’s worth of songs, solos and some lucha libra promo style victory banter, and you have a very entertaining night out.
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