THE STRUTS AND BADFLOWER

In one’s musical life there is always a young band or artist that you have the pleasure of experiencing in an intimate setting. Soon after they explode and are playing arenas and stadiums. I’ve been lucky and have had several of these occurrences, most notably The Police at CBGBs and U2 at the Ritz (now Webster Hall). Bringing my two teenage daughters to see The Struts and Badflower at New Haven’s College Street Music Hall I espoused to the girls this would be one of those moments.

Badflower is a promising new L.A. band whose sound draws deeply from Soundgarden and Alice In Chains. They opened with “Drop Dead” from their recent E.P. Temper. The energy was through the roof. Vocalist Josh Katz had the perfect mixture of presence and angst. Joey Morrow’s guitar was sharp and biting. Bassist Alex Espiritu was manic and supercharged. Anthony Sonetti’s percussions hit home. The band then went directly into “Soap”. A tune so forceful it smacks you right in the face with its driving licks. By the time Badflower played “Ghost”, their new single, the College Street audience was totally engaged. Katz’s vocals were flawless and the whole band’s emotional meter soared. The band’s “Heroin” was beautifully moody and “Animal”  kicked ass. Badflower will be a force to be reckoned with in the near future. Their songs are cutting and meaningful and Badflower just plain rocks. My daughters’ friend who also came has listened to nothing but Badflower since the show.

Now to The Struts. Here’s where you say “I was there”. The hype on The Struts has been extreme. Any band invited by the Stones, Guns and Roses, the Who and the Foo Fighters to open for them perks anyone’s interest.

Live, The Struts did not disappoint. Luke Spiller’s vocals and aura were exceptional. Morph Mercury, Jagger, Marc Bolan and Bowie and out pops Spiller. The man is a consummate showman. From the moment Spiller hit the stage the throng was mesmerized. Not only is Spiller an astonishing entertainer but the band consisting of Adam Slack (Guitar), Jed Elliot (Bass) and Gethin Davies (Drums) were magnificent.

The Struts fifteen song set was one hooky anthem after another. Opening with “Put Your Hands Up” the band gave the crowd fair warning where their arms would be throughout the show. The band rolled right into their new single “Body Talks” followed by “One Night Only”. By the time they played “Primadonna Like Me”, “Kiss This” and “Dirty Sexy Money” the gathering was totally enthralled. One of the many highlights was The Struts‘ cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing In The Dark”. They even reprised Springsteen’s video of the song with Spiller plucking his Courtney Cox from the pit. The Struts closed with “Put Your Money On Me’ and encored with “Could Have Been Me” and “Where Did She Go”

In conclusion, The Struts should be headlining arenas by this time next year. Another notch on my “I saw them when” belt. If you can catch the Struts on their current tour please go. You won’t get another chance to get this close again. Then you can say “I was there” .

 

 

 

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