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LIVE
IN CONCERT! |
SCREAMIN'
CHEETAH
WHEELIES
With Special
Guest
BARE JR. |
Reviewed By
G. E. Sciacca
Wetlands Preserve
New York, NY
10/1/98 |
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I got to the Wetlands a bit early, since I
was going to interview "Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies."
With time on my hands, I decided to hang out for the opening
act, a new band on Immortal called "Bare Jr." With
little expectation, I watched as the five piece band took the
stage. The lead singer, a guitarist with an afro the size of
Cleveland, another guitarist clad in pajamas, and a guy with
a dulcimer of all things, settled in to open their set. |
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Bare Jr. |
I thought what was to come would be, quite
honestly, lame and boring. Boy was I wrong! Erupting in a fury
of hard rock, blue grass and blues came the first tune "Nothin'
Better To Do," the second track off "Bare Jr.'s"
debut CD. Right then and there that I was set straight on this
band. These guys were great and they had my full attention.
Moving into a slick, greasy, southern rock/pop tune, "The
Most" had the audience, myself included, captivated. With
every twist and turn, "Bare Jr." developed into a lager
band that was more than southern rock, more than hard rock. They
encompassed everything, borrowing from all styles of music and
making a sound all their own.
Moving through a set that included wailing rock, greasy southern
rock, twangy blue grass and even a punkish sound on "You
Blew Me Off," "Bare Jr." thrashed and swayed themselves
into the hearts of the jam packed Wetlands audience. All the
while, Tracy Hackney's dulcimer solos brought strong contention
to the guitar stylings of Mike Grimey. At one point, the band
broke into what seemed to be a Beatles cover, until Bobby Bare
Jr. chimed in with the lyrics of the "Beastie Boys' "
"Savatoge," showcasing a wild and crazy side to an
already super energetic chaotic band. What was even better was
that the tongue in cheek cover worked perfectly. I found myself
sad as the band announced their last song, an ultimate jam packed
with walking bass, wailing guitar, and dulcimer solo's which
heightened into Bobby bare Jr. snapping the strings of his unsuspecting
guitar. This utterly explosive performance instantly made me
a fan. "Bare Jr." are without a doubt, a band to watch
for. |
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Taking New York by storm in support of their
third Capricorn Records release, "Big Wheel," "The
Screamin' Cheetah Wheelies" packed NYC's Wetland Preserves
to the rafters. |
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Screamin' Cheetah
Wheelies |
Bringing the crowd to a roar with the opening
tune, "Magnolia," the title track from the band's second
release, vocalist Mike Farris led the band in a jam of harmonica
/guitar trade offs that was right out of the "how to rock
out with the blues" hand book. Moving right into "Groove
Me," the second track off SCW's newest release, Bob Watkins
ripped and tore into a terminal solo of wah pedal wines that
truly showcased the harder, more abrasive side of "The Wheelies"
regimen.
Relentlessly moving along the evening's agenda, "SCW"
set the crowd ablaze, dancing a shaking their bones to the "Big
Wheel" anthem "Halacyon Days," which sent the
crowd to the sing - along chorus "This house is on fire,
yes sir this house is one fire." The overdrive, and heavy
chorus, of White and Watkins intertwining guitars burned through
the thickest of grooves from Steve Burgess' amazing bass work.
Mike Farris provided rhythm guitar, producing the fullest sounding
tune of the evening.
"Boogie King," the single from the new record, hit
next and was greeted with a thunderous response, followed by
a tremendous sing-a-long, testifying that not only was everyone
in the house a fan, but the new material had already been received,
digested and counted among the loved material of "SCW."
Slowing things down a bit, Mike Farris took a moment to greet
the crowd and talk a bit about the new album release, but this
was obviously the calm before the storm. With the first few notes,
the Wetlands erupted in a fever-pitched frenzy to the "SCW"
trademark song, "Shake And Move." With Bob Watkins
half mile wide string bends, and Terry Thomas' volcanic drum
work, "SCW" had the crowd eating out of the palm of
their hands.
"Gypsy" found the band in a more southern groove, and
moving toward the ballad side of things, finally giving the audience
a chance to catch their breath for a second. Rick White treated
the onlookers to some truly exceptional slide guitar, as Mike
Farris crooned in his own unique fashion.
Snatching the audience back up from their short "reprieve,"
"SCW" kicked back into overdrive with "Majestic."
Larger than life guitar riffs gushed with a slinky, almost Allman
Brothers blues sound, settling into a mellow piece, then crashing
back into the groove.
Stopping for a bit to tune, the band geared up for the Dr. John
classic "Right Place, Wrong Time," which they billed,
with tongue in cheek, as the only cover tune they have. Spreading
a sway and groove throughout the audience, the song featured
a guitar duel between Rick White and Bob Watkins. One thing for
sure, "SCW" were right on and ready to rip. Performing
with intensity, musicianship, and the out and out ability to
kick some ass. By shows end, it was easily understood why "SCW"
packed the Wetlands that night. It was because this was the show
to see. Ending the set with the "traditional 'SCW' sing-a-long,"
"Moses," and finally "Leave," the band brought
on a funky vibe and worked into a straight out blues jam that
ended in a harmonica and guitar battle, and finally an all out
jam James Brown style. It's not often that a band this talented
comes down the pike, but one thing's for sure, you can look for
me in the front row of their next NYC show. |
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