Wednesday night’s show at the Jackpot was not for the faint at heart. Four very loud bands took the stage, each progressive and aggressive.
Ponyboy
I love dirty garage rock, and Ponyboy is about as dirty as it gets. The local duo features a drummer and a screamy little bass player. I love bands that do more with less, which is why I love garage rockers who usually play with little more than a fuzzy bass guitar.
The songs were overflowing with self-loathing, and had titles such as “God Hates Your Feelings.” Don’t expect this band to clean up their act anytime soon. They told me they’re currently scoring the music for a Buck Angel porno.
This Is My Condition
Mansion
Despite not being able to see the band very well, Mansion is really something you have to experience. It’s one 20-minute song after another, and it launches you into another dimension. I’ve always said that watching Mansion feels like watching your buddies rock out with each other, having the time of their lives. In fact, if I were to play in a band, I’d want to play with Mansion. It’s music that’s fun to listen to AND fun to play. Their songs are simple, but addictive, and if I don’t get my Mansion fix every few weeks, it could get ugly. They are by far my favorite rockers in Lawrence.
Harvey Milk
Those long, growling lyrics almost felt like a foreshadow of intimidating and wicked things to come. Each song they played grew more frightful and stunning than the one before. This was spine-tingling rock in it’s pure, true and stripped-down form.