Wednesday, Nov. 26, 2008
St Jack at The Rock-N-Roadhouse
By Michael Wood
For Weekly Surge
Last Thursday night (Nov. 21), local newcomers St. Jack staged a release showcase for the band's debut CD, "Everybody Needs an Angel" at the Rock-N-Roadhouse on the south end of Myrtle Beach and local rockers Hand Grenade and Baboon Brigade came along for the party.
The Rock-N-Roadhouse, to my knowledge, has not had many live shows (besides Tim Clark's house band) since it was The Sound Garden, the venue that brought in national and regional acts and fostered a resurgence in the local original music scene before shutting down in the spring.
So it was a weird feeling to go back in there. Everything looked pretty similar to the way The Sound Garden looked, perhaps a little cleaner (less rock shows somehow just makes it easier to keep a place spick-`n-span), but the feel was altogether different. Not sure how, but it just was.
As I'm waiting for the show to get started, I found out that Heinekens were only two bucks. This made me happy. Then I saw the fog machine filling up the stage. Was down-to-earth surf punk outfit Baboon Brigade going to get all flashy on us and pull out big lights, a smoke machine, and strobe lights? Nah, that first patch of smoke, was the last I saw. It was a tease. But Baboon Brigade doesn't need all that stuff. Their music makes up for their modest appearance. They had the crowd pleased: a few dancers up front, and the rest of the room pleasantly bobbing their heads. Throughout the years of the Brigade, the band has grown into a more melodic sound, leaving behind some of their '80s hardcore elements that they used to have, and adding sing-along parts and catchy riffs, while still keeping it raw, intense, and humorous. I think the essence of the band can be summed up in the lyric from "Man Song": "You gotta be a man, open up a beer can, jack-off with your left hand." That's just pure poetry. Singer Chris Sanford's last words of the night were: "R.I.P. Soundgarden".
Between bands, St. Jack's new CD was being played through the sound system, which I thought was a bit much, seeing as they'd be playing soon. But at the same time it was a good promotion tool, because the CD actually sounds really well produced.
Surprisingly not headlining their own CD release party, St. Jack hit the stage next. They kind of have the rock show attitude down, singer Dan Wenzel wearing sunglasses, and bassist Ty Potter giving shout-outs during the songs. Their sound is emotive and modern. It's very radio friendly, yet sincere sounding. Fans of Coldplay, U2, and Smashing Pumpkins would probably be happy. Anyone that grew up on '90s alternative rock would probably like this sound. At one point they managed to integrate the song "Low Rider" by War with their song, "Killing Me", which spiced up the set a bit. Their catchiest song happens to be the CD's title track, with a keyboard lead throwing nods at '80s new wave gurus The Cars. Their overall sound, however, would have better fit a bill with local alternative-rock bands such as Silenced and Sideways Derby, than punkers Baboon Brigade and Hand Grenade. But alas, it's always good to have diversity, and they played well and put on a good show, which is more important.
Headlining the night was Hand Grenade. They opened their set with a bunch of noise, then a couple of dirty jokes, and then about five minutes later decided to play songs. There we go! Cowbell-heavy, sleazy blues riffs, mixed with rowdy rock `n' roll. As their lyric states, "you bring the party, we'll bring the band" from the song "Gang Bangin' in Alabama." both the party and the band was there. Party-hearty Andrew WK would be happy with their attitude. They played all their party anthems, throwing in a new song at the end called "Hurricane Hanna" with a chorus of "ain't afraid of no hurricane" referring to recent hurricane flops in Myrtle Beach.
The $2 Heinekens that I mentioned before were too good to be true. Somehow I got severely overcharged. It sucks, especially when the night was otherwise very fun. All of the bands sounded good, and everyone seemed to have a good time. It was somewhat nostalgic, and somewhat reminiscent of The Sound Garden. But it just wasn't the same.
St.Jack's CD is now available on iTunes and at www.myspace.com/stjackmusic.
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