by skinnytie » Mon Jun 27, 2005 1:51 pm
Best: Kid Creole and the Coconuts at the Ritz, in their heyday.
999 at the Left Bank, Mt. Vernon, NY, touring "Concrete"
Kid Creole's shows were always like a carnival. The whole band was always in synch with each other, and played off each other like I've never seen before. Very visual show; there would always be something going on in one area of the stage and you'd miss it if you were focusing elsewhere. No band's/ singer's on-stage dancers can match the Coconuts for precision or synchronicity. August Darnell is the consummate performer in my book, and Andy Hernandez was the perfect right hand man/ foil/ comedy relief for all the antics going on. I always felt that I got more than my money's worth when I went to see them; it was like getting a Broadway production at your local club.
I discussed the 999 show on another thread somewhere, but this is one of the few, if not only, bands I've ever seen that you could tell were just plain happy to be there performing for the audience, and it showed. The band had stage presence, magnetism, and really got the crowd involved. This is they type of show that other bands could learn from.
Worst: Blondie at Belmont Racetrack (totally uninspired; I would have been happier just listening to the records at home. Rockpile opened for them, and were so much more enjoyable; considering all that Rockpile does is come out, play the songs, and leave).