{"id":42088,"date":"2018-11-11T09:41:32","date_gmt":"2018-11-11T09:41:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/?p=42088"},"modified":"2018-11-11T16:17:48","modified_gmt":"2018-11-11T16:17:48","slug":"monster-mash-jon-spencer-and-the-melvins-haunt-the-camden-koko-over-halloween","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/essentiallypop.com\/epop\/2018\/11\/monster-mash-jon-spencer-and-the-melvins-haunt-the-camden-koko-over-halloween\/","title":{"rendered":"MONSTER MASH – Jon Spencer and The Melvins Haunt The Camden KOKO Over Halloween"},"content":{"rendered":"

The suitably vampiric surroundings of Camden’s KOKO provides the perfect ambience for a diabolical double header, with\u00a0Jon\u00a0<\/strong>Spencer and\u00a0<\/strong>The Melvins ghosting in for Halloween.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Up first, despite being arguably the bigger name in the UK, Spencer is in explosive form.<\/h4>\n

After a brief false start, for which keyboardist\u00a0Sam Coomes\u00a0<\/strong>generously assumes responsibility, the band really hits their stride.<\/p>\n

Powered by the ferocious drumming of M.SORD<\/strong>, Spencer’s set starts like an express train and if anything picks up speed as the night progresses.<\/p>\n

Showcasing tracks from his debut solo album\u00a0Spencer Sings The Hits<\/em><\/a><\/strong>, <\/span><\/span>New York’s finest flies around the stage like a man possessed.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Even when he speaks, which is not often, it’s in short sharp bursts, like volleys of machine gun fire.<\/p>\n

Tracks often run together often with no pause or let up in between, Spencer packing as much possible into the time available.<\/p>\n

Quasi<\/strong>‘s Coomes, enthusiastically introduced by Spencer, even steps up to take lead vocals on one track<\/p>\n

A major highlight sees the return of\u00a0Pussy Galore\u00a0<\/strong>percussionist\u00a0Bob Bert<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Looking like a cross between\u00a0Joey Ramone\u00a0<\/strong>and an extra from a\u00a0Rob Zombie<\/strong> movie, the former\u00a0Sonic Youth<\/strong> drummer adds junkyard clatter to Spencer’s searing garage rock anthems.<\/p>\n

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HAMMER HORROR – Bob Bert beats some metal, Picture by Sam Wells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Armed with a kit, which literally includes a trash can, Bert smashes away at slabs of iron and a metallic coil, a pair of steel hammers clenched in each black-gloved hand.<\/p>\n

New tracks from the LP like\u00a0Cape<\/strong><\/em>, Ghost <\/strong><\/em>and\u00a0Fake <\/strong><\/em>more than hold their own against old favourites from Spencer’s repertoire, like the Blues Explosion<\/strong>‘s\u00a0Dang<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0Loveless<\/strong><\/em> by Heavy Trash<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Appropriately Spencer’s set climaxes with a blistering cover of T<\/strong>he<\/strong>\u00a0Modern<\/strong> Lovers<\/strong>‘\u00a0new wave classic\u00a0Roadrunner<\/strong><\/em>.<\/p>\n

“We go faster miles an hour,” <\/em>Spencer yawps – pretty much an apt summary of the entire performance.<\/p>\n

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BORN 2 BE BAD – Spencer in full flight, picture by Sam Wells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If Spencer’s like a Hot Rod, headliners\u00a0The Melvins<\/strong>\u00a0are more like a juggernaut.<\/p>\n

Featuring two bassists, including\u00a0Jeff Pinkus\u00a0<\/strong>of\u00a0The Butthole Surfers <\/strong>fame, The Melvins music is portentous and monolithic.<\/p>\n

Around for more than 30 years, their sludge-rock groove is a widely credited as the pre-cursor to grunge.<\/p>\n

Prodigiously-talented sticksman\u00a0Dale Crover,\u00a0<\/strong>even briefly held the drum stool in Nirvana<\/strong> before\u00a0Dave Grohl<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Pinkus dovetails neatly with long-serving co-bassist\u00a0Steven McDonald <\/strong>and some of the playing, particularly from Crover and guitarist\/vocalist\u00a0Buzz Osborne<\/strong>, is incredible.<\/p>\n

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BUZZ AND BASS – Osborne and McDonald do the headbang, picture by Sam Wells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Known for their experimentalism, The Melvins have turned their hands to everything from speedcore and drone rock to electronica over the years.<\/p>\n

But tonight there’s a uniform quality to the music, punishing and relentless.<\/p>\n

The power is undeniable and there’s an instinctive synergy between all four musicians, but\u00a0in truth things do start to drag a little halfway through.<\/p>\n

This is music to be endured rather than enjoyed – a marathon to Jon Spencer’s sprint.<\/p>\n

Stripped of Gibby Haynes’ <\/strong>vocal, their mangled take on the Butthole Surfers’\u00a0Moving to Florida<\/strong>, <\/em>lacks the crazed surrealism and black humour that made Pinkus’ old band so compelling.<\/p>\n

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RED HOT – Osborne and Pinkus throw some shapes, picture by Sam Wells<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That said, Osborne – the group’s founder – remains a commanding presence, bestriding the stage ln a black smock, complete with all-seeing eye motif, like some kind of heavy rock druid.<\/p>\n

Hardcore fans, and there are plenty of them, can’t get enough of it – some, showing scant regard for their ear drums, even have the temerity to scream for greater volume.<\/p>\n

Drained, exhausted and battling with temporary deafness, we take our leave, \u00a0stumbling out into the cold Camden night.<\/p>\n

These guys definitely go to 11.<\/p>\n