Shortest Rock NYC interview ever. Me, “Are you ready?” Guitarist Tom Trusnovic, “I may play several correct notes.”
The Hickoids are an Austin based cowpunk band that formed in 1984, broke up in 1991, and began playing again in 2006. Original members Jeff Smith and Davy Jones, who is currently on hiatus due to health issues, have welcomed 28 other band members into the fold since the Reagan administration. Earlier this year, I saw the Hickoids blow The Flamin’ Groovies off of the stage in Dallas, but that’s a much smaller accomplishment than it should be in 2014. After touring Europe this summer (somebody, explain the economics of that one to me), the band is back in Texas bringing their irreverent country thrash to the masses. Or, to a few dozen dedicated fans on a Friday night.
The Hickoids lack nothing in the rock ‘n’ roll attitude department. Lead singer Jeff Smith has a stage presence that is reminiscent of Iggy Pop and Lux Interior with a dash of Dennis The Menace. Smith beams endlessly when doing his sexual monologue routines (there were two in this show, one too many) and pantomimes gestures throughout the set to remind the audience that he has a pelvis. The music runs the gamut from satiric country to glam metal. Guitarist Trusnovic probably owns more than a few Bowie/Hoople/T. Rex albums. He has an excellent stage presence and carried the band with his genre jumping guitar work on this night. Second guitarist Cody Richardson is a competent replacement for Jones, but doesn’t have Davy’s effortless psychedelic touch. Drummer Lance Farley is equally at home on the cowpunk waltzes and the hardcore thrash workouts.
Here’s a bit of the eclecticism with the band. The Hickoids started the show with “Kneed Me,” which was played at a deliberate drunken cowboy lament tempo, and then immediately revved into the roaring Rolling Stones inspired rocker “Stop It.” They offered up the theme song to the television show “Quincy,” followed by a hunka hunka cover of “Burnin’ Love” that sounded like an amphetamine tornado. There’s a bit of the early Replacements in the devil may care attitude, where a satiric country weeper can be followed with a stomping glam rock version of “Bennie and The Jets.” It’s a lot of fun and a lot of shtick at the same time.
The Hickoids, who also covered The Eagles’ “Take It Easy” at a land speed thrash record pace, remind me of the Quad Cities band, Cheese Pizza. Cheese Pizza was a quartet of former metal musicians that became onstage cross dressers and did hard rock covers of “Delta Dawn” and “I Touch Myself.” It’s all about irreverent fun, although the shirtless Smith does bring a layer of sweat and sexuality. The 90 minute set ran a bit too long, this band can say everything it needs to in an hour, and I would have loved to have heard their spleen crushing version of “Brontosaurus” again.
The Hickoids are a triumph of personality over emotional depth, but on this evening they made me smile and laugh and sing and play air guitar like I was a teenager. These days, if you can find anyone that is selling legitimate fun, my advice is to buy as much as you can.
Grade – B+
