- The rock and roll band of the moment return to New York
Early last summer, I had the wise guy idea of going to see Buddy Guy and the Del Lords on the same night. The mathematics was simply Buddy at 8pm, Del Lords, last of three bands, at 1030p. Makes sense, right? Nope, I missed all of the Del Lords gig, they went on second not third, except for the final five minutes of Neil Young’s “Southern Pacific”
As my friend Tomas Doncker, who I had roped into the bright idea, put it: “damn, damn, damn”. we knew they were great, we could tell they’d been great but we missed it.
So after giving various Del Lords a good laugh, I joined their fanpage and awaited their return. But it was Helen Bach who clued me in. Helen is the keeper of all things PR related and it is Helen who got me on the CMJ presslist last year and the CBGB Festival list this year, and it was she who emailed me the poster you don’t see before you (I stole Steve Almaas’).
I am not as excited about their October 10th gig at Sullivan Hall as I might be because it can’t possibly match my expectations. The Del Lords have had an awesome year, a killer album (Bill Holdship’s fave of 2013), Elvis Club, a tour by numbers that seem to add up, a superb tee shirt which I’ve worn since I got it earlier this week and it is getting kinda smelly around now, and on top of all that, a concert of heroic proportions in New York City. They HAVE TO SUCK, right?
Oh, and what may well be my favorite song since Titus Andronicus’ “…And Ever”. That would be “Chicks, Man”, there is no shame in calling it easily the best song on Elvis Club, it is easily the best song anywhere. Three lines of it have already entered my vernacular:
1. Chicks , Man. But really, anything where you have a noun, and wanted to add umph, just throw in a man at the end. If you are delayed on the subway, try “Trains, man”, if you can’t pay for your living abode, “rent, man” and if nobody reads you? “Blogs, man”
2. It sucked again, was great again, and once again it sucked – Of course it is the add of “once” that does it. But I use it all the time, it just is absolutely perfect for this fucked up existence.
3. Enough was enough was enough was enough –the very next line but throw that out during an argument with a chick, man, say “enough is enough is enough is enough” –it only works once, because the next time she’ll slug ya, but for that one time? Awesome.
Anyway, and no pressure here Mr. Lords and co, but the gig just can’t possibly live up to my expectations. So maybe it will be half as good!!! YES!!!!! Del Lords, man. October 10th at Sullivan Hall . Be there or be damned.