Monday, March 16, 2009
The Spin The Spin: The Black Diamond Heavies at The Basement 3/15/09
Posted by The Spin on Mon, Mar 16, 2009 at 12:01 PM
We're told things got off to a late start at The Basement Sunday night. Perhaps it's just as well, since it meant we didn't miss too much. By the time we arrived, local favorites Hans Condor were done kicking out the jams, and a small but stalwart crowd had settled in for a night of dirty soul blues.
This was provided by Silver Lions 20/20, a duo comprised of Chet Weise--formerly of the Immortal Lee County Killers--and Craig "Sweet Dawg" Pickering, who's drummed with R.L. Burnside and T-Model Ford. As in his previous bands, Weise plays distorted, bluesy slide guitar, offering lyrical warnings like "Jesus is fast, yes he is / He's comin' to get you." While Weise's showmanship was never at fault--he enjoys doing flashy high kicks and spins--the occasional technical difficulties did occur. "Hey Charles, can I use your guitar?" he asked Hans Condor frontman Charles Kaster. A few minutes of technical adjustments passed. They played a cover of Hound Dog Taylor's "Gimme Back My Wig." Weise's instrumental pyrotechnics inspired one wag to call out "less guitar!"
The band--which has yet to record but has vague plans to do so, they told The Spin--was a perfect lead-in for another two-piece, The Black Diamond Heavies. The Heavies' sound is built up from Van Campbell's energetic Keith Moon drumming, John Wesley Myers' keyboard playing and low, rough vocals. (One listener we talked to compared him to Cookie Monster). They opened with a cover of AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top (if You Wanna Rock and Roll)." "Thanks so much, we're the Doobie Brothers," said Myers in response to applause.
Their set alternated between tunes from their last two albums, like "Sinnerman," and more covers, like Van Halen's "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love." The Heavies' sound is unique among garage bands. Myers' impassioned keyboard playing allows the group to create a frenetic wall of sound with just two people, and the instrument gives him unusual range--it sometimes resembles a guitar, but sounds chime- or bell-like in the top notes. But they weren't free from technical problems, either. In the middle of a slow, soulful song, something went wrong, and Myers said, "hold on man, I'm sorry dude." They gave up and instead played R.L. Burnside's "Coal Black Mattie." The audience wasn't quite dancing, but they were rocking their hips.
The set ended with the requisite psychedelic breakdown, complete with tambourine. By that time, the bands were ready to go drinking at The 5 Spot, and the audience had enjoyed a satisfying night of rock 'n' roll.
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