The Tinglerz & Acton Town - the Beauty Bar, Las Vegas April 27, 2012

Yes, it's odd for me to get out on a Friday night, but it's always unusual for two bands that I dig to be playing together as the first two groups of the night, so I thought I'd take advantage of this!

It's spring and so the Beauty Bar has opened its back patio again for gigs and has reconfigured it which apparently has made the sound better - certainly a big improvement from the sound indoors which is consistently muddy. Unfortunately, although the show was supposed to start at 10:00, the patio was not even opened until after 11:00 and Acton Town didn't start until probably 11:30 or so. I know that I have railed against this before, but I can't understand the Vegas clubs' policy of super late shows - no one likes this - at least not the bands or the audience - but still it keeps happening. I got home at almost 2:00 in the morning and only saw two acts - most anywhere else you have seen the entire show and been there for last call if you got home that late! Anyway...

Acton Town is a 3 piece mod/garage/punk hybrid made of up energetic and stylish youngsters barely old enough to get into the club! But each of the gents are solid players and singers - guitarist Cromm and drummer Ron share lead vocals duties and it is particularly effective when bassist Anthony joins in for group harmonies. I hear bits of early new wave/punk (Joy Division & Cure) in some of the tunes and guitar tones (Cromm was borrowing his dad's - John Fallon, ex-of the 80's band the Steppes - Rickenbacher for this gig) but there is also lots of Jam influences as well as noisy garage tones. Good mixture of stuff with plenty of edge & excitement & flailing about. Cool tunes and a fun show! They play all the time, so no excuse not to check 'em out!

The Tinglerz are one of my faves in town - crazily high-energy punk'n'roll with wild stage antics and real songs! Another 3 piece led by guitarist Kei, who is not afraid to play with various sounds and effects to bring variety to the tunes, along with fantastic bassist Eric, who bounces around like a pinball while ripping out cool bass licks, and drummer-about-town Turbo, who is in big demand since he kicks ass! These cats aren't afraid to throw their influences into a blender and see what happens, either, and while they love punk rock, there are plenty of garage sounds coming through and lots of Motor City r'n'r.

While these two combos have different sounds, they are definitely doing what they can to keep r'n'r alive in Las Vegas! Both are highly recommended! Nice guys, too! Thanks Beauty Bar!

(I left my camera at home so no pics! Next time!)