The Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki, Monday July 3, 2017

I don't get out much on Monday nights, but seeing as the next day was a holiday, I decided to make the trek to Chinatown to check out the Swank Bastards. Every version of this band - and there are many - is great in its own way, but this incarnation with Turbo on drums and Murphy on bass is pretty damn powerful and musical simultaneously. Turbo flails away while Murphy throws in some ridiculous riffs'n'tricks (check him out on guitar in the Bitters to see some crazed shredding!) behind Jesse's staccato surf licks. Jesse takes over as much of any club as his extended guitar cord will let him, leaving the rhythm section on their lonesome for most of the set. Always entertaining musically and visually (and with some bad, crude jokes here'n'there), the Bastards are a guaranteed good time. I was surprised at how many people filled up the Golden Tiki on a Monday night, too!

(Jesse and the mermaid)