The Psyatics, Sheiks of Neptune at the Beauty Bar, Thursday July 5, 2018

I appreciate that some local clubs are getting hip to the idea of early weeknight shows. Those of us with day jobs can't stay out until 2:30 am or later to see a headliner on a regular basis. Thank you to the Beauty Bar for the reasonably timed rock'n'roll!

The Sheiks of Neptune kicked things off at a highly respectable 9:00 and played to a good sized crowd (for a Thursday) of rabid fans and newtimers alike. The band is somewhat flashy in their matching outfits and the lead singer is a human pinball, bouncing throughout the stage and club, singin'n'shoutin' and passin' out/throwin' out a variety of toys of various sizes. The musicians are all superior players, with lots of triple leads (two guitars plus violin), riffing off of each other and harmonizing in an almost Zappa-esque way, while the rhythm section propels them, and the audience, into spasms of punky vibrations. The sound was a bit off this evening for some reason (I've seen the same sound men do an excellent job before), so I still don't think that I have really heard their songs properly. Fun stuff, though!

You guys already know that I'm a fan of the Psyatics - I've ranted'n'raved about them numerous times here and this night they were as wildly rockin' as ever! Opening with their cover of the Banana Splits garage-rockin' "Gonna Find Me a Cave", they blew through a good variety of tunes from their various records - the post-punky "Psyatic Nerve" (wait a minute, is that the title? Gotta look that up!), the moody "Evangeline", the ever-relatable "Bourbon Sway", their twisted take on Pink Floyd's "Pigs" and the closing rhythm rocker "Gentlemen of Four Outs". Always terrific post-punk/garage with cool riffs, spot-on drumming, and wall-of-noise guitar work. Visual accompaniment provided by the lovely and lascivious Ivana Blaize for those who would rather not dwell on guitarist Jack's gyrations! (Love ya, Jack!) Always worth the trip!

Thanks again to the Beauty Bar for an early night (I think I was home by about 11:00!) and for hosting groovy local acts! (I did miss the touring fish-themed Joy Division cover band, Koi Division, although I'm told they did amuse'n'amaze.)