The Psyatics, the Jagoffs, the No Loves at Evel Pie, Thursday Oct 18, 2018

Outdoor venues in Las Vegas can be an iffy proposition - it can be 100 or more at 10:00pm in the summer (as it was the last time I was at Evel Pie) and below freezing in the winter - but this evening it was pleasantly cool. Local pals the Psyatics played with new locals the Jagoffs and a couple of touring combos, so I made it out for some pizza'n'rock'n'roll.

The Jagoffs are a young, apparently new, punk band that generally had fairly melodic tunes, although the singer would occasionally go into a death metal growl. Covers like Fear's "I Love Living in the City" and Minor Threat's theme song blended with their own down-tuned numbers with a little slap and a little slop. They seemed somewhat uncomfortable on stage, so we'll see what they grow into with a little experience.

The Psyatics provided their own brand of tight, no-wave-infused garage that helped to fill up the room and got people up'n'movin'. Fab originals like "Psyatic Nerve", the ever-appropriate "Bourbon Sway" and "Gentlemen of Four Outs" (that gives drummer Mark a change to shine and show off with a short ending solo - he is one of the best drummers in town - the man has a fast'n'mean right foot!) mix with covers like the Hives' "Two Timing Touch" and Pink Floyd's "Pigs" for a high energy blend that always works and always sounds only like the Psyatics. No Ivana Blaize this evening but Jack's gyrations hypnotized the young ladies in the audience!

The No Loves were on tour from Tennessee and were another basic but solid punk rock band with some good leads - including some hip, dual harmony solos - but not a lot else that really stood out for me. Nothing bad but nothing that really grabbed me and, as the show was running late on this week night, I cut out to get home by midnight. I was interested in seeing El Escapado (also from Tennessee) and their short-short attired singer, but couldn't hang, but I hope that other, younger members of the crowd did stick around!