The Scientists at the Zebulon, Los Angeles, Wednesday Oct 3, 2018

Guest blogger Rob Bell from the Psyatics made it out to LA to see the Scientists last week. Here's what he had to say about it:

This week, my friend Louie and I set out on a rare mid-week trip to CA to check off some bucket list items:  gigs by the Australian garage post-punkers The Scientists and the legendary Roky Erickson!  How could you not?!  The Scientists, fronted by the prolific Kim Salmon, is actually on their first-ever tour of the U.S. and it looks like Salmon and bandmates Leanne Cowie, Boris Sujdovic and Tony Thewlis (from the 1982  lineup) will also be heading into the studio soon to record a new album for In The Red Records, the group’s first full-length since 1987’s The Human Jukebox.  Boris and Tony have previously played with Kim in The Beasts of Bourbon, so this was not only a can’t miss show, but since the recent loss of Spencer and Brian, you take the chances when you can get them.  

The gig was at a cool little venue, The Zebulon in Los Angeles.  There was a great turnout for a Wednesday, and the second of a two-night stay for The Scientists.  The opening acts, The Lamps (sweet dream pop from OK) and The Lavender Flu (a jangly, psych folk band from OR) fit the bill and were entertaining, but the soundmen were still dialing in, and most vocals were completely buried in the mix.  And then came The Scientists…

Tony strolls out to an apparent soundcheck with squalling feedback and dirty slashes to his guitar, a semi-hollow body Tele thin line.  Kim walks on stage to join in a deconstructed version of Rev Head!  …and then bliss.  From the western tinges of ‘Perpetual Motion’ and ‘Swampland’, t0 the Crampsy ‘When Fate Deals It’s Mortal Blow’ and ‘Blood Red River’, the crowd was captured.  The tone and dissonance of The Scientists, with looping bass lines like the Birthday Party stylings of ‘Set It on Fire’, and the dirty, post-punk fuzz guitar of songs like ‘Solid Gold Hell’ and ‘We Had Love’ has been a huge influence on my own band, The Psyatics, and they didn’t disappoint.  Kim was in fine form, joking about the dreaded ‘new’ songs that reformed bands tend to write, and then just killed on two new In the Red Songs, ‘Braindead’ and ‘SurvivorsKills’!  With nods to The Cramps, Gun Club, Birthday Party and Stooges, these guys commanded the stage, cementing a legacy that tends to be overlooked, but cannot be underestimated.  They are not to be missed, if you get a chance to catch them on one of the few remaining US dates.  We still have Roky Erickson to see in Tustin, but this night we revel in the post ring of the show, feeling lucky to have caught a legendary band, not bringing nostalgia but fire and fury…and in Kim’s words, when describing Tony’s playing, “dissonance, flash and Alchemy”!  

Robt Bell- The Psyatics

The Scientists- The Zebulon LA, CA (Wed. October 3^rd) setlist:

1. Rev Head (deconstructed)
2. You Only Live Twice
3. Perpetual Motion
4. Set It On Fire
5. Solid Gold Hell
6. Leadfoot
7. When Worlds Collide
8. When Fate Deals its Mortal Blow
9. Braindead (new)
10. Atom Bomb Baby
11. SurvivorsKills (new)
12. Blood Red River
13. Swampland
14. Band introductions
15. We Had Love

ENCORE

1. Murderess in a Purple Dress
2. Nitro
3. Burnout
4. Shine

2^nd ENCORE

1. Last Night
2. This Is My Happy Hour