Devil at the Crossroads - A Robert Johnson Story

The Robert Johnson story is fraught with legend and is the basis for innumerable tales of the natural and supernatural. The Deal With the Devil is as old as the Bible, but was modernized with Johnson meeting Satan at the Crossroads and becoming a master of the guitar. He perpetuated he legend in his lyrics and the haunting sounds that he produced and it all captivates the imagination even to this day, more than a hundred years after his birth.

Of course, there have been dozens, hundreds, possibly thousands of stories based on the Johnson myth, with books, movies and records being dedicated to the man and this Netflix documentary is simply another in a long line. There is not much new to be said about the man, so there really is no revelations to be found here. The filmmakers do talk to Robert's grandson (as well as his son, via old footage) which is neat, although, of course, he didn't know the man. Other than that, the tale is basically what we have heard for decades with numerous blues and rock musicians (Keith Richards making an obligatory appearance - with subtitles, which was amusing!) giving their point of view and occasionally playing one of Johnson's songs.

So, while entertaining, as any story about a larger-than-life man like Johnson is bound to be, there are no epiphanies and nothing new really to add to the tale. Nice, but certainly nothing essential.

The Psyatics, Hell Toupees and Soldiers of Destruction at the Double Down, Saturday April 27, 2019

The Psyatics home-away-from-home is definitely the Double Down and the band averages at least a show a month there, sometimes setting up the entire line-up and sometimes just seeing who else appears, as happened this evening.

Opening the night was touring band The Hell Toupees (funny name!) hailing from Ventura, CA, who were basically a hardcore punk group with a political bent, as evidenced by their opening song "Media Whore", which was followed by the singer exhorting the crowd in a "Fuck Trump" chant. There was a bit of the Dead Kennedys here'n'there, some Misfits influence and hints of various other combos as they covered songs like Dramarama's "Anything" (more shouted than sung, but fun) along with a Cure song that I didn't recognize. They were good, tight players and the singer was highly animated, so a cool start to the evening.

The Psyatics followed with a set of old'n'new tunes (four recent numbers, two of which we hadn't played live before), plenty of energy, a bit of sloppiness and a lot of fun - on our part anyway! There was a good crowd at this point and we got a great response from friends and unfamiliar faces alike. A little messy at time, as tends to happen when I play in a group, and the whole shee-bang ended in chaos as "Gentlemen of Four Outs" devolved into a noise fest with feedback, pounding drums and Ivanna Blaize's frantic shimmying!

(Above Psyatics photos by Nikki Ruffling)

16 Again were not able to get out here from SoCal, so the night ended with the Soldiers of Destruction, featuring the Double Down's bouncer and all around nice guy, David Thompson on bass. These cats were also kinda hardcore/kinda Oi and despite some technical difficulties (for some reason the PA would not cooperate with them), they were talented'n'tight (the drummer was especially smokin') and the songs featured plenty of background vocals and call'n'answer choruses. The audience was a bit sparser by the time they got on, but they still managed to get people up'n'slammin' and generally having a good time.

Once again, thanks to the Double Down for a fun night a punk-oriented rock'n'roll music and shenanigans!

recommended gigs

Friday April 26 - David Ramirez Benefit at Backstage Bar and Billiards with No Que No, Will and the Hi Rollers, the Quitters, Dead at Midnight, World Tension and Wolf Hounds
Friday April 26 - Thee Swank Bastards at Tiki di Amore

Saturday April 27 - The Psyatics with Soldiers of Destruction (with David from the Double Down) and the Hell Toupees at the Double Down

Sunday April 28 - Thor (70's rock god!) with Sheiks of Neptune at Evel Pie

Monday April 29 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday May 1 - Extra Gold (country from Denver, CO) at 172 inside the Rio
Wednesday May 1 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with special guests the Holy Smokes

Friday May 3 - The Psyatics with the Implosions and the Sheiks of Neptune at the Huntridge Tavern

Saturday May 4 - the Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki
Saturday May 4 - the Unwieldies at 2 Wheels Garage in Boulder City
Saturday May 4 - Johnny Zig and the Force at GOAT

Sunday May 5 - Pound with the Bitters and Life's Torment at the Bunkhouse
Sunday May 5 - Los Carajos at the Golden Tiki for Cinco de Mayo
Sunday May 5 - the Burly Q Revue at the Double Down featuring Johnny Zig and the Force

Wednesday May 8 - Bogtrotters Union, the Social Set, Actionesse, Ghost in the Willow at Evel Pie

Thursday May 9 - TV Party Tonight at the Double Down showing the movie Rock'n'Roll High School with a live set of Ramones covers by Jerk!

Friday May 10 - Johnny Zig and the Force at Lazy Harry's
Friday May 10 - the Hypnotiques at Tiki di Amore

Saturday May 11 - The Swamp Gospel with the Sin Eaters and the Rhyolite Sound at the Double Down

Tuesday May 14 - Panther Burns at the Bunkhouse

Friday May 17 - Thee Swank Bastards at Tiki di Amore

Saturday May 18 - Le DomiNiki with Mizz Absurd at the Goldmine Tavern

Wednesday May 22 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Spirit Mothers at the Bunkhouse

May 23-27 - Punk Rock Bowling festival - lots of cool shows on the festival stage and in the clubs - check out their listing!

Friday May 24 - Monster Zero with Dr Phobic and the Phobictones at the Golden Tiki
Friday May 24 - Franks'n'Deans at Mickie Finnz

Saturday May 25 - Franks'n'Deans at Mickie Finnz

Monday May 27 - Save Ferris, Monkey, Franks'n'Deans at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Wednesday May 29 - the Rhyolite Sound with Mike and the Moonpies at the Bunkhouse

Friday May 31 - The Delta Bombers, the All Togethers, Shanda and the Howlers at Islands Bar and Lounge

Friday June 7 - Cromm Fallon and the P200 with Pet Tigers at the Bunkhouse

Sunday June 9 - Kid Congo and the Pink Money Birds, Slim Cessna's Auto Club and The Psyatics and Ted Rader's Magic Family at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Saturday June 15 - the Implosions, Lambs to Lions, Sheiks of Neptune, the Time Crashers at the Center for Science and Wonder

Saturday June 22 - Bob Log III with the Swamp Gospel at the Bunkhouse

Tuesday August 6 - all-female surf from Canada, the Surfrajettes, the Hula Girls and the Hypnotiques at the Bunkhouse

Sunday August 18 - George Clinton and Parliment Funkadelic at the Brooklyn Bowl

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

Psychedelic Bubblegum - Bobby Hart

As everyone knows, Bobby Hart is half of the hit songwriting team, Boyce and Hart, who is best known for the smashes they wrote for the Monkees, but he was and is also a solo performer, a band member, a publisher, a producer and much more. Here he tells his tale of growing up with country music and 50's rock'n'roll and becoming an ultra successful songwriter and performer in the 60's and 70's.

Moving from Arizona to Hollywood, his story ranges from working in a print shop to cutting demos of his own songs, trying his hand as a 50's solo artist, becoming adept at writing his own songs, having hits as a co-writer of "Come a Little Bit Closer" and "Hurt So Bad", meeting and then joining forces with Tommy Boyce and writing some of the 60's most enduring and catchy (and well-done) bubblegum music. During all of this he also performed and sang in numerous acts, became part of the Monkees backing band, had hits as simply Boyce and Hart as well as Dolenz, Jones, Boyce and Hart and then concentrated more on the back end of writing and producing.

Of course, his 50's and 60's remembrances are my favorites and he is a bit cheesy at times (hell, he and Boyce did a Vegas show with Zsa Zsa Gabor!) but his musical stories are generally fun and interesting. Unfortunately for me, at least, he is also highly spiritual and becomes heavily involved in a meditative practice and a good portion of the later chapters are obviously trying to proselytize, making me skim over a lot of it.

Other than that, though, his tale is generally enjoyable and is a different take on the 60's - the more manufactured side of things - than the hedonistic, crazed rock'n'rollers that I normally read about. Maybe not essential, but a good read for fans of his songs.

recommended gigs

Friday April 19 - the Unwieldies at Evel Pie

Saturday April 20 - the Plualses and Cadaver Pudding at the Huntridge
Saturday April 20 - Fuzz Solow, Anubis, Life's Torment, Lethal Injection at the Double Down

Sunday April 21 - Thee Swank Bastards and Dirty Magic at the Double Down

Monday April 22 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday April 26 - David Ramirez Benefit at Backstage Bar and Billiards with No Que No, Will and the Hi Rollers, the Quitters, Dead at Midnight, World Tension and Wolf Hounds

Saturday April 27 - The Psyatics with Soldiers of Destruction (with David from the Double Down) and the Hell Toupees at the Double Down

Sunday April 28 - Thor (70's rock god!) with Sheiks of Neptune at Evel Pie

Wednesday May 1 - Extra Gold (country from Denver, CO) at 172 inside the Rio
Wednesday May 1 - Franks'n'Deans Weenie Roast with special guests the Holy Smokes

Friday May 3 - The Psyatics with the Implosions and the Sheiks of Neptune at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday May 5 - Pound with the Bitters and Life's Torment at the Bunkhouse
Sunday May 5 - Los Carajos at the Golden Tiki for Cinco de Mayo

Friday May 10 - Johnny Zig and the Force at Lazy Harry's

Saturday May 11 - The Swamp Gospel with the Sin Eaters and the Rhyolite Sound at the Double Down

Tuesday May 14 - Panther Burns at the Bunkhouse

Saturday May 18 - Le DomiNiki with Mizz Absurd at the Goldmine Tavern

Wednesday May 22 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Spirit Mothers at the Bunkhouse

May 23-27 - Punk Rock Bowling festival - lots of cool shows on the festival stage and in the clubs - check out their listing!

Friday May 24 - Monster Zero with Dr Phobic and the Phobictones at the Golden Tiki
Friday May 24 - Franks'n'Deans at Mickie Finnz

Saturday May 25 - Franks'n'Deans at Mickie Finnz

Monday May 27 - Save Ferris, Monkey, Franks'n'Deans at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Friday May 31 - The Delta Bombers, the All Togethers, Shanda and the Howlers at Islands Bar and Lounge

Friday June 7 - Cromm Fallon and the P200 with Pet Tigers at the Bunkhouse

Sunday June 9 - Kid Congo and the Pink Money Birds, Slim Cessna's Auto Club and The Psyatics and Ted Rader's Magic Family at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Saturday June 15 - the Implosions, Lambs to Lions, Sheiks of Neptune, the Time Crashers at the Center for Science and Wonder

Saturday June 22 - Bob Log III with the Swamp Gospel at the Bunkhouse

Sunday August 18 - George Clinton and Parliment Funkadelic at the Brooklyn Bowl

What have I forgotten? Lemme know

recommended gigs

Friday April 5 - the New Waves at the Golden Tiki
Friday April 5 - the Juke Joint Junkies host the LV Blues Society Jam at the Sand Dollar
Friday April 5 - Cromm Fallon, Girls and Wolves, Stereoglass, Chainsaw Fight, Strange Mistress, the Jag Offs at the Double Down

Saturday April 6 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Hideaway
Saturday April 6 - Nevada Youth Charity Concert at Rebar featuring the Unwieldies and more
Saturday April 6 - Shanda and the Howlers at the Golden Tiki
Saturday April 6 - the New Waves with the Sheiks of Neptune at the Bunkhouse

Sunday April 7 - the Hypnotiques at the Golden Tiki
Sunday April 7 - the Burly Q Revue featuring Johnny Zig and the Force at the Double Down

Monday April 8 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday April 12 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki
Friday April 12 - Decaying Tigers, Time Crashers, Snailmate and Sonic Syndrome at the Double Down

Sunday April 14 - Johnny Zig and the Force at GOAT

Monday April 15 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Tues April 16 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Peter Egri (from Hungary), Eddie Clendening, Johnny 7 and more at 172

Friday April 19 - the Unwieldies at Evel Pie

Saturday April 20 - the Plualses and Cadaver Pudding at the Huntridge
Saturday April 20 - Fuzz Solow, Anubis, Life's Torment, Lethal Injection at the Double Down

Saturday April 27 - The Psyatics with Soldiers of Destruction (with David from the Double Down) and the Hell Toupees at the Double Down

Sunday April 28 - Thor (70's rock god!) with Sheiks of Neptune at Evel Pie

Wednesday May 1 - Extra Gold (country from Denver, CO) at 172 inside the Rio

Friday May 3 - The Psyatics with the Implosions and the Sheiks of Neptune at the Huntridge Tavern

Sunday May 5 - Pound with the Bitters and Life's Torment at the Bunkhouse

Saturday May 11 - The Swamp Gospel with the Sin Eaters and the Rhyolite Sound at the Double Down

Tuesday May 14 - Panther Burns at the Bunkhouse

Wednesday May 22 - Dirty R'n'R Dance Party presents Spirit Mothers at the Bunkhouse

May 23-27 - Punk Rock Bowling festival - lots of cool shows on the festival stage and in the clubs - check out their listing!

Friday May 24 - Monster Zero with Dr Phobic and the Phobictones at the Golden Tiki

Monday May 27 - Save Ferris, Monkey, Franks'n'Deans at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Sunday June 9 - Kid Congo and the Pink Money Birds, Slim Cessna's Auto Club and The Psyatics and Ted Rader's Magic Family at Backstage Bar and Billiards

Saturday June 15 - the Implosions, Lambs to Lions, Sheiks of Neptune, the Time Crashers at the Center for Science and Wonder

Saturday June 22 - Bob Log III with the Swamp Gospel at the Bunkhouse

Sunday August 18 - George Clinton and Parliment Funkadelic at the Brooklyn Bowl

What have I forgotten? Lemme know