The Evil Ones, The Implosions, Rhythm Ace and The Nu-Tones at the Double Down Saloon, Saturday 10-31-26

 

Melanie and I have talked about a Roky Erickson tribute band for at least 5 years and never got if off the ground for various reasons but we were determined this year and we were able to recruit Kevin Wilcox as our Roky and Ron Hudy to drive it all home on the drums. Ian and the Double Down were good enough to give us Halloween night and our pals the Implosions and Rhythm Ace joined in on the mayhem and fun.

As we are wont to do, we started off the night as the Evil Ones, covering songs from Roky’s album of the same name along with a few other faves. Kevin donned a cape and grew out his beard and did an amazing job of channeling the wild man. Ron worked damn hard to learn all of the drum parts and arrangements and did a terrific job all night. It goes without saying that Melanie was a goddess on the bass and I did what I could to cover several guitar and keyboard parts while struggling with various technical issues (which, of course, never happened before or since). But the place was pretty well packed all night long despite the rain and we received a great reception. Thank you to everyone for your support!

We sponsored a costume contest as well and the ladies of the bands were good enough to be the judges and Adrienne helped organize things as I continued to have mysterious technical issues. A werewolf, Zardoz and a mummy and his mummy dearest were the well deserved winners although there were lots of other great costumes during the night.

Then it was time for the fabulous Implosions who dressed as Vegas characters to match their Vegas themed songs. They have a fine variety in their set from moody, Cramps-Ian tunes to fast’n’fun punk rock as they sing about numerous local landmarks and gambling in general. The crowd loved them and danced’n’shouted along all through the set!

I have always dug the chaotic wildness of Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones but I think I dig them more every time I see them. Their lineup has been fluid but the now have a powerful drummer (dressed as Evil Knievel for the night) holding things together as Lindsey provides keys (including playing the bass lines) and theremin while Jeremiah sings and throttles his guitar. Cool cover of a super early Dr John number - "Morgus the Magnificent" - mixed in with lots of hip originals with 50’s and 60’s influences. Little touch of Suicide to my ears, as well (the keys and keyboard bass) and plenty of anarchy! Not really anyone else in town that sounds like them so check them out! And yes, the crowd continued to dance til the end of the night!

Once again, thank you to everyone involved who made this night happen and especially to everyone who came out despite the rain! Definitely one of the more fun Halloweens in recent memory!

recommended gigs

                      

Friday 10-30-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at Tiki di Amore

Friday 10-30-26 - Dog Party, Cherry and the Sours, Va Voom at Red Dwarf

Saturday 10-31-26 - Special Halloween Treat at the Double Down with The Evil Ones - a tribute to Roky Erickson with Kevin Wilcox, Ron Hudy, and Melanie and Rich Coffee - along with Thee Implosions and Rhythm Ace and the Nu-Tones! Costume Contest! Prizes! Fun!

Saturday - 10-31-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 11-2-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Thursday 11-5-26 - Suburban Resistance, Hour 13, 3 Rounds at Red Dwarf

Friday 11-6-26 - the Merry Widows, the Shakewells, the Henchmen, the Limit Club, Vesper Rose and Cherry and the Sours at Grey Witch

Saturday 11-7-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 11-8-26 - the Hideaway, Three Bad Janets, Get In Loser, VaVaoom at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 11-9-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 11-13-26 - Plague Vendor at the Usual Place 

Saturday 11-14-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 11-15-26 - Wave Rebels at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Sunday 11-15-26 - the Buzzcocks and Modern English at Brooklyn Bowl

Monday 11-16-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 11-20-26 - the Goddamn Gallows, King Sickabilly and the Riflemen at the Usual Place

Saturday 11-21-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Monday 11-23-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Wednesday 11-25-26 - Thee Swank Bastards hosts Basstravaganza at the Double Down

Saturday 11-28-26 - Thee Swank Bastards late night at the Golden Tiki

Sunday 11-29-26 - Bear Supply at Red Dwarf's Sunday Brunch

Monday 11-30-26 - Thee Swank Bastards at the Golden Tiki

Friday 12-4-26 - Mr Haole (San Diego) and Aaron Brownwood along with the New Waves at the golden Tiki

Friday 12-18-26 - Thee Implosions at the Punk Rock Museum

Friday 12-18-26 - Space Vampires, Suburban Resistance, Femaliens at Red Dwarf

Kepi Ghoulie, the Bloodtypes, Jerk! and the Femaliens at Grey Witch, Tuesday, 10-27-26

 

We try to make it out any time our old friend Kepi comes to town and once we saw that this lineup that was jam-packed with local pals, we knew we had to make the long trek across town to the hinterlands of Henderson for the gig!

Local outer space enthusiasts the Femaliens opened the night with their own brand of ET-inspired punk rock'n'roll (with a dash of politics and general revulsion of certain aspects of the human race). But, their punk rock is varied with mid-tempo numbers, oldies-sounding tunes, and a touch of country now'n'again for plenty of different sounds to barrage your auditory senses. And they changed things up a bit more when the bassist handed over her instrument to the lead guitarist in order to sing a doo-wop inspired tune with a lovely "fuck you" message - she has a fine voice, too! Still a relatively new combo, they are plenty of fun and a cool start of the evening.

Jerk! has been on a hiatus for various reasons, but now have returned with their same old powerful, tight, kinda-Queers-inspired (who guitarist Matt has played with before) pop-punk! Their lineup has been a bit fluid, but are a stripped down three piece now with a fine drummer keeping them all locked in solidly for the entire set. Simple but catchy tunes, good vocals, and a streamlined rock'n'roll performance! Good to have these (damn nice) guys back on the scene!

We were unfamiliar with the Bloodtypes before this eve but they quickly won us over with their early punk/new-wave stylings that reminded us a bit of the Epoxies, which was appropriate as we found out later that at least the bassist was a member of the Epoxies previously! We were big fans of the E's and played with them a few times when we had the Excessories, but this female-led combo (not Roxy Epoxy!) is a bit more punky and maybe a bit more angular but still an excellent, tight rock'n'roll band. Dug their presentation with "blood" soaked white clothing, white lights and matching Rickenbackers as the singer bounced around relentlessly, even as she played a bit of keyboards to augment the sound. Really impressed and hope that they come back to Vegas before too long! (And the drummer is a fan of the Gizmos!)

Of course, I've ranted'n'raved about Kepi innumerable times, as I have known him since the mid-80's and his current somewhat goofy (in a good way!), minimalistically catchy pop-punk tunes have garnered him a worldwide audience so he never stops touring (it seems, anyway). His electric combo includes super-nice guy B-Face (ex-Queers, among others) and Adam Bomb (plenty of other bands!) for a (slam) danceable burst of (practically) non-stop energy. He played plenty of his "hits", such as our fave "Beast With 5 Hands", along with a sprinkling of Ramones covers for a fast'n'furious set that included guest appearances from members of the Bloodtypes (on guitar, keys and drums at various times) and, as a surprise to me, even me on guitar for two songs I didn't really know but the number of chords totaled three, so I think I managed! (If anyone has any photos, please share!) You can't go to a Kepi show and leave without a smile on your face and this was a particularly upbeat time - glad that we were able to make it out on a weeknight and thanks to Grey Witch for hosting this great lineup!

(I know I post too many pictures but what the heck - trying to give an idea of the craziness!)