What’s not to love about a free Monday night punk show? Dad Joke #31 at El-Rocko was a blast.
I arrived a little late, due to a tinge of full-moon magic leading to a loss of time, but fortunately didn’t miss much.
Savannah-based Rude Dude and The Creek Freaks opened the night. This was the band’s first proper venue show in Savannah, and they absolutely killed it. I am pretty sure they just picked up about 30 new fans. Oh yeah, about that. There was a pretty decent crowd for a Monday night in the 912. Rude Dude is punk/garage rock at its core, but mixed in a healthy dose of other influences. They call it Psych Rock. Someone, please book this band more. I’d buy an album’s worth of their music for sure.
Charlotte, North Carolina’s Paint Fumes was stellar. Old school punk with new flavors, helmed by two loud guitars and one rad drummer. (Their lead guitarist wins my award for best road kit setup ever.)
Cray Bags ended the night with a thick setlist, including a couple of new songs and some classics (can we call them classics now?) from “Hunks” and “Beauty Love.” There was vampire blood and a raunchy pit too.
El-Rocko is a fun, but somewhat confusing venue. They host live music on a regular basis, and every show there is free. The last three shows I’ve seen there were top notch. However, there are now permanent children’s toys in front of the stage, and in the middle of where a lot of bands, including all three on Monday, play. It’s fun, no doubt. Some dude jumped on one in the middle of the Cray Bags set. And an old dude fell off one during the Bask set last week, to the amusement of everyone. (He lived).
Whatever is going on, the shows there are a blast and I hope they keep booking them. Based on attendance, I’d say it’s a good idea.
Tom Cartmel grabbed some photos. He’ll claim they are shitty, but I don’t believe him.
Rude Dude and The Creek Freaks
Paint Fumes
Cray Bags
