Wayne Kramer @ The Side Door
St. Louis, Missouri
7/1997




Wayne Kramer is a veteran rock 'n' roller, and it shows. His successes and failures with the seminal, revolutionary MC5 in the late '60s and early '70s have informed and galvanized his outlook and performance.

Opening with “Stranger in the House,” from his new Epitaph release “Citizen Wayne,” the legendary guitarist proved that he wasn't riding any wave of common nostalgia. His combination of integrity, flair and unadulterated pop sensibilities put the show on a higher plain from the start, sending the Side Door crowd a-hopping and a-hooting.

The set seemed to go on and on, building up like a small riot with a good cause. “Back When Dogs Could Talk,” Dope for Democracy,” Revolution in Apt. 29” and “Shining Mr. Lincoln's Shoes” highlighted Kramer's rock and political stances; he's a man of vision and sincerity, stuck in a world that tends to squash those so inclined. But despite his underdog status, he was intent on getting the loud word out.

When he and his bandmates launched into “Crack in the Universe,” from “The Hard Stuff,” a strong, leafy smell floated from the front row. It underscored his message a bit, that drugs aren't his source of freedom any more (he spent a couple years in a federal penitentary in the '70s for cocaine, and is sober now), but it also reinforced his opinion that you should be free to do as you please.

And he pleased himself and the crowd with a fiery version of the MC5's “Kick Out the Jams” for an encore. Throwing in some funky James Brown and some high notes sustained longer than a vacation, he, his bassist and drummer Brock Avery took it home. Avery is among the best hitters in contemporary rock Ôn' roll and the entire set stunk of obscene talent, professionalism and vitality.

Kramer's pink sharkskin suit might've looked silly in any decade, but he proved that 30 years after he started his revolution, he has more class than ever, and more ability than any reunion act on the road today.

Beforehand, the Gear Grinders crunched out some fun rock 'n' roll with a spicy punk flavor that was half Black Flag, half roots-rock. It was honest and dancable, credible and entertaining. The band would certainly be a fun night out with a few friends and a few beers, so keep the foursome in mind. One song's lyrics consisted only of “Ahhh!” or “Haahhh!,” it was difficult to tell which, but that tune and the many others were interesting and rambunctious enough to applaud happily. Very much unlike...

...openers Ghoul Five, who put the pedal to the metal and stalled out big-time. It was an incredible feat of pure, cheesy willpower that this dressed-up gang, consisting mainly of Vintage Vinyl clerks, could deny the varied musical inspiration at its disposal and prove that working in a well-stocked record store guarantees nothing in the way of taste.



By The Billy Keaggy | Originally published in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, July 1997i am keaggy.com