Thursday, August 14, 2014

Faster Pussycat - Blackthorn 51, Elmhurst NY - August 11, 2014 Concert Review and Photos

Didn't expect to be heading to this one since I started the day in another country...

Woke up about eight hours north in Montreal after spending the weekend at the Heavy Montreal festival (don't worry...review and plenty of pics coming soon) and knew some of my pals were probably heading down to Blackthorn 51 in Elmhurst to see the always killer Faster Pussycat. Well traffic was light and the border crossing was quick and non-invasive so I found myself in a position to hop a ride and forego sleep for most of another night...

Arrived and hung outside as my friends were waiting for some other friends.  Heard a band doing a pretty killer version of The Stooges' Search and Destroy and I Wanna Be Your Dog.  Wish we had gone in to check them out as the band was called Sexxx Dolls and we met Satyr of the band later between sets and he was entertaining as all hell, regaling us with tales of Stiv Bators who he used to be neighbors with in better days...we look forward to your next gig Satyr...

We did go in for the next band on the bill, The Bowery Boys, who put on a rockin set highlighted by some appearances from some of the Faster Pussycat fellas...bassist Danny Nordahl (along with guitarist Ace Von Johnson on backing vocals) joined them to take lead vocals on a cover of Johnny Thunders "Chinese Rocks" and  back later in their set for a Ramones cover.


AfterBurn was up next with a set of hard rockin tunes including of all things a Bob Seger cover.  I was enjoying numerous PBR's throughout which goes well with the all american Detroit rock of a Seger cover.

So before we talk about Faster Pussycat's set, let's talk about Blackthorn 51 as this was my first time being there.  I dug it.  Low stage up front right inside the door, bar along one wall.  Could hold I'd guess 200 people.  Nice outdoor area in the back.  I hope to be back for more shows.


But we're here to talk about Taime Downe, Xristian Simon, Chad Stewart, Danny and Ace - Faster Pussycat.


The boys hit the stage just after midnight and as always just kicked ass straight through for just over an hour with a set that included a new song and a cover we had not heard them do before.  Here's a bunch of pics and the set list:


Where There's A Whip There's A Way


Cathouse


Slip of the Tongue



Number 1 With a Bullet


Sex Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll


House of Pain




then a new tune called from what I can tell "Pretty Ugly" which is pretty damn good


Don't Change That Song


Bathroom Wall


Danny took over lead vocals for the next two songs starting with a cover of the Ramones'
Pet Sematary which none of us (who combined may have seen Faster Pussycat well over fifty times at this point) have ever heard them do before



then a cover of The Supersuckers' (another always killer band) Pretty Fucked Up 


Taime came back on lead vocals for another cover that is a mainstay in their set, Betty Blowtorch's Shut Up and Fuck


Babylon


And that was it...a full blown hour of rock.  We ended up hanging out for about another hour during which we got to meet and chat with most of the band (all except Taime who retired to the bus).  It was also cool to meet Ricky Byrd, of Joan Jett and the Blackhearts among others, who was there and even got a guitar pic from him after chatting and taking a few photos.


It was a helluva fun night and I look forward to seeing the boys again soon...in about 6 weeks at the 80's in the Park festival down in Florida where most of the crew I went with this night will be joining me as well.


Click on any of the photos to blow them up to supersize and if you could, click this link to go to the Facebook page for MostPeopleAreBlank and join.  Lots of great stuff to come and want to build up a following to try and get some photo passes to share more great shows with you.   Also please feel free to comment.  Share this post as you like and I always let anyone use my photos, please just ask, let me know where you are using them and give us credit and we'll do the same and share your links.  As always...Rock on and Enjoy!

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