LITTLE STEVEN'S UNDERGROUND GARAGE TOUR: THE NEW YORK DOLLS, THE SUPERSUCKERS, THE CHESTERFIELD KINGS, THE CHARMS AND THE NY VAULTS CONCERT REVIEW ON ROCK N ROLL UNIVERSE

As I walked into the Town Ballroom the first thing I did was check the year on my ticket stub.The ticket said 11/18/2006, but the Town Ballroom told me it was 1966. As I entered, “Glad All Over” by The Dave Clark 5 blared over the P.A. as colorful, psychedelic spot lights in shapes of flowers shined on the empty stage in the dark room.Other hits from the 60’s such as “Dead Man’s Curve” by Jan & Dean continued to play when suddenly a curtain dropped down in front of the stage. Dry ice filled the stage as “Devil With The Blue Dress” played over the sound system, and out through the center of the curtain came 3 attractive young Go Go dancers wearing bikini’s and GoGo Boots.They danced to a couple songs, and then the first of 5 bands hit the stage. Each city on the tour featured a local band that won AT&T’s "Blue Room Battle of the Bands".The Buffalo show featured a band from Rochester called the NY Vaults, which was led by 6’ 6” singer “Too Tall Paul” Vezelis.The band was in the same vein as the MC5, Black Crowes, Stooges and a bit of the Rockets. They rocked their way through about a 20 minute set of originals, closing with a fast paced rocker called ”Detroit Muscle” in which the dancers returned and continued dancing to more groovy tunes as the curtain dropped.

The next band up were the Charms from Boston led by lead singer/guitarist Ellie Vee, whose sweet screeching vocals wrap around garage punk rhythms and heavy guitar riffs. The band’s most recent full time addition, Ethan Jon Kreitzer rocked his keyboard like no one I’ve ever witnessed and lead guitarist Joe Wizda’s 70’s guitar hero style complimented every tune. The Charms' tunes and style really stood out for me especially on the songs “Pussycat” and “Top Down”. They played a tune from an upcoming CD to be released on Valentines Day, that had a sound similar to the Romantics only more in your face kick ass rock 'n' roll. Once again the dancers came out again during the last song .

The Chesterfield Kings hit the stage next opening with “I’m Not Talking” from their ‘Let’s Get Stoned’ album( originally recorded by the Yardbirds). Singer Greg Prevost kept the crowd entertained with his high hair, high kicks and constant walks through the audience. Prevost is a show in himself and has to be witnessed live.The Kings, led by Prevost & bassist Andy Babiuk have a high energy sound which shows influences of early Stones, Johnny Thunders, Stooges, Yardbirds and the Dolls.They actually recorded a single with Johnny Thunders (“Critics Choice”) back in the 80’s, and one of the songs they played on this night called “Johnny Volume” is a tribute to Johnny as it references many song titles similar to the Lords of the New Church song “Little Boys Playing With Dolls”.

The Supersuckers were the final opening act and got a great response from the crowd as they kicked everyone’s ass with their no frills balls out rock 'n' roll in the same vein as Social Distortion. Singer/guitarist Eddie Spaghetti started the band in ’88, and has pretty much been on the road since then.Spaghetti donned a cowboy hat, shades and cowboy boots. From where I was standing, with his thick black moustache and sideburns he reminded me a bit of Jason Lee’s character on ‘My Name Is Earl’.The highlight of their set was the song “Pretty F*CKed Up”off their ‘MotherF*CKers Must Be Trippin’album. Out came the dancing girls and now it was time for the Dolls.

As the dancers finished up, the familiar cry of David Johansen saying “When I say I’m in love, you best believe I’m in love LUV!!” blared out and the band, led by the only 2 original members that are alive, David Johansen and guitarist Sylvain Sylvain, launched into the classic ”Looking For A Kiss” off their 1st album. With no hesitation they rocked right into “Puss ‘n’ Boots” off the ‘Too Much,Too Soon’ record. Ex Hanoi Rocks bassist Sammi Yaffa led the band into the 1st cut off their latest CD “We’re All In Love” as Johansen challenged the audience to join in at the chorus. Sylvain Sylvain and lead guitarist Steve Conte were amazing, jamming together on Bo Diddley’s “Pills”(which was also on the Dolls debut album) as David Jo blew his harp as only he can. Johansen asked the crowd if they could not think about their religious beliefs for the next 3 mins & 50 secs as they cranked out “Dancing On the Lip of a Volcano”. Sylvain talked briefly about originally being from Buffalo, but moved when he was a child. Sylvain emotionally sang Johnny Thunders' “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around a Memory”, even adding Johnny’s name in the lyrics. During the chorus Johansen led into “Lonely Planet Boy”. The Dolls played 13 songs, with 6 being off their latest CD ’One Day It Will Please Us To Remember This’.The 1st single off the album, ”Dance Like a Monkey” went over well with the crowd as Johansen and Sylvain clowned around with jungle sounds.”Trash” ripped the crowd apart, and just when one could catch their breath, guitarist Steve Conte launched into “Jet Boy,” which had an amazing exchange of guitar solos between him and Sylvain. The crowd demanded an encore which was met by the Dolls as they revved up their classic anthem “Personality Crisis”. The band came out for one more encore, which is their latest single ”Gotta Get Away From Tommy”. After the show the Dolls signed their latest CD for anyone that purchased it.

Overall it was a great show & the Dolls did not seem like a band living on its past, but a band still putting out new product hungry for success. Just seeing how happy and emotional Sylvain Sylvain was onstage and how kick ass David Johansen and the rest of the band were, leads me to believe they still have a lot yet to offer the world of rock & roll.