Locke ‘N’ Load and No Thanks at Metal Skool
The Key Club on the Sunset Strip
West Hollywood, CA
Words & Pixs By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
SugarBuzz Magazine
When we saw the line up we started giggling like a maniac. Monday night at the Key Club means Metal Skool, the Sunset Strip’s answer to Spinal Tap. This cabaret act/cover band is the biggest draw on the street - hands down. They’ve been around for 10 years and still doing hair solos.
Monday is the new Saturday. Opening for the Skool can be a thankless task. Sometimes the crowd doesn’t max-out till midnight. And when it does - it’s packed. Getting people there for the early sets is hard but hardworking bands make it happen. And we got three solid rockers tonight. All beloved friends of the Buzz; Locke ‘n’ Load, No Thanks and Blacklist Union. Yay.
Newly signed to Gunite Records and just off a little tour of California, Locke ‘n’ Load is back home and first up tonight. These rockers got a real sweet look about ‘em. Cami jackets with striped Tee shirts underneath and bandanas for caps. Cargo pants and boots. Why are we thinking of The Lollipop League from the Wizard of Oz? We represent.
A screaming intro to “You Can’t Bring Me Down” kick-started the evening. Where did that crowd come from? Fronted by the two brothers J.T, and Johnny Locke, all of their songs preach defiant cheerfulness. We love “Sorry That I’m High.”
Big surprise at the end; sweet cover of White Stripes “Fell in Love With a Girl.” Done dead nuts with a shade of that frantic edge and a touch faster. Furious and fun punk like it’s meant to be played with heads tilted up and eyes rolling back. J.T. told us after, the Jack and Meg-ger “Yeah, it was a last minute thing.” Nice, guys, very nice.
The night got even more special. No Thanks took the stage with, “Hey, this was an iTunes release party.” The only original song from the 80’s Roots Punk cover-band, No Thanks is “No Thanks.” Isn’t that convenient? It’s like your lead singer is named Leed Singer. But it ain’t. His name is Kenny Price, joined by Jamie Phillips on bass, Matt Fuller, Johnny Cornwell and Kevin "Bombay" on guitars and Joel Patterson on drums
We first heard No Thanks at last year’s Cleopatra Xmas Party (reviewed by Lucky). The one original in this bouquet of covers stands out with its melody. It’s kinda pretty compared to the set list of classics that include “Born to Lose,” “Homicide,” “Modern World,” “Search and Destroy,” Blank Generation,” “What Do I Get?” “Ready, Steady Go,” and “New Rose.” The new song, obviously inspired by the source material, stands out with it’s slightly softer tone. Less savage, more sass.
We got a bit of trivia about the Rhino Records box set “No Thanks.” “You know how it got that name?” Kenny Price gives us the inside line. “They asked all those bands to be part of the set. Then they asked the Sex Pistols. And Johnny Rotten says “no thanks.” Once a pistol…
We also got some trivia about Monday nights at the Key Club. Exiting the stage, DJ Jamie Scrap let all the kids know, “Every f*cking week, I’m the guy up there playing music,” pointing to the hidden booth. Simmer down. We love the music you play, OK. Take it easy.
We wanted to stick around for Black List Union but it was a school night. Catch ya next time.
http://www.myspace.com/lockenloadmusic