The Mulhollands and The Dirty Kings
Ruby Tuesday
The Key Club
West Hollywood, California
September 18, 2007
words & pixs by Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
SugarBuzz Magazine
If it’s Tuesday, this must be The Mulhollands. Or so Matt Fuller must be saying to himself. He was just on this stage the night before when his other band, No Thanks opened for Metal Skool. Busy guy.
So two nights in a row at the Key Club finds us at Ruby Tuesday where there is no cover, totally free and all ages. New bands get to strut their stuff and LA’s Mulhollands are doing a residency. Next month they will be at Hollywood’s oldest bar, Boardner’s for a Rocktober residency. And The Mulhollands caught a nice break recently with their song, “Mailbu” on NBC’s “Victoria Beckam Comes to America.” Busy band.
Around 9p The Mulhollands took the stage and started up. And this young lady, standing off stage, started bopping to the beat and in a very animated way giggled “I’m not some weirdo just making noise.” Then she went up on stage and grabbed the mic. That was some entrance, girl.
Sweet soft-voiced lead singer, Sarah Jeanette, looking very Chrissie Hynde with her black fingerless gloves, black mini, jean jacket and bangs down to there brings a shy energy to the poppie, smashing, pop-punk sound of the band. Her vocals get nice back up from the boys. Lotta bang for the buck with these kids.
Like we said, Matt Fuller joins the Mulhollands on guitar sometimes and plays well with Jeremy James and Jeff Mizushima. New drummer, Denny was welcomed to his baptism gig by Sarah. We loved the song, “Satellite.”
Next up at Ruby Tuesday was The Dirty Kings. We’ve had these guys on our to-do list for too long. They call their style Southern California Garage Rock. The DK’s are more stripped down with a trio instead of the average 4+ band. So they go a little faster; sleek and uncluttered.
The look is short hair and just jeans and tees, no glam, chains or spikes, more athletic than grunge. Much loved by other rockers in Hollywood, this is a musician’s band. We spotted members of Oh, No Not Stereo down front or were they from The Scene? Either way they were screaming for the DKs.
“We got a new one, let us know what you think,” announced bass player and good looking lead singer, B.B. Cox to the crowd’s delight. Called “Keepsake” and yes, it’s a keeper. Mofo Daniels on guitar and Johnnie Smith on drums rocked their brains out operating like a well-oiled machine.
Songs from the set were from new release “Electric Dirt” and mighty fine stuff indeed. None of that shoe-gazer stuff here. This music makes you look up and pump your fist.
Look for the Dirty Kings to play with their buds, The Ringers at their Viper Room residency in October on the 25th. That will be one for the books.