The Royal Heist, Oh No! Not Stereo, Jordan Cook

With notes on a Solomon Burke Tribute

The Viper Room

February 12 2011

By Victoria Joyce
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)

SugarBuzz Magazine

We had to get out of the house and away from The Grammys. Ugh. Consistently, it is the worst awards show ever. Completely out of touch. Oh wait, Mick Jagger with a few minutes of bliss doing a tribute to Solomon Burke by singing “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love.”* (No, this is not a Blues Brothers song, although they had the good taste to cover it as well.) I’m so glad to be here tonight. I’m so glad to be home.

Speaking of home, we escaped to the Viper Room just in time. How much music of no consequence can one take? But we kinda blew it. We Facebooked – “off to see the band formerly known as the Chelsea Smiles.” (now called The Royal Highness) but instead got The Royal Heist. Duh. At least we got the “Royal” part right. And the good news – another excellent band we haven’t seen in a dog’s age. Sharing the stage with their good friends, Oh No! Not Stereo made this a double date.

Both The Royal Heist and ONNS consistently bring great song writing, fine musicianship and cute outfits to every show. And that is one, two and three on our list of Rock must-haves.

What? It’s 11p and the place is packed? On a Sunday? With the Grammy after parties all over? Yes, packed. Thanks in part to the second installment of Jordan Cook’s Sunday residency. Lots of buzz about this dude. Rightly so. He can rock a guitar, fer shure. Classic influences with splash of Punk, Metal and Glam. Some folks even drop the J-word (Jimi Hendrix, that is).

This whole magilla is a “Dirty Thirty” Bday Bash for Ryan Der. A mustache gets you in. Cake, drunk girls and fake whiskers wall to wall. Fun.

Taking the stage ‘round midnight, The Royal Heist is these guys: Collin Pulsipher (vocals), Everett Connors (bass), Charlie Paz (drums), Donato McDermott (guitar). Very punk pop, with jerky riffs and static beats ala Devo. Collin is a most excellent lead singer and works the mic well.

The Royal’s songs are snappy, hot, fast and sweet. Song titles read like Steven Segal movies; “Lock and Load,” “Fight or Flight,” and our fave, “Take, Take, Take.”

Check The Royal Heist on Facebook for upcoming tour dates in Texas and Colorado. And yes, they will be at SXSW.

*Editor’s Note: The only thing wrong about Mick Jagger on the Grammy’s was we missed Keith’s guitar. “Everybody Needs Somebody to Love” is the first cut from “Rolling Stones Now!” an album released, in April of 1965, at height of the British Invasion. This album’s dreadful title was part of a silly trend to name releases with the artist’s name followed by “now!” Everyone did it. It was embarrassing. (“Wayne Newton Now!”)

Aside from “Now,” early albums from the Stones had dark smart names like. “12 x5” (twelve songs by 5 guys, get it?) “December’s Children,” “Out of Our Heads” and the magnificent “Aftermath.” The songs were either covers of Black artists or originals imitating same. Please listen to “Little Red Rooster.” Sung on Shindig at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. Gutsy.

Also, back in these dark days there were different versions of albums released in the US and the UK. The British vinyl had more songs. Hence (hence?) every year from 1965 to 1971, a collection of singles (with those glorious B-sides) would be released.

Stones fans had to pay attention.

If you enjoyed Mick on the Grammys and would like to hear more of that “down home” stuff, go to iTunes and click “buy.”

ROLLING STONES NOW
Somebody to Love
Down Home Girl
You Can’t Catch Me
Heart of Stone
What a Shame
Mona (I Need You Baby)
Down The Road Apiece
Off the Hook
Pain in My Heart
Oh Baby (We Got a Good Thing Goin’)
Little Red Rooster
Surprise, Surprise

www.facebook.com/theroyalheist

www.facebook.com/ohnonotstereo

www.jordancook.com/seven-deadly-sins

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