10 April 2015 (gig)
13 April 2015
Talk about getting a second chance! The Sonics, one of the, if not the greatest garage bands of all time, are riding a current wave of popularity that they, no doubt, ever imagined.
The original incarnation of the band made two legendary, but not commercially successful albums, and fell apart by the late 60’s.
Interest in the band was re-ignited when Norton Records re-issued the bands initial two albums in 1999, which led to sporadic appearances at festivals (e.g. Cavestock), not to mention adoration from Bruce Springsteen and many other top acts. All of this now sees the band, in 2015, more popular than ever.
Currently embarking on a tour, The Sonics played Boston for the first time ever at the Brighton Music Hall on April 10, 2015. Still sporting three of the five original members, Gerry Roslie, Rob Lind, and Larry Parypa, the band played to a sold out house (with many patrons nearly begging for an extra ticket outside the venue).
Opening like a nuclear bomb, the band launched into the opening number “Cinderella” (with current bass player Freddie Dennis manning the lead vocals for the song), the band of mostly senior citizen-aged musicians proved immediately that have not lost one bit of their fury, which has made them legendary (and a still-burning passion which many younger musicians could only dream of having).
Microphone issues seemed to give band members problems at times, but that was a minor distraction, as killer takes of Have Love, Will Travel” "Boss Hoss," and “Shot Down” more than made up for any technical glitches.
The quintet just release a new album, “This Is The Sonics,” and the band was not shy about pushing the album, performing about of the 9 tracks from the disc.
Vocalist Roaslie was in great voice (mic concerns aside) and Parypa’s guitar licks were assertive and still had all of the coarse edge that the group is known for. Current drummer Dusty Watson, who has played with an array of talent from Lita Ford to The Surfaris, was the epitome of controlled chaos on the kit.
The set ending “Psycho,” the band most famous song, still had all the frantic energy it did decade ago, and an encore of “Strychnine" and “The Witch” put the Boston crow in garage rock nirvana.
For many a fan, and until recently, seeing The Sonics live only seemed like a pipe dream. Fortunately, fate has finally delivered the group live. While it took 50 years, it was well worth the wait.
