Saturday night November 12, Seattle’s foremost punk club El Corazon hosted Canadian punk legends D.O.A. Talk about raw punk power! This trio came out churning power chords and smashing drums like they were still 20 years old. Drummer goes by the name Paddy Duddy and reminded me of Animal from the Muppets with his scraggily hair and beard and almost cartoonish facial expressions.
The second D.O.A hit the stage I was continually shoved so hard against the stage I thought I’d be chopped in half. Bassist Mike Hodsall strutted about the stage constantly, which included frequent kicks and leaps. Singer/guitarist Joey Keithley (AKA Joey Shithead) played his guitar by holding it over his head, or behind his back and even played it with his mouth. He often performed windmills a la Pete Townshend.
They paid homage to Coffin Break, the Seattle legends who played just prior to them. Drummer Paddy claimed he chopped off his dread locks at a Coffin Break show some time back in the early 90s. They also mentioned our last election. Joey mentioned we just elected Donald Trump and good luck with that and stressed that we all have to rise up and organize.
I felt guilty for being grateful the show wasn’t heavily attended, but if it had been I would surely have been chopped in half and I was thankful to make it home in once piece, albeit a bit battered. The body is objecting to the abuse, but the mind is still having a blast. This was a fun show.
As mentioned, Seattle legends Coffin Break played prior to D.O.A. I think I saw these guys once, probably back in 88. Just like D.O.A., Coffin Break hasn’t lost their energy or appeal.
Peter Litwin on lead guitar and vocals moved, about the stage like he was being electrocuted. This power trio hit the stage like a punch in the gut and never stopped punching with their punk rock laced with pop overtones. I hope this performance isn’t a one off and that Coffin Break will be playing around town some more. The rest of Coffin Break are David Brooks on drums and Rob Skinner on bass.
Prior to Coffin Break was another Seattle band, Box Cutter. Think Black Flag but raunchier. These guys are as colorful as they are grungy and raucous. Front man Robby played barefoot, wore a Fishbone t shirt with the words racism sucks and had his toenails painted a matching pinkish orange. Bass player, Josh P.I. had his mop of a hair style died bright magenta. They definitely had a very entertaining and interesting stage dynamic and I recommend them to anyone who loves hard core punk combined with a lot of fun. The rest of Box Cutter is Davy B. Seizure on drums and Glennerd Skinnerd on guitar.
Before Box Cutter was a band calling themselves SCIATICA. These guys were more of a death metal sort of punk rock act with a singer who also jerked about the stage as if being electrocuted as he growled and screamed into the mic. This quartet never stopped grinding power chords, and had many in the small but appreciative crowd moshing throughout their set.
There was another Seattle band before Sciatica called Coyote Bred. This trio is straight up in your face hard core punk whose music at times reminded me of Stiff Little Fingers. This is a young band, but very tight and they know their way around a stage. Good stuff. Coyote Bred is Jeff Sifferman –vocals/guitar, Andy Wylie – bass/vocals & Kevin Martinez on drums.
Opening the night was Three Fingers. Unfortunately I only caught the last couple songs of their set, but what I saw I liked. They are fronted by a woman (Erin) with a gutsy voice and a charismatic stage presence. The other members of Three Fingers are Kevin on guitar, Ryan on drums and Yoshi on bass.
Even though the show was maybe half sold, those in attendance proved that punk rock is still loved in Seattle and judging by the comments I heard and the happy, sweaty bodies exiting the club after, I’d say everyone had a great time. I know I did.
– Photos property of Holly Homan, all rights reserved.
