Seattle’s Funhouse Hosts Greece Punks Barb Wire Dolls Along With Some Seattle Talent, by Holly Homan

Tuesday night Seattle’s Funhouse hosted a punk band all the way from Crete called Barb Wire Dolls. I saw the Dolls about a year and a half ago opening for Dead Men Walking, a sort of super group featuring members of the Living End, the Alarm, and the Stray Cats. I was so blown away by them I made the effort to see them for their triumphant return. Led by the petite platinum blonde Isis Queen, she oozed charm and sex appeal, often serenading anyone up front and a few times jumping off stage to personally serenade people in the audience in sexually provocative ways. This was done strictly tongue in cheek and the audience played up on her advances. At one point she sat on the table occupied by a couple and serenaded them.

Bass player Iriel Blaque and Remmington Pearce on guitar, had long hair that they whipped about constantly. Drummer Krash Doll played shirtless, his long strands clinging to him with sweat as he thrashed his kit like a possessed wild man. Lead guitarist Pyn Doll was equally punishing on his guitar strings as he stood stoically at one corner of the stage.

This is a band that knows how to work an audience and their look is as meticulous as their thrashing, hard punk, hard rock sound. Bar Wire Dolls are going to break big so if you have the chance to see them in an intimate venue, do. You may not have much longer before they’re playing a venue the size of the Key Arena.

Playing prior to Barb Wire Dolls was Seattle’s Acid Teeth. I’d also seen Acid Teeth before when they opened for the Dickies last summer. I was impressed then and I was even more so this time. There is a lot of power in this band.

Front man/ lead guitarist Gradie Wallen had long curls roaming down his back that kept falling into his face as he ripped power chords and flitted about the stage. Bass player Jonny Safari had a mop top that also kept falling in his face and he sported a Ramones t-shirt. The other guitarist, Todd Ohashi, seldom stayed in one spot unless providing backup vocals while drummer Greg McCormick slammed the skins so hard I was surprised sparks didn’t fly off his kit. Acid Teeth put on a high energy show and it was a pleasure seeing them again.

Another Seattle band, Jaguar Paw, played before Acid Teeth. This is a band fronted by Heather Jane whose voice reminded me greatly of Poly Styrene of X Ray Spex. While the rest of the band (Jason Reavis -Drums, vocals, Sotirios Rebelos – Bass & Damon Romero – Guitar) broke out in sweat, she broke out in charisma, oozing charm from every pore. She could sing like she had a throat coated with honey one minute, then growl as if she was swallowing gravel the next. I really enjoyed Jaguar Paw.

Starting out the whole night was Thee Perfect Gentlemen. This Seattle outfit played some pretty straight up rock and roll with catchy guitar licks (from Otis P. Otis who looked like a cross between Rom Wood and Noel Galagher). I heard elements of some 60s bands (Deep Purple came to mind) and some acid rock and even a touch of the Stooges. Besides the aforementioned Otis, Thee Perfect Gentlemen are, Metalflake Jake Vox/Guitar, SeawolfDee – Bass guitar/Backups and Fritz Action – Drums.

This show was not well attended so a lot of people missed out on some really great bands and a really fun night. I can’t wait til Barb Wire Dolls return to the Seattle area. Meanwhile I discovered some more Seattle talent to keep me entertained til then.