It’s been two days since I saw the Dwarves play at Seattle’s Highline bar and my body still feels as though it’s been through the washing machine on the spin cycle. I’m still getting my spine back in alignment and sticking body parts back together. I can still feel the bruise I got on my left elbow from being smashed into a monitor. Ah, but such is the life in the mosh pit at a punk rock concert. The Dwarves, who have stage names such as Blag Dahlia (vocals), Rex Everything (bass), Fresh Prince of Darkness (guitar) and Dutch Oven (drums), put on one crazy wild show. But that’s not the half of it. Being at a Dwarves concert was like being stuck on a roller coaster. The kind that flips you upside down and jerks you about repeatedly. The minute they hit the stage it was raw power. Blag is all over the stage, leaning into the crowd, working them into a frenzy, then prancing about the stage non-stop. Their live shows are much raunchier than their recorded music leads you to believe. Many knew the words to their songs and sang along whenever Blag thrust the mic in their faces and their energy turned that dance floor into a seething cauldron. What a ride!
Preceding the Dwarves was a Seattle band called Die Nasty. All I can say is move over Joan Jett. There’s a new kid in town and her name is Lauren Goffin. She was also all over the stage, strutting and prancing about as she belted out song after song. Guitarist Steve Ross had platinum hair cut neat like a mod and wore these white framed sunglasses. As he jittered about the stage he reminded me of a flitting insect. Lonnie Bristle (of Dreadful Children) played bass and was no slouch in his on stage energy and quirky poses. Eric Brattin slammed the skins like a possessed demon. The highlight was their finale, a cover of 999’s Homicide, in which the front man for Convictions (see below) came on stage and joined Lauren on harmonies for the chorus. Die Nasty is incredible! When their set was over I overheard so many praising their performance.
Preceding Die Nasty was a band called Convictions. These guys do not appear to have a FB page nor a web site, so I don’t know who they are or where they come from. Needless to say, they put on a memorable performance. Their front man wore a pair of black leotards with pink leggings and black cowboy boots. His scraggly long hair looked like it hadn’t been combed since he slunk from the womb. Half way through their set he stripped down to just a pair of black bikini pants, but pink stockings and cowboy boots intact. He strutted about the stage and even crashed to the dance floor and writhed about, much to the mirth of those surrounding him. Convictions had a female guitar player which is way cool. They played a rather hard core punk with grunts and screams and no hint of a melody. They were fascinating to watch.
Before Convictions was another band with no information anywhere. Calling themselves Babylon, this trio is head banger fodder. Their singer, really grunter and growler, yelled out the songs with a growly guttural voice. These guys are a tight unit and if you’re into head banger punk they’re worth seeing.
Opening the night was a Seattle band, Pink Muscles. This four-piece (five when guest saxophonist Matthew Pruett) joined for a few songs, are another hard core head banger band, but put on a tight energetic show that got several on the floor moshing. Pink Muscles are, Lee Newman, Eric Elliott, Janet Trares, Marshall McLaughlin.
Rearranged internal organs aside, I had a blast at this show. The roller coaster ride was well worth it.
– Photos property of Holly Homan, all rights reserved.
