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NICE MOVES
It's not length that matters; it's the riff. The windmill is still in, but these guys do Pete Townshend one better.
1. Cream 
25 October 2005: Madison Square Garden — New York
Forget Clapton and Bruce; Ginger Baker stole the second MSG gig with his signature, "Toad". Hard living should have killed Baker years ago, but this cat proved he's got a few lives left, and his drumming remains sensational. (AW)
2. Dick Dale
29 May 2005: Iron Horse — Northampton, MA
Starting late, entering from offstage, the unmistakably distorted, double-strummed surf riff silenced the crowd. When Dale appeared, balding and portly, the roar from the audience was almost as loud as the one coming from the lines of jerry-rigged amps onstage. (JK)
Magnolia Electric Co.
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3. Magnolia Electric Co.
21 May 2005: Schuba's — Chicago
After a set of solemn, sullen indie-blues, the band sinks its teeth into the crescendo of "down Texas 71" over and over again. Some people will tell you that rock 'n' roll is all leather jackets, long hair, booze, and sneers, but I know it's really twang, Texas highways, anguish, and, well, booze. (CB)
4. Daniel Bernard Roumain
15 April 2005: IMC Expo, New Museum of Contemporary Art — New York
I fear he'll be consumed as the violin-playing incarnation of Savion Glover, but listening to Roumain enthrall an audience of Artforum subscribers, Hank Shocklee, and the curious convinced me that he can and should come to your household... soon. (DN)
5. Kid Carpet
29 November 2005: Barfly — London
Half his gear was stolen the previous night, including the Furby that provides the "Me love you. Me happy" sample on "Your Love." After a brief explanation of our duties, Carpet performed the tune while holding up cue cards for the crowd to shout "Me love you! Me happy!" at the correct moments. That's riffing off the cuff! (RC)
BEST THEATRICS
GWAR was on to something when they rolled out the man-eating drum. For better or worse, these guys are on to it too.
Motley Crue
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1. Motley Crue
Just about every show on their 2005 Tour
Streams of pyrotechnics, elevated drum risers, scantily clad bump-n-grind aerialists, evil clown stagehands, and a fire-breathing dwarf, all set against the backdrop of a decrepit Carnival of Sins. So outlandish, so entertaining, so Crue. (AW)
2. Sun O)))
16 December 2005: First Unitarian Church — Philadelphia
Sun O))) submerged a real church sanctuary in fog, then pounded out ominous, gut-wrenching death-drone while wearing sinister black cloaks and white stage makeup. But no amount of fog could hide the church's enormous Christmas wreath, and its wholesome gold ribbon peeked through throughout the entire evening. (MM)
3. Goblin Cock
15 September 2005: Mercury Lounge: CMJ Artist Showcases — New York
The first sign of an awesome satirical metal band is their satirical road crew. Once the stage is set, five black-robed, hooded figures appear and start to pound their instruments and rumbling, guttural metal sludge fills the room. Man, you think, what could make this show any better? Then, the Grim Reaper comes out of the wings to introduce the band. (PJ)
Man Man
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4. Man Man
17 January 2005: The Flywheel — Easthampton, MA
Dozens of percussion instruments — xylophones, toys, bells, and drums — alongside fans and masks and metal birds, a bass drum painted like a Japanese silk-screen, multiple keyboards and five band members all crammed onto the tiniest of stages in a show that is as much theater (or interpretative dance) as music. (JK)
5. L'ACADCO
25-29 May 2005: Brooklyn Academy of Music — New York
"A United Caribbean Dance Force" is how they describe the ensemble and this idea is vividly depicted in their staging and appearance. Not limited to the yellow, black, and green of founder L'Antoinette Stines' heritage, rich reds and cool blues vibrate against their panoply of Jamaican, Barbadan, Haitian, and Trinidadian dress. Gorgeous to both I and I. (DN)
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