1,351 REDD KROSS, Dale Grover, Bristol Exchange, Tuesday 8th October 2024

 

(not mine - I didn't stick around long enough to make a grab for it...)

This one, sadly, represented the first time I actually voluntarily left before the end of a headliner’s set that I’d actually come to see, since the Drive-By Truckers’ gig in 2011 (gig 815, over 13 years ago!). And it really should have been a triumphant return for Redd Kross, California’s veteran exponents of 60’s psychedelia-tinged, melodic powerpop delivered through an early 90’s grunge filter and with soaring helium harmony overlay, thanks to the main-men MacDonald brothers. Our paths had crossed infrequently down the years, their last time crossing the pond being back in 2007 (a thoroughly entertaining if slightly self-indulgent gig 720), and I’d actually booked for a 2020 RK gig at this very venue, which inevitably was postponed multiple times then cancelled due to the dreaded Covid. So I’d happily booked for this, a subsequent return in support of a sprawling but typically grunge/glam infused and buoyant new self-titled double album release.

A bad day and poor weather almost made me think twice, but I nonetheless set off just before 7, splashing down an utterly awash M4 and finding a parking spot half in, half out of a loading bay up the road from the venue. Doesn’t matter, it’s free now anyway! Quiet early doors (maybe I wasn’t the only one having second thoughts), but the venue filled up as support Dale Grover joined us at 8. A “performance” of 2 parts from the erstwhile drummer of 90’s grunge punkers The Melvins (and subsequently guesting with da Kross on sticks on this tour), the first being an eclectic DJ set of 50’s doo-wop and 60’s surf-psych (Big Bopper’s “Chantilly Lace”, and “The Stripper” by my namesake The David Rose Orchestra being notable selections), before he then delivered a short set of morose proto grunge/ bluesy stuff aided by a battered acoustic. Could’ve been Melvins songs, I dunno! I must say I enjoyed his friendly and deadpan demeanour (“thanks for coming early to see me – not many bands would let the drummer open up the show!”) better than the material, though…

Ran into old Level 3 face Mark Carter, recovering well after recent spinal surgery and already out gigging. Good man! Popped down the front, house left; busier now, but still plenty of room to move around. Redd Kross took the stage prompt at 9, all in matching paint-splattered white suits, kicking into the thunderous strutting glam stomp of opener “Switchblade Sister”, and it was unfortunately immediately apparent that tonight would be quite the test of endurance. The. Sound. Was. Awful!!! “Sister” sounded like an avalanche, the huge guitar noise rumble completely overwhelming the nuances of the material and particularly those helium harmonies, and the subsequent “Stay Away From Downtown”, such a thrilling amphetamine luge ride on CD, sounded as if said luge was being channelled down a steel pipe lined with barbed wire. 

I initially thought that said sound issues may have been due to my being right near the lead guitarist’s monitor, so when the sound hadn’t improved after a couple more numbers, I moved across to a couple of rows back, house right, between vocalist Jeff MacDonald and his bassist brother Steven. T’was little better there, though, and the vocals were still submerged, so I tried right at the back of the venue, only for the sound to be echoey and reverb-heavy there. An airing of my frustrations to the lady on the front desk elicited an offer of foam earplugs, so I tried these out and ventured back into my house right spot. Thus “plugged”, the sound was muffled but at least not overwhelming, and to be fair the band were giving it loads throughout, Steven in particular rabble-rousing between numbers with comments such as, “[Kiss’] Paul Stanley hopes we have a rock’n’roll part-aaaay tonight!” A mid-set “Mess Around” was easily the best sounding number of the night for me, the guitars being turned down in the mix for this one, and my one earplug in, one out arrangement at least enabling me to hear the brothers’ sublime and melancholy harmonies. 

Unfortunately, “Mess Around” was the outlier for tonight; “Jimmy’s Fantasy” was again a guitar-smothered noise-fest, and after my favourite Redd Kross number, the sweeping clarion call of “Lady In The Front Row” was thoroughly roughhoused, I frustratingly called it, back in the car before 10 and splashing home by 11. A real shame, this one; I don’t blame Redd Kross (well not entirely… a further chat on departure with the desk lady revealed that they’d brought their own sound-guy over, and seemingly wanted the volume set to full-on-rock, so I guess they’re not totally blameless), but this was just possibly the worst sounding set I’d endured since that ill-fated Bob Mould set at “Shiiine On” 2019 (gig 1,161), itself another relentless onslaught of noise. I guess I was due a clunker, just didn’t want it to be da Kross after so long… but tonight, in the words of one of their new numbers, was, for me at least, a Candy Coloured Catastrophe…

350 FOO FIGHTERS, Redd Kross, Southampton Guildhall, Monday 26 May 1997

After a gorgeously hot day spent watching footy on TV in Dean's back garden (!), Ady and I donned shorts and set off to Southampton, trundling down in just over an hour and jumping the (large) queue to gain entry to the cavernous but nevertheless sold-out Guildhall!

Took my position at stage right just before Redd Kross took the stage at 8. I'd been waiting 5 years to see this lot again, and been totally pissed off when their headline tour earlier this year coincided with my knee operation rehab! So I was well up for this, and was thankfully not disappointed. The McDonald brothers and their crazy clan of new wave space cadets played a superb set, full of shimmering and shiny tuneful hard rock, with their trademark 60's style harmonies much in evidence. The Beatles meet Cheap Trick! "Lady In The Front Row", their closer, was the highlight of a set which got an enthusiastic crowd rocking. Great start!

The Foos came on early at 9.15, Dave Grohl and co. immediately setting the place on fire with a dynamic start. Great rock riffs played with fire and passion, but also with heartfelt and brain hugging tunes and a sharp edge, this lot reminded me of Husker Du, and no finer compliment could I pay them. Dave Grohl, a genuinely nice bloke ("this is a message to the stewards; leave the kids be!" and, "be nice to your neighbour; we all want to have a good time," were 2 of his early comments to a frenzied moshpit) was, essentially, the Grant Hart everybody can like, and the wonderful "Everlong", the shining star of their set and indeed their entire recorded canon, could have easily walked off Husker Du's classic "Candy Apple Grey" LP. Yup, that good.

An hour's ear-splittingly loud and intense rock later, we both exited the moshpit soaked and exhilarated. Dave Grohl and Foo Fighters, now fully formed and primed, are ready for Nirvana-esque World Domination, and honestly it couldn't happen to a nicer guy.

720 REDD KROSS, Neon, London Camden Underworld, Monday 22 January 2007

Getting the 2007 gig trail underway with the return of an old favourite; Redd Kross, who’d last darkened these shores back in 1997 in tandem with the Foo Fighters! I was up for this but Rachel wasn’t, so Tim and I hit the road at ½ past 5, parking up just round the corner from the venue at 8.

Not been to the Underworld for awhile, but it hadn’t changed, still the same scuzzy rickety old dump! Got a good eyeline (difficult at this place) at the top of the steps down onto the dance floor, stage left, and pretty much stayed there throughout!

First band Neon were fashionably late. A 3-piece featuring a blonde bass player and a Mike Gent lookalike vocalist, they played some pretty varied and good powerpoppy rock with some strong choruses and hooks. Quite impressive really, shame the vocalist couldn’t quite hit the high notes with his limited range!

Ran into our London friends before nipping back to position for Redd Kross’ arrival at 9.30. Time hadn’t changed the MacDonald brothers much – Jeff, the vocalist, and bassist Steve were still long of hair and chiselled of cheekbone. This original line-up however featured another MacDonald brother on drums, and a total freakazoid, mincing and stick-thin, who insisted on playing lead guitar very high – strapped practically under his chin!

Nevertheless, appearances can be deceptive as the band were in full flow from the off, with my fave "Lady In The Front Row". This slice of powerpop heaven, all majestic melody and harmony, was however the worst opener possible, as nothing came even close to it for the rest of the set! Da Kross delved deep and dragged some old old oldies from their early albums, all embryonic pre-grunge and post-punk noise, before returning to the glorious anthemic pop with the excellent "Jimmy’s Fantasy". When they drew from 1992’s "Phaseshifter" and 1997’s "Show World" CDs they were at their best tonight. These showcased the West Coast Summery powerpop/ powerful post-grunge/ shimmering pseudo-psychedelia mix that is the real Redd Kross sound, and the sublime "Mess Around", the strident, dynamic "Girl God", the sinewy "Small Wonder" and stomping set closer "Crazy World" were all superb. However, as a band is wont to do in front of a devoted audience, they over-indulged themselves too much for my liking, and allowed the aforementioned irritating guitarist far too much rope – did we really need the screeching falsetto cover of "You Spin Me Round"?

However for all its faults, this was a very entertaining slight return from Da Kross, obviously enjoying themselves in front of a full and adulent crowd, a point we all agreed on afterwards before we hit the road, hitting home at 12.30. Just don’t leave it another 10 years before you come back again, boys!