The Untouchables – Los Bullets – The Debonaires – and Dj Gonzo – at The Backstage Bar – Las Vegas, NV

With the first night of the Punk rock Bowling Festival now in the books, Punks found themselves reeling from a rousing and stellar performance from DEVO to cap off the festival. Now the journey in some circles was only to begin, with five venues hosting twenty bands the night was still young and decisions to be made.

For the roots enthusiast like myself the decision was tough but proved, in the end to be no decision at all. So I took flight drunken stumblebum and all off to see what I felt was the sleeper show of the evening The Debonaires, Los Bullets and The Untouchables with Dj Gonzo and Low Life Sound System at the Backstage Bar & Billiards.

Upon arriving I was blown away at the line of Punks enclosing the main entrance of the bar only to realize the line was not for the show I had come to see, but for the Agnostic Front, The Business, Unseen and Krum Bums. With several Punks in line asking who was playing, I quickly replied with the bill and was pleasantly surprised to see a good dozen or so follow suit and enter the bar. And what a bar! The Backstage Bar & Billiards had easily the best ambiance of any club on Freemont St. without question. Which made for the best possible environment the evening could have asked for.

With Dj Gonzo & Low Life Sound System throwing down the heaviest of heavy in Reggae Ska and Rocksteady scorchers the anticipation mounted. The line up starting with Riverside's very own, The Debonaires was off to a strong start. A personal favorite of mine, The Debonaires hypnotic and mesmerizing take on Classic Jamaican music was on full display once again and this time under the equally hypnotic glow and hum of the many fluorescent black lights. Veterans of the west coast traditional movement The Debs set is a tight precise well oiled musical outfit suitable for the most intellectual music connoisseur or casual music lover’s pallet. With Kip Wirtzfeld soothing and suddenly explosive vocal range, it only adds more depth to the seemingly limitless abilities of the group. The fans in attendance and en route knew no human barricade of Punk rockers were to stymied them from entering and dancing along as the venue had reached near capacity only two songs into their set.

Up next were the deadliest of the deadly sounds, East Los Angeles’ Los Bullets. Encompassing core members of The Aggrolites, Los Bullets' heavier then thou sound was in your face and unrelenting, featuring the knee buckling crashes and thuds of Alex McKenzie, the hair raising scratches and grooves of guitarist Ricky Chacon and the spine aligning ivory dancing of organist Reggae Roger Rivas. Fans inched closer and closer as the thought of any open space on the dance floor became a comical notion. Sweat beaded off the foreheads of many as couples paired of to dance to Los Bullets captivating sound. The crowd especially went ape shit for their rendition of “Aint No Sunshine” featuring Jesse Wagner of Rhythm Doctors and Aggrolites. Mystique appearing triumphantly from the more than awesome book case entrance towering over the stage. Los Bullets gun down Reggae sound is a marvel to behold. When watching the ferocity and controlled chaos as Reggae Rog got down, it conjured visions of defeat on any street fighter arcade to be found across the street at the insert Quarter Bar and Arcade.

Rounding off the bill were The Untouchables. They  brought decades of LA history to the front. Mods and rude boys alike made their presence known as The Untouchables delivered the last fierce blow to the eardrums and feet of the sardine packed venue. With a catalog dating back to the early 80’s, fans from the young to the experienced made it a point to drench their Fred Perry’s in sweat to timeless classics like “The General” and “Lebanon”. Well respected everywhere, they tread the fans returned the enthusiasm ten fold to the timeless Mods with cheers of “Mods Are Go!” raining from every corner of the cozy Vegas bar.

             More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

 

 

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