Having already caught the Stooges on August 14, 2004, at Randall's Island in New York City, before they even conceived of recording a new album or touring, I thought nothing could match that experience of finally seeing a band I'd loved for 20 years -- but who almost no one expected to reunite. But seeing them again at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC last night was every bit as great -- if not greater. The stadium gig at the Little Steven's Underground Garage Festival was nice, but witnessing them inside a smaller, more intimate venue made me appreciate the experience all the more.

For the benefit of the uninitiated, let me explain something about the Stooges. Similar to the Beatles, Black Sabbath, the Rolling Stones, Chuck Berry, and Miles Davis (who actually praised the Stooges), albeit on a smaller level, they are a cornerstone artist of the 20th Century. Just about every great band from almost any genre -- be it punk rock (of course), grunge, thrash, stoner metal, avant-garde, postpunk, etc. -- has been inspired by them. From a personal standpoint, they're the band that reminded me that growing up in the Midwest didn't have to be the boring suburbanite experience with all the sterility, conformity, and closemindedness. Along with the MC5, they showed that individuality could prevail and create a new alternative reality that even the East and West coasts would -- and in fact, did -- embrace. You could say they're a source of Midwestern pride. (Not to mention nice guys: Before the recent spate of Stooges popularity, Ron Asheton let me -- at age 18 and with only the promise of being quoted in a school project -- interview him at length in his house in May 1988.)

But beyond any of that, the Stooges are just a great band. They were unique in 1969, and they're still unique in 2007 -- not just because of the songs, not just because Fun House is one of the greatest albums ever made, but because of the chemistry. Individually, Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton, and Scott Asheton all had their moments in various projects, but when they're on the same stage or in the same studio (now with the great Mike Watt on bass, replacing the late Dave Alexander), they're really on another level that can't be defined in words. That's why they've inspired so many -- and why I have yet to interview a single punk rock musician who didn't cut his teeth on a Stooges record.

Thursday's gig had all of the highlights of the New York -- Iggy stage diving on "I Wanna Be Your Dog," calling up members of the crowd to dance on "Real Cool Time" and "No Fun," jumping on and off amps, encouraging singalongs, etc. -- plus the added attraction of new material that wasn't in the 2004 set. Yeah yeah, a lot of people are bitching about The Weirdness because it isn't Raw Power or Fun House. But just because it's different doesn't mean it sucks, and besides, who was really expecting another Fun House? And even if, in two years, I agree with all the naysayers, so what? The Stooges are still a great live band, and really, nothing could tarnish their image. They're a shining statue that's stood tall above all the B.S. since 1969, and even an A-bomb can't destroy that.

Anyway, here's the set list:

"Loose"
"Down on the Street"
"1969"
"I Wanna Be Your Dog"
"TV Eye"
"My Idea of Fun"
"Dirt"
"Real Cool Time"
"No Fun"
"1970" (enter Steve Mackay on sax -- who played on the rest of the songs)
"Fun House"
"LA Blues" (excerpt)
"Skull Ring"
"Little Electric Chair"
"Trollin' "
Encore:
"Not Right"
"She Took My Money"
"I'm Fried"
"I Wanna Be Your Dog" (reprise)

But don't take my word for it: You can hear a stream of the sold-out gig on NPR by going here. "The Stooges on NPR." Somehow I never expected to hear those two things in the same sentence. But don't worry -- NPR kindly provides a warning of profane language.

My next dream: A reunion of the Raw Power lineup, all of whom are still alive. How about it, Iggy, Asheton brothers, James Williamson, Scott Thurston?

Two other notes:

1) Fu Manchu is another great live band (just saw 'em March 24 at Jaxx in Springfield, Va.), and their new album, We Must Obey, is the best album of 2007 thus far. At this point, they transcend the stoner hard rock label with a sound blending punk, metal, '70s hard rock, and a chemistry that comes from playing together so long (3/4ths of the band has been together 10 years).

2) Check out my review of a new Richard Lloyd reissue. Speaking of current tours: Richard, why are you skipping DC?