The New Standard... sounded like the New Standard. I kinda wish they'd do some stuff in the kinda lo-fi power-pop vein that their 7" is in. The Penetrators stuff was excellent, as it was the last time I saw them.

The fast version of "Other Side of the Street" was awesome and the smashed guitar was a surpise. I actually thought George was having a heart attack--he'd been talking about needing oxygen and being a geezer all night, and then at the end of Other Side, he fell into the amp, clutching at the top of it and looking pained, only to pull an acoustic guitar from behind it and smash the shit out of it!

Can't decide if I like the slow version of Other Side of the Street (that they played at the Grog N Tankard three years ago) better than the fast one. They're both killer versions, regardless.

- James 'Obik' Sinks
Dementlieu / PO Box 16675 / Alexandria, VA 22302
http://www.dementlieu.com/~obik/
http://www.30underdc.com/
obik@dementlieu.com