Electric Six “Rocks Ass” At Dante’s

Published on November 29th, 2009 in: Concert Reviews, Current Faves, Issues, Music, Reviews |

In between bands, I talked with a guy who was excited to see Electric Six. He had seen them for their last appearance on Election Night at Berbati’s Pan, but had never heard of the band. He was impressed enough by their show to look them up online and became a self-proclaimed “superfan” thereafter. “Electric Six rocks ass,” he assured me. The house lights dimmed, and the Detroit sextet took their places. Singer Dick Valentine appeared in a pinstriped double-breasted suit which looked like it had been slept in for days, and the bass- and two guitar-players flanked him in all white. Valentine spent nearly as much time facing his band as he did the audience, frequently turning to play the timbales or sing to the group.

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Dick Valentine and Smorgsabord

Off-stage, Valentine is a soft-spoken, thoughtful man, but in the spotlight he’s a flashy showman. Imagine a youthful George Burns in front of a medicine wagon, extolling the virtues of his latest heathful nostrums. Or maybe a better-fed Joel Gray in pre-war Berlin. Take your pick.

Bands generally like to establish a connection with their audience, to improve rapport, but E6 go beyond the standard “Hello, [city name here]!” Confident and playful, we were informed that the band were in fact from Eugene, Oregon: “We all met nineteen years ago at a drum circle made of hemp.” They asked us to purchase T-shirts and CDs so they could get back to their hometown that night.

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The Colonel, Valentine, Tait Nucleus?

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2 Responses to “Electric Six “Rocks Ass” At Dante’s”


  1. Popshifter:
    December 1st, 2009 at 11:19 am

    The part about INXS performed during the “break” cracked me up. There are so few bands who do this sort of thing sincerely and well, and apparently E6 can now join the ranks of bands like Redd Kross, who are infamous for this sort of thing.

    One day I will see E6 live! This I vow! Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you.

    LLM

  2. Popshifter » Sextreme Ball 2010: My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult/Lords Of Acid:
    July 22nd, 2010 at 12:19 pm

    […] first two sold-out shows, both are still popular among the electronica crowd. As mentioned in the review of Electric Six’s show at the venue, Dante’s is a medium-sized brick room with two bars […]







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