School Jerks, Amoebas, Kommie Kilpatrick, Plastic Boyz show review, Lager House, 5/12/10

PJ’s Lager House, May 12th, 2010: School Jerks, Kommie Kilpatrick, Amoebas, and the Plastic Boyz
Garage is generally considered a forerunner to punk rock; it started beforehand, it was made by the same demographic, and both genres are pretty simplistic. However, as punk rock has evolved with multiple subgenres and even more sub-subgenres, garage has become a different genre that can be effectively combined with punk, and being that Detroit has been an important hosting ground for both, it is only fitting that a few bands still fly the flag for both of these genres. Three local bands have done this well, and they shared the stage with a touring old school hardcore band from Toronto.
Opening were the Plastic Boyz from New Baltimore. Granted, I missed about half of the set because of work, but it wasn’t too big of a deal. Unfortunately they were not quite as spot on as they usually are. Singer Kelly was a tad bit inebriated and forgot some of the words, which led to everyone else messing up a bit and it didn’t quite mesh together well as a sound. However, the Plastic Boyz are still a serious hardcore force for Detroit punk rock if they keep their heads molded on straight.
Next were the Amoebas. Although they only have one 7” for sale, these guys have several songs written and laid out. It is also noteworthy to say that their 7” has the two songs that would fit right in on the radio after the Damned and before the Dead Boys in 1977. Their set is a strong garage sound with punk influences. It is very different from other garage and punk music, and although I can’t stretch it far enough to utter the word ‘unique’, it is a gem, a very rare, very valuable discovery nonetheless. The only complaint I can muster is that they are from Grand Rapids and not Detroit, which means fewer shows here.
Then, the School Jerks came onstage and truly shined. The guitar work is crazy, the drumming is manic, and the singer is a demented, Canadian hellspawn with a snotty, high-pitched voice. This band is hardcore punk incarnate. Let me restate this more clearly: This band is what hardcore punk became notable and beloved for, and they are probably one of the best bands to come out of this genre in the last decade. There are, of course, a few non-punk influences, but this is as 80s hardcore as you can possibly get. Buy their vinyl, spray paint their name on walls, ride a skateboard with their name written on it, do anything to support this band that involves any commitment short of quitting your job. That’s how good they are.
Last up was Kommie Kilpatrick, a humorously named garage out of Wayne State University in downtown Detroit. With their emphasis on short songs about city life, partying and sex, there isn’t a whole lot not to like. While their set was played in front of a handful of people and technical difficulties marred some of the guitar work, the band still did reasonably well. Kommie Kilpatrick has a unique sense of humor they inject into their songs and it is coupled well with simplistic garage punk in the vein of a cleaner version of Teengenerate.
This show was a sweet release from a boring day at work. Investigate the Toronto punk scene; it is really taking off, and with Molested Youth at its side, the School Jerks are the heads of this movement. Take a road trip and check it out!
-Aunty Social

Plastic Boyz interview

Plastic Boyz interview
1. How were the Plastic Boyz molded?
Kelly: The way most plastic is molded. Injection Style.
Mike: Welp, I met Kelly in ‘95 and he had a crass shirt in kindergarten and I had a Flux of pink Indians shirt, so we immediately bonded; love at first sight. Just 2 punx growin’ up on the tough streets of EASTPOINTE. Anyway, me and Kelly played way back in the 2000's. Finally caught our break in mid '09
2. Who did the recording on your first demo and on your EP? How do you feel those came out?
Kelly: The demo was all of us (mike, Kelly, skrat, Kyle) on Mike’s 4-track and the EP was recorded by Bry-man from ATG and his bud Nick for free. I liked it at first, but I think we’re going to try a little better quality next time.
Mike: Nick had model cars in his basement, dude. Shit was alright.
3. Do you feel you’ve made a lot of progress as a band, especially for one less than a year old?
Kelly: Not as much as Kommie Kilpatrick.
Mike: or Lies Unknown to name-drop a few.
4. What has been the best show you’ve played as of yet? Why?
Kelly: The March 26th bloodbath at the painted lady. State was playing and I sliced an artery. PONK.
Mike: Halloween W/ Human Eye, Heroes + Villains
5. Is there something specific that influences each member of the band (i.e. is there one simultaneous influence for every member, like a band or experience)?
Kelly: We have many influences, so I won’t name them.
Mike: Neil Young, Massey Hall 1971 Rock N’ Roll at its prime.
6. What’s the craziest moment you’ve had as a band so far?
Kelly: The Basement 414, I was very drunk and everyone hated us. That was cool. And the March 26 Painted Lady incident.
Mike: Muskrat’s little brother’s 9th birthday party, going shot for shot with a nine year old is pretty fuckin’ crazy.
7. How do you feel some of the Detroit-area clubs have treated you?
Kelly: Shitty for the most part. Fuck New York New York and Fuck TNT’s, The Basement 414 are a bunch of pussies; we got “Banned” because I said “faggot” and I made a joke about kids with trust funds. They called me a nazi. Most of the other places we’ve played have been alright but my top 3 are The Painted Lady, Now That’s Class in Cleveland, and Ground Zero in Milwaukee.
Mike: Painted lady; they are awesome to the bands, brah.
8. What’s the best band out there, both locally and nationally?
Kelly: You mean favorite? Locally: Human Eye, State, Amoebas, and Dick Hickey. Nationally: Black Flag, The Smiths
Mike: Local: The Human Eye, The Stooges, Question Mark & the Mysterians
Nat’l: Of Montreal, MGMT, Fontana…
9. Where did you go on tour and how was that experience? Any recommendations for other bands that might tour?
Kelly: Cleveland Rocks, Milwaukee Rolls, and Ann Arbor sucks.
Mike: You were there man! Why don’t you fuckin’ tell me!
10. What kind of bands would you like to see come through Michigan? Would you host a show for them?
Kelly: Good ones. Yes.
Mike: Anyone we played with on tour. I’d put them fuckers up real quick.
11. Do you have any upcoming plans (i.e. new songs, new merch, another tour, etc.)?
Kelly: We got 4 new songs; canned hate, and rock-n-roll wigger and then throbbin Williams and obliterators hands but we haven’t played those two yet. No current tour plans but we may be releasing a cassette and we will have new shirts for sale for $4 and buttons soon. Patches are $1 and the 2012 calories EP is $2. We are sold out of the original demos.
Mike: We may record in Minneapolis in June too.
12. Anything else you’d like readers to know?
Kelly: We hate punk; we just do it for the money and coke, and hoes.
Mike: single and looking. Ladies?