The Von Bondies played a riveting show Friday night at the
Troubadour. The band’s riff-driven music is equal parts
hard-hitting rockabilly and garage rock ““ and it’s
churned out fast and loud. Oh, and the members have great haircuts,
too.
The Von Bondies are riding a wave of hype as part of the new
Detroit scene led by the White Stripes (Jack White produced the
band’s debut, “Lack of Communication”), and the
sold-out show attracted all kinds of fans, from industry suits to
Silverlake resident Beck.
“Rock ‘n’ Roll Nurse,” one of the
catchiest songs of the night, fit the perfect rock ‘n’
roll cliche. Singer/guitarist Jason Stollsteimer sang about taking
amphetamines while on tour to battle fatigue, and bassist Carrie
Smith and guitarist Marcie Bolen added subtle backing vocals.
Stollsteimer’s rough and powerful voice was complemented
nicely by the sweet voices of Smith and Bolen, whose vocals on
several songs added an interesting dynamic that kept songs from
drifting into the mundane.
Smith’s bass playing largely shaped the band’s
sound, as she conjured up swampy grooves, reminiscent of the Black
Rebel Motorcycle’s bass-heavy sound.
Drummer Don Blum is an equal contributor to the band’s
fierce sound, laying down hip-shaking beats the thrift-store-clad
fans would only tap their feet to.
Those at the show appeared most concerned with looking the part,
sporting shaggy haircuts and bad attitudes.
However, as far as the band’s attitude was concerned, the
swagger of songs like “It Came from Japan” was lost
when Stollsteimer interacted with the audience between songs
““ sheepishly complaining about the weather in the
band’s native Michigan or extolling the virtues of Los
Angeles. It had been two years since the band had been in Los
Angeles, and it was good to be back, he said.
At least it appeared as though the band was having fun. The
members ripped through their debut, and played an encore, rare for
a support band (the group is touring with another Detroit-based
band, the Dirtbombs).
Chalk that encore up to emphatic audience support, even if the
Von Bondies’ fans could never muster more than some
restrained appreciation.