By: Almostred
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| Photo copyright Naked Raygun, 2006 |
There’s a publicity photo of the reformed Stooges making the rounds. The expressionless Asheton brothers are posed like plumbing contractors looking for a pipe wrench; old guys in jeans, t-shirts and ball caps. Iggy still resembles some acid-casualty philosophy professor holding court over a classroom of Kirstens at St. Olaf, but the Ashetons catch your eye. They’re godfathers of one of the most aggressive, confrontational forms of cultural expression ever created, and they look like they should be tiling my bathroom. No defiant pose or Hot Topic accessories. They don’t need to try and look “punk.” They just are.
Formed in the early '80s, Naked Raygun crafted an archetypal Chicago sound that fused punk rebellion and post-punk revolution with a melodic sensibility and macho posture that was uniquely Midwestern. Contemporaries of Husker Du, they were the cornerstone of an incestuous scene with tentacles stretching from the Effigies and Strike Under all the way to Minneapolis (Breaking Circus / Man-Sized Action) and back, with a piss-break in Steve Albini’s backyard along the way.
Taking the stage Friday night for the first of two sold-out shows at the Triple Rock, Naked Raygun was greeted warmly by a sizeable Windy City contingent with repeated shouts of ”Free Shit!”, a reference to the bands practice of distributing complimentary logo merch to the crowd (check it out here). A long-standing concert staple according to the people around me, it demonstrated a close connection with fans and the value NR placed on that relationship. And people do love free shit.
Considered to be the definitive Naked Raygun line-up, NR 2007 consisted of perennials Jeff Pezzati (vocals) and Pierre Kezdy (bass) alongside later additions Eric Spicer (drums) and Bill Stephens (guitar) – a replacement for the better-known John Haggerty who left in the early '90s to form the respected Pegboy. Like the Asheton brothers, they are not the most visually compelling group compared to many of their modern peers. They are mainly static onstage and Pezzati is no screamer; rather, he maintained a sardonic, almost conversational tone as he offered the mic to front row fans during the choruses.
The difference in styles became glaring when they were joined on-stage mid-set by the lead singer of openers The Methadones. Now, I’m sure that The Methadones are a decent band and that the lead singer is a swell guy, so spare me the death threats, fan boy. Regardless, watching this chucklehead with his sneer, eyeliner, and Billie Joe Armstrong prostate-exam squat illuminated the obvious difference between “punk” as a philosophical journey and “punk” as simple fashion.
I had read somewhere that Naked Raygun was informed by UK post-punk bands like Wire and Gang of Four. Live, however, they were reminiscent of first-wave pub punks like Sham 69 and Chelsea, with chantalong choruses more at home at a soccer (um…football) match. At all the best “punk” shows I’ve seen (Fugazi, Social Distortion, GBH – don’t laugh), the crowd was as important as the band on stage. In many cases, the crowd was the show and it was obvious that NR felt the same way. I was apprehensive since this was a drunk show. No kids at a punk show is a double-edged sword: on the plus side: no kids to act obnoxious. On the negative side: no kids to act obnoxious. But I appreciated the vigorous mosh pit that the old fogies managed to maintain throughout the evening.
Naked Raygun has always adopted a very masculine, male stance, both musically and lyrically. While hardly right-wing, they were a refreshing change from a genre that has become as reactionary and inflexible as the establishment it sought to usurp. Seriously, some of you kids need to go read “Animal Farm” again. Songs like ”Peacemaker,” “Knock Me Down,” “Home of the Brave,” “Treason” and “Soldier’s Requiem (on the set list but not played) have a military flavor, yet the lyrics are far more personal, focusing on individual struggles with moral uncertainty and contradictory political values.
Nietzsche made an important distinction between a rebel and a revolutionary. The revolutionary seeks to replace an oppressive system while a rebel is defined by it. Former Minuteman, current Stooge, and Kelly Clarkson sideman Mike Watt made the observation that the people who look the most “punk” at shows are generally the least punk in fact because real punks won’t feel the need to act cool. Naked Raygun are a band comfortable in their punk skin. They don’t need the uniform. They just are.
Legal restrictions compel Almostred to use a pseudonym. His identity isn’t a big secret, but you don’t know him anyway. He has contributed to HWTS under his own name in the past, so you could probably figure it out with a little effort. He is survived by a daughter who doesn’t appreciate his esoteric musical sensibilities and a bank account currently residing with his ex-wife. His record collection is considered quite hip by the young people. Please forward death threats to his attention at almostredd@hotmail.com.
Location Info:
Triple Rock Social Club
Artist Info: Naked Raygun
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