Redd Kross
Lee’s Palace, Toronto
June 14, 2008
I can’t believe I’ve just witnessed the classic Neurotica era line up of Redd Kross live at Lee’s Palace in Toronto! Steve McDonald (bass/vox), Jeff McDonald (vox/guitar), Robert Hecker (lead guitar/vox) & Roy McDonald (drums) took the stage after 1 AM and proceeded to pummel the audience with groove-a-licious good cheer for about an hour and a half. The McDonald brothers selected tunes that extended from their debut 1980 Posh Boy single through to their final 1997 release Show Time.
Now you must understand that I’ve been listening to the music of Redd Kross for almost 30 years and unfortunately geography and finances never allowed me to see the McDonald clan and company in their hey-day during the 80’s & 90’s. So to not only see Redd Kross, but witness my favorite line-up of the band, which came together during the “Teen Babes From Monsanto” period, recorded “Neurotica” and fell apart during the “Third Eye” period, has me absolutely buzzing!
The band sauntered onstage to a jubilant audience of young and old fans, who were screaming and yelling “Redd Kross, Redd Kross, Redd Kross…” The Beatlesque adulation was not lost on the band who smiled and bathed in the adulation that the Toronto crowd showered upon them. It’s been a long time without Redd Kross and the close to packed house at Lee’s Palace was ready to uncork and explode like a bottle of Spumante.
The band ripped into its first single: Annette’s Got the Hits/Cover Band and the dancing erupted. Not moshing, just boppin’, rawkin’, head-noddin’ dancin’, with smiles all around. Forget about Prozac, just prescribe the music of Redd Kross to alleviate the depression and stress that’s affecting our population in the 21st century. It amazed me to see so many people singing along to every single song the band played throughout the evening. These were not just fans, or people checking out the band, these were clearly Redd Kross fanatics who absorbed every lyric & note that the band emitted from the stage.
Steven played his Rickenbacker 4003 Montezuma brown bass through an Ampeg Bass Cabinet, Jeff played a series of Dearmond Jet Stars through a Fender Twin and Robert played an Ibanez Saber sort of guitar through a Marshall half stack. Speaking of Robert Hecker, his importance to Redd Kross cannot be understated. It’s similar to the role that Marc Ford has in the Black Crowes or Eric Avery has in Jane’s Addiction. The bands will roll on and continue without them, but the reality is each of these bands lack the magic and fire power that happens when the proper players are in place. Hecker is an integral component of the Redd Kross machine.
After an incredible one hour set the audience demanded more, and received it. The band returned for two acoustic numbers (an unreleased Hecker number into Love Is You) and then the show climaxed with a great rendition of Pretty Please Me into the Good Times theme. Good times, indeed. What an outstanding show.
Setlist/Encore:
Annette’s Got The Hits
Cover Band
I Hate My School
Clorox Girls
S & M Party
Blow You A Kiss In The Wind
Linda Blair
Frosted Flake
What They Say
Unreleased Hecker tune/Love Is You (encore)
Bubblegum Factory
Switchblade Sister
Jimmy’s Fantasy
Lady In The Front Row
Crazy World
After School Special
Pretty Please Me (encore)
Mess Around
Follow The Leader
Good Times (encore)
Review by Rotten Rabbit
URL: http://www.myspace.com/reddkross
