WORDS & PHOTOS BY FIESTABAN PHOTOGRAPHY!
Death Valley Girls, Kate Clover, and Crocodiles brought their A-game to The Lodge Room for a night full of punk love and wild babes.
The opener Kate Clover is pure 70s punk rock in a little black dress. Pairing a fast-tempo X-Ray Spex, Ramones, or The Kills sound with a well-heeled Debbie Harry-meets-Audrey Hepburn look, Kate’s LA punk sensibility is raw and balls-to-the-wall. Punk aficionados may remember that Clover was part of indie sensation ExSage, but her new solo sound is far less gritty and more upbeat. Backed by Crocodiles (whom have served as her touring band this year) in their handsome vintage black suits and silk western-style bow ties, she definitely got the crowd’s blood pumping. Check out her latest single “Channel Zero,” which was produced by Crocodiles’ Brandon Welchez.
Crocodiles is bringing proper noiserock back again in a style that has the feel-good grittiness of bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Arctic Monkeys, Jesus & Mary Chain, Love And Rockets or the Stooges. Changing their outfits from their set with Kate Clover, their more contemporary duds reflect their much more casual contemporary sound. The all-male band is easy on the eye and brings a unique wickedness to their rock sensibility. Their set includes rockers like “Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)”, “Crybaby Demon”, “Wait Until Tomorrow” and a searing cover of Neil Young & Crazy Horse’s “Don’t Cry No Tears.” Check out their newest album, “Love Is Here.”
Finally, Death Valley Girls are the most tenderhearted group in the punk scene today. Don’t be afraid of their darkly quasi-occultish psychedelic style (“doom boogie” as the band calls it), DVG just want to love you. Their crowds often include parents and children, the latter of which lead singer Bonnie Bloomgarden loves to dote on during the show, giving plenty of hugs, handshakes and words of encouragement to these future rockers. (I won’t do justice to Bonnie’s impromptu “whale” story here, but suffice to say that being considered “weird” is not the worst thing that can happen to a person—she also wants the little ones to know that no matter what anyone says, they are angels). One of Iggy Pop’s favorite bands DVG take their glam-influenced live show to a new level, with lots of crowd work, mini-lovefests, Stevie-Nicks-meets-Black-Sabbath outfits, a smoke machine working overtime and a raucous devil-may-care attitude. When people talk about “thoughts and prayers,” they really need to ask these homespun heroes how it’s done, because wherever they go, they consistently bring an almost Pentecostal level of energy and the highest of positive cosmic vibes possible. If you haven’t checked out this band, please do yourself a favor and listen to their latest 2018 album “Darkness Rains” here.
DEATH VALLEY GIRLS
CROCODILES
KATE CLOVER
NOVEMBER 23RD, 2019
THE LODGE ROOM, LOS ANGELES, CA
PHOTOS BY FIESTABAN PHOTOGRAPHY!
*CREDIT THE PHOTOGRAPHER IF IMAGES USED, PLEASE! NO EDITING AND/OR REMOVAL OF WATERMARK(S)*
