Love-Hounds-request@EDDIE.MIT.EDU.UUCP (03/29/87)
Really-From: hofmann@nrl-css.arpa (James B. Hofmann) Yeah, so lately, the inneresting shows have been taking place on Thursdays round here. After playing one of Penn and Teller's video's twice, Penn Gillette who regularly fronts up the punk magician brought his three piece band here, ostensibly called TWO BOYS AND A BONGO and consisted of a bass, guitar and bongo player and whole host of beat-style Warholian songs about sneakers and girls. Took 'em a while to get warmed up and used to the P.A. but near the end of the set, they were getting interesting. 1/2 Jap continue to amaze with thier current portfolio of blues-inspired looney bin songs. When and if they take this on the road, don't miss it (even if you, like me, didn't like 1/2 Jap a couple of years ago) as almost all the materiel is new and unavailable. This is a band that's finally gonna realize it's greatness and maybe a few others will, too. Mo Tucker - big disappointment, maybe not for the VU Appreciation Society whose nerdy prescense was all around but as anything approaching interesting or creative, she's a dud. Remembering that she wasn't really that much in Velvet Underground puts things in perspective. This is her first trip east in 20 years (as a solo act, thatis) and she's carting along her record done with 1/2 Jap's Jad who basically controls the unrehearsed set. About the only time Maureen looks like she's doing something is during a Nico cover and "I'm Sticking W/You" or somesuch from the VU album. This is a ltd. tour and probably not that many will see it. Penn Gillette, looking every bit like the drunken, overbearing obnoxious party lout a la Belushi, sings "Herion" to end the act. I hope, for Mo's sake, that she's receiving royalties from the VU stuff or has a good day job. Summary: 1/2 Jap carry the show. Penn Gillette's group mildly interesting. Mo Tucker, a big washout.