Concert Review: The Dirtbombs, Detroit Cobras @ The Magic Bag

If you read yesterday’s review on the Detroit Cobras/Dirtbombs double-header, you may be thinking. Why go again? Two nights, the same bands (except for tonight’s opener The Come Ons) Why go again? Well, that’s WHY I went. Shows of this magnitude, sold out back to back …are few and far between. You could tell from entering the Bag that night, it was gonna be different. Gone were all the regulars. No Jack, Meg or Renee. Tonight was about the suburbanites invading Ferndale (including myself). Spotting stellar soundman Terry upon entering the Magic Bag, I asked what he thought about tonight’s show. His reply – ” It’s gonna be PACKED”. How right he was. For one, the lineup was slightly different. The first thing I noticed? How packed the venue was and how empty the front lobby was. My guess – lots of newcomers to the Magic Bag, which is a good thing. Get people out and into the bands is what I always say.

First up were The Come Ons, who are led by Deanne Iovan (who also drums for The Sirens). It almost immediately went into cruise mode, quite the startling departure from Friday night’s Sirens opener. Mellower than the last gig I caught at the Lager House, gone were the Donna Summer cover and Esquire guest appearance. It was a different kind of rock, more in line with Slumber Party than anything else. Doing a flip flop from the previous show, the Detroit Cobras were up next. Absent was the casual witty sarcastic stage banter from Rachel, which was replaced with a booty shaking stage rap. It was the Cobras I had seen before, a machine. I like their show on Friday much better – though the absence of scenesters made for a much more efficient performance from them. I also noticed a slightly different set list, but I couldn’t grab a shot due to the SERIOUS throngs of sweaty folks in the venue. The place was uncomfortably packed and I was pretty much stuck in one place. Not good for a photog. Still, you could see the gang was into their jams, and while not as free form as Friday, it was The Cobra show you know and love. My only complaint was the loss of the new tune they debuted the night before, which I loved. I am still yodelin.

Following their set, the Dirtbombs. I told bassist Ko Shih how well the previous shots turned out, and handed her one. She told me she hoped tonight would be as good, if not better. Unfortunately, I must go with Friday as the show to beat. Again, the Dirtbombs totally ruled the evening. They are setting a new benchmark in this town for energy and perspiration per rock show. For me, the highlight of the evening was their cover of the Eurhythmics “Missionary Man “. Sung by Mick, the chorus took a whole new meaning on.

“The missionary man he was followin’ me.
He said, “stop what you’re doing.”
“get down upon your knees.”
“I’ve got a message for you that you better believe.”

For one more night of Motown rock magic, I believed, and so did the crowd. More enthusiastic and willing to have fun than Friday, I stopped taking pictures, and started believing. Lordy Lordy, did I believe. – Christopher Chouinard