What a thrill to get to see the MC50 twice in 3 days. After catching them at St. Augustine Amphitheatre on Thursday 9/6, I trekked up to North Carolina for Raleigh's Hopscotch Festival for their Saturday 9/8 date.
I'd be hard pressed to say which performance was better as the set lists were nearly identical, with the reincarnated 5 playing "Kick out the Jams" in its entirety to mark the 50th anniversary of the Motor City 5's influential debut album. The larger Raleigh stage did give Kramer more room to wiggle, windmill and ramble around.
With players like Fugazi's Brendan Canty on drums, and Faith No More bassist Bill Gould holding down the rhythm section, and the twin guitar attack of MC5 original Wayne Kramer and Soundgarden's Kim Thayil, they aren't likely to have an off night.
I continue to be highly impressed with Marcus Durant. The Zen Guerrilla front man has impossible shoes to fill handling the vocal duties of the deceased Rob Tyner. But he's got the moves, he's got the chops, and he's got the hair. Durant is electric.
They were also joined on stage by The Jayhawks main man Gary Louris, who commented during his set later that night at the Lincoln Theatre that "he felt like the coolest guy in the room" because he just shared the stage with the MC5.
1 of 11 2 of 11 3 of 11 4 of 11 5 of 11 6 of 11 7 of 11 8 of 11 9 of 11 10 of 11 11 of 11
It was a thrill to get to see and hear the songs of a band that ceased to exist around the time I was born. Something I thought I'd never get to experience, particularly with the earthy departure of guitarist Fred Smith and bassist Michael Davis in addition to Tyner.
While, not the actual 5, they are a fitting memorial, and there's no doubting they know how to kick out the M@+#%*KING JAMS!