On the Road Again
Live Reviews:

Hellacopters / New Bomb Turks / Quadrajets
December 7, 1998
Lee's Palace, Toronto, ON

The Quadrajets, a strong five-piece fuelled by the dirty rock n' roll style and music that once made AC/DC look like a bunch of bad-asses, could not have found themselves in better company. Tonight, they opened for one electrifying established act, and another that has been causing a few ripples in the raunchy music wave pool of late. Mild in stage manner, the Quadrajets opted to let their instruments do the talking on this fine night. This led to more time for playing, and as a result their efforts were greeted with generous applause.

Up second, the mighty New Bomb Turks found themselves playing to a packed house. Melodic and chanting vocals over fast-paced, high-energy punk being their specialty, these guys could incite a riot faster than a group of nuns in a cucumber patch. Running, flailing, screaming and wailing, they have dutifully memorized the rock bible. High point: getting the entire floor to squat down on their haunches, then leap up in unison. An unfortunately brief, albeit powerful set by a band many felt should have headlined.

Sliding back into the Ted Nugent-meets-Jason and the Scorchers sweaty rock, the Hellacopters were met by a receptive audience, most of whom had turned up to find out what the hell all the fuss was about. Five guys looking like they had just been yanked from solitary confinement and shoved onstage, they did not disappoint. Their mission to entertain their fans and win over a few new faces was successful...just ask the drunk guys that got up to sing along to the Rolling Stones cover. One hour and two encores later, it was clear: the Hellacopters are doing their part to keep the slick underbelly of rock coated with a fat layer of grease that we can all keep licking away at.