mekons!!!

2 days, 2 mekons shows in new york city.  it was hot as fuck at the bell house and packed with a crowd that mostly appeared to be hipster douchebag assholes and their parents in about equal numbers.  unfortunately, i was stone cold sober as i had to walk back to park slope where my car was parked and drive back home afterwards, so unlike the mercury lounge show in 09, i was not completely shouty-sweaty drunk.

they played many of the songs off the new album, and they fit in well with the 35 years of mekons material.  the album itself is also very enjoyable and works nicely as a concept album.  the rockinest song on the album, 'space in your face' was played in 2009 at the show i saw and probably rocked a tiny bit harder this year.

one thing that really stands out is how tight and good they are now.  all eight of the mekons were there, so with 6 singers, a crazy-looking lu edmonds playing his electric saz the whole show, suzy on violin and tom in attendance, it was a amazing performance.  steve and sarah are now an unflappable and powerful rhythm section, and even though you could hardly see her behind jon and sally, her bass was pulsing and dominant in old-timey rock 'n roll tradition.  it was great to have tom with 'em; a little less lead singing for rico, and none for lu this time, but the vocals were awesome all around.  at times tom looked a little lost, but the mekons really are better with him even if he's a boring old family man and working guy now.