The Germs biopic What We Do Is Secret had its premiere at The Nuart last Friday and to celebrate, the surviving Germs played their first show at The Echo Saturday night since the very first show with actor Shane West as frontman. Aside from a national tour and many L.A. shows, the Germs have just recently played the Warped Tour and even made an appearance at Sunset Junction. Since I've seen them a few times before, and can highly recommend the movie, I knew The Echo show was going to be great.
In the past, Shane West has stayed in character as the late Darby Crash in between songs, and for anyone lucky enough to have seen an original Germs live show or, like me, just watched The Decline of Western Civilization, it was slightly unnerving. These days, West, a musician himself, tones it down a bit when not singing, and it feels more like the tribute of a serious fan.
Opening acts were local bands Spider Problem and The Mae Shi, the latter having already toured with The Germs and The Adolescents. Spider Problem were fun to watch because monotone-powerhouse singer Shayne is a sight to see onstage, not the least because she managed to give herself a head wound right from the start that continued to bleed throughout the set. She held her hand to it and continued to whip her head around violently, which was very appropriate considering the renowned antics of Darby Crash. The Mae Shi started their set while still off the stage, striding around the crowd singing unmic'ed at the top of their lungs. They launched into an enthusiastic set complete with instrument changes, scattered yelps, and general organized mayhem. "Run To Your Grave" and "Lamb and Lion" (HLLLYH) sounded great and the crowd seemed pretty into it despite the fact that they were mostly punk fans and not your average indie kids. One would think good music is good music, but I've heard some fans on the Germs/Adolescents tour didn't show them a lot of love.
The Echo had filled up by this point, and Germs drummer Don Bolles played dj behind the sound booth in the interval, wearing the same weird furry hat I have never seen him without. Then they took the stage, Nirvana/Foo Fighter-vet Pat Smear sporting his wide grin that lights up a venue, and bassist Lorna Doom looking serene with her cropped bleached hair. You have to give them credit for rocking out as hard as they do at what must be age 50 or so. Shane West's raspy growl and indecipherable words are still dead-on for Crash's, and his energy onstage is electric. The vocals were definitely not as loud as they could've been, and that is saying something for The Echo, considering it's the one venue where I don't hesitate anymore before getting out the earplugs.
GI's "Lexicon Devil" is one of the most fun songs ever to see live, as everyone in the crowd yells in the chorus, "Gimme gimme your hands, gimme gimme your minds!" "Richie Dagger's Crime" is another favorite with the infectious "oh woah woah"s in its chorus. Actual destruction was at a minimal, although there were some very big guys in the crowd: West yanked the cord out from behind the Camel cigarettes neon sign near the stage, which someone grabbed and started playing with, making the sign flop up and down.
Actors Bijou Philips and Noah Segan, who portrayed Lorna and Don in the movie, stood up on the stage, watching, along with punk scenester and former friend of Crash's, Hellin Killer. A really pretty girl that Shane introduced as Candace also came up and subbed in for Pat Smear on guitar, apparently while he went for a drink, and she was quite impressive herself. I'd be interested in knowing what band she was borrowed from.
The Germs were still playing strong when I left, close to 1am, still humming the "Lexicon Devil" chorus.
Photo by Erin Williams courtesy of The Germs myspace.
