Concert Review: The Woggles @ Small's
Not too long ago, Publisher Ryan, Big Matt and myself (the not-so-esteemed Mr. Gary) were in the midst of another extraordinarily formal MCR meeting when some beer drinking accidentally broke out amongst our diligence and hard work. Realizing that we needed to reward ourselves for such devotion to the scene, Publisher Ryan suggested that we all go take in a show at Small’s. While I agreed with Publisher Ryan, Big Matt had unfortunately already made other plans for the evening. Thus, Publisher Ryan and myself picked on Big Matt mercilessly until he left MCR Headquarters. After spinning esQuire’s “Brandy and Xanax” 12” on Ryan’s turntable a few times, it was decided that our journey to Small’s should begin.
… Alright, enough with the formal writing crap. Ryan and I could’ve come back from that night with a zillion jokes about the band names in question (“The”apalooza, anyone?), but instead, I write this representing both of us, and I come scribing tales of a rock-and-roll ass-kicking of the most serious nature. First off, I’d like to eat some crow and say that despite my recent grumblings about the The Dollfaces’ self-titled EP, the band put on an impressive set to open the night. Most of the set was made up of material that post-dates the EP, and the songs were noticeably stronger than the band’s early material. This time around, the guitars were sharp (as opposed to the band’s D-Pollen set, when I thought the guitar work came off a bit slack and lackadaisical) and the rhythm section thumped, making for a very energetic and entertaining set. Maybe there really is something to these boys after all …
The Avatars popped up next, tossing off a surprisingly good set considering the band’s rhythm guitarist, Charlie Lorenzi, was MIA for the evening. Not to damage Lorenzi’s self-esteem, but it didn’t seem like the band was too shaken by his absence; drummer Claudia Leo played a little harder and Chris “Box” Taylor wailed his guitar parts just a little crazier than usual, and all the appropriate gaps were filled in quite nicely.
By this point, Ryan and I had already had a nice little night, having already seen fun sets from two local acts while draining a few cold beverages. Also, we had a chance to play meet-and-greet with the latest addition to the MCR staff, the ever-rad Kpo (who was surprisingly tolerant of the combined dorkiness of myself and Publisher Ryan). Still, though, there was no way either of us could have possibly imagined how much better the night was about to get.
The four members of The Woggles (Atlanta, GA) stepped up on stage wearing black pants and matching bright blue button-over shirts, which was a cute (but temporary) diversion from the fact that this band rocks – HARD. Old enough to have both properly appreciated The Who and also influenced The Hives, The Woggles hit the stage like a Molotov Cocktail of rock, plowing through the surprisingly hyperactive audience like a hot branding iron through a pound of butter. The band was just ON for the entire duration of the set, with vocalist Professor flailing around on stage before deciding to bring the fun out into the audience a few times. Looking like he was just hanging out on stage at times, bassist Buzz Hagstrom was a perfect picture of subtle cool throughout the show (even during his sustained duckwalk through the crowd late in the night). Drummer Dan Electro was a beast, soaking his shirt through with sweat after only three or four fiercely played songs. Somewhat large guitarist The Flesh Hammer might’ve been a little less mobile than the rest of the group, but even he managed a few Pete Townshend-esque windmills on the guitar while twitching out his dirty rhythms and mighty solos. The band’s original material was tight, dirty and oh so rocking, and at times, the grooves were so upbeat that the crowd couldn’t help but start shaking tail and getting down like it was a discothèque. Even when the band wasn’t making the crowd shimmy down to its own stuff, Professor was leading the band into a tight as hell mid-set cover of quite possibly one of the greatest songs of the pop-rock era, Spirit’s “I Got a Line on You.”
Going back to the opening comparison, elements similar to both The Who (song structures and individual performance) and The Hives (intensity and general in-your-face brashness) were abound during the set, all of which helped to make The Woggles live show one of the most competent and frighteningly satisfying experiences the Detroit area’s seen all year. This may very well have been 2004’s sleeper pick for Detroit show of the year, and that’s no exaggeration. I beg to anyone who happens to read this – PLEASE, for the love of God, DO NOT miss The Woggles the next time the band comes rumbling through the state. – Gary Blackwell
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