Concert Review: Zombie Dance Party 5

Zombie Dance Party 5 was a good time at the Magic Stick last Friday. It was way too underpopulated, though. Maybe too few bands were on the bill? Saving their zombie makeup for Theater Bizzare? Not necessary, as an in house “Zombinator”, staffed by makeup artists whose resumes included work on Grindhouse Trailer Contest contender Jesus Rises, provided any zombie makeup needs, from green skin to stab wounds.

Sonic Boom, a Sonics tribute band started the night just as I was getting the finishing touches on my bloody nose. Sonic Boom were Frank Woodman (Woodman) on vocals, Alex Glendening (Decks) on guitar, Johnny Hentch on Bass, TJ on Drums, Eugene Strobe (former Witches) on keys, and Ray (Oscillating Fan Club) on sax. The Sonics’ garage jams had no difficulty getting people dancing, but encouragement from some go-go dancers, who seemingly coaxed everyone onstage at one point, certainly helped.

Hidden Ghost Balloon Ship were next, and though they are a two-piece with a former member of Pas/Cal, they weren’t exactly a dance band. They were more like a heavy shoegaze band, with echoey vocals and the occasional stratospheric guitar work. Good, dark, dreamy stuff, but I think it was more zombie than dance.

I think HGBS put somewhat of a spell on everyone, causing Marcie from F’ke Blood to say “it’s not Zombie Stand Party”, reminding everyone of the mission at hand. Convinced the future has a bright and shiny place for F’ke Blood. With a song about “a new dance sensation that’s sweeping the nation” (“The Zipper”) and a song about seeing a UFO, their spastic punk-funk reeled everyone back in from the living dead.

Photos courtesy of Dan Meyering