Concert Review

The Wanton Looks

May 7, 2010 @ Beat Kitchen

By Dave Miller

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The Dials

May 7, 2010 @ Beat Kitchen

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By Dave Miller

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It's an event whenever The Wanton Looks hit the stage, but Friday night at Beat Kitchen was a special occasion. It marked the first time the four-member, all-girl band played a show since frontwoman extraordinaire Traci Trouble suffered a broken arm almost four months ago. I'm happy to report they still rock. As if there was any doubt, right? Opening on a three-band bill, they began to shake off the rust immediately by bringing the thunder on the opener, "Get Thru To You." At times it was like the modest-sized room was too small to contain their combustible chemistry.

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The Wanton Looks were slightly less aggressive than their headling performance they attacked in January at Lincoln Hall, but that was to be expected considering their layoff. Great things await them. Their music, attitide, look and hooks all work. Think The Runaways, though Joan, Cherie and Lita would have killed for songs as good as "Demons," "Worst Side of Me," "Electromagnetic Force" and "86 Me."

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The Wanton Looks are a sight to behold as tall Trouble commands the stage with her charisma and bass, Inga Olson and Susie Q slice off licks on both sides of her, looking like they're ready to use their guitars as weapons, and drummer Meg Thomas expertly nails down the beat through long, flying hair.

Trouble was sick, but she didn't let that stop her triumphant return. Taking medicine and drinking PBRs, Trouble played hurt and served noticed that The Wanton Looks are back.

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The Wanton Looks setlist:

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Get Thru To You
Demons
All I Want Is You
Worst Side of Me
Come On
Electromagnetic Force
Yeah Yeah Yeah Yeah
86 Me
Neverending

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Start: 9:41 p.m./Finish: 10:19 p.m.
Totals: nine songs, 38 minutes

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The Swiss Dots, formerly Telenovela, were the second band on the bill. Their four members played like a tight unit. Shelly Kurzynski Villasenor was the visual visual center of the band with her vocals and guitar, while bassist Amy Malick bounced around the left side of the stage and funked it up at times. Malick handled some lead vocals, too. But the Swiss Dots were more about their ensemble playing, which ventured into a hypnotic sound with loudness and strong beats. They finished on a high note with their last couple songs.

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The Swiss Dots setlist:

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Billion Yen
Together We Are
Communicator
Ice Age
Echo Echo
All In a Life
Particles Collide
Ancient Blips
Sentences
Look Who's Right
Push Tram
Certain Age

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Start: 10:37 p.m./Finish: 11:15 p.m.
Totals: 12 songs, 38 minutes

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The night belonged to The Dials, who played their last show before going on hiatus. I felt privileged to be among their fans who filled the Beat Kitchen and were rewarded with a great set. They played a cohesive blend of power pop, rock and new wave. Every so often hints of Blondie could be heard.

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The Dials are a no-nonsense, unpretentious band. Chad Romanski relentlessly pounded the drums hard, at one point part of his kit almost tipped over. It was like he was summoning enough energy to propel a ship, while frontwoman Rebecca Crawford stood her ground resolutely in front of him and navigated the band through the sound storm with her bass. Crawford and guitarist Patti Gran handled vocals. Crawford was clearly the leader of this pack. Not only can she sing, but she knows how to scream, too. Gran is accomplished in that department as well. Emily Dennison played a Farfisa, an electric organ like the one heard on ? and the Mysterians' "96 Tears."

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Among the many highlights were the opener, "Antonio," Crawford's singing on "3 Is Better Than 4," Gran's vocals on "Do You Want Me?" and the whole band on "Amoeba." After the band went through just about all of its songs on the night, it turned to a popular crowd request, a cover of Foreigner's "Urgent." And when it was over, so was the show with little fanfare. Hopefully The Dials will play again sometime down the road.

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The Dials setlist:

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Antonio
Joe Lies
Sick X
Flex Time
Glass Hell
18
Fast Cows
Head Vice
Bloodsucker
3 is Better Than 4
Check Mate
Lullaby
Do You Want Me?
Take It
Amoeba
High Tide
Diablo
Carnivale
Bye Bye Baby
Dead Beat
Urgent

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Start: 11:38 p.m./Finish: 12:50 p.m.
Totals: 21 songs, one hour and 12 minutes

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