November 13, 2005

The Vulgar Tongue

On Friday, I went to L.A.’s Spaceland club to see the Upper Crust perform. I forgot to bring a fucking camera. (What an idiot.) The last I’d seen them was about 7 years ago with my buddy Namella, and this time was just as massive.

To be honest, I thought the Crust had broken up a few years ago (the band started in ‘94 as the remnants of Boston’s the Titanics, and their last release was a double live album called Entitled which you can buy here), but as these old links prove, they’re one of those “novelty” acts that has more depth and staying power than the glum, serious Rocque commoners. Legend has it that they performed once on Late Night With Conan O’Brien and that the now-departed Lord Rockingham was a speechwriter for Bill Clinton. It’s great to see them still standing and delivering after many bands would consider the professional window of opportunity gone. Here’s a good review that’s only a few years old. Supposedly there’s even a documentary (!) on the band.

Friday’s performance began with a couple of defective royal boot buckles coming off (“I’ll have to speak to my cobbler,” intoned Lord Bendover) and, umpteen power chords and powdered wigs later, ended with an encore that included “Little Rickshaw Boy” from the first LP. The Crust formula has not been diluted in the slightest. Funny lyrics in the voice of a French/English aristocrat pre-18th century, dealing with the inconvenience of the bottom classes and the trials of being waited upon hand and foot. Who can’t relate to that? I’m a sucker for a good gimmick, and these guys have it down.

And yes, the tunes are derivative. It’s pretty amazing how many of their songs are composed of reworked AC-DC riffs. If that bothers you, then you’re too uptight. But if you like cheese-flavored stadium rock mixed with hilarious, prim banter, don’t miss the live show.

The band’s theme of reverse class warfare is well suited to their bombastic style. My favorite guy to watch is Count Bassie, the stately, deadpan bass player whose nobleman’s sneer makes the perfect “one of these horrid peasants has just farted” bass-face.

On a rare night out, I left my hermit’s apartment just long enough to attend, and didn’t recognize a single person there. Good thing too, or I might’ve gotten self-conscious about my sweaty, shiny, drippy bald head. Hardly anybody else danced – however, by night’s end, even the rigid L.A. crowd had great big grins on their faces.

The Upper Crust – “Let Them Eat Rock” (from Let Them Eat Rock)
The Upper Crust – “Rock ‘n’ Roll Butler” (from Let Them Eat Rock)
The Upper Crust – “Ne’er-Do-Well” (from The Decline & Fall of the Upper Crust)
The Upper Crust – “Boudoir” (from The Decline & Fall of the Upper Crust)
The Upper Crust – “We’re Finished With Finishing School” (from Once More Into the Breeches)

Rick at 5:59 pm

Comments (7)

7 CommentsÈ

Rick:

Nat from UC/Titanics was also in a band called The Flies. They were on Homestead and had a record called Get Wise. I like that record – sounds like Bob Dylan fronting an early 80’s punk band – sort of in the Replacements/Soul Asylum vein. Nat also stabbed someone (don’t know if he killed him or not) and went to prison for a short stint. When I was in The Brought Low and tiger mountain (at the same time), both bands opened for UC one weekend at Brownie’s in NYC. The guys in the band are not very friendly, though Nat was amused that I was a Flies fan. (And for you super-geekazoid rock trivia fans, those shows were booked by Dee Pop – former drummer for The Bush Tetras, Gun Club and played some drums on The Clash’s Combat Rock).
I personally think that the Upper Crust is ridiculous, but what do I know? I was in both The Voluptuous Horror Of Karen Black and Murphy’s Law!
Glad to hear you were hanging out with Namella. Did you see her Korean Nazi photo on My Space? It’s almost as good as this blog.

Love and Kisses,
Dean

Comment by Dean Rispler Ñ November 13, 2005 @ 7:05 pm
Dean, it’s funny you should mention the Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black – I vaguely recall sharing the stage with you dressed in a sailor suit, whilst I wore striped bodypaint and a thong. At one point I portrayed a giant carnivorous vagina taco. I hope you’re not implying there was anything ridiculous about that.

Comment by Rick Ñ November 13, 2005 @ 11:03 pm
i remember seeing the upper crust in DC’s Black Cat years ago… so much more entertaining than any number of all too earnest young bands which shared that grubby stage (including me…). i still fondly remember a snatch of their amusing lyrics ‘the bloom is off the rose, i suppose…’ now knowing the fact that Nat stabbed someone (most probably for stepping too close to his carriage) makes it all the more interesting.

on another note – you were always the sexiest giant carnvirous vagina taco in those wild years of youth…

Comment by wi11iam13 Ñ November 14, 2005 @ 1:11 am
i once met a funny guy at MAX FISH, back in the days when i would get drunk in bars, and we had about a half-hour conversation about nothing i can remember. but at some point he mentioned he was in a band called THE UPPER CRUST. i knew nothing about them except that MERKLE had sometimes raved about them. i’ve always wanted to hear them (without going out and paying real money). now, thanks to TOESTUBBER, i have my chance. although i get the feeling that seeing them live is probably the true upper-crust experience. thanks, stubber.
—LS

Comment by lennie sfumato Ñ November 14, 2005 @ 3:50 am
Rick, you forgot to mention the OTHER cool thing about Count Basie, he hooked up with my buddy Margaret Cho that night. Remember?

Comment by Namella Ñ January 13, 2006 @ 9:25 am
Nam:
Wow. Either I didn’t know that or I somehow erased the weirdly disturbing sex image from my brain.

Give me a call sometime!

Comment by Rick Ñ January 13, 2006 @ 4:57 pm
Rick, are the Hillbilly Peckers still trapped in your buttcrack?

Comment by Anto Golem Ñ November 1, 2011 @ 7:24 pm