Thursday, June 23, two of the glam scenes greatest showman and veteran performers Steve Summers of Pretty Boy Floyd and Chip Z’Nuff of psychedelic pounders Enuff Z’Nuff took over the Blue Note stage in Harrison, Ohio to a house of dedicated fans ready to rock out like the MTV generation. The Glam Slam Metal Jam brought new blood in The Midnight Devils, a new breed breathing fresh fire on glam’s eternal Bic-lit flame.
The Omaha, Nebraska based threesome, showed the energy, spunk and fire of future headliners, sporting a unique twisted blend of Nikki Sixx, David Lee Roth and Dee Snider and the boys. Vocalist/bassist Sam Spade spent most of his set time bouncing around stage like a demented energizer bunny putting its ear in a socket and couldn’t stop going. As the crowd would see later in the show, the stage wasn’t big enough for his space requirements taking over half the club before the last note was played.
He spewed out sweat, energy, stage presence and showmanship earning a loud, rabid response. Playing his instrument like an attacking beast, frantically trying to tame the furious onslaught. Guitarist Chris Hineline took the task of providing the bands electrical skeletal system zapping killer animation into every note, especially on the extended “Panama.” Watching Jimmy Mess play the skins was like a time warp doppelganger back to the Whisky and Tommy Lee’s early Crüe days They played with the presence of a four or five piece.
Spade shoved/extended the mic in front row faces demanding assistance for group vocals. While playing clubs, he took full advantage of the surroundings. Going into the crowd, setting up mic and shop, addressing everyone up front face to face, giving the first set of tables an unexpected front row seat. With an impromptu meet and greet for half the club, Spade donned a wresting-style robe with hat preaching to the masses from seat-top. Though it looked a bit like a certain scene from a Jodie Foster movie, Spade said it was definitely inspired by the Nature Boy, wooo. He also let a special birthday girl handle bass duties during the mid-show monologue.
They played original “Highway 69” and saluted the crowd and the spirit of Eddie Van Halen with an extended trip to “Panama.” They covered ‘80s tune, “Working for the Weekend,” needing some romance. Their new record Never Beg For It is currently available. See them now while they’re not confined to a stage and you can say you saw them, back in the day.
Pretty Boy Floyd celebrated the anniversary of being Electric Boyz with Electric Toyz, playing their debut start to finish. Summers, Nick Mason,,Criss 6 and Ashes took the crowd to the vintage school of glam, though the Girlschool was already in session, they broke more rules to get there.
The “Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz” started their chiseled in Sunset stone story and war cry loud and proud. Summers chromed out in black took the stage with crew to start their historical debut. It was a flashy time-warp back to when glam generated all the buzz on the Strip and the MTV generation were still kids and teens. Though Summers seemed to find a way to defy the long hand of father time.
Many a story, printable and not, happened at The Rainbow, Whisky and various Hollywood Haunts, as their scene set the night and world on fire in the ‘80s and early ‘90s.
Summers joked it was time for the first taste of late 80’s ballads as fans yelled out songs, some jokingly from other bands. The spot-light fused “Wild Angels” was the first taste of ballad-like melody and potential Bic butane. The romantic road-wandering acoustic formula following the opening rocker never failed.
It was time to rock for two days straight, toasting the town’s dedicated fans, and kids. The theme for every rebellious soul to pick up an instrument playing out their pain, pleasures and parables “Rock and Roll Outlaws” blasted out the speakers, like their electric gypsy.
“Only the Young” sang out a vintage but timeless message to the youth and forever young at heart of the nation. Youth are the future. “The Last Kiss” was blown as the boys rode away into the night to the next town. The sing along dancer/rocker, eye-wink “Your Mama Won’t Know” wasn’t the first tune about secret rendezvous but we can all hope she was at least 17.
The welcoming acoustic charm of “I Wanna Be With You” started as cell phones filled the air. Whether you saw them in the ’80s, ’90s or beyond Summers and crew are still filling the Floyd void.
The circus music started as the greatest glam show on earth was about to begin. Something wicked had arrived, and the veteran ringleader was about to MC the evening’s final ride.
Z’Nuff draped in trademark dapper attire still encapsulated everything that made him stand out in the ‘80s, which was saying something. Enuff Z’ Nuff was the fun, safe televised acid-trip whether in regular rotation or HeadBangers Ball. Though the makeup was gone, the groove was still omnipresent. That night and tour they celebrated the pioneers of rock, The Beatles, playing several tunes from their Beatles cover’s record A Hard Rock Nite. As Z’Nuff said, everyone loves The Beatles. Raising the question, was the glam scene the Beatlemania of that era?
The first smoking tribute was rolled out on the “Magical Mystery Tour,” giving praise to the Fab Four and the screaming ladies. Z’Nuff said, Motley Crüe did it before them but we did it better, breaking into the spiraled confusion of “Helter Skelter.”
Classics and fan favorites would come but The Beatles came first, continuing with “Jet.”
Strength got some love then the first kiss of their debut came with “In the Groove.” Z’Nuff still had the tricks playing bass from stage into the crowd, up close and personal, even using people for balance, always the showman, never getting Enuff.
The end didn’t disappoint playing the psychedelic love-trip of “Fly High Michelle” and MTV knock on the door “New thing.” Members of The Midnight Devils and Floyd came out to join on backing vocals as Spade took side-stage and eventual on stage pics and selfies.
We weren’t in So Cal but the evening gave a very cool feel of the era with The Midnight Devils, the rip roaring modern offspring of what Floyd, Z’Nuff and others started and inspired. The spandex may be on the shelf but the spirit eternally burns.
The Midnight Devils – www.themidnightdevils.com
Pretty Boy Floyd www.facebook.com/prettyboyfloydofficial
Enuff Z’Nuff – www.enuffznuff.com
Images by Mike Ritchie
