X 

By Dave Miller

X 

The punks came out to play on a Tuesday night at Township in Logan Square. With each of the bands on the bill headline worthy, a sizeable crowd turned out on a weekday at the venue formerly known as Panchos.

X

Master of the Obvious, commonly known at M.O.T.O., attracted many longtime fans to its post-midnight, headlining performance. Songwriting guitarist Paul Caporino, who is having a documentary made about him, has fronted various lineups of the band since 1981. It was apparent many of the band's fans hold a special affinity for the veteran, do-it-yourself rocker who played regularly in Chicago when he lived in town. A native of New Orleans, Caporino immediately captured everyone's attention while showing there can be room for show business in punk. He opened the set onstage by himself, saying he wanted to dedicate a song to recently departed Jim Marshall. Of course, Marshall made amps, not songs, so Caporino turned to playing a lovely version of Marshall Crenshaw's "Someday, Someway." Then Caporino brought his three bandmates out a song at a time. When guitarist Laurence Museum of Death completed the lineup, they played "Gonna Get Drunk Tonight," which Caporino dedicated to Wanton Looks singer Traci Trouble, whose group played earlier in the night.

X

Caporino was like an affable, crazy uncle who tells dirty jokes at family gatherings. The shaggy-haired guitarist led his forceful band through one succinct, well-crafted song after another in rapid succession, cramming 24 songs into a little more than an hour. His songs are funny, clever and crude, and they had half of the people in the crowd dancing with abandon in front of the stage. Trouble was one of them, and she hopped onstage to sing on "Choking on Your Insides," her first of two guest singing appearances. Caporino dedicated "El Stop" to Chicago. "I Hate My Fucking Job" received a particulary rousing reacton. "2-4-6-8 Rock 'N' Roll" was the chosen closer, but Caporino saw his band had the crowd on a high so he tacked on "Crystallize My Penis" to allow everyone to ride the wave of fun a little longer.

X

M.O.T.O. setlist:

X

Someday, Someway

Got To Get Away From The Cops

The Things We Wanna Do

Gonna Get Drunk Tonight

Choking on Your Insides

Metal Man

God Bless The World For Drunken Girls

Redivider

Getting It Up For Physics

Primeval

Piano Jazz Radio

It Taste Just Like a Milkshake

Girl Girl Inhale

Let's Nait It to the Moon

Magic Words

Midnight At The Guantanamo Room

El Stop

Catamaran

Dance Dance Dance Dance Dance to The Radio

Breaking Up is The Hardest Thing

I Hate My Fucking Job

We Are The Rats

2-4-6-8 Rock 'N' Roll

Crystallize My Penis

X

Start: 12:16 a.m./Finish: 1:19 a.m.

Totals: 24 songs, one hour three minutes

X

The Stranger socked the crowed with a combination of punk and rockabilly with an emphasis on the former. Singer Aaron Hammes showed himself to be a captivating frontman. His energy shot out of his pours and his body quickly moved and contorted across the stage as if he was trying to stay on a tightrope, often balancing dramatically on the tips of his shoes. He sang and performed like he was doing the most important thing in the world.

X

Jason Larsen played fluid guitar while Mike Hobson injected stand-up bass thumps and Alex Gourse delivered drum kicks. The band came out firing hard like it was on the clock of an old soul revue. Hammes jokingly took Larsen to task for putting their usual closing songs up in the setlist, but the result was a captivating start. When the band finished its 10 tunes, everyone, musicians and fans alike, finally had a chance to catch their breath.

X

The Stranger setlist:

X

Blindfold

Ode To Failure

The Mute

Caught in the Rain

Soldier On

I Am Revived

Fear

No Flowers

Pain is Far

Turn Your Prisoners Out

X

Start: 11:19 p.m./Finish: 11:53 p.m.

Totals: 10 songs, 34 minutes

X

After an energized set by opener StickFight that demanded the attention of everyone in the room, it was time for The Wanton Looks.

X

The rock 'em, sock 'em band had played a wonderfully fun and sloppy set at Underground Lounge five days earlier. A visit to that gig saw Trouble dancing on the bar even before the show started. Wearing a trucker hat promoting the hardcore punk band Off!, she spent much of her band's performance playing in the audience as the Gibson Twins, guitarists Inga Olson and Sue Q, and drummer Meg Thomas bemusedly kicked out the jams from the stage.

X

At this show, Trouble dressed to kill in a black skirt, a signal that she came to play. After a thorough soundcheck in front of a waiting crowd, the wild but humble singer addressed the punks and rockers in front of her. "Let's finally do this," she said. "Are you ready? Thanks for coming out on a Tuesday." And with that, Trouble's opening scream in "Cut Off" kicked off an intense set. Thomas' drumming is something to behold in every show. That leaves Trouble and the guitarists to determine the quality of the performance. Trouble was in fine form with her voice and bass, and, while she ventured into the audience, she poured most of her attention into the songs onstage. Olson is becoming a more interesting lead guitarist every time she plays. On this night, Susie Q deserved a special pat on the back for providing her strong, rhythm licks after having root canal surgery earlier in the day. That's commitment, and another sign this band won't be stopped.

X  

The Wanton Looks setlist:

X

Cut Off

See You Again

This Night Alone

Demons

Forget You

All Your Fault

Get Thru To You

Neverending

Electromagnetic Force

X

Start: 10:26 p.m./Finish: 11:01 p.m.

Totals: Nine songs, 35 minutes

X

M.O.T.O.

April 24, 2012 @ Township

X

M.O.T.O.

April 24, 2012 @ Township

Zo 

 

M.O.T.O. with Traci Trouble

April 24, 2012 @ Township