(I am totally delighted to bring you now the groovy words and photographs of ace Seattle rock n' roll chronicler Victoria Holt, who graciously agreed to cover my SWEET birthday celebration at Chop Suey last Thursday night, featuring the platter power of DJ Ruben MZ and the audacious awesomeness of rock 'n wrestling maniacs, STALLION! I even got to SING a bit! I cannot thank everyone enough -- so much fun, so many lovely faces, so much love. THE BEST! Scroll down to view video of the whole Stallion performance, including a jaw-dropping entrance! -- Marianne)
Resurfacing mysteriously from the wrestling scene of the ‘70s, three-piece punk sensation Stallion has been stealing the hearts of Seattleites since their live debut last summer. Though Mr. Dynamite Lance Strongarm is a man of few words, a show announcement from his more loquacious bandmates Hollywood Capponi (SSDD) and Luscious Luke (Pony Time) might go something like this:
“Well it’s a Thursday night out here
in Cap-i-tol Hill, and tonight we got Blackjack Spellman’s Birthday Throwdown
with the hottest act in all the Pacific Northwest, free-wheelin’ tag team rock
maniacs STALLION. And when the boys are needin’ a little breathin’ room to
stretch their guns, we got DJ Ruben MZ on the decks, spinnin’ the finest in
garage, punk, and glam. You betta believe we gotta whole lotta talent in this
here room!”
They opened with the catchy “Tag Team Action.” Their own Facebook page boasts
of the hit single, “Let's be honest, not everybody is ready for the
full brutality and intense athleticism of a full on tag team match, but we've
done our best to give you a taste of what the action's like.” It’s an upbeat earworm with a sing-along chorus
that just won’t quit, much like the Stallion boys once they’re in the ring.
Last fall,
when east coast shmucks Personal & The Pizzas thought they’d get in on the
action, Hollywood put them in their place by name-dropping another song: “You
won't be flappin' your gums on the Internet after Hollywood slaps his Finishing Move on ya, the Sunset Strip!”
This band
just can’t stay out of the action. Local band Night Boss of the Ice Cold
Rollers posse have stepped up, fancying themselves fit for a fight. Luscious
hissed into the mic, “Night Boss been talkin’ a lotta shit. They been comin’
with a lot of heat, but I only got one thing to say to them and that’s . . .”
and all three screamed, “NOT . . . MY . . . PROB-LEMMMM!” They launched into
their song of the same name, singing ferociously, thirsty for blood.
After a few more hits, everyone sang happy birthday to the guest of
honor, talented photographer and Popthomology editor Marianne Spellman. She
donned a black cowboy hat as the venerable Blackjack Spellman, and contributed
tambourine and backup vocals for a final round of “Tag Team Action.”
The CHAMPS have been hard at work on their first record, so keep your
eyes and ears peeled, CHUMP!
-- V.H.
Setlist:
Tag Team
Action
Finishing
Move
Chair Shot
Not My
Problem
Little
Rickey
Double Bull
Rope Massacre
Vallet
T.V. Champ
Off The Top
Rope
Tag Team
Action (with Blackjack Spellman)
STALLION - Full Performance from Kitty Page on Vimeo.
© Copyright 2008- Marianne Spellman