Koffin Kats, Speed Crazy, Hand Me Downs
Asbury Lanes, NJ
April 25, 2008

Click for full photolog of the show

The Koffin Kats returned to the Garden State last Friday night for a never ending evening of all things psycho. The band played just about every song in their repertoire during the nearly two hour set, pausing only for a few seconds to chug a beer.

First up were The Hand Me Downs, an adrenaline-fueled punk rock band in the vein of Rancid and equally as punchy. I would have loved these guys when I was 16. Sure, the sound is a bit dated and done many times over, but it was worth it just for the two Operation Ivy covers.

I haven’t seen Speed Crazy since they tore through Connections a few years back. At the time, I was put off by the bands’ mile-a-minute guitar licks and thrashy stylings. I now realize that the off-putting live show might have been due to the now defunct club’s miserable sound system. At the Asbury Lanes, Speed Crazy came off like a powerhouse rockabilly band with mean riffs, cool vocals, and a groove that just doesn’t stop. Erica Kozak and Greg Baby traded vocals sweeter than Exene and John Doe, while Snake pummeled the skins behind a floodlight lit bass drum. This set was well worth the second chance. Read the rest of this entry »