Los Straitjackets have a whole subgenera of rock to themselves—guitar-led surf instrumentals, twanging away the way The Ventures once did—and with a second gimmick all their own, Lucha Libre wrestling masks.
Even when joining forces with Nick Lowe, as they have for an album and a couple of tours, they’ve maintained their distinct identity and cool swagger. To celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary, the band is on tour that included the Hamilton in DC. Led by Eddie Angel, a rockabilly stalwart who has played with a lot of bands, and flanked by lanky Greg Townson.
With steady backing by bassist Pete Curry and drummer Chris Sprague, the band could go in any direction, but were celebrating its anniversary by largely doing originals from their dozen or so albums, with titles that sounded like artifacts from the past—from the opening “Pacifica” to the signature “Kawanga!” to their version of horror novelty, “Rockula.”
By the second tune, “Outta Gear,” the front line was arranged to do cheesy choreographed moves, augmented by their matching black suits, wrestling mask,s and matching custom guitars. There were a few familiar instrumentals—back from the days when instrumental s were played enough on the radio to become familiar. One was “Out of Limits” from the Marketts, later remade by the Ventures; and the Revels’ “Church Key,” with the drummer adding other non sequitirs in the key breaks (“bird bath!” was one).
Making an instrumental out of a pop hit is a good move, and they did so with “Love Potion Number Nine” (as the Ventures did before them). They went further, though, putting their stamp on the theme from “Midnight Cowboy” such that it retained its haunting melody through reverb. The Benny Goodman staple “Sing, Sing, Sing” becomes a set-closing stinger (with plenty of room for a Gene Krupa-like drum attack). Best of all is their unexpected reworking of the theme from Titanic, “My Heart Will Go On” into a thrilling rocker.
There was nothing from Nick Lowe, whom they’ll join once more this spring on tour. And instead of Christmas tunes, which were the basis of a couple of their albums, they had the more apropos “April Showers.” And while the sound of the surf guitar never gets old, maybe their schtick does. They barely spoke, and when they did, it was dumbed down stabs at Spanish, like “Mucho thanks.”
The masks had their flash, maybe, but they also removed any humanity or expression from the performers for the entirety of their set. And worse than being uncomfortable to wear, the cultural appropriation is getting increasingly uncomfortable to watch—as off-putting as white guys in sombreros singing “Speedy Gonzalez.”
Kiss unmasked; Los Straitjackets could do it too.
They saved the big fun until the end—a driving “Batman” that melded into “Wipeout”; the obscure early Beatles instrumental “Cry for a Shadow,” and a kind of medley of the Trashmen, introducing their well known “Surfin’ Bird” with the lesser-known variation “Bird Dance Beat.”
An unexpected highlight of the gig was the opening set by none other than Tex Rubinowitz, a legendary DC rockabilly name forever associated with his 1980 revival “Hot Rod Man.” Eddie Angel actually played for Tex back in those days, making the current pairing perfect. But Angel never got a chance to play with Rubinowitz at the gig. Now 79, the rocker from Virginia, came out on a wheelchair, fronting a splendid eight-piece band promoting his genius blend of rockabilly and Dixieland jazz.
His deep, authoritative voice sounded great, but he was uncomfortable. Citing health issues—“Parkinson’s really puts you in box”—he left the stage after just two songs. Luckily, Willie Barry of the Rock-A-Sonics was around—with his guitar—to take the microphone for a couple more songs everybody knew, from Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox” to the inevitable “Hot Rod Man.”
Still, it was a treat to see Rubinowitz back on stage, even fleetingly.
LOS STRAITJACKETS SETLIST
Pacifica
Outta Gear
Calhoun Surf
The Casbah
Kawanga!
Für Sofia
Out of Limits
Tempest
Lynxtail
Isn’t Love Grand
Church Key
Rockula
Slaughter on 10th Avenue
Driving Guitars
April Showers
Jet Set
Lonely Apache
Itchy Chicken
Close to Champaign
Love Potion No. 9
My Heart Will Go On (Love Theme from Titanic)
Batman / Wipeout
Theme from Midnight Cowboy
Sing, Sing, Sing
University Blvd.
Rampage
Cry from a Shadow
Bird Dance Beat / Surfin’ Bird
