Rocket from the Crypt, the legendary rockers from San Diego, California invaded the Black Cat last Saturday night to play to a sold out crowd of their most loyal and intrepid DC fans. The Black Cat’s show has been sold out for months and was the last show on the east coast leg of the band’s reunion tour that started in 2013. The boys from sunny California have a just a few more dates scheduled for their current tour and both performances are set at festivals in Canada early this summer.
When Rocket from the Crypt formed in 1989, the punk inspired indie-rockers quickly developed an almost cult-like following that spread like wildfire from California, quickly moving eastwards. John Reis (AKA Speedo), who is one of my personal favorite guitar players to this day, is at the helm of this band and takes on duties as guitar player and lead vocalist for the band.
Reis has been associated with arguably some of the best and most unique bands to come out of the ’90s and 2000s. He has played with acts such as Pitchfork, Hot Snakes, The Night Marchers, The Sultans, and Drive Like Jehu, which Reis actually formed around the same time as Rocket from the Crypt. Joining Reis in RFTC is drummer Mario Rubalcaba (Hot Snakes, Clickatat Ikatowi), saxophone player Apollo 9, trumpet player JC 2000, guitarist Andy “ND” Stamets (The Sultans), and Petey X on Bass guitar.
After the release of the band’s 1992 album Circa Now Rocket from the Crypt was primed for success and even signed with Interscope Records to release their next two albums. Both Interscope releases, Scream Dracula Scream (1995) and the self titled RFTC (1998) albums received some degree of commercial success. Both albums carry the band’s most polished and produced sound and hold some of the band’s best and most critically acclaimed work. The Interscope releases certainly sport most of the fan favorites such as “On a Rope,” “Born in ’69,” “Made for You,” the ever famous fan favorite, and always their encore “Dick on a Dog,” and “Eye on You” recorded with the extraordinary Holly Golightly singing back up vocals.
As is the case with most cool bands who end up on major record labels, Rocket from the Crypt’s sales where not what the label expected them to be. Even after some outstanding releases and the relentless touring with reasonable success in the US and through Europe, the band decided to leave Interscope. In 2000 the band signed to the independent label Vagrant and began working on their next album Group Sounds.
After the release of Live from Camp X-Ray in 2002, the band toured more and more sparingly as Reis and other bandmates were busy playing and recording with other musical projects. For the official break-up in 2005, Rocket from the Crypt went out with a big bang—their last show was on Halloween night in their hometown of San Diego, playing to a sold out crowd at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel and even recording the last hurrah for a DVD / CD release entitled RIP.
Rocket from the Crypt decided to reform in 2011 after a one time performance for the children’s show Yo Gabba Gaba, in which Reis played The Swami. Rocket from the Crypt reunited and the band played an 80 minute resurrection show on Easter Sunday to a crowd of around 200 very lucky people. The show was sneak attack of sorts and was kept a secret, announcing it only an hour before they played at Bar Pink in San Diego.
As for the The Black Cat show on Saturday, Rocket is always a great time. The guitars sounded crisp and solid, melodic with Rocket’s signature punch. The bass and drums were fast and on point and driving everything forward as usual. The horns were still as punchy and as swinging as they always have been. Mr. Reis has not forgotten to do his long, between-song banter. He is still as entertaining as he is hilarious. He still hates Florida and the band still sports matching ready to rock attire, this time in the form of matching Mariachi jumpsuits.
DC fans were more than enthusiastic to have yet another romp with one of their most beloved punk rock bands. Just as John Reis was once quoted saying “Punk is dead, so long live rock and roll,” I ‘ll add that punk has been dead—and long live Rocket from the Crypt!
Dan Sartain had the honor of being the night’s opener.
DAN SARTAIN
