Eric Holycurse reviews Bad Music with Rob Younger in Paris

BAD MUSIC
Paris, La Java
July 15, 2010

By ERIC HOLYCURSE

Share Just like in a biker's world, the 1% rule applies to Bad Music.

When 99% of the music crowd would rave about supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, 1% would stand up, resist and belch their cry of freedom : BAD MUSIC

Tentatively named Big City, they changed their name only a few weeks before the tour started into Bad Music, which, I reckon, makes it difficult for any chronicle. But they were smart enough to design a great T-Shirt with I LOVE BAD MUSIC printed on front. There may be some of these left, better ask Vinz or email me.

So who are these creatures?

Rob Younger, on loan from The New Christs, got himself a two weeks tour of Europe arranged with a special unit of the French legion to back him, consisting of

Guitar player Francois Lebas of Fixed Up, Backsliders, Asphalt Tuaregs fame

Guitar and Keyboards player Lo Spider of Jerry Spider Gang fame

Bass player Vinz of The Holy Curse, Dimi Dero Inc, 3 Headed Dog, Penelope Inc fame

Drummer Dimi Dero of Dimi Dero Inc, Penelope Inc, Tex Napalm fame

Driver/Merch man Steph Turborock from the Turborock record label

So what are these creatures playing?

Well, Bad Music, sure enough, mainly from the New Christs repertoire. One Radio Birdman song, "Subterfuge".A few selected covers from the boys' own repertoire (minus The Holy Curse which may have proved too challenging for Vinz...) and some unknown masterpieces like The Weirdos' "Life of Crime" and East Bay Ray's "Poison Heart".

Now get yourself into these guys' shoes, playing your own songs with Rob Younger singing them... Lo or Francois's dreams beyond expectations.

I was lucky enough to attend the Paris show, the third of the tour which was a bit delayed due to Rob's severe tooth infection. Despite the usual sound issues - at some point concert organisers will have to realise that musicians know how to adjust their volumes and do not need some guy checking on his sound board whether the legal 105db is a must - Rob's Bad Music delivered good and solid rock 'n' roll, quite close to what the New Christs deliver, and the band showed that being impressed on the inside is the perfect rhyme to being happy and punchy on the outside.

"The Way You Sucked Me Down", "Lower Yourself" and Fixed Up's "One Night Stand" turned out to be my favourites. I wished they'd play "Fuzz Expo" though, especially for Vinz. The encore, especially "No Time", was great.

Now, the tour is over and they have posted an online comment that due to Bad Music getting better, they had decided to break up. I'm sure they are still able to play it bad enough for you Aussies down there and Americans out there, so petition these guys to reform and rock you out.

I love Bad Music, now what's your excuse?