REVIEW: ? And The Mysterians, Do You Feel It Baby? (Norton)
- Bill Holmes
The lucky citizens of New York city get to have events like "Cave Stomp", and I'm jealous. Garage rock is alive and well the world over, but it never hurts to pile several hundred people into venues like Coney Island High and prove it every so often. And although there are many current practitioners worth seeking out, when you get the opportunity to get an old school fix, you'd better jump on it.
What's that? Didn't make it there? Well, me either, but thanks to the folks at Norton Records, you've now got seventy five minutes of groovin', smokin' rock and roll from "?" and the Mysterians! What's that? Ohhhh, mannn.....if you don't know who I'm talking about, stop reading this article, find someone who knows what the word "vinyl" means, and beg them to help you immediately.
"96 Tears", of course, defines the essence of what makes garage rock so great - it's universally recognized as one of the best songs ever recorded, yet it is so simple that it's not long before your embryonic band can take a shot at it too. After this huge hit thirty years ago, most people assumed that Rudy Martinez (That's "?" to you) went the way of so many other one hit wonders, but the band made several singles (many recaptured here) and kept on chugging their soul-pop groove to believers everywhere. The band's strut hasn't changed a bit - Rudy still makes a grand entrance that Elvis would be jealous of, and Frank Rodriguez' trademark organ sound can still fill a dance floor in a flash. True "cool" never dies.
This live show, the recording and release of which was reportedly unplanned, proves three things beyond a shadow of a doubt:
1. The Mysterians rock.
2. Rudy Martinez says the word "baby" more than a room full of expectant mothers.
3. The Mysterians REALLY rock!
Do I feel it baby? Yes, you know I do.
