The Muffs Played Asbury Lanes w/ Full of Fancy (last show) and brick mower, 10/11/14 (PHOTOS)

Really Really Happy

Four straight nights of going to shows -- 2 at Asbury Lanes, 3 to see Full of Fancy -- came to an end for me on Saturday night. This time, CoolMom was coming with me which always makes for a special evening. We were heading to Asbury Lanes to see The Muffs, brick mower, and the last-ever performance by Full of Fancy.

CoolMom really didn't enjoy the last show we went to together. While I loved it, it turns out that Perfect Pussy really wasn't her bag. I had a feeling that Saturday's bill would redeem me in her eyes, though; and I wasn't wrong.

Before heading over to Asbury Lanes, we enjoyed a few beverages and a burger over at Bond St. Bar. Afterwards, we stopped into Parlor Gallery on Cookman for the opening of "Savages" a new exhibition featuring works by artists Hunter Stabler, Ben Venom, Jeremy Burks, Bryan Holland, and Max Kauffman. Some good stuff. Beers at a neighborhood bar and a gallery opening: I was really trying to stack the decks in my favor in terms of CoolMom's enjoyment of the evening. It was working.

We made it to Asbury Lanes right around 9 o'clock. There was a nice turnout already. We said our "hellos" to people, grabbed drinks from the bar, and moved into position to watch brick mower's set. I've said this a couple of times here, but brick mower's Teenage Graceland is one of my favorite records of 2014. Their set was heavy on cuts from that record, and we both really enjoyed it. The band was great, but I am also going to give a nod to our good friend Gentleman Jim Norton who was behind the soundboard. He did a fantastic job all night, and I heard more than one person (including The Muffs' Kim Shattuck as she took the stage) mention how good things were sounding.

Full of Fancy were next and, just like the night before, sounded just that much better than their previous performance. Friends, family, current and former bandmates, and longtime fans of the band (lots of overlap among all of those groups) filled the audience; and the set was impressive. CoolMom even gave things an uncharacteristic, "They were fucking good!" I think the wording may have been influenced by the beers, but the sentiment was honest. I knew she'd dig them.

They concluded, as expected, with "30 Days;" and, just like that, Full of Fancy were no more. Or were they...?

Just before 11, Kim Shattuck, Ronnie Barnett, and Roy McDonald took the stage and started with "Lucky Guy," the first track from The Muffs' self-titled, 1993 debut. From there, the set was a mix of old songs and songs from the band's first album in a decade, this year's really good Whoop Dee Doo. Shattuck's voice has lost absolutely none of its power and grit over the years, and she screamed and snarled the same as she has for two decades. Full of Fancy's Erin Hays remained at stage left for the entire show smiling and singing along with an obvious influence.

After the approximately 1-hour main portion of the set, The Muffs started taking shouted requests from the audience. Here's where we got "I'm A Dick" which was awesome.

CoolMom loved every minute of the evening, I think. So did I. We got to see two really excellent New Jersey bands, both of whom have at least a little bit of The Muffs in their DNA. We got to see that rare example of a reunited band who haven't lost a step. And we got to spend an evening out together enjoying ourselves and catching up with friends old and new.

See you at the next Full of Fancy show. Here are some pics. The rest are in the galleries.

Full of Fancy Played Cooler Ranch with Allo Darlin' and Glazer, 10/9/14

It was too dark for real pics, but that's Allo Darlin' up top and Full of Fancy on the bottom. Trust me.

Night 1

The last time Full of Fancy did a last-ever show -- back in May of this year -- I loved it. The show was just like this really fun party where everyone there danced and had a blast. When I saw that they were playing their really for real and we mean it final three shows over three nights this weekend, I hoped to see them all.

Last night was kind of the wildcard, though. It was an early show in New Brunswick, meaning I'd have to finagle some things to ensure that I had someone to cover the cooldaughters until CoolMom got home. My inherent laziness about these things could have made me just say, "Ah, I'll see them twice down here. Why hassle?" With Allo Darlin' on the bill, making the only New Jersey appearance of their tour, though, I had to make it work. I did and I'm glad.

Allo Darlin' came all the way from the UK to kick off their U.S. tour in a New Brunswick basement. They're on the road in support of their latest LP We Come From The Same Place, and the songs from that record sound great live with all the jangle of their recorded versions. I really enjoyed Europe, their last LP; and this latest release took me kind of by surprise. I grabbed a copy of the new one on vinyl as I left. Everyone needs a little jangly pop in their lives.

Full of Fancy may have started off just a little bit rusty. Drummer Evan Kyle admitted that practicing had taken a back seat to his honeymoon. Totally understandable. Things were never anything but amazingly fun, though; and, once the trio got rolling, the whole underground space was singing along with "Basement," "Stone's Throw," "Hot Tub," and "30 Days" for the last-ever time in New Brunswick.

Glazer were the real surprise for me. I'd never seen them before, but their combination of fuzz, noise, and shredding had a pleasing Dinosaur Jr-y vibe for me. I'll check them out the next chance I get.

Everything was done by 9:30, and I was home by 10:30. Nice. So worth it.

You've got two more chances to catch Full of Fancy this weekend. They play Red Bank Rehearsal Studios tonight with like 17 other bands, and they're opening for The Muffs at Asbury Lanes on Saturday along with brick mower.

Allo Darlin' officially start their U.S. tour tonight in Brooklyn at Glasslands. They play Boot & Saddle in Philly tomorrow. Check them out if you can.

Full of Fancy / The Besties Reunited. Played Asbury Lanes w/ Mikey Erg and Brick Mower (PHOTOS), 5/31/14

Is This Where I Say, "...and it felt so good?"

Saturday night at Asbury Lanes saw reunions from two beloved punk / power pop bands from the mid to late aughties. Brooklyn's The Besties and New Jersey's own Full of Fancy got the bands back together for one, final (?) time and played what ended up being a party full of sing-alongs and joyful dancing.

Before the big reunions, there were sets from Brick Mower and Mikey Erg. Brick Mower did about thirty minutes heavy on songs from this year's excellent Teenage Graceland. Mikey Erg did a high-energy solo set that saw him bouncing across the Asbury Lanes' stage -- the audience singing along -- any time he wasn't stationed at the mic under the venue's brightest and hottest light.

After, reportedly, just "one practice in five years," The Besties took the stage, shook off the rust, and went right back to charming the crowd. Dual vocalists / keyboard players Kelly Waldrop and Marisa Bergquist flanked guitarist Rikki Walsh, while drummer Frank Korn added some heft to the band's brand of twee punk. Full of Fancy's Miranda Taylor and Erin Hays joined the band on stage for a final dance and sing-along to close the set and, maybe, the book on The Besties.

Full of Fancy capped the evening -- a trio this time as guitarist Brian Gorsenger had a case of strep throat. They played a set that included favorites like "Stone's Throw," "Hot Tub," "Trophy," and "30 Days." The band did a cover of "Rockaway Beach" and extended a reciprocal invitation to Besties Kelly and Marisa to close things out with a cover of "We Got The Beat." After hearing the final note, the crowd begged for more; but drummer Evan Kiel announced that the band had played everything they knew. "Play '30 Days' again!" But Erin just laughed and waved goodbye.

Below are some highlights from the evening. There are full sets up at Flickr.

Miranda Taylor returns to Asbury Lanes this Friday as one of her current bands, Black Wine, is on the bill with Diarrhea Planet, Music Band, and Gods. See you there.