obn-iiis-06

OBN IIIs, Ex-Cult and Pampers played Death by Audio (pics)

photos by Fred Pessaro; words by Bill Pearis

OBN IIIs @ DbA, 7/25/2013
OBN IIIs

No one is safe at an OBN IIIs show, thanks to frontman, mischief-maker, sweat-machine and band namesake Orville Bateman Neeley III. He probably spent at least half the time of the band’s too-short DbA set last night (7/25) in the crowd, stealing hats of people’s heads, making others nervous and just generally messing with people. Not in a scary way, mind you, as long as you’re willing to play along. OBN IIIs set was amongst the most fun I’ve had at a show in a long time. Even if you don’t like the music, it’s worth going to see these Texans for the antics.

That said, their music is great, pile-driving rock n’ roll somewhere between The Hives, Thin Lizzy and Electric-era Cult. Matching the riffs is Neeley’s bravado-filled vocals, which fit right in with his larger-than-life performance style. OBN IIIs are a nonstop rock drag race that was over before you knew it.

Tourmates Ex-Cult have been through town a couple times already and this was my third time catching them in six weeks or so. Like I said when they opened for Fuzz, their style is somewhere between early ’80s California punk (definitely some Dead Kennedys in there) and a little post punk angularity as well. Singer Chris Shaw is a classic punk frontman, wild-eyed and always on the edge. Funnily enough (given this post I wrote yesterday), Brian and Amalie from Ex Cops were in the crowd.

I got there just as Pampers were finishing up their set. Fred, who shot the pictures in this post, caught the whole thing. Take it away, Fred:

Shocked Minds, featuring members of Carbonas, Neo Cons and Ex Humans, opened the show, but I arrived in time to see them load off. NYC’s own Pampers followed, and the band’s reverb-y acid-drenched garage punk was as energetic as the songs were memorable. And though Pampers practice a different strain of punk-inflected garage, their primitive keyboards with heavy delay, wild stage show, and vocals reminded me of one of my current favorite bands in the genre, The Spits. And that’s high praise.

This was the second of two NYC shows for OBN IIIs and Ex Cult, hopefully Neeley and crew will be back sooner than later. More pictures from last night’s show are below.


Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Pampers

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

Ex-Cult

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs

OBN IIIs