Aquanutz @ Johnny D’s 1.26.2013

So, yeah, Aquanutz. I grew up on this stuff*, so I’m predisposed to like it. Hair metal is a thing for me. Plus, you guys/gals are/were in all kinds if sweet bands like Brownboot, The Decals, Gymnasium, Darkbuster, Cocked N’ Loaded, Heavy Stud, The Raging Teens, Noble Rot, Full Body Anchor, The Dents and about a thousand others. You’ve got a lot going for you. Oh, who am I kidding? You have everything going for you. I’m trying not to overplay my hand, but this friggin’ rules. You’re loose when you need to be loose and you’re tight when you need to be tight.** You rock the Whitesnake, White Lion, Poison, Bon Jovi, Lita Ford and Van Halen. I smile. I even tolerate your Scorpions.

Aquanutz, you play hair metal covers in Boston*** and I love you for it. Thanks.

* Well, this stuff, Barry Manilow, Anne Murray, Barbra Streisand and Barry Gibb, anyway.

** Matt’s solo in “Wait” = tight. Damn. Note perfect. It’s rare that a guitar solo gets a genuine round of mid-song applause these days. This one was well deserved.

*** Somerville.

Slim Jim And The Mad Cows @ Johnny D’s 1.26.2013

Slim Jim And The Mad Cows call what they do “Country Fried Metal Rock.” Makes sense. What else would you call playing classic heavy tunes in the style of the old country legends?* These guys had me grinnin’ from ear to ear.

* Turns out this also could have been called “Maybe My Favorite Thing In The Whole World.”