Iggy and the Stooges Entertainment Art Congress Theater Chicago, Ill. April 15, 2007

While it could never be like it was in “1969,” the mostly complete line-up of Pop, drummer Scott Asheton and his brother/guitarist Ron Asheton came pretty darn close to recreating the magic, simultaneously reminding attendees just how influential the band’s been on recent generations. Along with supporting players Mike Watt (of The Minutemen fame, who replaced the now deceased original bassist Dave Alexander) and saxophonist Steve MacKay, the group shined through a blistering set of rebellious rock n’ roll that’s clearly rubbed off on the likes of Nirvana, Sonic Youth and even Red Hot Chili Peppers.

But more than just the past was on display during this comeback run of sorts, starting with selections from 2007’s “The Weirdness”. Despite the overwhelming anticipation for the album (which is a long timing coming considering it’s the follow-up to 1973’s “Raw Power”) the project released to lukewarm reviews and a fair amount of fan disappointment. And while the recorded version tips towards the lighter side of punk and seems somewhat haphazardly put together, Pop and company kicked up the speed and charisma come “My Idea of Fun,” “Trollin’” and “She Took My Money.”

Yet the real reason the show reached sold out status was the steady stream of aggressive, balls to the walls classics, which permeated much of the lean but tightly packed 85-minute set. “I Wanna Be Your Dog” featured a hyperactive Pop performing on top of an amplifier, “TV Eye” and “Dirt” were shouted straight into the crowd’s faces, while “Not Right” added additional age-defying physical and vocal acrobatics. No matter what the tune, Pop (who was just a week shy of hitting sixty) bounced around like a limber teenager, while his backers displayed unshakable chemistry. However, each player was incredibly crafty at not just sticking exactly to the script, often times loosening up and letting the enraging rhythms flow with impromptu abandon (most evident on the back to back merger of “Fun House” and “L.A. Blues”). It was these displays, plus sheer showmanship on all levels (rather than the new record) that made Chicago welcome back The Stooges with open arms, and perhaps most importantly, militant fists pumping feverishly in the air.

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Very Cool Written by Guest on 2007-09-11 18:45:15

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