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The Plimsouls Rock Live With New 1981 Release |
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Written by MATTHEW LAMBERT
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Sunday, 28 February 2010 |
In the late 1970’s, following the success of such bands as The Ramones, The Sex Pistols, Buzzcocks and the New York Dolls dozens of punk bands were formed in the Los Angeles and San Francisco area. The Plimsouls, formed by singer-songwriter (and former The Nerves bassist) Peter Case in 1978, quickly became one of the favorites in the LA club scene. The band became well known for their energetic live sets and soul-punk sound.
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The Plimsouls
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"Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal"
(Alive Records)
Released February 23, 2010
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The Plimsouls recorded one EP (Zero Hour) in 1980 and a self-titled album in 1981 before self-financing the single, “A Million Miles Away.” The single became a hit after it was picked up by KROQ and the band soon signed with Geffen. The band released Everywhere at Once in 1983 but broke up soon afterwards. While Peter Case went on to a successful solo career, the band’s live recordings remained a popular commodity. Geffen released one of these live recordings, “One Night in America,” in 1988. The band has reunited through the years and there is still a demand for their soul-punk, energetic sound.
Live! Beg, Borrow & Steal, a live recording of the band’s performance at Whisky a Go Go on Halloween night in 1981, pops with a high energy rarely heard on studio albums. The band works at a rapid pace and Peter Case sings with a guttural scream and passion throughout the 18-song-set. The audience blends in well with the recording and the interaction between the fans and the band creates the feeling of actually being in the room that Halloween night. Case is backed up by Eddie Munoz on guitar with bassist David Pahoa and drummer Lou Ramirez. Munoz sounds great throughout the show; his stabbing riffs and sharp solos shine throughout along with the steady rhythm of Pahoa and Ramirez.
The band jumps right into “Hush Hush,” and hits the accelerator for 45 minutes taking us through such tracks like “A Million Miles Away,” “Zero Hour,” “Women” and “I Want You Back.” Every song clocks in at less than three minutes with the exception of the last track “Run Run Run.” The Plimsouls also cover “Come on Now” (The Kinks) “New Orleans” (Gary U.S. Bonds) and “Jump, Jive & Harmonize” (Thee Midniters) joined by The Fleshtones.
Long-time fans of The Plimsouls will enjoy this album tremendously. For those new to the Plimsouls, this latest album offers a great introduction to their music. Unlike most studio albums, you shouldn’t find yourself skipping tracks with this album. Live! Beg, Borrow and Steal should be listened through its entirety to savor the whole experience of the show. The Plimsouls played the Whisky a Go Go almost 29 years ago but their performance sounds just as good today as it did back then.
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