A Super Charged Set of Powerful Punk Rock at Tip Top Deluxe with Electric Frankenstein, Slumlord Radio, Mazinga, and the Von Werewolves.
Electric Frankenstein Brings A Punk Rock Party to Grand Rapids
I knocked off a couple of firsts for my birthday last week – I finally visited Tip Top Deluxe Bar and Grill in Grand Rapids, and I experienced the punk power of Electric Frankenstein. On top of that, there was a mini-art show in tow.
I share a birthday with Chris “Box” Taylor, the guitarist of the most awesome punk band in Michigan, Mazinga. As Mazinga was playing out in Grand Rapids with my pals (and super awesome people) in Slumlord Radio, I decided to celebrate sixty-one years on this planet at their show. The full line included headliners Electric Frankenstein with support from Slumlord Radio, Mazinga, and The Von Werewolves. As I’d get to experience some new music along with some tried and true favorites, I was psyched.
Tip Top Deluxe
The cherry on top of this punk rock birthday was twofold. First off, check out Tip Top Deluxe Bar and Grill. Located at 760 Butterworth in Grand Rapids, this is one sweet little bar. Booths line the walls, which are full of vintage posters accented with Christmas lights. A small stage is in the front corner with tables and bar seating.
I arrived shortly before the first band, and the place was packed. However, the bar staff were friendly and happy to sling a beer my way. They had a nice selection of both domestic and craft beers, plus a full bar for cocktails. As the name would imply, they serve food, but I didn’t try any on this trip.
Sicknik Productions and Jim Madison Print Destroyer
The other cherry on top was a mini music art market featuring the works of Sicknik Productions and Jim Madison of Print Destroyer. I got to meet Jim and check out his awesome poster art. If you love poster and t-shirt art, this was a huge treat.
The Von Werewolves
Kicking things off with the Grand Rapids misfits of garage rock, The Von Werewolves. Beer-soaked gritty punk rock music that sounded like a stack of Fangoria magazines came to life. They hit the beach late at night for a “Full Moon Surf” and took us on a B movie tour of their home with “My House Is Full of Skulls.” Sir Graves Ghastly would highly approve of these freaky rock and roll ghouls.
Mazinga
Celebrating 30 years of high-octane rock and roll was Mazinga. They tore into their set with wild abandon. Nothing mattered but volume and velocity. The band’s combustible concoction of pyrotechnic punk ignited the crowd who gathered at the front of the stage to behold the cosmic fire. The room grew hot as Mazinga stoked the flames with tunes off of their new slab of molten vinyl called Chinese Democracy Manifesto Greatest Hits Vol. 2. Ripping through favorites such as “Nandeyo,” “All Rise,” and “The Dark Path,” Mazinga had this mother cranked up to 11.
Slumlord Radio
Next up, the rock’em sock’em roller derby of sound – Slumlord Radio. Their set is like a wholly mammoth kegger where that one burly son of a bitch swilling a fifth of Jack Daniels slides up close and yells, “I’m Your Huckleberry.” You have no choice but to put your boots on and get ready to party. On top of hard-rocking originals such as “Holy Smokes” and their latest “Snakebit,” they played a couple of killer covers, including “Touch Me I’m Sick” by Mudhoney and “Where Eagles Dare” by the Misfits. The hell-raising Swedes in Slumlord Radio are a punk rock riot on stage.
Electric Frankenstein
Amped and ready, the crowd went wild with Electric Frankenstein. This was my first time seeing these legends of punk rock. Formed in 1990 in New Jersey by brothers Sal (rhythm guitar) and Dan (bass) Canzonieri, the band includes Johnny Flude (vocals), Trey McLamb (drums), and Jaime Pina from PRV13 (lead guitar). If you need some context on the sounds of Electric Frankenstein, imagine the unholy union of The Ramones and Motorhead. Or better yet, picture a rampaging rhino ripped on Red Bull, and you’ve a vision that comes close to the musical mayhem of Electric Frankenstein.
Electric Frankenstein roared through their set, pounding out every note like it owed them money. Feeding off the high-watt sounds, the crowd slammed, bounced, and danced. Johnny Flude joined the audience, turning every tune into an anthem. As a first-timer, I didn’t know the songs but did recognize the chorus from “River Bitch” off their new EP Spittin Blood. The furious fun of Electric Frankenstein capped off a rowdy night of punk rock in Grand Rapids.
Pictures
There are more photos of The Von Werewolves, Mazinga, Slumlord Radio, and Electric Frankenstein in our gallery. Check it out. Feel free to share, but please be sure to provide photo credit.
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