C. J. Walsh

The Flamin’ Groovies

October 24, 2019

Café 9 New Haven, Connecticut, USA

View: At the bar

 The second night of the Trick or Treat Tour began with passable covers of Chuck Berry’s Around And Around and the Byrds’ I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better. Thereafter the Groovies reminded us why they still matter with terrific versions of Shake Some Action and Jumpin’ In The Night. Cyril Jordan’s trademark clear Lucite guitar remained in tune despite the pounding.

The band gave Teenage Head a lot of attention with the album’s title track and Yesterday’s Numbers. And on High Flyin’ Baby they transcended their roots and slammed into full-blown power pop. Jordan’s between-song monologue veered from hanging around San Francisco with Chas Chandler and Kim Fowley in the ‘60s to walking in on the filming of Marilyn Chambers’ Behind The Green Door. Anecdotes don’t get any stranger.

They called it a night with Slow Death, originally banned by the BBC, but loved by the crowd.

Notable merchandise: Cyril Jordan painted the Halloween-themed tour poster, yours for $25.00