Heavy Trash: Camden Dingwalls - 23/09/08

Sep 29, 2008

Jon Spencer has a knack for band names. His first band, Pussy Galore were described by the man himself as 'groovy hate fuck rock', whilst The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion were exactly that; a howling, raucous, sweaty experimentation with old blues standards, brought heaving into the realms of rock n'roll. Now it's Heavy Trash and let's face it, the moniker couldn't be more apt. Still sporting his slicked back quiff and sharp suits, Spencer comes on like a demented Elvis (skinny period of course) screeching and preaching his sermon to a rapt crowd. Elsewhere the bassist (playing an upright double bass of course) holds down a groove for the manic rockabilly drummer to bang along to. Ex Speedball Baby and Madder Rose guitarist Matt Verta-Ray is the perfect foil to Spencer's insanity, happy to stand back and let him get on with it, smiling as his bandmate runs through the crowd, mobbed but still snarling every note.

It's the sound of a rock n'roll wedding band that dreams are made of, perfect for drunken dancing and gulping whiskey. Sadly the Camden crowd, stick to the strict London rules and though seemingly enamoured by their hero, don't get the raucous line dance started that the band deserve. Still, the only-three-quarters-full Dingwalls gives a good acount of itself and as the band comes to the end of the set, they are rapidly invited back for an encore. This time, during the last song, Jon Spencer departs the stage for the final time, snaking his way through the crowd to take up residency at the bar where he holds court amongst his people. Managing to say hello to pretty much every member of the audience is a noble achievement, and it's guaranteed that he'll be invited back to London soon. In the meantime, get them booked for all your wedding, birthday and bar-mitzvah needs, your mad uncle will love them...

Harry Powell

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