I know that it's tough to try to write a review of just a rock & roll show when thousands of our fellow Americans have been killed by some perverted religious fanatics, but I'm just trying to get some normalcy back in our lives. I'm also getting tired of hearing calls for lighting candles and other useless gestures. Let's get done with the symbolism and start building bombs - that's the only thing that's going to end these types of attacks.
I just needed to get away from the TV and luckily the Magic Stick provided some much-needed relief for a whole bunch of people. It was the return of the Detroit Cobras and it happened in the nick of time. First of all, I was late and missed the set by the Riffs, but heard from people that they were well worth getting down there earlier. I was just in time to catch Dead Moon. I need to confess that I had never heard of this 3-piece, but they put on an excellent show. I was surprised to discover that they had about 4 CD's out and I was happy to pick up a copy of the latest one. The area in front of the stage was packed and everybody was having a great time dancing and bopping at the Magic Stick.
After a quick interlude it was time for the return of the Detroit Cobras. With the exception of the White Stripes, the Cobras have built the strongest national following among our bands and judging by the immense crowd - they may also be on the verge of great things. It's hard to describe the Cobra's music - it seems to encompass garage music, punk, country and soul and run it through with a unique Detroit sound. In other words, this band is just plain great and all of the other people jammed into the Magic Stick seemed to agree with me. The Cobras have a new album, called "Life, Love and Leaving" out on the Sympathy for the Record Industry label.
The evening ended too soon and I never did have enough time to socialize with everybody, but - at least for one evening - the Cobras proved that music can indeed do wonders for all of us.