Set inside Main Street Annex’s cozy, blacklight-illuminated venue, “Unlucky in Love” combined the themes of Valentine’s Day and Friday the 13th to offer a unique showcase of four bands: Dude ‘n B----, Paul Waggener and the Howling Grimness, The Upper Deckers, and headliner Drunk Luke and the Broken Bottles.
The show kicked off with Jenny Rhubright and David Lee Archer performing in an alternative country duo they refer to as Dude ‘n B----, accompanied by two musicians from the upcoming Howling Grimness band. The two had pleasantly complementary voices and a well-developed country style. Rhubright’s vocals were at times reminiscent of Jefferson Airplane singer Grace Slick’s, adding an almost psychedelic layer to their music.
Paul Waggener effectively stole the show as far as music was concerned. Sporting slicked back hair and a black denim vest that revealed a tattoo sleeve on both arms, Waggener gave the impression he was at the Annex to rile up the crowd with an aggressive showing of punk rock or hardcore music.
He then proceeded to sit down at the front of the stage with an acoustic guitar to perform an array of introspective country songs, including his original, “My Heart is Heavy as a Tombstone.”
Waggener’s band, The Howling Grimness, later joined him onstage, bringing with them an electric guitar, standup bass and a drum set. The show transitioned into southern rock vibe.
By the end of the set, Waggener’s outward punk rock style had begun to seep into the music. As the band’s music gradually became more aggressive, the juxtaposition of Waggener’s appearance and the acoustic guitar he held became symbolic of their style of music.
The Upper Deckers, formerly Big Bobby and the Nightcaps, supplied a set of largely forgettable, yet mildly enjoyable garage rock. The energy exuding from frontman and bassist Rob Katherman was easily the best aspect of their show, largely offsetting the sloppy foundation laid down by the rest of the group.
Following the completion of The Upper Deckers’ set, Drunk Luke and the Broken Bottles took the stage. Although not as musically impressive as Waggener and his band, Drunk Luke — accompanied by an all female band consisting of a standup bass player and drummer — offered his own form of entertainment by living up to the expectations set by his stage name.
After completing his sound check in nothing but a pair of boxer briefs, Luke returned to the stage fully dressed in a German beer maid dress, with his long, flowing hair completing the look.
Each song Luke performed told a different account of his sex and drug-fueled escapades, set to a style of bluegrass music that he described as “the grindcore of bluegrass.” Each excessively vulgar song averaged a minute in length.
The real entertainment in the performance came from the drunken banter exchanged between Drunk Luke and his bass player in between songs. In one instance, Luke held up his glass of wine and offered to show her a magic trick, which to the surprise of no one in the crowd, involved making his drink disappear.
For an $8 cover fee, Main Street Annex provided an entire night of unique, exciting bands, creating an experience well worth the price of admission.
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