Like this man needs any introduction. The baritone behind Pussy Galore, Blues Explosion and now Heavy Trash has already ingrained his name into your brain a million, gazillion times: He's Jon Spencer! Yeah. With his Elvis-like drawl and the supersexy shouts, funky bass line and distorted guitar riffs, the fabulous, most groovy Spencer makes you want to get down and dirty no matter what he's calling himself.
Now, Spencer's newest incarnation brings with it Speedball Baby's Matt Verta-Ray on lead guitar for a bluesy, rockabilly showdown. And with Heavy Trash, Spencer indulges his cowpoke spirit like never before; it's like Big Sandy moved to NYC's Lower East Side and decided to just tear shit up. Canada's countryesque foursome the Sadies backs for much of the new stuff, adding the right mix of twang to the greaser goo.
For those trembling at the thought of no more Russell Simins- and Judah Bauer-infused skuzz blues, relax. The Blues Explosion is just on hiatus. You'll get your wild-abandonment fix soon enough. But lest ye think Spencer's gone soft, he bitch-slaps any song that gets out of control—like our personal favorite, a throwback to the Spencer we know and love, when he stops and yelps out, “Hey, baby, your mama's a ho!”
Heavy Trash at Detroit Bar, 843 W. 19th St., Costa Mesa, (949) 642-0600. Sun., 9 p.m. $10.
