THE PLAYERS:
Scott Hill - vocals/guitar
Bob Balch - guitar
Brad Davis - bass
Scott Reeder - drums
The strong easterly winds blew through Southern California pushing me down Santa Monica Boulevard to the famed Hollywood club, The Troubador. Gliding through the black door, like a cowboy entering an unfamiliar saloon, I’m not sure what awaits but if the anticipated energy of a packed floor is any indication then it’s going to be something good. With no MC to bring the band on stage the four guys in Fu Manchu quietly walked onto a dimly lit red stage, plugged into their amp stacks, and did what’s important to them, play hard and let the funk groovin’ rock & roll sound that is Fu Manchu do the talking.
Starting out tonight’s set is “Pigeon Toe” which served only as an appetizer. Picking up steam the boys ripped into “Laser Blast”, then ‘Let Me Out”, a new track from their We Must Obey release, then “Eating Dust”, which set the packed floor swirling with movement. Middle of the set song “Hell on Wheels” raised the roof and the controlled swirling floor became a nuclear reactor with bodies bouncing to and fro into each other. Feeding off the crowds energy, along with avoiding the ever growing pile of empty bottles between the monitors (one mustn’t spill thy beer in the pit), the boys on stage kept the train rolling full bore when they kicked into “Evil Eye”.
With 10 years of material to pick from the plethora of songs covered numerous releases and accounted for a total of 15 original recordings. And to put the cake topper on the nights set Fu Manchu ended with the Blue Oyster Cult classic “Godzilla”, for which the hyped up crowd much appreciated.
Fu Manchu has a sound that’s unique and genuine. If I had to try and describe it I just wouldn’t do it justice. But to the best of my ability I’ll call it groovin’ funk rock played at a pace you can mosh and bounce your head to.
