FRIDAY OCTOBER 24th, 1997
THE HUMPERS
THE NECKBONES
THE SHORT FUSES
& THE FORGOTTEN BOYS
21 & Over @ Safari Nite Club
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I always tried to promote shows that would be events and this one was just that an event. By far one of the best show I've ever done.
First up was the r-n-r powerhouse of the Forgotten Boys proving that too often the best bands in Iowa come from Sioux City. Though I could have done without the Guns-n-Roses cover. What's with the Glam thing in SC anyway.
The Short Fuses are from Minneapolis and prove that not all bands from there suck just 98% of them. Punk-N-Roll with a female front. They lost me at times with their almost Muffs style stuff but by far the best band I've seen the Twin Cities produce in years (maybe they're from St Paul like the Quincy Punx).
Next up was Fat Possums Neckbones. They're a hardcore redneck blues punk band almost in the vain of the Crypt bands. Just how they got on Epitaph's blues label is a mystery. An even bigger mystery is why Epitaph bought a blues label. I had missed them the last time they played the club and let me tell ya I wish I could have made it to see them the other time too.
Little did I or anyone else at the club that night know that this would be the last time the Humpers would play Des Moines. I remember the way the news hit me that they were breaking up. It was like telling a kid that Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny and the tooth Fairy were all dead. One less reason to get up in the morning and one less thing to look forward to. Viva La Humpers. They were burning like a wooden flame that night. This was the fourth time I had enjoyed the full weight of the mighty Humpers and the best show I have seen. In years to come their shows well become legends, like seeing the Heartbreakers in 78 or the Weirdos in 79. If you missed them when they were around I pity you. They pulled no punches with upper cuts of Wake up and Lose, 13 Forever, Fast Fucked and Furious, Sarcasmatron, Plastique Valentine, For Lovers Only and Make-up.
