The Bayonics @the Red Devil Lounge Friday, Oct. 13, 2k6
by j.charles @ textproductions
Pete tells it like it is. We’re standing up the street from the red devil. The corner billows with people circling the entrance in that natural, sort of ever present huddle around the door. I asked him what they thought of the lounge, and what he spit was…unexpected, but respectable. Damn respectable.
“I mean, we dig it and all, but the stage is pretty small, and the band is pretty big. You know, and it don’t make much door. But it’s like you call, we’ll play. But the sound is allright, and they supported us from the beginning, so you can’t really fuck with that.”
The stage is not just small. For this band it’s too small. Tonight the ten pieces that be the Bayonics will be sharing mics (and the sound that bleeds from one to the other), space, and a common energy. And the two emcees, when they break put in percussion, will be dodging a pole placed slightly stage right.
The opener, Kapakahi, was friendly enough to let one of the Bayo’s vocalists onstage during the set to freestyle over a ska-ish track. Dreese, stunners gleaming, was nice enough to spit somethin’ dope, walk the stage, and add more presence to the band (who honestly did just fine by themselves.)
“Y’all way back there in the club, and there’s hella space up heeeeeere.” he explains to the receptive crowd, drank on starfuckers and live music. They heard closer to the shallow stage. Good times and dancing follow.
Intermission is a fairly wonderful thing to watch from the balcony here at the Red Devil. The smart party kids lean toward the liquor when the song goes out. The drunk party kids are still cheering until after the band is offstage. A perfect medium is required to achieve here. It’s like a god damn fire drill, only the meeting place is somewhere near the bar.
But intermission is short lived, the crowd restless. Most of them seem like they are here to see the Bayonics, and most of them dance like they’ve seen them before. The first few songs, most notably “The Temperature’s risin’” are new shit not released on their self titled e.p. The crowd rocks to the beat, enjoying that new car smell, and shows love after each one.
“Semsimillia,” “Vamonos,” and “Aye Mammi” seriously got it hotter on the top story of the Red Devil Lounge. Heiro shot out holla backs flawlessly in the breaks for each song; Pete gave visuals to the bassist for almost every change, all professional and shit. The horns are so dirty it makes you wanna change pants. Jody and Josue know it, and they should. Entertaining and rocking the fucking crowd was clearly the reason the Bayo was there, and not even the bartenders could stand still. The music got louder, the breaks got longer, the night got deeper. Sweat rolled from everyone’s brow by the end of the night, everyone who mattered.