Photos + Words by JULIE ANN SHAW
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – MC5 took the stage at The Roxy in West Hollywood on the “We Are All MC5” tour promoting their first album in 50 years, Heavy Lifting. It was an unforgettable night of high energy and great music.
Opening for MC5 was LA’s S8nt Elektric, with Briana (vocals), Niko (lead guitar), Jack (bass), Eric (rhythm guitar), and Hudson (drums). All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker
Briana proved to be both talented, and charismatic, owning the stage throughout the entire performance as if she were born to it. Briana played off the electric energy of the other members of the band, who in turn, played off hers, which gave the audience a truly intense, and remarkable performance. Their set included “Someday,” “Back and Forth,” “Subliminal,” “All I Do,” “A Little Taste,” “So Far Away,” “My Eyes,” and they closed with “Gone Electric.” All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) US
After a surprisingly fast set change, the MC5 — Brad Brooks (vocals), Wayne Kramer (guitar), Stevie Salas (guitar), Vicki Randle (bass), and Winston Watson (drums) — took the stage. As the curtain went up, the crowd went crazy, calling for the set to begin with more eagerness and excitement than I have ever seen. MC5 opened with their 1969 hits, “Ramblin’ Rose” and “Come Together.” All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker
I had a very hard time taking my eyes off of Watson, as he played to the crowd, dancing, making faces, and using funny hand and body gestures. I found that this encouraged the members of the audience to remember to enjoy themselves, this show, this night, in more than just the typical ways one would enjoy a punk show.All words and photos (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c)
Brooks’ enthusiasm for performing was unparalleled, as he made the entire stage his own, jumping from the drum platform, using the microphone in every way possible, and connecting with every member of the band. Every so often, Watson would catch me looking at him with my camera, and the pure delight on his face made me automatically drop my camera so I could enjoy the moment with him. Watson’s enjoyment was very visibly shared by Randle, who likewise could not contain her contagious smiles. All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker
Oceanside, Calif.-born-and-raised Salas, proves to be a once-in-a-generation talent and he rounded out the sound and the performance simply by existing honestly, as himself, on the stage. All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and Their set continued with “Baby Won’t Ya,” their cover of John Lee’s “The Motor City is Burning,” “Poison” and “Shakin’ Street.” Then, the moment came. The moment that everyone was waiting for. MC5 played one of their new songs from their upcoming album of the same name, Heavy Lifting. The crowd loved it. I loved it. Everything about that song, that performance, was perfect, and absolutely well worth the wait.
They finished the set with “Call Me Animal,” “Tonight,” “Kick Out The Jams,” “Rocker Reducer No. 62 (Rama Lama Fa Fa Fa),” and “Looking At You.” Once the final song was concluded, the band started walking off stage, and the audience was not having it. In unison, almost as if planned, the entire crowd started chanting for one more song. Of course, MC5 was absolutely going to give us one more song. In fact, they actually gave us three more: “Let Me Try,” “The American Ruse,” and “Sister Anne.” All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker
Kramer took an opportunity towards the end of the set to take to the microphone to talk about “some serious shit.” A move that is completely on brand for The Motor City 5. All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c) 2022 US Rocker All words and images (c)
“If the MC5 ever meant anything, and we are all MC5 today, that we gotta step up, brothers and sisters, we gotta get to work,” he said. “It’s like we’re in a war and only one side is fighting. We need to organize like we have never organized. We need to vote like we’ve never voted before … We need to let those fools in Washington know that we’re looking at you.”
