Live review: Spot @ the Meadowlark
By Billy Thieme | August 24th, 2009 | No Comments »
Glen Lockett (a.k.a. Spot) captured the famously maniacal intensity of bands like Black Flag (pictured above) in the studio.
When Glen Lockett took over the low stage in the Meadowlark’s beautiful backyard last Friday night, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I know Lockett better as Spot — as do most people — and even better as the near-legendary producer and sound engineer for seminal hardcore indie bands such as the Minutemen, Descendents, Black Flag, Hüsker Dü and Meat Puppets (and a bunch more). I’m not sure what I expected to see, but a fairly diminutive, graying fellow with a demeanor that at first brought to mind a stereotypical carny wasn’t it.
I did have some idea of what type of music Spot would offer up that night, though, and he did not disappoint. In fact, his skill, jovial charisma and simple, blues-driven, folky punk did everything to completely wipe away any preconceived images I may have had, and replaced them with an almost loving respect for the gentleman musician he really was. Thoroughly comfortable with his oeuvre, his personality oozed off the stage, well-met by the warm and welcome atmosphere that’s typical for the backyard on a cooling Denver night.
He started his set with a humorous and short sound check, picking the familiar tune of “Green Acres” on a banjo with a cunning grin. He then led the small audience on a too-short musical journey that touched down in bluegrass, country, folk, blues and acoustic punk, but never for too long in any one genre. The man is wicked on strings, and switched back and forth between banjo, Telecaster and acoustic guitar easily, making all of them sound like he was born playing them. Along with the scintillating fingerwork, he added lyrics that fell somewhere between Henry Rollins and Mother Goose, sung — or barked — between his own giggles and jeers.
Through it all I couldn’t help but hear some of those old hardcore heroes stylistically peeking through the notes and coming across in Spot’s personality. Behind “4th Scone of Boxty,” for instance, I could almost see the round face of the late D. Boone from the Minutemen, with characteristic grimacing glee, and seemed to hear the wild rhythm and skill of Mike Watt coursing through his fingers. During a few other tunes (I have to admit I wasn’t familiar with) Spot seemed to channel the great Link Wray through his hands, while crooning in a country-esque drawl reminiscent of Merle Haggard, but with a decidedly punky inflection.
Spot wrapped up the set in less than an hour, after Denver’s Pseudo Dates offered up a strong, tour-honed set of candied power-punk to a welcoming, if small, crowd.
Spot also plays on Tuesday, Aug. 25 at 3 Kings Tavern with Reverend Deadeye.
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Billy Thieme is a Denver-based writer, an old-school punk and a huge follower of Denver’s vibrant local music scene. Follow Billy’s giglist at Gigbot.
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