Andy and Joey Siara from The Henry Clay People keep on "Rockin' the Free World"
Earlier this month, the Rock 'N Roll Summer Circus took place at The Echoplex, hosted by Eli Chartkoff from The Monolators with main stage performances by Marvelous Toy, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Fol Chen, and The Henry Clay People as well as sideshows by the Natural Disasters, Downtown/Union, The Damselles, Les Blanks, and Roadside Graves.
"Turning the Echoplex over to the use of 10 or so bands, utilizing every available performing space, kept the evening in high gear from beginning to end," reported Brad Roberts from Radio Free Silver Lake. "Eli Monolator Moderator... kept the action moving as a 'refugee from the French Army' garbed ringmaster. The costume order of the day was moustaches for everyone and Eli cut a dashing figure with his dazzling 'stache." Indeed, casting him as host was nothing short of brilliance. "This whole circus thing was [The Henry Clay People's] idea," observed Randall Roberts from the LA Weekly, "and they brought with them the usual mix of their own sturdy, oak-solid rock songs and a batch of covers (Petty, Bowie, Mott the Hoople), the best of which was an absolutely thrilling version of T. Rex's 'Bang a Gong,' in which the five Henrys expanded to eleven. When that many people are screaming GET IT ON, BANG A GONG, GET IT ON! at full volume, well, it's hard not to feel a warm glow."
Given the warm reception and heavy attendence, don't be surprised if this summer event becomes an annual tradition.
As for upcoming local shows, Fol Chen's on August 29th at Pehrspace and The Henry Clay People's on August 31st when they join Local Natives for the final night of their month-long residency at Spaceland in Silver Lake.
Special thanks to Marvelous Toy, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Fol Chen, The Henry Clay People, and The Echoplex.
Special thanks to Marvelous Toy, The Flying Tourbillon Orchestra, Fol Chen, The Henry Clay People, and The Echoplex.
