It is well known that there are many amazing things left undiscovered. Great books, records, films that somehow fall between the cracks. A few of these are rediscovered, labeled hidden gems, pontificated on endlessly by their admirers, and the cycle starts anew. Seldom, there are lost works or bands even, like Death that when rediscovered, tend to change the way we view the origin and development of a genre. An aural missing link if you will.
As one could surmise, Death oddly is a tale of resurrection, and if you haven't had the chance to see the amazing documentary, "A Band Called Death" this is most certainly a good time to check it out. Death, sans of course former guitarist and brainchild of the band David Hackney, put on a hell of a show that held true to the ethos of rock and roll.
Read: Death calling — An interview with the pioneering African-American proto-punk act
The show opened with Tampa natives, DRUG, who for an opener slot, put out some seriously intense vibes. But there's also an equal amount of playfulness, producing some impactful soundscapes with what seems like very little effort. Jacuzzi Boys from Miami, put out a hell of a good set, something akin to a harsh garage punk dance party. There were plenty of moments where the lights were killed, not for some ballad, goodness no, but for some eyeball melting strobes. You couldn't have picked two better openers.
Look: DRUG and Permanent Makeup do a little punk in the round at Lucky You Tattoo
Before Death came on, an older gentleman wearing an old, faded Descendants t-shirt, asked me if I knew about the band from the documentary. He offered some commentary about punk shows of his youth and reunion shows of his favorite bands that have long since gone by. When Death ceremoniously started playing, he was one of the first dudes to go into the pit. It was a great set list as well, best defined by their perhaps now classic single, "Keep on Knocking."
Closing out the set, the band played one of their new tracks, named appropriately "Cease Fire", with the tracks dedicated political and societal awareness, there's no doubt David would have been proud. Was every note perfect? No. Was every harmony and pitch kept with flawless precision? Absolutely not. Those imperfections in this aspect, however, are a strength.
And perhaps, that's the best way, to sum up, a night with Death.
It's celebratory, charming, warm. The truest antecedent to punk as a movement and a genre, without anyone ever knowing it until recently. Bobby Hackney, lead singer and bassist relayed to the crowd towards the end of the set that "It took us over forty years to get here". That's an immensely long time, luckily the crowd didn't have to wait long for an extravagant and heartfelt encore. With the closing of the set and the start of the historical tour for the band, Death proved that you are never too old to rock, never too old to mosh, never to old to be a rock n roller in heart and in soul. Well, unless you're dead. But that didn't technically even stop GG Allin, so really there's' no excuse. Great rock and roll will never die, Death offered proof of it tonight.
This article appears in Feb 9-16, 2017.