The MC5’s sonic thunder continues to reverberate a half-century after they first stormed the rock world with 1969’s Kick Out the Jams, the galvanizing live document that introduced a major voice of late ’60s counterculture and proved incomparably influential on metal, punk, stoner rock and almost every other form of loud, boundary pushing music that would follow. The original MC5 line up recorded two more albums before imploding: 1970’s Back in the USA, produced by rock critic (and future Bruce Springsteen manager) Jon Landau, and their 1971 creative zenith, High Time. The last days of 1972 also marked the final performance of the original MC5 line-up, thereby ending a turbulent existence marked by drugs, acrimony, financial woes, police harassment by both Nixon and Hoover, the FBI, and lots of uncompromising, unequaled rock-and-roll fury.

Iggy Pop has said the MC5 belong in the Rock Hall “for their contributions to American music and its politics… They were hugely charismatic and influential. Their beliefs and approach had to do with things much larger than music and these things are coming to light more and more today on the world revolutionary stage. There is no band that I know of as dangerous as the MC5.” True then and still true today.

Originating in San Francisco in 1965, and reunited for a tour of Australia back in in 2013, the FLAMIN’ GROOVIES have been touring and performing consistently since their reunion – up until the pandemic put a hold on touring for everyone. Exceeding all expectations, this legendary band has been presenting their own unique and infectious style of rock ‘n’ roll with such cult classics as “Slow Death,” “Teenage Head” and, of course, “Shake Some Action.” The current lineup features founding member Cyril Jordan with Chris von Sneidern on guitar, Tony Sales on drums, and Atom Ellis on bass.

This particular show will feature a repertoire that spans the band’s lengthy career, emphasizing both 1971’s Teenage Head album (associated with more old time rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, Stones and Yardbirds influences), as well as the power-pop period (Beatles and Byrds influenced) more associated with the band’s three albums on Sire Records in the late ‘70s (Shake Some Action, Flamin’ Groovies Now, and Jumpin’ in the Night). They’ll also touch on newer material from their most recent studio album, Fantastic Plastic, from 2017.  Their place in history is well established as one of the all-time greatest bands from San Francisco (and the world) and as progenitors of real rock ‘n’ roll.

Chris von Sneidern has recorded a dozen albums as a solo artist, and is a highly-regarded name in the power pop genre. He and Tony Sales have been members of the Groovies for the last five years and things could not have worked out better. Tony Sales (whose father and uncle formed the rhythm section in David Bowie’s band, Tin Machine, and on some of Iggy Pop’s finest work) is an in-demand session drummer, and released the first album by his band, Ardent Sons, a couple of years ago. Atom Ellis has toured with many notable artists including Link Wray, Todd Rundgren, The New Cars, The Tubes, and as a member of Pyschefunkapus and Dieselhed.

The band is currently on a three-week tour of Europe and is in top form and great spirits.  They’re looking forward to getting back to their hometown of San Fran in May for this very special show with MC5.