EAH, SO I RIPPED OFF THAT LINE from Da Boss’ sycophantic manager/producer. Let’s hope he’s too busy spending his moolah from Bruce to worry about a small fry like me. And no, maybe the Cobras aren’t really the future of R&R, but they are a helluva great band from Detroit. If the Stripes are a little too minimalist for ya and the Von Bondies are just boring, grab a copy of MINK, RAT, OR RABBIT and slam it on 10. If that doesn’t convince you, they got two other slices of sounds that will sway even the most jaded record store clerk. That’s in fact how I found out about this band. I was visiting Austin, Texas on one of my pilgrimages since I moved away in1996 and went into a small store on Guadalupe St. and asked for some “hot rock fronted by women.” (Of course I actually used the word “chick” to make myself sound hip, so the band can punch me out next month when I attend their show at the 9:30 Club here in Washington, D.C. if they want.) The guy played me the Mink CD and after two songs it went right into the CD player of the rental car, where it stayed for the duration of my trip.

When the band came to town last year for a show at the postage-stamp-sized Iota Club, I dragged my wife and a friend to see them. It was everything a great live show should be: LOUD, tight, and funky! Even though the songs are covers, they take them over and make them their own. If you compare their version of “Hittin’ on Nothin’” with one by the sleaze-rockers Southern Culture on the Skids, the Cobras win pulling away. And the stage presence of Miss Rachel Nagy on lead vocals is riveting. She knows that the less-is-more approach is a winner. And after the show, she was kind enough to talk with this writer and his wife for quite a while. I hope she’ll still be speaking to me if I describe her as, well, Nice! No ego, very down to earth. Anybody who has dealt with musicians can tell you that nice is not a word that gets thrown around a lot when describing them.

Watching this band gave me the same feeling I used to get when I was a lad few eons ago. I would run home from school every day to catch a TV show called “Where The Action Is”. This was a Dick Clark thing that had regular bands like Paul Revere and the Raiders and whatever hot British Invasion acts were in town. The Cobras sound like they came straight from that show’s set that night at Iota. Dick, if you’re listening/reading, BRING BACK THAT SHOW!!!! And make the Cobras the house band! And Rachel, make sure you get to keep the free clothes from Mr. Clark. He can afford it!!!!

Like a cross between the Shangri La’s and The Beatles, the Cobras should be the next big band out of the Motor City. It appears that they are touring more and doing better venues, so we shall see. I am hoping that wider exposure doesn’t ruin it; I can tell you a million stories about hot groups that died when they left the nest where they were born. I await their next CD with bated breath. Meanwhile, faithful Skreed readers, get off your couch and go get some Cobras for your ass!

G2 the G

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