Word has it that things didn't go all that well for D Generation at their Madison Square Garden show, opening for Kiss on Thursday, July 25. This may explain a lot about their performance at Irving Plaza the following night. Not that they weren't good -- these boys can play -- but Friday at the Plaza will not go down as one of their premier performances.
Jesse Malin took the stage a few minutes after midnight, announcing that, "We're D Generation and we don't wear makeup." (They do, however, "use different hair products," including Malin's extensions which were firmly in place on Friday night.)
The band launched into "Scorch," a perfect one-minute rock song if ever there was one. The energy was there and so were the decibels. The movement of bodies on the stage was nothing short of manic. But with a quick survey of the premises one could clearly see that the band wasn't totally connecting with the audience, and this plagued the early numbers of the set.
The rapport with the crowd appeared to pick up, however, as the evening progressed, as did Malin's in-between commentaries on the sorry state of the world in general. He had it in for Kiss: "You don't fuck Gene Simmons, he fucks you." "Kiss doesn't give things away, they just spit blood."
Malin also spoke his mind about a number of his other favorite or perhaps, least favorite, subjects including his distaste for the way D Gen has been pideon-holed by the press ("they call us punk, they call us grunge"), the foolishness of drug consumption, and the evils of the music business in general.
It's not that the subject matter doesn't ring true. It just felt a little overworked on this particular night. In addition, it seems the latter of these topics (i.e., the villainous music business) could pose a problem for D Gen somewhere down the road. One of two scenarios must take place. (1) The band remains as a cult favorite or (2) their popularity rises and they become part of the insipid industry at which Malin is casting stones.
Nevertheless, as mentioned, D Gen's set only improved throughout the night, which was evidenced by their double-encore finale. At one point, Malin slammed his mike stand against the stage and shouted, "Have you seen my boy?" The band then tore into a ripping version of "Degenerated," with its opening lyrics: "What's Johnny doing on a Tuesday night. Johnny can't read, Johnny can't write." It's an excellent send-up of an excellently penned song, D Gen at full throttle, blistering rock & roll, expertly served.
More: D Gen at Coney Island High
