Redd Kross concert, part I

Last night I witnessed another great rock show.

I tagged along with a co-worker "J" and her significant other "F" to Detroit's El Club to see Redd Kross. (Yes, I think I've mentioned them a few times recently).

The El Club is located on Vernor Highway in Mexican Town. I don't think I'd ever spent any time in this neighborhood, but I was impressed. It seemed vibrant and full of life on this evening, with restaurants and shops on the north side of Vernor and the large and green Clark Park on the south side of the road. There is also a multistory apartment or condo project under construction a stone's throw from the El Club.

This was my first time at the El Club. I'm not sure why I had never been there before. Maybe the drive seemed daunting, but in truth it's easier to get to the El Club than it is getting to, say, Saint Andrew's Hall.

I had envisioned the El Club as a hole-in-the-wall place, but it's bigger than I expected. One room is dedicated to the bar, while another room--maybe slightly smaller than a basketball court--is the performance area with a stage on the north end.

I briefly checked out the merch table (nothing I couldn't live without, and disappointingly sparse anyway. Darn you, Redd Kross, for not satiating my consumerist needs!), and settled on a tequila mule cocktail from the bar that set me back $18 after I added a $3 tip. "Welp, I guess that'll be my only drink of the evening," I said to myself. (The drink was good, but not $15 or $18 good).

At about 8:00, Redd Kross (and Melvins) drummer Dale Crover took the stage with an acoustic guitar as the show opener. The Melvins are a blind spot in my music fandom. I have, of course, been aware of them for decades and respect the hell out of their integrity and commitment to their craft. That said, I only have one of their albums (Houdini, probably their biggest selling record) and haven't listened to it in a long time. But I am smart enough to know that Dale Crover and his Melvins bandmate Buzz Osborne are goddamned bona fide legends in the alternative music community, so the opportunity to see Crover up close was a big deal.

It has to be mentioned that there is cross-pollination in the Melvins and Redd Kross camps. Dale plays drums for both bands, while Redd Kross's Steven McDonald has also played bass for the Melvins since 2015.

(To be continued)...