Chuck Yay-Grr ::: Photo by Josh

Despite being dormant and not having played a show since 2005, Chuck Yay-Grr took over the Sunset Tavern with their capes and their cowboy hats and their stars & stripes last Friday the 13th, and it was about as weird and fun as you might imagine. It even sold out.

February 13th is the birthday of the actual Chuck Yeager, the first person to break the sound barrier, and the opening song “Bell X-1″ (off both of their record and last Friday’s show) is all about that monumental event. After that song we find out how theme goes decidedly “Yay-Grr” (if you will humor me…).

As depicted in the picture above, as the night progressed, the members of the band lost more and more of their clothes, starting with red white and blue full body jumpsuits, tearing off pieces between songs. Some eventually ended up in just Converse and underwear. While a slow motion strip show isn’t most bands’ preferred wardrobe for a rock n’ roll show, vocalists Blowdog and Holly who share lead singing duties for Chuck Yay-Grr dropped jokes between songs and were clearly basking in the moment.

Per the expectation of any show in which Blowdog is involved, Chuck Yay-Grr provides a sweaty and participatory (meaning: in-your-face) set, with antics that entertain and occasionally shock. The band handed out a whole carton of Chuck Yay-Grr branded lighters to the crowd for them to hold up during the entirety of “Abilene” (as tradition dictates), wherein Blowdog stands at the edge of the stage absolutely losing it for six straight minutes. If I didn’t know better I might have thought to inquire as to whether he was in need of a therapist at the end of it. They finished the night with kooky dance-jam and representative Chuck Yay-Grr song “Spaceman,” a ridiculous sing-along where they don capes and dance around the stage like they’re weightless in zero-gravity.

Every Friday should be this entertaining. I’d love to see more bands need to approach their shows with this kind of effort and glee. I think most live music fans appreciate fun over seriousness any day of the week. We want each show to have a memorable moment about it, and Chuck Yay-Grr excelled at providing one after another after another. Like where did that mannequin come from and what exactly was he doing to it? Then again, maybe I don’t really want the answer to that one.

Chuck Yay-Grr ::: Photo by Abbey

Chuck Yay-Grr ::: Photo by Abbey

Flickr: The Return of Chuck Yay-Grr, February 13, 2009 at the Sunset Tavern