Thursday, November 21st at The Rickshaw in Vancouver — It’s raining (DUH), and it’s tough to leave the warmth of home with my girl and dogs beside me. But tonight, it’s the Supersuckers — a band I’ve been a fan of since the early ’90s when The Smoke of Hell first hit my ears. So, I pack my gear, clear my truck of anything worth stealing, and make the 30-minute trek to the city.
First band up is You Big Idiot, a local skate punk group from Vancouver. They’re all dressed like cows. I’m confused — it’s my first time seeing them, so forgive me! They remind me a bit of Screeching Weasel. Five-piece lineup keeping everything together. The band is tight. Venue is half-full, but the energy is building. Definitely worth another listen and a future show. Next up, the Supersuckers. It’s been 20 years since I last saw them, and seeing them as a three-piece now is a bit of a shock. But in true Supersuckers form, they deliver. The tempo feels a bit lower than I remembered, but they still know how to rock-n-roll.
Highlight of the night? When they played “Caliente” off Smoke of Hell (1992). Hearing that song live brought me back to old days, blasting that tape in the Thrasher darkroom while developing film with my buddy Fish. (Okay, now I’m dating myself.) They closed their solid 40-minute set with “Born With a Tail” off The Sacrilicious Sounds of the Supersuckers (1995). True to form, they left the stage with a double middle finger salute to the audience. Bravo, boys.
The final act: Mac Sabbath. Billed as a “dinner rock revolution” from the depths of outer space (or Los Angeles, California), I wasn’t entirely sure what I was in for. A curtain drops, and behind it are some very battered Ronald McDonald heads flanking the stage. My first thought: “Is this going to be a GWAR situation? Poncho?” The photo pit is packed — everyone elbowing for position, which is rare at The Rickshaw. I plant myself stage right by a monitor, which doubles as shelter.
The curtain splits, and the full Mac Family takes the stage. Dressed in black for the opening song, they reveal their colourful costumes by song two. It’s visually chaotic, but to my surprise, they sound solid. These guys have real rock chops. The crowd goes wild. It was a fun night overall. Mac Sabbath put on a surprisingly good show, and while I’m not a huge Sabbath or McDonald’s fan, they know how to entertain.
GALLERY: Mac Sabbath and Supersuckers at The Rickshaw in Vancouver (November 21, 2024)
