Black Lips at the Bowery Ballroom

Guitarist Cole Alexander and bassist Jared Swilley left their band, the Renegades, and formed Black Lips in 1999 in Dunwoody, Georgia. Born of a DIY ethic, Black Lips started by playing sweaty basement shows in Georgia and eventually toured traditional circuits as well as remote areas of Asia and the Middle East. Reportedly inspired in part by the 1960s' short-lived but violent Viennese Actionism performance art movement, Black Lips drew a fan base not only due to the band's rough and dirty garage rock but also because of the band's provocative theatrics. Live performances have included vomiting (Alexander's medical condition), masturbation, urination, nudity, electric radio-controlled car races, fireworks, flaming guitars and other wild antics. Unhinged shows led venues to ban the band from returning, and the band quietly fled some third world countries ahead of schedule in order to escape arrest. The band presently consists of Alexander, Swilley, guitarist Jeff Clarke, saxophonist Zumi Rosow, and drummer Oakley Munson. Black Lips' eighth and most recent album is 2017's Satan's Graffiti or God’s Art?.

Black Lips' concert at the Bowery Ballroom tonight was tame in comparison to some of the band's previous New York City performances. There were no shock-rock activities on stage, and the crude, fuzzy garage rock songs even seemed somewhat toned down. In true Black Lips fashion, however, the music pivoted on raw and fast cowpunk-flavored rock and roll. When the coarse guitar chords gained momentum, the slam dancing, crowd surfing and stage diving began in earnest. Rather than refine and polish their craft over the years, the musicians have maintained and amplified the messy sound that has become their signature. The difference with this performance was that Black Lips repeatedly followed the speedier songs with slower songs rather than performing an extensive block of high energy songs. Nonetheless, Black Lips' rock and roll frenzy was engaging and captivating.