The Incinerators – with The Dickies, Magnolia Thunder Finger, 90 Proof at Satyricon, Portland, OR – Review

The Incinerators

with The Dickies, Magnolia Thunder Finger, 90 Proof at Satyricon, Portland, OR
by Jon Sarre

Magnolia Thunder Finger, a Sacramento, CA quartet played a balls-out power chord driven set for about twenty early arrivals (hopefully they were paying attention). These guys take the primal rock ‘n’ roll approach to their punk, although it’s via England, not Memphis. Thankfully, they’ve got some Motörhead records stored away in their memory banks, because the Brit damage suffered is minimal. Anglophiles in style and intent, but luckily, not in the music. I loved the high-end bass, too.

Let me tell ya, the trash fashion parade kicked into high gear after Magnolia Thunder Finger left the stage. Suddenly, it was dress-up nights with The Incinerators. They sure did look mighty pretty: Make-up, heels, fishnets, patent leather French maid get-ups (keep in mind that 3/4 of the band members are guys). Raise your hand if you like the New York Dolls! Sorry, but the decadence thing gets old quick if you don’t have the chops to back it up. The vocalist, though, is a pretty good screamer in the Kathleen Hannah (Bikini Kill) mode, but face it, cheap thrills are just that.

I missed the next band, 90 Proof, because I got into a discussion regarding the massive cultural loss we suffered when Dean Martin died and went to Hell (no bourbon in Heaven, y’ see). They sounded pretty heavy, though. Sorry.

Ah yes, The Dickies played, too. What can I say? They were tight (no shit), fast, loud; and I was drunk and enveloped in the mosh pit that started up about two seconds into the set. Needless to say, I stopped taking notes. What I can remember is The Dickies were great. They just played their own brand of cheesy, cartoonish punk rock. Good stuff, indeed. Now my ears are ringing, my head hurts, my body aches, and I have a hangover. I guess it was a good time.