Hagfish – at Pearl Street – Review

Hagfish

at Pearl Street
by Dana Buoniconti

Hagfish would like you to know that they rock your lame ass. It’s true. They kicked my sorry rear-end with a combination of punky bravado and sassy stage delivery when I saw them live. Most of their songs clock in at the 2-2 1/2 minute mark. That leaves no time for any tomfoolery; only straightforward, kick-ass rock ‘n’ roll. And isn’t that the best kind? Hagfish performed all the songs (14 for all of you playing along with the home game) on their debut album, Rocks Your Lame Ass (London). Highlights included “Crater,” “Did You Notice,” “Hose,” and “Stamp,” which features a particularly chaste chorus:

“Will you remove my shoes and lift up my skirt?/Will you eat my box while I work?/Eat it while I work.” Sheer poetry, kids.

And while singer and lyricist George may have a dirty mind, post-show he was a friendly gentleman. After a furious set of race car fast ditties, he found time to answer questions from fans, sign autographs and assume T-shirt selling duties. Whatta guy.

Hagfish are simply a fun band. They don’t pretend to be anything they’re not. They have style, and they know it. They have pizzazz, and they show it. They have a swanky swing, and they flaunt it. They’re Hagfish, and they rocked my lame ass.