The Impotent Sea Snakes

Everything in Excess (Cleopatra)
by Vinnie Apicella

Blasphemy meets burlesque in a futuristic, exotic sort of way. One of Cleopatra’s true originals, these guys (and girls) put the “X” in sex and then come back for sloppy seconds. A warning label of a group in every imaginable sense, it’s the old sex, drag and rock & roll thing done with porn-like precision. Before ya go thinking this is a modern day example of yesterday’s poser rock and groupie lust, take a deep breath cuz the music’s pretty intense. There ain’t no gum flapping about boys’ nite out and tongue-in-cheek back of the car antics. These guys are the real deal and there ain’t been none so bold since the early ’70s with onstage fashion shows like Bowie, Iggy, Bolan, and Alice. And we all know what a culture shock that turned out to be.

The tunes are quirky, cutting edge, bold and direct, though not exactly of the sing-along in the shower variety. The Impotent Sea Snakes have shared the stage with the likes of The Misfits, WASP, and Motörhead in their still early existence, and considering the gala event these ten fashionable freaks must put forth, it’s liable to get a lot wilder than any of the preceding. You got guys dressed in drag, well-endowed females – well, two that I could actually distinguish, and here’s hoping I’m not making a crucial error – and catchy titles like “Let Go O’ My Thang,” “Slam Ya,” and the joys of role-playing extremes, “You’re My Vampire.” If I didn’t know better I’d swear this was straight outta the GWAR songbook. Surprise, surprise, huh? Fucked up and freaked out, but in a much more grown-up sort of way. “Everything In Excess” is a panoramic presentation into every mother’s nightmare, every politician’s crusade, and a surefire stimulant for expulsed youths looking to get strange.
(13428 Maxella Ave. #251 Marina Del Rey, CA 90292)