Chain And The Gang
Privatclub, Berlin | 18 June
Chain And The Gang, as with the many projects of D.C’s long time rock ‘n’ roll reactionary Ian F. Svenonius, have enjoyed a solid and steady underground following since 1988, heading projects such as the influential D.C alternative punk rock group Nation of Ulysses, the ‘Gospel Yeh-Yeh’ group The Make-Up, Weird War, Cupid Car Club, etc etc. He’s been a frequent DJ, published author & online TV talk show host; and all this not to mention being voted the sassiest boy in America in 1990 by Sassy magazine.
Since 2009 Svenonius has mainly focused on his latest musical project Chain And The Gang, releasing four studio albums since 2009’s Down With Liberty… Up With Chains!, touring profusely, and generally going about the daily business of being a shamanic preacher-man figure in the ever prevalent cult of rock ‘n’ roll.
So it was nothing new for him to strut onstage and command everyone’s attention, his all-girl band jumping the rails and grabbing their instruments, all (inc. Svenonius) clad in matching sparkling denim suits (guitarist Francy Graham later added that these very suits inspired Sean Ono Lennon to get his own tailored). Without introduction they whipped into Chain Gang Theme (I See Progress), the girls keeping it rolling as Svenonius extended his preaching call-out routine, his sardonic socio-political commentary absurd and witty, but barely hiding a true reactionary spirit, highlighting the injustice in the world by feigning to celebrate it (as in, I See Progress).
They ripped into a distorted call for destruction Devitalize, the first track off their latest record Minimum Rock n Roll which came out earlier this year. The sleazy chant Mum’s The Word was also a new highlight, sporting a harder, more distorted edge. Detroit Music from Music’s Not For Everyone (2011) was a jam that got the room heated up and moving, while Livin’ Rough kept it going. There was time for laid back moments such as Certain Kinds Of Trash off the 2012 album In Cool Blood and a great extended rendition of Reparations, which got the crowd screaming back at the call-outs.
Svenonius delivered as you’d expect of a long time pro showman; cue plenty of garage rock ‘waw!’s, many a snazzy dance move and a couple of escapades into the crowd, plus a lot of commanding hand movements and sweeping statements – of course. The girls rocked, ran a tight ship, and kept absolutely straight faces for the duration (most intimidating perhaps was newest member Anna Nasty). The audience felt a little subdued, with most of the twistin’ reserved for the front rows. Maybe they were tranfixed by the towering Svenonius – or maybe by those incredible suits.
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Words: Lewis Lloyd
Photography: Hans Tobias Duvefjord
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