Darn good Pie

There is a certain flavor to a local band playing in a small venue where you know all the people, and everyone is going to the same party afterwards. It's more than a musical experience, it's camaraderie. The Pietasters, though they have toured all over the States, Europe and Canada, have much the same effect, turning all at the 9:30 Club into turbine-pumping, baldheaded, tie-clad, ska loving brethren.

Originally a cover band from the DC area, the Pietasters have expanded their repertoire to include their own work, but they remain loyal to their favorite subjects: beer and women. With lyrics like "Well I rolled over very gently in my king size bed/when I happened to notice a lovely young lady's head/I thought to myself, my God what have I done/I been drinkin' again and havin' too much fun" in "Girl Take it Easy," the mood is unquestionable. For their part, the audience was doing their share of having too much fun as well.

One of the things that makes the Pietasters feel so much like your best friend's band is how much they mesh with the fans. There were people from the floor dancing on the stage during almost every single song during the show, and at the end, the band was bumrushed by an onslaught of eager fans.

But the Pietasters are not just a good feeling. Their music is energetic and interesting—unlike that of opening bands Punchline, River City Rebels and Lost City Angels, which was uniformly loud and lacking in melody. Jeremy Roberts (trombone), Alan Makranczy (sax) and Carlos Linares (trumpet) make the Pietasters' punky music sound, well, like music, while Steve Jackson yells out lyrics that would make any mother fret.

The combination of so much raw energy and such great sound makes the Pietasters a great band for the stressed-out and overworked. Just prepare to be assaulted by unparalleled beer lust.

For more information on the Pietasters, visit The Pietasters Official Homepage. For more about the 9:30 Club, go to NIGHTCLUB 9:30.