Rock ’n’ roll is dead. At least according to the Swedish retro rock band, the Hellacopters it is. The title of their latest album undoubtedly refers to the eurotrash electronica that crowds the pop charts and blares over top-40 radio stations in Europe. Despite the current music scene, the Hellacopters — one of Europe’s guardians of old-school rock — have managed to make a name for themselves in Europe since the mid-’90s.
The Hellacopters’ bluesy swagger has earned them comparisons to the great American classic rock bands of the ’70s, most frequently the Stooges. But the band rocks out with such overt glee that they can barely capture the same edgy unpredictability of the Stooges. Not to mention that Nicke Adresson’s voice doesn’t come close to matching Iggy’s rebel-rousing guttural wail.
Instead, Rock & Roll Is Dead is made up of an array of feel-good rock. Every track is packed full of energized, head-bobbin’ rhythms. Although the Hellacopter’s old-fashioned ballads can at times get a little cheesy, they do turn out a couple of jam-worthy ditties (“Bring It on Home” and “Everything is on TV”).
Contrary to the album’s title, the band proves rock ’n’ roll is not dead.
The Hellacopters will perform at the Casbah at 8:30 p.m. on March 23.
three to three and ½ stars
March 23
8 p.m. Edwards Mira Mesa, UA Horton Plaza
Three MCs. One DJ. One concert. Many cameras. One awesome documentary — “Awesome: I Fuckin’ Shot That,” is the first concert movie to come from the legendary hip-hop trio who brought us the unforgettable “Sabotage,” “Fight For Your Right” and “Body Movin’” music videos. In 2004, Adam Yauch, aka MC8, had the idea of passing out several camcorders at the Beastie Boys’ Madison Square Garden show. The result is the first concert documentary shot entirely by audience members. Never to disappoint, the Beasties put on a helluva show — sampling the best from their eclectic, prolific career (the boys even donned baby blue tuxes for the instrumental set). But to mix it up, the doc also features footage of some backstage foolery and a few celebrity cameos. The film, fresh off the hype from it’s premier at Sundance, was edited by Nathaniel Hornblower (Adam Yauch’s lederhosen-laden alter-ego). Hopefully, the doc will live up to its title, but then again, have the Beastie Boys ever done anything that wasn’t awesome? (CC)