October 9–16, 1997

six pick

The Humpers

The Humpers

In 1990, the Humpers were a sleazy bar band that satisfied the broken-hearted, obnoxious bitch in all of us. Seven years later, the Humpers are doing the same damned thing. And it still rocks. Known for stunts like throwing each other out windows as a blazing finish to a set, the Long Beach, CA, band is bringing their debauchery to Philadelphia to support their latest release, Plastique Valentine (Epitaph). Produced by 24-track goddess Sally Browder (Rocket From the Crypt, Wayne Kramer), Plastique Valentine is like The Sonics meeting Jerry Lee in a Johnny Thunderstorm. Seemingly done with their stint as indie-label whores (having released stuff on Dionysus, Sympathy For the Record Industry, 1+2, and more), the Humpers and their brand of '70s glam raunch seem to have settled into monogamy with Epitaph. Plastique Valentine is the remedy for acerbic Lou Barlow types who need a little more punch behind their whining than just lo-fi melodrama: this is music that gives love the good hard kick in the ass that it deserves.

Mon., Oct. 13, Upstairs at Nick's, 16 S. Second St., 928-0665.

—Geeta Dalal