Joe Strummer/Clash Tribute

by A.D. Amorosi

Whether you knew The Clash intimately (did you see 'em at Walnut St. Theatre?), extendedly (at Bond in NYC?) or from afar (on a stadium tour with The Who?), you felt the power of punk-ethos commitment and the righteous rage of raw rock commandeered by Joe Strummer. Michael Subvert -- of Famous In Vegas and U of P's Sick City showcase -- knows the feeling so well he and The Balcony staff brought together like-minded souls to conjure up the late, great, gone-too-soon Strummer. "The Clash was one of the bands that revived rock 'n' roll with songs that not only kicked, but had a point, something to say, politically and socially," says Subvert. "But their statements were never lofty. They were personal. It was gut-level rock music." Subvert chose bands who "cared about the music" -- locals like Cranked Up!, The Boils or Asbury Park's Graveyard School (led by Kim Chaos) who've played old-school street punk in bars and cars for years. If old school's a calling card, the lot of Dead Milkmen forming The Low Budgets is certainly qualified to stand in for Strummer. And where Subvert's own Famous in Vegas -- ex-Trailer Trash UK members, folk from Euclid Street and Thee Minks -- usually roll rip-snortable punk, blues, rockabilly and surf sounds into one speedball for a roar that'd make Joe proud. Says Subvert: "The chance to actually play these songs in tribute to Joe is an honor, period."

Thu., Jan. 30, 8 p.m., $7, with The Boils, Famous in Vegas, Graveyard School, The Low Budgets and Cranked Up!, The Balcony, 1003 Arch St., 215-922-LIVE.