Jason Darling, Gabriel Gordon – Bowery Electric Glen Matlock – NuBlu

I walked in just as Jay was starting, the usual cast of characters strolling in, Sounds For Your Hounds alumni and offshoot. He rolled through his standards “Mother’s of New York” and “Goodbye Chelsea Hotel”. Then before playing my favorite “Ways In Which We Burn” he informed the crowd that Tony Bennett’s daughter was going to use it on her next album. He has taken his solo acoustic set to another universe, honing in on his guitar, playing electric rather than acoustic. Exceptional set indeed.

Gabe soon followed. I had seen him numerous times solo acoustic and with The Hounds, but never with a full band. The rhythm section of Tony Mason and Andy Hess locking in together is just ridiculous and tight as a crab’s ass. The addition of Brian Charette on keys rounded out the sound and the fluidity of the band. Gabe ran through his vibrant song’s without pulling from the trove of gems The Hounds had churned out in the brief time together. He held his guitar mastery in his pocket until the end when the band started to jam and pulled out some mind-bending solos.

After a quick bite at Lil Frankie’s with Dawn we marched down to Nu Blu, and met back up with Gabe and Jesse. Glen Matlock hit the stage in the back room with an acoustic and a microphone. He played some songs he wrote like “God Save The Queen” and “Pretty Vacant”. He was ousted from The Sex Pistols to bring in Sid Vicious, a move that brought them more attention and notoriety, but deprived them of a songwriter that could have elevated The Pistols to the caliber of say, The Clash. While lounging on a cozy couch in a crowd of maybe 40, I explained to Dawn that there were only a couple of these original gangsters left. In the end Gabe and Jesse jumped up to sing along a ruckus chorus of “All Or Nothing” by The Small Faces. Glen commanded a sharp delivery of simple, honest songs, and offered insight with classic covers. It reminded me why I fell in love with music, and helped me understand why The Damned would have Nick Lowe produce their first single “New Rose”. Don’t get me wrong I still lean more towards Brian James and Johnny Thunders, but this was a special evening an a rare treat.

Duke and the King, A.A. Bondy – Bowery Ballroom

Walked up Delancey, and met up with Jason Darling, JoJo and Shanon McGee. Our old hometown friend Simone was playing, and A.A. Bondy a transplant from Alabama who was married to Simone’s sister Claire. I had played on the record “Nothing Gold Can Stay” and toured with the first incarnation of The Duke and the King with Jason also on guitar. We ran through England and Spain and had a blast. Simone slimmed the band down for phase 2 with Chicken shifting to bass while the Deacon moved to drums, and adding Simi on violin and vocals. They were much better than the last time I saw them at The Mercury Lounge. When the harmonies were tight it gave me goose bumps. “Union Street” and “Morning I Get To Hell” were well received. They closed with my personal favorite, “American Song” during which the house went silent and you could hear a pin drop.

I caught up with Simone downstairs; he was in good spirits returning from touring England and Germany. We reminisced about a Sea Horse Legion show, a band he played guitar in when he was 15 with my best friend Mike “The Flameblower” Billera. Simone carried a much cockier stance then, shirtless slinging a Gibson SG. I used to work Mike’s vocal echo box and triggers from the side of the stage while he would set himself on fire.

Last time I saw Scott was on my mother’s porch back in Palenville, on a warm summer’s day, not far from The Barn where he recorded his amazing album American Hearts. Jason said Bondy was incredible that night, as I had dipped out, still shot from the night before. I’m sure it was, the first time I saw him opening for The Felice Brothers in Brooklyn I cried. I was really sauced, but none the least I was truly moved. Good to see some hometown crew take the city by the throat on a Winter’s eve.