The Naked Heroes played Rockbar, released vinyl picture disc (live review + album remarks)

Brooklyn's The Naked Heroes know how to boogey. With their '80s rock 'n roll influenced hardrock style you can't help but want to shake, headbang, and raise your fist while listening to these ferocious gems on 99 Diamond  Guitarist and vocalist George Michael Jackson (what a name) and drummer Merica Lee are a great combination of goodness to get you groovin'. The band performed at gay club, Rockbar at the edge of NYC's Christopher Street. Opening the evening was drag-queen Devin Stone, who did a little dance on the pool table and introduced the band.

After, the show was underway with the beginning of "99 Diamond." The anthemic nature of the song calls for you to sing "99 Diamond. Yeah." The sexy harmonica playing was greeted with cheers from the crowd. "Black Dress" also had that '80s hardrock flair to it. There were a few technical difficulties but the band stuck through it and improvised and the show carried on fairly smoothly after the sound issues diminished. "Sheila" was also a groovin' and driving number that. During the band's last song they played in the crowd, something that always makes me happy. I remember seeing Monotonix for the first time at Bowery Ballroom playing on the floor and thought that more bands should do that.



The highlight of the set was Devin Stone eating fire to the band playing a cover of AC/DC's "T.N.T. The crowd sang along "Cause I'm T.N.T, I'm dynamite." At "oi! oi! oi!" the band cheered on Devin Stone. It sure was one of the best ways to top off that night.

The band released their album 99 Diamond on cd and picture disc that evening. You get 9 songs on the vinyl or 10 on the cd, which includes bonus track "Under the Hood." If you missed the party (shame on you), you can get it all here. Let me tell you about some of these songs.

"Oppossable Thumb" starts off with a Marilyn Manson "Beautiful People"-esque rhythm before it gets rockin' Naked Heroes style. "Under the Hood" is the shortest on the album, but compliments the songs on the album well with that sweet groove that can simply melt your hardrock lovin' heart. "Yeah," sings George. You think the songs over, but then there's added goodness toward the end. Then, it's "Sophisticated Meat Machine" that simply slobbers you up in its magic, well, kinda. "The Goonhand" closes the album. It starts off with a simply guitar strum and kick drum, but then kicks into that wonderful groove as George sings, "But I keep on tryin' yeah."

Tracklisting:

99 Diamond

Black Dress

Feel Me Slide

Sheila

Double Chin

Opposable Thumb

Under the Hood* (bonus track)

Sophisticated Meat Machine

Foxy Moxy

The Goonhand