Diamond Rexx, Stradlin’ Rosie at the WC Social Club (10/10/2020)

If you had told me in mid March, when the fever dream that is 2020 kicked into overdrive, that I’d see another live show before the year was out, I would’ve laughed in your face. Well it looks like the joke is on me. This weekend, for the first time in 7 months, I went to a show. It wasn’t the same as “the old days”. Capacity was drastically reduced and masks were required. However, to see, hear, and feel live heavy metal again was truly surreal.

Stradlin’ Rosie

The evening kicked off with a band I never heard of before, Stradlin’ Rosie. Hailing from Wisconsin, they describe themselves as “a four man band playing kickass rock n’ roll”. That’s about accurate! These denim clad dudes deliver sleazy, bluesy, old school hard rock and sound like a cross between Great White and L.A. Guns. There are occasional shades of the 70s in their sound (Zeppelin, Humble Pie, etc.), but for the most part, they’re all about keeping the 80s alive. I highly recommend Stradlin’ Rosie to any and all self respecting hard rockers! Their uncompromising attitude is just what we need to carry on through the year.

Diamond Rexx

Next up, the main event! 35+ years since their formation and Diamond Rexx are still the undisputed gods of gutter glam. The argument can be made that they “coulda, woulda, shoulda” hit the big time. But look at the bands who DID hit big from that era. Most are now slogging away on the nostalgia circuit; reduced to miserable, empty husks of the stars that used to be. Meanwhile, Diamond Rexx are as vital, intense, and nasti (See what I did there?) as ever. They’ve paid their dues, yet play like they haven’t. That’s what heavy metal is all about. Why give 100% when you can give 110%?

Nasti Habits and the boys played their new album, Psych Ward, from beginning to end. I’ve enjoyed the album since its late August release, but I don’t think the songs really resonated with me until hearing them live. Tracks like “Love is Pain” and “Teenage Refugee” have that big, anthemic vibe, tailor made for a club full of raging heavy metal maniacs. After blazing through Psych Ward, they dusted off a handful of 80s classics: “Land of the Damned”, “Wish I Was Rich”, and “Life and Death”. It brought back a flood memories to the small crowd of old schoolers: memories of many Saturday nights 30+ years ago at the iconic Chicagoland club, the Thirsty Whale.

Who would’ve imagined that Diamond Rexx’s signature brand of insanity would restore sanity in the world, albeit for a few short hours? Perhaps we could all use a trip to the “Psych Ward”.