The Manhandlers

The Effiges / I Attack / The Manhandlers: live in Chicagolive in Chicago (2004)
live show

Reviewer Rating: 3.5

Contributed by: TheOneTrueBillTheOneTrueBill
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on November 23rd 2004I walked up just as the doors of the Bottom Lounge were opening at 10 o'clock, gave the door woman my name (didn't even ask to see my receipt or ID), and got in. I sat around in the bar for a half an hour, a quarter short of being able to play pinball. It was an intensely long half hour. The Man.

I walked up just as the doors of the Bottom Lounge were opening at 10 o'clock, gave the door woman my name (didn't even ask to see my receipt or ID), and got in. I sat around in the bar for a half an hour, a quarter short of being able to play pinball. It was an intensely long half hour.

The Manhandlers came on around 10:30. They were alright, but nothing special. They were pretty much a second rate Lunachicks, with annoying vocals. If you're into dirty girl glam punk, you'd love this band. They were entertaining though, and more fun than looking at the floor.

I Attack were next and were a throwback to early 80s hardcore bands, right down to the scowling singer with a shaved head and boots. They could've been a lot better had the singer not been spitting out beer all over the front of the crowd, but I digress. If I had more money with me I probably would've bought their album, but alas, seven dollars wouldn't do it. I hope to see them again at some point. Generic, but fun.

Before the Effigies came on, there was a guy doing absolutely horrible comedy and songs. They were so bad it was good, and they were getting so much shit thrown at them. He made horrible jokes about funeral parlors ("watching TV with the stiffs") and sang a song about the Dave Matthews Band bus shit dumping incident. Another guy then came out to read off a few future shows, and announce a new Effigies album early next year!

Finally at 12:15, the Effigies took the stage. They started off with "Below The Drop" and played just about everything you would want to hear. It took a few songs, but after a little while the band was absolutly ripping, John Kezdy and the new guitar player Robert McNaughton in particular. Robert had more energy than most kids half his age. Some of the highlights were "Strong Box," 'Smile," "We're Da Machine," and "Mob Clash." They played three or four new songs, all of which were a bit slow but definitely had energy to them. Another thing that I didn't expect was that they played at least four or five songs from their later LPs Fly on a Wire and Ink, which sounded very fresh. They ended the set with "Body Bag" and left, but not for long.

After seeing the show, I cannot wait to hear the new album. I hope it gets a good label to release it, hopefully Touch and Go. And now I'm even more curious to hear the later LPs from the original era. My search will resume again. See the Effigies if they come near you. Who knows how long this reunion will last.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

Anonymous (December 9, 2004)

Effigies still rule

Anonymous (December 7, 2004)

Hey thanx for the constructive criticism, I know that it
wasn't one I ATTACK'S better performances especially me.
All in all, it's good to get some feedback coming from the other directions once in a while. Guess I'm just used to playing dingy basements were the beer flys and everyone is having fun. Thanx for being honest,believe me I appreciate it.
Vocalist for I ATTACK
Rob V.
If you ever decide to check us out again I'll hook you up with the vinyl.

armsreach (November 26, 2004)

Just to fill in a bit. Jon from Criminal IQ is only a co-owenr with Darius. He was also the Effigies manager and both have said that for the time being the record will NOT come out on Criminal IQ.

The Manhandlers BLOW live but the new album is actually pretty darn good. I'd at least give it a listen somewhere.

The guitar player from I Attack played in Los Crudos. Throwbacks my ass.

Anonymous (November 25, 2004)

Now it's missing the paragraph about the encore.

Anonymous (November 24, 2004)

I'd imagine Criminal IQ'd probably put out their record. John, the owner(who also put out The Manhandlers and put I Attack on the CIQ comp) has been involved with the band since the beginning, and was also the guy to give Big Black their first break. I know he's very involved with the Effigies reunion, and they are playing the Criminal IQ showcase in K-zoo next month.

Anonymous (November 23, 2004)

I attack plays shows in Pilsen all the time. While I agree with you that they are rather generic, they seem to be a big part of the dwindling "real" punk scene left in Chicago, a large chunk of iit being located in Pilsen itself. So it's good to see these bands getting some exposure.

TheOneTrueBill (November 23, 2004)

Not to nitpick, but on the title it's spelled wrong too.

TheOneTrueBill (November 23, 2004)

It's missing the paragraph about the Manhandlers too. Something must've gone wrong with my submission, because I know I wrote about all three bands.

(in between the first and second paragraph)
The Manhandlers came on around 10:30. They were alright, but nothing special. They were pretty much a second rate Lunachicks, with annoying vocals. If you're into dirty girl glam punk, you'd love this band. They were entertaining though, and more fun than looking at the floor.

(Before the encore paragraph)
Finally at 12:15, the Effigies took the stage. They started off with 'Below The Drop' and played just about everything you would want to hear. It took a few songs, but after a little while the band was absolutly ripping, John Kezdy and the new guitar player Robert McNaughton in particular. Robert had more energy than most kids half his age. Some of the highlights were 'Strong Box,' 'Smile,' 'We're Da Machine,' and 'Mob Clash.' They played three or four new songs, all of which were a bit slow but definitly had energy to them. Another thing that I didn't expect was that they played at least four or five songs from their later LPs 'Fly on a Wire' and 'Ink', which sounded very fresh. They ended the set with 'Body Bag' and left, but not for long

TheOneTrueBill (November 23, 2004)

Woah, it is missing that paragraph. Let me see if I can dig it up.

Anonymous (November 23, 2004)

i don't see anything about the effigies actual set. theres just a paragraph about the encore. did part of this review get left out?

I don't think it was even submitted with that part. I doubt I did anything html-wise that would wipe it out.

OneTrueBill: If you want to submit the missing paragraph(s) for that part, we'll be more than welcome to edit your review with them ASAP.

-InaGreendase

Anonymous (November 23, 2004)

i don't see anything about the effigies actual set. theres just a paragraph about the encore. did part of this review get left out?

Jesse (November 23, 2004)

Heh...I was at the Owen show earlier...funny.