Saturday, July 10; Launchpad (21 and over, 9p.m.): Sadly, it's only now—now that bands like the White Stripes, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, the Darkness, etc. are flavors of the month—that Detroit's most influential rock band are getting their just desserts. Together just three years, their hellfire and brimstone mixture of blue collar rock, Motown and avant garde jazz left an indelible mark on American music that echoes today through the amplifiers of just about every band in existence that can justly have “garage” tagged to their name.
The three original MC5 members who remain—guitarist Wayne Kramer, bassist Michael Davis and drummer Dennis Thompson—have reformed Detroit's finest with the help of a handful of the best singers in rock. Their Albuquerque appearance will feature former Lemonheads frontman Evan Dando, Marshall Crenshaw (also on guitar) and Mudhoney's Mark Arm. If you're unfamiliar with MC5 and their contribution, check out Sonic Revolution, an MC5 concert DVD that includes a short documentary. You'll never look back.
