The Briefs
w/ The Causaulties
Words: Michael Rabinowitz
Photo: Lancer Mercer

Dressing as 80’s new wave rejects this Seattle quartet applies theatrics worthy of Devo while simulating cockney English accents and aliases.  Steve E. Nix, Daniel J. Travanti (a “Hill Street Blues” fan?), Lance Romance, and Chris Brief thrash out methamphetamine-fueled doses of anger with court jester lyrics.  The Briefs channel the energy of the Sex Pistols and Buzzcocks, transferring it from Queen Elizabeth in 1975 toward our own current King George with tracks like “No More Presidents,” “Destroy the U.S.A.,” and “We Americans.”  But, this show won’t totally be an anti-Bush rally (save that for Tuesday, 11/7).  The Briefs also pay tribute to the theater of absurd or, in their case, the opera of the criminally insane.  “Shoplifting at Macy’s,” “Gary Glitter Eyes,” and “Mystery Pill” are more gas huffing ballads than your typical tired youth-in-rebellion punk retread.  (Think how fun Green Day was before they became pompous assholes for the tweener set.)  Just be sure to get to State early, considering the average Briefs track is one minute twenty seven seconds, the show could be over within a half hour.