Concert Review: Punk Band Perp Walk Features NY1’s Roger Clark In Vivacious Trio

In a recent interview with Fresh Air’s Terry Gross, Exene Cervenka and John Doe of X, along with guitarist Dave Alvin of The Blasters spoke about the development of punk rock.

“When I heard, for example, X, the first time, I saw them live, and heard the harmonies, I heard all sorts of things going on,” says Alvin. “I heard Richard & Mimi Fariña happening, whether they knew it or not. I heard the unique folk Appalachian blend, I heard all these things going on that you just didn’t hear on The Love Boat.”

While the interview focuses on L.A. Punk (a very different animal from what was going on in NYC during punk’s rise), Gross’ exploration serves as an excellent primer of sorts for Perp Walk‘s textured set they played at Hank’s Saloon last Thursday, May 5. Chock full of vim and vigor, Perp Walk live is a good example of punk rock as textured palate. To echo Alvin’s words, “I heard all sorts of things going on.”

The trio of drummer Roger Clark (yes, the beloved NY1 morning reporter), bassist Bunny Hirsch (NY1 Broadcast Engineer), and guitarist Joe O’Carroll often echo the fast play and short-song tropes of punk rock, however it wouldn’t be fair to pigeonhole the band simply as a trio capturing that local CBGB heyday.

“Tranny Man” by Perp Walk. (Video by Donny Levit)

“Tranny Man” — the second song in Perp Walk’s set — articulates what makes the band work so well. Hirsch sings her comedic lyrics deadpan — without one whiff of irony in her delivery — yet there’s an exuberance to it all. Clark may be self-deprecating about his drumming acumen, but it holds down the fort while O’Carroll runs up the fretboard following along with Hirsch’s bass line, celebrating the song’s protagonist — a superhero who fixes transmissions on the Long Island Expressway (my interpretation).

“Moon Pie” is slower, slinkier, and feature’s O’Carroll’s fine undercurrent soloing. O’Carroll was the Musical Director for NYPD Emerald Society Pipes and Drums. “He has an incredible music background, and is a retired NYPD detective,” Clark told us in our preview interview with him.

The band recalls the jamming tease that The Meat Puppets feature on their 1985 album Up On The Sun — simpler in its arrangements. I’m craving to hear the band release into something less formal, freak out a bit — and move back into their structure.

Not to say they don’t have time change fun up their sleeves. Witness their tune “Havana” — a bit more relaxed and elastic. The structure is malleable and snaps back into its rightful place when it’s time to do so.

“Havana” by Perp Walk. (Video by Donny Levit)

The stop-on-a-dime sections mix with O’Carroll’s echo-ed out strings piled with incantations about … well … all that is Cuba. Throw in some surf rock for good measure, a Clarkian/Bob Nastanovich shout-out (more please!), and the song makes perfect sense.

While Clark confidently helms the rhythm, his exuberant and engaging style gets fully featured on “Shrimp.” Picture New York savvy coated in a crawfish boil, and it gives you an idea of the counterpoint, comedic chops, and smart lyrics.

Speaking of which, the songs have a linked narrative feel to them. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but the night recalled a Guided By Voices set. Moon pies fade into coffee grinds into shrimp into the desert into rats — minus Rob Pollard’s occasional alcoholic-driven slipperiness.

Attention must be paid to Kipp Elbaum, soundman for Hank’s Saloon. The system is simply fantastic, and you can tell Elbaum is a veteran at what he does. Bands should line up to work with his set-up.

Let’s be clear: Perp Walk doesn’t sound like a side project by two NY1’ers and a music director. This is a band in its own right. And this set displays a trio that’s enjoying each other while fusing varied styles together that will clearly develop further.

So Perp Walk, when’s the album coming out?

More songs by Perp Walk can be heard here.