The Roxy in West Hollywood has played host to legendary acts such as Neil Young, Van Morrison and Bob Marley. It’s seen performances by the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Social Distortion, Warren Zevon, and Frank Zappa & The Mothers of Invention. And on March 16, 2011, it welcomed Los Angeles-based 80s metal band Snatch Magnet to that exclusive club with arms open wide.
As I strolled up Sunset Boulevard before the show, I happened to stumble upon good friend and Snatch Magnet bass player Adam “Disaster” Dodson just outside the venue. He was smoking a cigarette and chatting with Sam Lee, a talented local sound engineer and mutual friend. Dodson owns a wealth of impressive instruments — guitars and basses by Rickenbacker, Music Man, Gibson, Fender — you name it and it’s in his arsenal and at his disposal. I wonder which bass he’ll be rocking tonight, and what kind of show it might be.
Meanwhile, Adam promptly hands me a Snatch Magnet flask and shoots me an apologetic look.
“You’d probably have a lot more fun if it were full, but there’s nothing in it,” he tells me.
“There will be tomorrow,” I assure him, alluding to the St. Patrick’s Day debauchery merely hours away.
Dodson finishes his cigarette and tells me it’s time to go find his band. He disappears into the dark hallways of The Roxy and 30 minutes later, the Magnet’s on stage and rocking West Hollywood.
Adam’s playing his J-bass tonight. The band’s playing on mostly borrowed equipment, but it doesn’t affect their signature hair metal sound. They smoke through a newer piece, “Hollowed Out”, before moving on to “The Widow”, the opening track from their 2010 seven-song EP Screw, Nut & Bolt.
Interestingly enough, there seems to be a hint of restraint in the air tonight — Frontman Josh Weekley isn’t pounding beers at his usual heroic pace. He’s not leading the audience in vulgar call-and-response chants. He’s not even demanding anyone take their top off. No, he seems to be on his best behavior tonight, for whatever reason. In fact, he only solicits beers from the audience twice during the band’s set. Who is this, and what have they done with the Josh I know and love? This is a civilized, more refined Weekley, though he’s still hitting the high notes that make me secretly wish he’d co-write and compose a rock opera with guitarist Steve Benton.
And speaking of Benton, he’s ripping shit up. ”Lord Steve”, as he’s known in Southern California and most European circles, is shredding his fucking nuts off, actually. It’s an impressive display, all leading to the show-closing cover of Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl”.
By the end of the band’s six-song set, the audience is still salivating for more, in stark contrast from opening band The Cold Chills, who were given the hook before they had a chance to deliver an encore. Snatch Magnet obliges by ripping through a rendition of “Another Poison” before thanking West Hollywood and taking a bow.
I won’t pretend to know why we saw a more focused, less outlandish Snatch Magnet tonight — perhaps growing wiser in their old age, they knew St. Patrick’s Day was only a few minutes away, and were physically and mentally preparing themselves for the waterfall of Irish Car Bombs that would inevitably come tomorrow.
No matter the case, the band delivered the goods. As always.
Show Highs:
- Receiving “I Love Snatch Magnet” flask upon arrival
- Learning music video for “The Widow” is currently in production
- Katy Perry cover of “I Kissed a Girl”
- Post-show “safety meeting” in Roxy parking lot
- Free meal at friendly neighborhood sushi place down Sunset after concert
Show Lows:
- Band’s cover of Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” mysteriously absent from recent set lists
- Not enough Ronnie James Dio
Set List:
I: Hollowed Out, The Widow, All Systems Go, Just Another, Drunk Girls, I Kissed a Girl
Encore: Another Poison
Visit Snatch Magnet online.
Nicely done.