Ice Cream Man

Old 97's at Crash Mansion LA

Words by Marc D'Amour
Photos by Marc D'Amour

After taking a few years off for band members to start families, release solo records, and create side projects, the Old 97’s returned to Los Angeles to support their latest release Blame It On Gravity in rocking fashion.

The band opened with new track “Dance With Me” but quickly launched into “Barrier Reef” and had the entire audience dancing, singing along, and sweating as profusely as the band under the hot stage lights. The guys played a solid selection of tracks from their entire catalog including crowd favorites “Rollerskate Skinny,” “Victoria,” and up tempo rocker “Murder (Or A Heart Attack).” The formal encore kicked off with "St. Ignatius,” a rarely played cut which front man Rhett Miller recalled was “the first track the Old 97’s had ever written.” The lengthy twenty five song set came to a close when openers Hayes Carll and I Love Math took the stage to rock out on the 97’s most recognizable song, “Time Bomb.”

The Alt-Country / Roots rock origin of the Old 97’s has been tested over the years. The punk leanings that circled their mid nineties sound has matured significantly to the perfectly crafted Alt Pop songs that appear on their latest New West Records release (buy it). Along the way, lead singer Rhett Miller has released two solo albums, and continually honed his songwriting skills performing countless acoustic shows at local LA club Largo. Bass player Murry Hammond, who usually writes and sings on 2 or 3 tracks per Old 97’s record, recently released a brilliant collection of gospel tunes titled I Don’t Know Where I’m Going But I’m On My Way.

These Texans are on tour through July performing many of their upcoming dates on the east coast. If you have the chance, definitely go check them out!