It is always a lot of fun to see a different side of a punk icon.
So I didn’t want to miss a solo acoustic performance by NoMeansansNo and the Hanson Brothers' Tom Holliston and neither did about 20 other people at the Owl Acoustic Lounge, Aug. 28.
Jon Vornbrock opened the show with a variety of original songs and stripped down versions of heavier songs from some of his other bands like Atrophy Manuscript as well as B sides from alt rockers like the Smashing Pumpkins.
Tom Holliston was impressive and completely different than the experimental punk and jazz fusion thing he does with NoMeansNo.
He sang in appealing wavering voice as he sat hunched over his acoustic guitar and played some impressive guitar licks blending a few big riffs, jazz and a touch of classical music.
He told stories about human pyramids, yogic flying, skydiving and about his play about small towns and performed a song from one he wrote called “ One Degree of Separation.” In addition to some head turning guitar playing, his lyrics almost always had a bit of a demented twist to them.
There were a lot of highlights in his set including “Ladies Man,” which I loved and “ I’m Pandering.”
He touched on tracks from all three of his solo CDs and some unusual ones like the Show Business Giants’ “The First Pygmy in Space.” “ I Spoke Too Soon” was another highlight as was “Celebrities on the Internet.”
— by Richard Amery, L.A. Beat Editor
