Flat Duo Jets and Daddy Long Legs Treat NYC’s Hill Country BBQ to Greasy Rock and Roll Feast (SHOW REVIEW)

As the intoxicating scent of smoked meats wafted through the dining hall of NYC’s Hill Country Barbecue Market this past Friday evening and the roomful of hungry, unsuspecting patrons savored ribs and brisket, a separate crowd was forming in the basement bar just below their feet, this one craving a taste of extra greasy tunes from rockabilly revivalists the Flat Duo Jets.

First on the bill, local boys Daddy Long Legs did their best to appease the salivating onlookers with an hour-long concoction of Delta and Chicago blues played with a no holds barred, punk ethos. After a selection of live staples which included the silky smooth slide guitar work of “Blood From a Stone”, the hoodoo-thump of “Evil Eye”, and the chain-gang chantings of “Chains a Rattlin”, frontman Brian Hurd traded his trusty mouth harp for steel guitar before launching into a string of new material. Indicating a conscious step away from the harmonica/slide combination that has become their signature, the new guitar-centric songs provided the trio with a more full sound. Mr. Long Legs would blow one more for us, however, finishing his night with what could be considered the group’s theme – the crazed locomotion of “Death Train Blues”.

Having released their first album in 1990, the Flat Duo Jets have been playing their stripped down, electric guitar/drums, “roots” rock n’ roll for well over two decades – opening the door for other duos like The White Stripes and The Black Keys. And although nowadays they may seem like a somewhat unlikely pair, (percussionist Crash LaResh with his bleach blonde dreads, oversized sunglasses, and tattoos making guitarist/vocalist Dexter Romweber look almost conservative) watching the two play together Friday evening it became increasing obvious why the Flat Duo Jets are so revered.

Opening with “A Face In the Crowd”, Crash, who played the entire gig standing, provided some jazzy drumming while Dexter’s vocals contained a lethal mixture of soulful tenderness and nasty grit that was something like a cross between Howlin’ Wolf and Roy Orbison.

Sticking to the general theme of slow/fast throughout the set, the Jets picked up the tempo with “Crazy Woman”, a cut from their 1997 release on Norton Records Wild Blue Yonder that brought to mind the psychobilly rasp of fellow Norton Records recording artist Bloodshot Bill. Soon after, a trio of blues numbers (“The Lonesome Road”, “Blind Man”, “Lonesome Train”) would afford Dex the opportunity to unleash some fury on his instrument as his savage rhythmic barrage proved once more that it ain’t about the number of notes you hit, it’s how you play them.

Other highlights included the swaying surf-rock instrumental “A Theme For Charlie Dick” and a personal favorite, title track from the 2011 release “Is That You, in the Blue?” in which the talented singer showed off his songwriting skills, delivering the bleak, almost Nick Cave-esque chorus with devastating honesty: “I hope you find loneliness within, whatever dark night you’re in”.

Maybe the frontman was feeling under the weather (at one point professing he wished he was singing better) or perhaps it was the generally low enthusiasm from the crowd, but after petitioning the audience to let them leave without an encore he wrapped up the set by reaching in his shirt pocket for a smoke and looking for the exit.