The Dead Milkmen - Live in Chicago

[Bob Ducca]

Saturday night I had the chance to see The Dead Milkmen play at Metro in Chicago as part of Riot Fest. I was a big DM fan way back when so when I heard that they were reforming and playing some shows, I was beyond excited. The band broke up in 1995 and had only played together once after their bass player committed suicide in 2004. They reformed last year and have played a few shows since then.

Anyway, the show on Saturday night was absolutely fantastic. I'm a big fan of live music and get to as many shows as possible, and this one was one of most fun shows I've been to in ages. Metro was packed and the crowd had a great energy. The music sounded great and it really took me back to Jr. High/High School and listening to the "Big Lizard" album for the first time.

I dont' recall the entire set but they played for about an hour and twenty minutes and since most of their songs are less than 2-minutes long, they played a lot of stuff. Highlights for me were "Stuart," "Nutrition," "Serrated Edge," and of course - "Bitchin' Camaro" and "Punk Rock Girl."

Anyone else see them lately? Or maybe saw them back when they were originally active? If you're a fan of the band, or just fun punk shows, I highly recommend seeing them if they come near your area.

[Johnny L.A.]

Never saw them, but they pop up frequently on my iPod.

[ZipperJJ]

Woah! I didn't know they still played out!

I am a huge fan (obviously not huge enough to check their web site more frequently) and was just last week looking up videos on YouTube. Saw a video of them performing "Watching Scotty Die" in front of some record store and thought it looked like a way fun way to see them.

I'll have to keep an eye out to see if they ever come closer. Philadelphia (on the 31st) is not THAT far but I am the only person I know who actually likes them. It might be hard to find someone to accompany me.

[Snowboarder Bo]

Woah! I didn't know they still played out!

I am a huge fan (obviously not huge enough to check their web site more frequently) and was just last week looking up videos on YouTube. Saw a video of them performing "Watching Scotty Die" in front of some record store and thought it looked like a way fun way to see them.

I'll have to keep an eye out to see if they ever come closer. Philadelphia (on the 31st) is not THAT far but I am the only person I know who actually likes them. It might be hard to find someone to accompany me.

Dude, if you have any friends that just like to have fun, ask them to go to this show with you. It won't matter if they've never heard a single song before. The Milkmen are just frikkin' fun.

I had them at my club in college 3 or 4 times, and we always had a packed house. Good sweaty laughing dancing hollering fun.

[Cagey Drifter]

I love the Dead Milkmen, they are totally underrated. Their guitar riffs are so original; I can't think of many riffs that are as awesome and left-field as "Smoking Banana Peels."

[abbeytxs]

My nephew is a huge fan of DM. Apparently he has been a fan for a long time. He travels frequently to see them and went to the Chicago show. He came to Austin when they were here last year and I guess we should have taken him up on the invite to go see them. Sounds like we missed a good show.

[Kuboydal]

I saw them on a high school football field in Georgia around 1992. Rodney went on a long monologue about the drug posters in the classroom that they were using as a dressing room and tied it into James Brown's interstate police chase. The cops were security threatened to kick us out we didn't settle down. It was a great day.

[Johnny L.A.]

The Guitar Song just popped up on the ol' iPod.

It's always been one of my favourites. I used to have a cat that actually listened when I played Mr. Bojangles on my guitar, so I can totally picture the action in The Guitar Song.