White Hot Lightning

Each month that same local radio station, Sonic, has something they call band-of-the-month. This is where they feature a local band's single on the radio for the entire month, ending with a show at a local bar at the end of the month.
Band of the month for Nov 2010, was White Lightning. Unfortunately I missed their performace, fortunately I have the best secret squirrels always looking out for my best concert-going interests.
On Thursday night I was told that WL would be playing at the Starlite Room with two other bands. A friend is friends with the bassist; being on the guest list? Check. Not having to pay for a membership, cover, or ticket? Check. Souvenir kazoo? You can definitely check that.

The Friday night show was actually in support of another local band, Tupelo Honey, and their CD realease. There were the two opening bands in additon to Tupelo Honey, WL and a 5 piece "dance" band from right here in the city as well. Except...well...this band, Flash Jam, is not ...well....there's just no words that suffice. To me they are 5 guys, who play their instruments decently and don't sound like dying cats when they sing. Their songs however are pop-ey messes, and their set was made up of a couple of original songs mixed with not so great covers of overheard songs (i.e. one by Michelle Branch). I have no problem with covers, and sometimes they can even outwit the original...These covers by Flash Jam, however, were the same as the original (except with the pizzaz of a male singer. OH, and a synthesizer of course). I've never been so happy for a band's set to be over.
And salt in the musical wound, was to find out that this band had actually beat White Lightning in a battle-of-the-bands style contest.

White Lightning played an intense show, complete with audience participation by the aforementioned kazoos. But before that let me quickly mention that the band is made of up three fellas who know their music (and the lead singers wife on back-up vocals). Their music is energetic and animated; the lead vocalist, Steve, makes some of the best faces I've seen on a performer.
They include cowbell (not enough on this night for my liking...) in basically every show, and the kazoos? Well during their last song they have a bucket (really, a bucket) full of kazoos that they hurl out into the audience. Oh, I forgot, beware of falling objects...sheild your eyes, most importantly.  I'm not totally sure that I was even "playing" it right, you just hum into it, but it definitely added a fun atmosphere to the set!
Unfortunately I had to leave early, so only got to hear one Tupelo Honey song...which was a Cher cover...I've heard they're really good, and have opened for quite a few major bands in the past few years. Hopefully there's always next time!