Review: Blackcat Elliot Album Release Show
Photos by Kiki Vassilakis
“Live from the gutters of West Albany… Ladies and gentlemen, please hide your daughters from the greatest thing since Kurver Kreme – BLACKCAT ELLIOT!!!”
As 7:00 approached within the open-air walls of Singlecut North Taproom, a buzz began to spread from table to table: old friends reuniting, family members gathering cheerfully, the unearthing of memories and re-telling of stories from yesteryear. Blackcat Elliot was back.
The night was a celebration of their brand new record, When The Smoke Clears, as the new songs were about to be born into the world amidst the joy of the hearty community that had followed them through the decades. Gus Hais, Marky Balboa, and Fast Eddie stood by the stage selling merch and signing autographs on their shiny new vinyls with posters of their previous album release shows strung up behind – a marker of the decades they have spent together.
As folks filed in, Dave Graham & The Disaster Plan warmed up the crowd with some acoustic rock. The party atmosphere was bolstered by his crowd work, pulling in some willing tambourine players and rallying the audience into a singalong with a Beastie Boys cover. With only a looping pedal and guitar, his originals strategically rode a fine line between straight rock and a raw singer-songwriter vibe. As a whole, he was a strong lead-up to the rambunctious garage rock that the people awaited.
When the trio took the stage, it was with a heartfelt moment dedicated to a longtime supporter. Gary Noll, a close friend of the band, passed away just days before the show, devastating the members who, among many, loved his kind, energetic presence. His absence would be felt even more so as he was known to deliver a rousing introduction for the band at many a gig. In his memory, Hais’ nephew, Demos Efstathiou, took the mic to do the honors after memorizing the exact words Noll had delivered for so many years: “Live from the gutters of West Albany... Ladies and gentlemen, please hide your daughters from the greatest thing since Kurver Kreme – BLACKCAT ELLIOT!!!”
Thus began the night’s raucous celebration. Both of Blackcat’s sets were replete with strong, full drums from Balboa that filled up the room, and the gaps where the high ceilings blurred some vocals for the back of the crowd. At the front, it was clear to all that the guys were playing with the same energy they always had, Hais headbanging to both new and old tunes. In addition to the gritty rock the band has become known for, they debuted a more experimental, complex sound that takes center stage in their new record. It was in these moments that the guitar and bass came through their clearest, presenting jam band-esque solos and even a slower, soulful moment on the track “Take It Or Leave It.”
Blackcat Elliot seamlessly switched between this new evolution and their classic sound, the progression into this new era feeling natural. At the same time, they also glanced back to their inspirations, with Hais thanking his older brother for buying him his first guitar at the age of 12, without which he would not be there.
They continued down memory lane with a song by The Clash, a notable influence for the group and a celebration of how far they’ve come since those early days trying to replicate their heroes. Ultimately, Blackcat Elliot’s ability to marry their past with their present is a testament to the band’s resiliency and palpable chemistry between three long-time friends. If they’re still rocking like this 23 years in, we can’t wait to see where the next few years will take them.