The Ty Segall show at Kings Barcade at the end of January was easily one of the most buzzed-about in the preceding weeks. Indeed, expectations were high, and Segall and company exceeded all of them, blowing away the sold-out room.
Local act Gross Ghost kicked off the show with a set of its trademark hazy rock ‘n’ roll. Though the set itself wasn’t necessarily anything special, it’s always a treat to get to see Gross Ghost. Punk-ish rock outfit Ex-Cult followed, kicking up the energy a notch. Not being familiar with the band, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the band’s tight set and careful blend of punk and rock made for a perfect warm-up act.
Finally, it was time for Ty. Much to my surprise, Segall’s set was quick, something that I found to be equally great and a bummer. On one hand, long sets can often feel too drawn-out and end up being exhausting. On the other, the short set felt like a tease — it seemed like as soon as I was really getting into it, Segall was telling the crowd goodnight. If it’s a ruse to get folks to come to more shows, it’s damn effective.
The set of fast, sharp guitar tunes blended all kinds of genres — garage rock, punk and good ol’ regular rock ‘n’ roll. And though Segall was the headliner, guitarist Mikal Cronin was an additional force to be reckoned with. Segall’s energy and enthusiasm made for an entrancing performance.
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