We’ve seen animals at the zoo before, but this was like observing the silverback in its natural habitat. Freed from the confines of dive bars and shopping malls, The Dirty Pearls thumped their chest for a packed house at the Mercury Lounge. The show was total sensory overload. Tommy leg-kicked, Marty spun the sticks and the afros were perfectly coiffed.

Both the band and crowd were in rare form, especially that crazy motherfucker who attempted to stage dive but face planted with the same grace as Jon Favreau in PCU. The stunt didn’t go over too well with the ladies in front, but at least it helped define that thin red line between bravery and stupidity.

The lads debuted some new material from Volume 2, most notably “Black and White Movies.” It almost sounded epic, but not self consciously so. The crowd demanded more action, so the Pearls returned for an encore featuring “Happy New Year” and a song about chicken. It was perhaps their finest hour.

I’m still dumbfounded by the lady with the Polaroid camera. If you’re out there, I invite you to come to my house and photograph my vinyl collection. The rest of the night is rather hazy due to sleep deprivation and rest stop food.

The BnR staff would like to thank The Dirty Pearls for their warm hospitality and that Don Julio tequila. Also, special thanks goes out to The Electric Shadows for those fierce Chuck Berry licks.

If you’re really rich and impulsive you can still fly out to Hollywood or Vegas to catch The Dirty Pearls on their West Coast tour this week. Do it. If you missed the show because you had to “set up patio furniture,” then you should hang your head in shame.

I leave you with a song about chicken.