I had this review written for a while, but was waiting on my photographer to get me pictures. She never did and thus this review is late and sans pictures.

The Dirty Pearls rocked The Grand in Wilmington, Delaware on October 5th 2010. The Pearls opened for Bret Michaels, who we reviewed here. I have seen the Dirty Pearls countless times before, but this time something was different about them. No longer were they the chaotic, raw and sloppy bar band I have been accustom to. No, this band was mature, polished, and tight like a virgin on prom night.

Since I last saw the Pearls, they had opened for Vince Neil, Michael Monroe (of Hanoi Rocks), Bret Michaels, and began recording their debut album. That is a lot of practice which has only helped the band become more of a unit. Don't get me wrong, I loved the old sound, but the new sound is the next leap forward the band has needed. I attribute the new found cohesiveness to a) recording an album with one of the best producers out there (David Kahne) and b) opening up for established artists in hostile environments.

You really get to know your limitations and boundaries in the studio especially when pushed by a guy who knows what the hell he is doing. Songs that were getting stale (Happy New Year, Sucker for a Sequel) are new again. They are different, whether it is just a slight drum change on Marty E's part or the vocal cadence by Tommy London in the chorus has changed ever so slightly. New fans and fans not yet discovered won't notice a difference, but long time fans and hardcore assholes (like myself) noticed right away.

Studio time for a band that has honed its skills in the live setting, is exciting yes but also makes them crave the live show even more. This was no more evident then when the Dirty Pearls opened for Bret Michaels. They attacked the crowd like a solider coming back from duty attacks his hot girlfriend. This was a Pearls show I had not witnessed before. Part of this is because of newest Pearl Tommy Mokas.

I was skeptical when the band replaced Ritchie White with Tommy Mokas. I was a big fan of Ritchie's guitar playing and his charisma on stage. The first time I saw Mokas with the band he was reserved, didn't seem to fit with the band, and was still learning his part. He has now blossomed into a full scale Pearl and flings his guitar riffs on the crowd as if he was flinging olive oil on his Greek salad. That metaphor doesn't really work as well as I thought it was going to. I tried to find something that you would toss being a Greek. Oh well, I should have been more trusting with the Dirty Pearls of their choice of Mokas. Job well done.

The Dirty Pearls debuted some new songs and my favorite was a Clash inspired tune that I am blanking on the name. The drums and bass are reminiscent of Paul Simonon and Topper Headon from the London Calling album by The Clash. I can't wait to hear this song recorded. It skyrocketed past Bruises and LuvSikLuv as my favorite and I have only heard it once.

I had seen the band so many times it was getting stale for me as a fan. I knew the setlist, I knew when Johnny B was going to play the guitar with his teeth, I knew all the interactions with the crowd. But after seeing them this time, everything is new. I got the feeling of seeing the band for the first time again, and it was glorious. Remember the first time you saw your favorite band? How excited you were and how you just stood there with your mouth open sucking it all in, the lights, music, the movements of each member? It takes a lot to get me to that stage again since I have seen over tens of thousands of bands, but thanks to the Dirty Pearls I got that feeling again.

You can get that feeling too, they are escaping the studio to play a few dates in November in New England. Check them out while you can before they sequester themselves in the studio until next year. Head to their page to find those dates.