Get SF Weekly Newsletters

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Last Night: Rebirth Brass Band at the Great American Music Hall

Posted By on Sun, Jul 26, 2009 at 11:51 AM

Extra Action - JOSEPH SCHELL
  • Joseph Schell
  • Extra Action
Rebirth Brass Band with Extra Action Marching Band

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Great American Music Hall

Extra Action - JOSEPH SCHELL
  • Joseph Schell
  • Extra Action
​And when the band invited all of the ladies up on stage for a slightly lewder, cruder remix of LeVert's, "Casanova," the ladies abandoned the dance floor and rushed the stage. By the end of the song, even the dance floor (rendered sausage fest by that time) was singing along: "I ain't much on Casanova! Me and Romeo ain't never been friends! Oh take it off! Take your mother f--king clothes off!"

Extra Action - JOSEPH SCHELL
  • Joseph Schell
  • Extra Action
​Hidden behind their massive instruments at the back of the stage, brothers Keith (bass drum) and Phil Frazier (tuba), along with snare-player, Derrick Tabb, maintained the backbone beat of the band throughout the show. But the Fraziers hold the band together in more ways than one: they're also two of Rebirth's original founders and have been playing together since 1982. The group plays as tight as you'd expect after playing together for 26 years. All members showed a range of musical talents last night, improvising both with instruments and  vocals. 

Before Rebirth came on, Extra Action, San Francisco's sexiest marching band, and their fleet of flag dancers and burlesque cheerleaders, brought the notion of audience participation to a whole new (and downright dirtier) level of in-your-face. Clothes flew off throughout the set as dancers and band members alike blew their instruments, their wads, and probably other things too, in an energy-packed hour of flailing, air humping, throbbing, jumping, jerking, hooting, screaming, and, of course, marching. 

With 30-odd band members all running in different directions at once, the audience is literally swept into the performance whether they like it or not. One minute you might be watching the hot chick in the chicken mask spanking the trumpet player, and the next thing you know there's a naked guy grinding against your leg and a tuba knocking you upside the head. Although not for the faint at heart, we think everyone could use a little Extra Action in their lives.

Audience members get a little extra action... - JOSEPH SCHELL
  • Joseph Schell
  • Audience members get a little extra action...
Critics Notebook:

Tensions rose between Great American's Zeitgeist-esque security and members of Extra Action when one member got booted from the venue at the end of the night. We're just glad they didn't pounce during their show when all of the real debauchery went down. 

This just in: Rebirth is going to be playing a show at 9pm tonight at the Mojito in North Beach. Be there early to claim the best spots on the dance floor.

  • Pin It

Tags: , , ,

About The Author

Anna McCarthy

Comments

Subscribe to this thread:

Add a comment

Popular Stories

  1. Most Popular Stories
  2. Stories You Missed

Like us on Facebook

Slideshows

  • clipping at Brava Theater Sept. 11
    Sub Pop recording artists 'clipping.' brought their brand of noise-driven experimental hip hop to the closing night of 2016's San Francisco Electronic Music Fest this past Sunday. The packed Brava Theater hosted an initially seated crowd that ended the night jumping and dancing against the front of the stage. The trio performed a set focused on their recently released Sci-Fi Horror concept album, 'Splendor & Misery', then delved into their dancier and more aggressive back catalogue, and recent single 'Wriggle'. Opening performances included local experimental electronic duo 'Tujurikkuja' and computer music artist 'Madalyn Merkey.'"