The Sex Slaves Are Back – 2019

Ah it has been awhile but the Sex Slaves are back. At least for a moment. The Sex Slaves, the loud heavy band with that amazing name and coming from NYC are back. It has been six years.

And damn it was so so good!

They started their tour at Arlene’s Grocery. Really a mini tour as compared to old days. As they said, where else could they start such a tour? That said, I do have a beef with Arlene’s. At least on Tuesday night I did. It has to do with their rum or the lack there of. I had like four or five rum and cokes, but no rum.

Oh well. rum and cokes. . .

Simply a pleasure to see the Sex Slaves after six years. So needed today in what I see as anemic NYC scene. They claimed there are hundreds of options regarding where to play. There are a few. In fact, a few new ones. A hundred? Probably not.

It does not matter. I simply enjoyed their brew of loudly distorted guitar and bass, obnoxiously crude lyrics, amazing drums, served up loudly, and proudly. The rhythms, the beats, the noise. And all so tight.

J-Bomb in the back keeping it all together, all cylinders firing all so nicely. He is a technician. A machine. He seems not to indulge in the absurdity going on up front. He really should have a curtain, though he is a real wizard. A solid foundation for Del Cheetah and Eric 13 to build upon. All in the name of Jack Daniels and dick walls. And I loed every second of it. I just ate it up, licked up every drop, and consumed every crumb.

They more than made up for the rum.

And as they often say, all are true stories. Regardless of whether they actually rehearsed or not, it was a pleasure to hear. If Del Cheetah was serious that he flew in the night before and here they were – more power to them! They do just have a certain chemistry. I guess you could not tour for ten plus years without some chemistry, and it so comes out on stage, rehearsals or not. My guess, was there were some rehearsals. Had to have been, but who knows. It sounded like there were rehearsals.

I was happy to have an impromptu version of WTFRU? And then of course Banana Fish Zero’s Beautiful. I never saw those two bands together. Wish I had. Can we get the Statues and them on the same stage on the same night?

The Sex Slaves did return to Arlene’s the following night. Hopefully you made it. Those that made it both nights were the smart ones. They sold out both nights! Granted Arlene’s is not MSG, but regardless it is nice to know. It gives me hope.