Jesus Lizard: Now & Then

Before last night, the last Jesus Lizard show I saw was in November 1993, the day after I turned 21 (I didn't have a thing to drink, I assure you). At that time, it was pretty much an empirical truth that they were the best live band on the planet.

Sixteen years on, I find that their catalogue has aged incredibly well, and I still listen to 'Goat' and 'Liar' on the regular.

But I wasn't sure what to think of the prospect of a Jesus Lizard live show in 2009. After all, the JL made some of the most intensely physical music I've ever seen, and frontman David Yow is now pushing 50 (he dedicated a song to his bald spot).

But last night the band was as punishingly, frighteningly brilliant as ever. In fact, they actually played some of their songs FASTER than on record. And don't even get me started on Mac McNeilly, still one of the best rock & roll drummers ever to sit on the throne.

I checked YouTube for clips from last night's show, and whadda ya know, I actually found one from that show I attended back in '93. It's not the best quality, but hey, I wuz there!