Great Shakes rock The Comet

The ability to play music and call the resulting sound "rock music" is one thing. But when that sound can make the crowd go wild, it's something else. The Great Shakes did the latter when they came to Cincinnati last Friday, and rocked The Comet.

The Great Shakes consists of Gintas Januson (drums, side vocals), Derrick Bronston (guitar, back vocals), Ken Rothermich (lead guitar), Andy Mazo (bass, side vocals) and Darren (lead vocals), who refuses to give out his last name.

Musically, their sound is influenced by The Clash, Duran Duran, post-punk '90s music and just about every Joe Strummer project ever performed. Also, for good measure, throw in the musical styling of Indochine (French '80s pop at its best).

Lyrically, they are on a level all their own. Their lyrics are political, but not forced or preachy. The Great Shakes focus on being different politically, but no just for the sake of it.

"I don't believe politics should drive too much music," Darren said. "It's about analysis. I think it is also very dangerous for a band to brand themselves in a ultra liberal or an anarchist tradition."

Darren, the glue that holds the band together, is beyond unique, like he was made from the same fabric of eccentric singers before him.

Darren has the sensibilities of Debora Iyall, Little Richard, David Bowie and Wendy O's illegitimate spiritual daughter and wannabe successor, Karen O.

His performance is shockingly well-rehearsed, while at the same time improvised, a weird combination only balanced by his band mates who provide the yin to Darren's yang.

Above all, class, style and grace are what The Great Shakes have got going for them. Unfortunately, Darren's coarse stage antics affected their performance in the early part of their set.

Sarah Catton, 25, a reformed-hipster-extraordinaire and Comet regular, enjoyed The Great Shakes but saw many problems in their performance.

"I thought that their music and songs were good," said Catton. "But the act seemed tired and forced."

The avid political punk and indie fan continued.

"There seemed to be tension amongst the band members," she said. "It was so obnoxious that I couldn't stand it: Middle-age-pot-belly-punk-rock."

Other audience members had similar views, but with a different twist. William "Frisco" Heil, a third-year environmental studies student at UC enjoyed the band.

"The drummer was innovated because of instead of maintaining a simple driving beat," Heil said, "he was using progressive or down beats."

Heil did, however, share a Catton's views about the antics of the band.

"I thought the singer was a douchebag," said Heil. "The bass player was awesome [be]cause of the ugly faces he made on stage."

In addition, it did not help that they were playing at The Comet where the tables prevented individuals from getting up and dancing to their music. The Cincinnati punk indie scene rule, "you dance, you die," was in full effect.

As much as The Great Shakes rocked it, the audience did not roll with it.