Labretta Suede & The Motel 6 – Mothership: January 4, 2025 (13th Floor Concert Review)
Labretta Suede and The Motel 6 come home to celebrate 20 years of dirty, filthy rock & roll and a new album titled Home For The Incurable.
Judging by the cover art on the new album, Labretta Suede and The Motel 6 have hardly mellowed with age. I like the fact that the band has forgone releasing the new tracks digitally, making a purchase of the physical vinyl version the only way to hear (and see) it…just like the old days.
Actually, in the old days you could hear it on the radio…but we won’t go into that.
Instead we celebrate along with the band.
Also in the bill tonight are The Cootie Cuties and The Nudie Suits. And in a show a comradery with other artists and venues, Labretta and Mothership have begun this show a bit later than usual to accommodate any fans who want to attend the City Newton Bombers fundraiser up the street at Double Whammy. Click here for the 13th Floor review and photos.
Let’s face it, in this day and age; those in the arts need to take care of each other.
Cootie Cuties
So, it was just after 9:30 when Cootie Cuties took the stage. As always the queer punk band was loud and fast with songs like Conversation being driven by a Ramones-esque, hard driving beat. Singer Annie Hyer always has something to say, tonight introducing a song saying, “This song is about being a fucking slut and doing whatever you want with your body!”
They are not mincing any words!
The 30-minute set got things started in a suitably raucous fashion.
The Nudie Suits
Who knew The Nudie Suits were still a going concern?
The band released two albums back in 2003 and 2006 but otherwise has floated away into the mists of time.
Now they seem to be back with original members Mark Lyons (guitar/vocals) and Dionne and Tam Taylor (Steel guitar and violin respectively) The drummer is named Rick and I feel like I should know the bass player standing at the side of the stage.
Lyons was decked out, not in a Nudie Suit, but a suitably Western-looking shirt and hat as he got the set underway by introducing a new song writing as a tribute to New Zealand aviation pioneer Richard Pearse called First One To Fly. It was followed by another new tune, When You Get Old (You’ll Want To Die).
The band then wisely moved to more upbeat material as Dionne slide over from pedal steel to lap steel and the band dug unto their songbook with tunes like Little Too Loose There and (Dancing Like A ) Hustable along with tasty instrumental covers like Sleepwalk (Santo & Johnny) and Apache (The Shadows) giving Dionne an opportunity to shine on lap steel.
There were a few squeals of feedback heard when Tam’s mic was meant to be heard, but otherwise a very special surprise of a set. Let’s hope these folks are back for good.
Labretta Suede & The Motel 6
Direct of the US, Labretta Suede and guitarist (and partner in crime) Johnny Moondog return home to celebrate 20 years and a new album.
Filling out the band tonight are Paddy Fox on bass…who also plays with Cootie Cuties…and drummer Steve Rooney who proved to be a one-man demolition derby behind his kit.
The quartet steamed through about 16 songs in just over an hour, many from the new album. The band’s sound hasn’t changed much over the years…clearly inspired by The Cramps (Goo Goo Muck was covered and I saw as many Cramps T-Shirts and Labretta in the crowd).
But that’s cool.
Labretta’s skimpy outfits and acrobatic antics add their out special sauce to the mix.
Yes, there were a few tech issues with the sound. Yes, it was shambolic and chaotic. And yes, it was very rock & roll.
Their version of Gary US Bonds’ New Orleans was a highlight as was new song Tough Hustle that wasn’t listed on the setlist but fortunately got heard anyway.
I’m guessing the setlist acts as more of a guide than anything else as the band sounds spontaneous even when playing old favourites like Boogaloo and Tear It Up.
Speaking of Tear It Up, it sounded like Labretta & Co tore 2025 a new one, celebrating “the tragedy of what is rock & roll”.
Marty Duda
Click on any image to view the photo gallery:
Labretta Suede & The Motel 6:
The Nudie Suits:
The Cootie Cuties:
