MUSIC: The Night Marchers / Mercury Lounge

My favorite record as a kid was the Elvis "Golden Hits" eight track. Every click to the next program produced another hit: "Don't be Cruel," "Jail House Rock," "Hound Dog." That funky hillbilly rhythm backing that velvety croon and swagger made me sing along and bounce all afternoon. It's said that you're either an Elvis person or a Beatles person. I can't say it's an easy decision, but I can say that Elvis was my first love.

And I think John Reis might be an Elvis man, too. While his previous sonic forays with his longtime collaborator/conspirator Rick Froberg (Hot Snakes, Drive Like Jehu, Pitchfork) have tended to maintain a breakneck pace while manipulating the listener's sense of right-side-up and upside-down, his Rocket from the Crypt outfit always wanted to swagger. And this is more of what is happening with his new act, the Night Marchers—sexual come-ons, call-and-response backing vocals, churning rhythms and the sense that matches and gasoline go together to make a real rock band.

We were treated to a steady stream of angular garage burners for most of Wednesday night's set at the Mercury Lounge. Reis's drawn-out howl and high-energy guitar velocity continues with this new quartet. And even if his crooning isn't quite velvety-smooth, his tan face and unbuttoned shirt certainly have a little of that hillbilly sex appeal. While a straight rockabilly set is painful at worst and rehashed at best, the Night Marchers stay out of this realm entirely, weaving that signature post-punk sound through a garage-rock rave-up with elements of surf and punk peppered throughout.

What sets this formula apart from others using this blueprint is the dramatic twists and turns within the song structures. The off-kilter timing and alternate-tuned rhythm and lead guitar interplay are sustained with a heavily accented beat that's written to let it ride out for manic—and often melodic—fun. While songs like "Closed for Inventory" oozed sweat and spit, the band pulled a bitter dance card with "You've Got Nerve," a restrained and slower-paced number to let you catch your breath. There was no slow dancing in the packed crowd, but I think a lot of folks can get behind the flaming torch of the Night Marchers. —Carl Gambrell