Celler Dweller Revival 1987 Pt 1 Gut Feeling

Summer 1987. The polished rock band IM was preparing to take the stage at the popular college bar Top of the Stairs in Blacksburg, Virginia. Their loyal following was expecting exquisitely performed fun, danceable renditions of modern popular songs such as Bowie's China Girl, Genesis' Turn It On Again, The Call's Everywhere I Go. Little did the crowd know what they were in store for that fateful night.

The opening act, credited as "The Strap-Ons" included two of the members of IM, guitarist George Richman and drummer Jim Richman, opening for themselves with an old high school buddy, Phil Hamm, visiting for the weekend. The three had not played together for two years. The opening number, Spinal Tap's "Tonight Im Gonna Rock You Tonight", was a perplexing choice. The Celler Dweller Revival as they called themselves, then proceeded to soften up the crowd with some classic rock favorites. Pedestrian renditions of songs from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and The Who lulled the unwitting Saturday night Virginia Tech Party crowd into complacency, with a bizarre cover of Metallica's Ride The Lightning only serving to empty the dancefloor.

Then the New Wave jam-out commenced, featuring a virtual audio assault of obscure album tracks from DEVO and Gary Numan, silencing the bewildered few who had the fortitude to avoid the relative shelter of the outside deck. The reaction of the crowd was summed up by George at the end of the night as he introduced the final number, Numan's "Bombers", with "This is one of our favorite songs. Its probably going to be one of your worst."

These YouTube videos are a testament to the musical mayhem that followed. Proceed to the further parts if you dare.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• DEVO
• Gut
• Feeling
• cover

[philbiker3]

I was listening to a lot of Stranglers at this time. Heinous bass tone = JJ Burnell influence.

[abnme]

Jim and George were my peeps at Tech, I think I remember partying with you too Phil. I love the "crickets" at the end of that song. You guys rocked it!!! The crowd so didn't get the vibe...at all! Thanks for posting, so many memories brought back!