I've switched from Nu-Nile to Murray's Beeswax as the choice of goo for my 'do, but the shit is still flammable. So I'm always a little wary of walking into churches. But Tuesday afternoon I popped over to the Downtown United Presbyterian Church where D-Drive was filming a video (a little music-based vignette like they used to show on MTV, in case you're too young to remember) for the song "Pray For Tomorrow" off the band's latest, "Straight Up The Middle." Principle shooting had wrapped up and the band was focusing on close-ups. It was cool to see singer Phil Naro's professionalism, as he lip-synched with genuine, outward passion as if he were singing in Wembley. Those dry ice machines can make the ascent to the altar slipperier and even more precarious. My head began to smolder and I had to split....

...And get ready for one of the best punk rock shows I've seen in years, since one of the multiple mid-80's Ramones shows at Idols where I used to lose my mind. The U.S. Bombs' touring mates, Far From Finished, were far from finished as I made the scene. I knew nothing about them, really - neither did many of the people in the packed house - but the band's speed and chops made a lot of friends fast. The one-and-a half armed singer led the charge, working the crowd up.

The idiot pit had already started early to the piped in Deep Purple, and by the time The Bombs took the stage, the entire room exploded and stayed exploded for over an hour. It was no place for a lady - or 41-year-old music critics (we're both fragile) - so I dug the proceedings from the safety of the sound booth, which swayed and shook with blows from flying bodies. The band was relentless, with virtually no banter or segues. Frontman Duane Peters looked ragged and mean like a dockworker from the Bowery, and the line between band and crowd dissolved in a haze of sweat and beer. The band played great and sloppy tight.

This is exactly the type of energy and abandon rock 'n' roll once preached and practiced. The band ended as hard and fast as it started. I'm still jacked.

Click through to the main article for photos of the US Bombs concert.