I got the old "Who knows?" response from some of The Moviees last night when pressed about more shows after this reunion. This was the band's first show in nine years, and the group hasn't lost a damn thing. Apparently the members all practiced, like, the night before and were so tight I was taken aback and thrown back through those nine years (insert dream montage here).

It was at the height of the garage rock renaissance in America, and The Moviees were going somewhere. While everyone else was pouring on the Farfisa like a fat kid with extra cheese on his cheese fries, or trying to be The Flamin' Groovies, The Moviees responded with style, class, and a troublesome streak that often claimed the band --- and its gear --- as a victim as well. The band fully embraced rock 'n' roll's self-loving, self-loathing aesthetic. The quartet was Rochester's Who, and we saw them, felt them, touched them... you get the idea.

It was nothing but self-love --- not the lotion and "Hustler" kind --- when The Moviees played Saturday night at The Bug Jar. Guitarist/singer Paul Morabito plays as part of a whole in The Chesterfield Kings; appropriately and accurately and perhaps a bit reserved. With The Moviees he slashed, twanged, and kerranged throughout the band's long set with a level of unpredictability --- ain't no seatbelts in this outfit. All the hits from the band's catalogue got hit, and I could see new ones twinkling in Morabito's eyes. I split as the band was ripping through Them's "Baby Please Don't Go." If you ask me. This band ain't done.

I missed The Grinders but caught openers The Found, another young band out of Buffalo that, along with Chylde and Handsome Jack, is part of an early 70's-inspired hard rock movement. The Found are kids who are puling out the thick shag and groove from bands like Grand Funk Railroad and Ten Years After. It was thunderous and powerful with big guitar, big organ, congas (which added nicely to the throb), and a drummer from hell. This dude was relentless and powerful. The last time I heard or saw something so monstrous, Japanese people were pointing at it and screaming while running in the opposite direction.