Amazing Royal Crowns The Amazing Royal Crowns are one of those bands that you really hate to see go. They have been touring almost constantly for years, and though probably weary and tired from the road, you’d never guess it from seeing them play. They endured some line-up changes, some legal problems, and some label problems - yet they always kept on going like wounded soldiers advancing on their bellies. Well… until now. So, we vowed to make the 14-hour trek to see the final performance in the band’s hometown of Providence, Rhode Island. There were five of us: Ben, Eric, Ezra, myself and Scott. Scott, being a huge GG Allin fan, requested that we swing up to Littleton, New Hampshire the day after to visit the grave of the fecal-eating punker. Naturally, nobody had any objections, so that became the plan.
We made it to Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel and went in and immediately became swallowed up by an immense crowd of loyal fans. Around here punkabilly isn’t always appreciated as much as it is in other places, and I have seen the Crowns with sometimes 20 people attending - no shit! But what always really impressed us was how they would always give these little shows, which a lesser band might blow off, one hundred and twenty three percent, and not cut them short in time or enthusiasm. That really shows the character and lack of pretension they carried. But this night we were extremely happy to see them have such a well-deserved, large crowd.
The first band that played was The Fast Acting Fuses, a group that played rock and roll to an eager crowd. Admittedly, this band didn’t really get my motor going. They were good at what they did, and played with a lot of enthusiasm. I think I was just anxious for the Crowns to come out. The Worried came out next and played out some proficient, punchy, punk rock. They got us all roused from our sleep-deprived state and I went up to the 2nd floor of the club to get a better look. Kendall came out and did a song with these guys and he really bumped up the value of this already decent band – like getting a rebate at a classy brothel!
The Crowns finally entered the stage with their trademark Caesar’s Palace-style introduction and proceeded to lay a heavy-weight thumpin’ on the anxious crowd; I mean what a memorable performance. For this show they were joined by the drummer for Frank Black and the Catholics, who did a really solid job of it. They played almost every song they’ve recorded, and did them with so much passion and energy. Jack went completely insane on the upright, playing so fast I didn’t think he could keep it up for the whole show. But he did, and threw in an amazing bass solo to boot. He would go into this trance like state; eyes rolled back into his head, his mouth frothing and he literally pummeled the bass to near death. He has a strange slapping technique that you really have to see to appreciate, because I can’t explain it. It’s just good… real damn good.
With most bands playing so many songs you’d expect to get a little bored, but be assured, that didn’t happen. Instead Jason fronted the band with enough energy and sincere delivery that the packed crowd probably would have stayed even if they played every song they knew and decided to start reciting spontaneous beat poetry over top improvised jazz lines. Well, maybe not, but the show was damned exciting through and through. The Crowns set list included nearly every track they ever recorded, plus the well-selected covers (meaning none were “Folsom Prison Blues”) that they are known to do: like Naked Raygun’s “Rat Patrol”, The Misfits’ “American Nightmare”, and Agent Orange’s “Blood Stains”, and more… but no, not Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “Little Demon.” Damn it! At one point, however, they did treat the audience with the performance of their soulful country song, “Flippin’ Coin,” complete with the guitarist from The Worried on steel guitar. I believe it was the first and last time that song was ever performed live in front of an audience. In addition, they also played a couple songs that they never released yet, and which hopefully will come out despite the band’s early retirement.
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