Review: Pistacioland Cracks Open the Yes

It was a Pistachioland night at Permanent Records Roadhouse. Were there any actual pistachios at the venue on a Saturday night? I didn't see any, but I did see a band called Harry Katz and the Pistachios and a tie with pistachios in the design. The night was hosted by Harry Katz and this night was apparently Pistachioland III. I missed the other two iterations of this festival of fun. It was a night filled with music as well as face painting, a juggler, and DIY shops. Hopefully, I don't miss Pistachioland IV.

Harry Katz and the Pistachios at Permanent Records Roadhouse

As for Harry Katz and the Pistachios, I first came across the band in 2019. They were doing a residency at a once favorite venue of mine, The Satellite (during the shutdown, the venue closed up shop). At the time, I did one of my Q&As with the band. I think the following portion of the interview is a good description of their sound.

Q. How would you describe your sound? A. Harry Katz & The Pistachios are a Rock and Roll band at its core. Focusing on original up tempo garage rock and soul songs, my uniquely raspy voice feels like the smooth veritas of an un-pulled cigarette, laying over a tight and pounding 10 piece band that turns brass into gold.

Opening Pistacholand III was Luke Pelletier and the Chain Gang. The band plays a blue grass style with songs filled with miscellaneous topics and stories. His song "Bad With Money" is sort of self-explanatory, he's not exactly the best when it comes to personal finance. "Two Step Tuesdays" was about how his parents met. His mother taught two step on Tuesdays and his father kept on showing up for lessons. At some point, his mother asked to borrow his dad's vehicle. She got into a wreck and the rest is history. How much of his songs are a blend of fact and fiction? He mentioned that his song "It Ain't So Bad Here, Just Us Two" is about how he had an affair with a married woman and the husband found out and locked the two of them up in a tower for a decade.

Luke Pelletier and the Chain Gang at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Gilbert Louie Ray kept the blue grass theme going. He was doing double duty on the night. He started the night off as part of the Chain Gang, playing the banjo. He then switched to lead singer and guitar as he fronted his own band. His fan base packed the venue with the crowd stretched nearly to the exit.

To get ready for the set, he went through a wardrobe change from his Chain Gang outfit, coming to the stage dressed in a colorful nudie country suit. I personally don't know how he does it (as I consider myself to be a rather slow speaker), but he opened up the set singing 300 words a minute in "Lonesome Can O'Beer." That might be an exaggeration, but it can't be by much as he was singing with rapid fire. A few song later, he performed "80 Proof," which was later performed a second time by Harry Katz & The Pistachios. A pitch was made for people to watch the YouTube music video for "What I Have Left." He mentioned that it had over 8,000 views and featured airplanes at the Burbank Airport. The next morning as I was writing up this review, I had to add an additional view to the video (you can watch it here). What he should have also mentioned was that Haley Spence Brown of The Doohickeys (a favorite band of mine) is in the video. He finished up one song by yelling out "JERK." Then for song "Danger!" he mentioned that it was about that jerk, "I'm so confused as to why someone so close would do me this way."

Gilbert Louie Ray at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Up next was The What Four. I'd never seen them play before, but had noticed the band name. I knew they had played at Swyndle LA and Bigtop Bandstand, two Los Angeles promotors that I keep tabs on. There were just conflicting issues that resulted in me not being able to attend those nights. They're a throwback to surf rock with a bit of the spooky. Their song "Chick Habit" starts off with a catchy riff that has one thinking The Munsters TV theme song. The crowd could not stop dancing during the set. For a couple songs, lead singer Katie Stratton (you can find a photo I took of Stratton at the Americana West Fest here -- as well as Gilbert Louie Ray) took to the drums while other band members went up front to take on lead vocal duties. Comment of the night had to be when one of the band members tossed out the comment in regards to all the sweating being done on stage, "Losing all that water weight." 

The What Four at Permanent Records Roadhouse

Up next were the headliners, Harry Katz and the Pistachios. The night started off with a pledge from the crowd, directed by a red eyed monster puppet, "Say your name. Pledge to the pistachio that I will love and accept others for who they are. And I will love and accept myself for who I am . . . and I will dance to every song . . . buy lots of drinks from the bar and tip 25%, no less." I will say that I was so close to the trombone, that I was worried that I would get slapped by the slide tube. Okay, a little disgusting, but I was also thinking about the spit valve. Backing off from the trombone was not an option (if I wanted to take photos of the night), as it was a packed house. The night was filled with "Oh, Yes" and "Oh, Yeah" and with McKail Seely telling the crowd, "Feel free to dance and wiggle." 

Puppet Monster at Permanent Records Roadhouse

The band is known for playing with a flare. Suits and ties (one featuring pistachios) were worn and the the backup (occasional lead singers) wore 1920s feather boas. The highlight song, of course, was "Oh Yes!" It is the song that defines the band with a big band sound and the classic "Oh Yes" signs that are held high in the audience whenever the band sings "Oh Yes." For as many times as I've seen the band, I've never been asked to hold one of the signs. Should I feel offended? Hmm. The night ended with "That's Too Darn Bad" and Katz telling the audience, "If you didn't like the set, this one is dedicated to you." I'm not sure that applied to anyone in the audience . . . other than perhaps that lone sourpuss who was forced to go out by a love one.    

Harry Katz and the Pistachios at Permanent Records Roadhouse

As for me, it did not go unnoticed that former back-up singer of the band, Ashley Keene, was in the crowd. Had to give that shout out. 

Closing out the night was Joel Jerome as Peavey Boyz. It was getting past my bedtime so I only stayed for a short while. The band put their spin on a number of cover songs such as "(I'm Not Your) Steppin Stone" by The Monkees and "Gimme Some Money" Spinal Tap. 

Joel Jerome as Peavey Boyz at Permanent Records Roadhouse 

Luke Pelletier Setlist: The Ballad Of William Spoon. It Took A Whole Village. Go On, Giddyup. Bad With Money. You Miserable Son Of A Bitch. Two Step Tuesdays. Robby Bought The Beer. It Ain't So Bad Here, Just Us Two. I Just Love Fucking My Wife. Still Some Spots In LA Where I Ain't Banned. Fuck It, I Don't Care. 5 Bullets. Woman With Two First names. Nothing You Can Do, That I Ain't Done. Romanticizing Crime.

Gilbert Louie Ray Setlist: Lonesome Can O'Beer. DWP. New Faces. 80 Proof. Allegedly. Deep Fake. What I Have Left. Monterey Bae. Existential Blues. Shady Business. Comin' & Goin'. Danger!. Hey My Old Friend. All I Wanna Say.

Juggler at Permanent Records Roadhouse

The What Four Setlist: What A Way To Die, Chick Habit, Many Roads To Follow, Cute Little Runaway, Sunday Morning (Ain’t So Easy), Money Pit, Strychnine, Wonderful One, Sweet Nothin, Hey Lover, Jack The Ripper, Shakin All Over

Harry Katz and the Pistachios Setlist: After Party. Similarities. 80 Proof. Conditional Love. Bad Dream. Who's Coming Home. Rock Bottom. Daft Punk Is Playing at My House (LCD Soudsystem cover). Oh Yes!. That's Too Darn Bad.

Joel Jerome as Peavey Boyz Setlist: (I'm Not Your) Steppin Stone. Annette's. Gimme Some Money. Young Dudez. Fume. We Got The Beat. FYP. Combat Pork. Many Roads 2 Follow. You May Be Right. Footloose. Cosmic Dancer.