Rocket From The Crypt/Man...Or Astro-Man? @ Irving Plaza, New York, NY 10/16/26
Bill: Rocket From The Crypt/Man...Or Astro-Man?
Venue: Irving Plaza, 17 Irving Pl., New York, NY
Date: Friday 10/16/26
Ticket: $25 (via Tickpick)
Active: 1990 (San Diego, CA)
Latest Release: Scream Frankenstein Scream (Swami, 2026)
Featured Album: Scream Dracula Scream (Interscope, 1995)
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8pm Man...Or Astro-Man
Active: 1992 (Auburn, AL)
Latest Release: R/O/Y/G/B/I/V Recordings Live From The BBC (Chunklet Recordings, 2024), Live At Third Man Records (Third Man, 2017)
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You know time is gone by when a band you haven't seen in a while has reformed to tour on an album of outtakes from the album you didn't like as much as the previous one. That prior tour cycle was the last time I saw Rocket From The Crypt, circa 1994 and truth be told that was probably also around the last time I saw Man..Or Astro-man? I cared enough to go up to the brand new basement bowling alley addition to the Middle East in Cambridge on I think a Monday night for RFTC. This show tonight was more along the lines of having an open night and buying a ticket the night before for what I thought was a heavily discounted $25 although it continued to drop at least to $11, when I masochistically checked waiting in line to enter about a half hour after doors were supposed to open. The rain I wanted to avoid began to drizzle but fortunately they opened up before it began to open up and pour. The marquee said the show was sold out and even upstairs there were no sightlines until I found my lean wall disguised behind curtains on the side with lots of space on the right side.
I was wondering why people were gripping a vinyl copy of Scream Frankenstein Scream tightly before the show. Turns out this was a tour only record that could only be had on the tour dates. It's a early demos counterpart to Scream Dracula Scream. I would have bought one myself on the way out if I realized that was scarcity momento. Maybe it sounds more like the band than what I thought was an overproduction, without working next door to AC/DC. True story, the band was recording Ballbreaker in the other room down the hall as regaled by John Reis. The brunt of the show was from that album. The band overjoked that they were Sha Na Na returning to CBGB's but suddenly it occured to me that in 2026 they are indie rock Beach Boys (Mike Love-led without Brian Wilson). At least before Mike was too sick to stand on stage.
It was good to see Rocket. For a time they were a favorite of mine. I always thought Screams opener "Middle" was a great song into another good song and that is what they kicked off with. They had a bit of a pause after RIP in 2008 and have reformed sporadically but it seems like they never went away long enough to be significant. Man...Or Astro-Man? was a cute era opener. I forgot they did tribute to Draco, King Of The Dragon Men. Man...Or Astro Man? were primarily surf instrumentals plus sound bites, but during the show they had some vocals here and there to go with their flank of 4 giant phone screens to live insta photos for the crowd to see and deliver video bites as well. I seemed to remember white outfits when I last saw the band, but the 1994 video up shows the orange jumpsuits featured tonight PLUS white lab coast. I was thinking helmeted astronaut outfits. Maybe that was another band.
FOR FURTHER REVIEW:
Various Artists-Swami Sound System Vol. 1: 2003 Sales Conference (2003)
The Amazing Spider Man: Invasion of the Dragon Men, Vol II (1975)
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