The Flakes having to cancel their Chicago Blackout appearance this year really broke my heart. For the past few years, these Bay-area loonies have been stripping down and pissing in the faces of so-called 'punks' and laughing their asses off the whole time. Formed with prestigious alumni from the Mummies, Count Backwurds, and the Bobbyteens, you'd be a fool to consider these guys serious and you'd be even more of a fool to not own all of their instant-party platters. These no-good long-hairs prove that it takes some real balls to belt out high-powered rock'n roll like this anymore, and even though they're not even fresh outta school, you'll still feel the fever in your bones when the guitars take off. As flat-out caterwauling as any of their influences, the Flakes are one of the last remaining bastions of the original South City budget rock contingency (also check out Darrin Raffaelli's Hamboogers, Tina Lucchessi's Top Ten, and the Zodiac Killers of course), and their ability to shake a party into a riot is inescapable and relentless. Soaked in the feel of the 60s, delivered with the insanity of the 70s, and served complete with the haircuts of the 80s' paisley underground, the Flakes are one of the best reasons to be alive, and if you're near the SF area this weekend, you absolutely must see them with the Feelers, Carbonas and Beat Beat Beat on Saturday at the Knockout. They've released an armload of now rare, yet classic singles and a smash debut LP on Dollar Records this year, so don't start crying to us when you've waited too late to grab 'em. Check out some music HERE, and check out J.Michael McCarthy's video for "Talk About You"....
