Greek band Bazooka blows away Tip Top Deluxe Bar and Grille

The walls of the Tip Top Deluxe Bar and Grille were pulsing with the sounds of early punk and garage last Tuesday. The highly anticipated band Bazooka was here all the way from Greece to play the small Westside bar. With them were there tour mates Paint Fumes from North Carolina and The Hemingers from Coldwater Michigan. I have seen many local bands perform at the Tip Top, but like many was excited to see a band from such a distant place.

For that reason, I was puzzled when I got there and the Tip Top was relatively empty. According to the booker, Andrew Morowski, the touring bands were having car trouble and were not there yet. Morowski stalled as long as he could before having the Hemingers start their set.

The Hemingers are a super energetic, poppy, garage band. They stirred the crowd with their straight-forward simple catchy songs.  The three-piece dressed in white band shirts, jeans, converses, and neon Buddy Holly shades. Ben Lyon interacted with the audience, falling on the ground and going up to tables.

“We always have fun in Grand Rapids! This show was no exception. All the bands were good and loud, and the drinks were tasty!" Lyon said. "I have ringing in my ears and bruises on my knees."

Time passed and there was still no sign of Bazooka and Paint Fumes. The Doctors’ Wives were all in attendance and with some last minute fortitude we put on a makeshift set with the help of the Hemingers’ equipment. Doctors’ Wives haven’t played in quite some time due to recording and many people were pleasantly surprised with the impromptu punk set. 

Then, much like the ending of many 1980’s movies, the bands showed up just as everyone started to lose hope. At that point it was past midnight and they were forced to share a one-hour slot. Bazooka set up their equipment quickly, including a second drum set, and began to play. Their sound was reminiscent of 70’s punk but was slightly more complex. They achieved the rawness of older punk with dueling guitars but with more head bobbing rhythm caused by the second drummer. There was quite a bit of sound for four guys to produce. The crowd hollered for more but time was of the essence and they wanted their tour mates Paint Fumes to play a full set.

Paint Fumes took the stage next. Paint Fumes consisted of two guitarists and a drummer. They played some great classic garage rock with a harder edge.  Both bands played with vigor and passion and possibly frustration due to a blown tire. Nights like that show are proof that good things happen to those who wait.