JIM BREUER GETS LOUD & ROWDY AT KNITTING FACTORY

We all know Jim Breuer; whether it be a stoner with a serious case of the munchies, a reluctant “Goat Boy,” or the guy that looks like your uncle telling jokes at the family picnic. Obviously he’s a funny motherfucker, but what we are starting to find out is that he also has a rocker side and it’s now manifesting in the form of The Loud & Rowdy, a hard-hitting metal band that Breuer is fronting.

Jim Breuer at Knitting Factory

Hitting the Knitting Factory for the third and final gig of their residency, Jim Breuer came out and told the audience that this show was really just a paid rehearsal for the band who are tuning up for a tour, which elicited the first of many laughs for the night. Getting things started for the evening was an unnamed duo, who took old metal hits like Judas Priest’s “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'” then threw them in an Americana blender and the result was weird, but oddly satisfying. Following was Jim’s friend and comedian Rich Aronovitch, who threw all the politically-correct shit to the wayside, which was a breath of fresh air and had the room busting at the seams for a half hour.

Heavy Metal Americana

Rich Aronovitch

Then came the Loud & Rowdy, a ragtag bunch consisting of two guitars, bass, drums and Jim Breuer. And they were really good, which wasn’t a shock, but a happy surprise. Breuer, as his many years as a stand-up comedian, knows how to keep an audience enthralled and as the lead singer of a metal band he effortlessly made the transition into a bombastic rockstar. Channeling his inner Brian Johnson (of AC/DC who contributed vocals to the album) the band would rip into “Mr. Rock n Roll,” with Breuer singing Johnson’s part. Jim would admit that he had to play this song first as it’s hell on his throat to sing, but he nailed it.

Jim Breuer and The Loud & Rowdy

The Loud & Rowdy

Jim Breuer and & Rowdy

“Thrash” would follow and was one of the musical highlights of the show. The utterly hilarious and ripping “Old School” was next and the lyrics paid homage to the legends of metal as most of the song is lines from old classics, which drops song titles and lyrics alike from Metallica, ACDC, Judas Priest and more. Midway through the gig the show veered sharply to the left with some musical comedy that had Breuer telling famous jokes as Rockstars from famous comedians. We almost died laughing as he told Richard Pryor jokes as Ozzy Osbourne, Steven Wright jokes as Rob Halford (Judas Priest) and Sam Kinison tales as Brian Johnson (ACDC).

The Loud & Rowdy

Jim Breuer and The Loud & Rowdy

The Loud & Rowdy

While recovering from laughing so hard, the band would finish with “Raising Teenage Girls,” “Unexplained” and “Living.” All in all, this was a refreshing night that gave us relief from the oh-so-serious shoegaze bands that have infiltrated the city as of late. While the comedic journey was fulfilling – it was the music that really stood out – riff-heavy metal, that anyone can enjoy, especially us older dads with kids.