Bunnydrums, Things That Fall Down / 9:30 Club

You'd think that with precedents like the Gang of Four and Joy Division that the principles of quirky yet accessible danse macabre would be firmly established by now. However a night out with Philadelphia's Bunnydrums and the Things That Fall Down (from Minneapolis) at D.C.'s 9:30 Club proved that the genre still yields as much dreck as gems.

Both groups utilized the familiar big boned rhythm sections and para-serendipitous guitar stylings. Only the openers, Things That Fall Down, then spoilt the effect with muddled, half-baked arrangements of their two-guitar/trombone front line and a host of lax, meandering songs. Arch vocals and predictably camp mock-formal stage costumes could only make matters worse.

Bunnydrums were the other side of the coin. Much to their credit is due to their guitarist, Mr. "Jive Pud" and his rare combination of imagination and restraint. Throughout the set he kept his contribution to a bare minimum while making them absolutely crucial. The rhythm section, Greg Davis on bass and Joe Ankenbrand on drums, were just as compulsive yet lithe as the name brand competition - look out, Pylon.

The main focus however was on Dave Goerk - vocals and synthesizer. As a singer he's good, damn good: dramatic, authoritative, distinctive. Stylish but not stylized. Man looks good too, like an improbable cross between Lux Interior and Mark Mothersbaugh - handsome but unhinged. Best of all, though, is his synth playing. Nothing fancy, mind you, but deadly effective. As on their single "Win", he uses it to produce dissonant harmonies; elsewhere, for hypnotic melodies, sweet drones wacky percussive punctuation. Again he brings to mind Mothersbaugh, but with less mannered, more straightforwardly musical bent.

Yeah, buy the single, watch the local club listings. Hot shit.

New York Rocker / November 1981
Howard S.M. Wuelfing