American Music Club - Firefly | Music From My Misspent Youth
Ahhhh, the American Music Club. In 1989 there were 2 bands making the kind of music I heard in my head - The Beatkeepers from Columbus, Oh. and the American Music Club from California. The Beatkeepers were regulars on the Ohio/KY circuit and featured the phenomenal songwriter JP Olsen. The Beatkeepers put out one self titled record and JP did one more with the Haynes Boys called Burn Barrel a while back, then slipped from sight. The American Music Club and especially Mark Eitzel have had a much longer run and in 1989, they were young and on fire. Here’s a clip with some nauseating amateur zoom techniques of Bad Liquor, also from the California LP. Angry!
This is the band I saw in Newport, Ky at the short lived and exceptionally notorious (in my mind) Top Hat Bar. In 1989 in Newport, Ky. there were 2 industries - bars and strip clubs. After the truly infamous Jpckey Club was sold and bulldozed, the guys booking shows moved to the Top Hat. I already had and loved ‘California’, played the place regularly, so when the American Music Club appeared on the calendar with the debut of The Ass Pony’s opening, I was there. AMC was on fire this night. Eitzel was tragic and defiant while some of the local redneck crew stood up front shouting in his face. The band got louder and louder and Eitzel stood taller and taller ultimately taking the night. I picked up their whole back catalog from the back of their van on my way out the door.
Recommend: California and Everclear