Metalliblog: D.R.I. (w/ Inhuman and Rumpelstiltskin Grinder) @ Gramercy Theater

Question: Who in their right mind would come up with the idea to have a metal show at 10pm? Better question: Who would expect anyone to show up at a metal show at that hour? The brazen powers-that-be, that's who! If it's a metal show, they will come! The hordes of sweaty, smelly, greasy, horned-up freaks will come at all hours to see a legendary thrash/punk act bring the house down.

For D.R.I., who haven't released a single record in the last 15 years, the mission is rather simple. They blaze through nearly 20, maybe 30, songs with lightning-fast speed. The crowd throws empty or crushed beer cans at them onstage, and many deliriously-minded morons proceed to jump onto the stage and to stagedive back into the crowd. The night was full of that old-time punk/metal religion, a fight between two barrel-chested skinheads broke out early in their set, which is always fun to watch, and the air reeked of blood, sweat, and ham sandwiches. D.R.I. make jokes about the raucous crowd, though at one point frontman Kurt Brecht gets annoyed at one dude in the crowd who is continuously throwing cans at them and challenges him to come up onstage.

Despite the tension in the air, the band play on with familiar classics like opener "Who Am I" to closer "The Five Year Plan." All this in time for their reissue of 1987's Crossover, but what we really need is a new D.R.I. album! And while that may not happen any time soon, it was good to see these old men in their proper element and still whoopin' some ass.

RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER - From the dive bars of Europa to the bigger dive bars of Gramercy, these kids are moving on up! Too bad their music hasn't changed. Set Grade: C+

INHUMAN - Hank Hell's other group away from the Kenny Hickey-fronted Seventh Void. Pretty chaotic and groovy stuff. Set Grade: B-

D.R.I. - The familiar Thrash-and-Grab outfit of the 80s haven't lost their touch despite 15 years of inactivity. Despite baggy eyes, gray hair, and changing times, the boys never miss a beat. And Spike Cassidy's guitar, bedecked with stickers and decals of pop culture and cartoons (Bart Simpson, Beavis), is still the coolest-looking axe I've seen! Set Grade: B+

Show Grade: B