Full
Powered Halo, The Red Telephone, John Surette & the DeNiros
and The Swallows at T.T. the Bear's
by Scott Bartlett
About 80 or so more people had filled up T.T.'s nicely by the time John Surette and the DeNiros hit the stage. They opened with a guitar driven original that led suitably into The Who's Classic… "Tattoo." Aside from a slow and brooking number mid-set, what followed was a forty-minute collection of sing-able choruses and hooks that kept everybody rocking from start to finish. The rhythm section played with energy and drive, rather than technical proficiency. Surette looked happy to be there and frequently chatted with the crowd between songs. The new guitarist added a nice touch with expressive leads and had a sensibility and presence similar to that of The Clash's Mick Jones or Cheap Trick's Rick Nelson. A faithful cover of Iggy Pop's "Tell Me a Story" ended the set. Not since The Cavedogs have I witnessed the song quality and delivery that John Surette and the DeNiros possess. I'm sold, the crowd was sold… go see them. Most of the crowd had gone when Full Powered Halo began their set. I had seen the trio at T.T.'s a while back and it seemed as though they had gone into hiding since then. Tonight they demonstrated a better grasp on songs than Red Telephone. … Full Powered Halo and The Red Telephone just need to get back in the wood shed and work on their material a bit more. John Surette and The DeNiros need to get out of the wood shed and play for Boston more often… Rumble 2000!!???