Two years ago, Girlfriend in a Coma performed their farewell show at the Ottobar. The four band members who had been performing Smiths and Morrissey songs together for years before calling it quits to focus on their individual projects. Bassist Bryan Kimes, headed out to the west coast, drummer Sy Seyler and guitarist Glen Riley were busy with their successful 80’s music project, The Reagan Years, and lead singer, Chistopher Quinn was redirecting his focus towards his band The Treading Lemmings and new Smiths cover band, Caligula Blushed.
Last weekend, the band reunited for two nights and performed their Smiths and Morrissey favorites for their long-time fans. Friday night, Girlfriend in a Coma performed at Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, Virginia and on Saturday night they lit up Ottobar in Baltimore.
The band performed their usual outstanding set, packed with songs that every Smiths/Morrissey fan loves, and their delivery would make anyone watching seriously question that the 4 musicians hadn’t played together in quite some time. They performed over 20 songs including a few of my personal favorites, “Irish Blood, English Heart”, “Sheila Take a Bow”, and “Sing Your Life”. They ended their main set with the classic, “There is a Light and it Never Goes Out” and came back on stage to perform a two-song encore, ending the night with “The Boy with a Thorn in his Side”. Front-man, Christopher Quinn, was joined on stage by his son. Sean Quinn who played guitar for the last song of the main set, but it wasn’t just any guitar. Sean plays a Fender Johnny Marr Signature Jaguar, which was a special treat!
To make the night complete, Singles Going Steady – Buzzcocks Under Cover, opened for the evening. This 4-piece band from Philadelphia, showcased a set of Buzzcocks’ favorites including “Ever Fallen in Love” and “Harmony in my Head”. It was fun to hear an entire set of Buzzcocks’ songs performed live! These guys had those who came early, dancing and singing along. The band consists of Reginald DeJesus, Steve Cunnion, Rick Eddy, and Mike Simmons.
Two weeks from now, on Saturday January 25th, D.C. will have a chance to hear their favorite post punk and new wave songs performed live at Rock and Roll Hotel. Caligula Blushed, the newly formed Smiths’ tribute band led by Christopher Quinn, will headline the evening and the night will include opening performances by Singles Going Steady and our favorite Joy Division tribute band from New York, Disorder. This will be a great night of music that you will not want to miss! Be sure to pick up tickets to this soon because we will not be surprised if this show sells out! Click here to purchase tickets.
Check out this video of Disorder performing last January at the Ottobar when they opened for Caligula Blushed (You can read that show review, here), and enjoy photos of the Girlfriend in a Coma reunion show at the Ottobar along with Singles Going Steady, on January 4th.
