- courtesy of Devious Planet
- The Standells (circa 2014)
Few bands are more synonymous with the sound of garage rock than the Standells, whose hit “Dirty Water” about the Charles River is not only a Boston rock anthem (“I love that dirty water / Boston you’re my home”), but also one of the most identifiable and durable gems from the original Nuggets compilation. Apparently various reconstituted versions of the band have been performing live since the mid-80s—the quartet’s original run began in 1962 and petered out unceremoniously in 1972—but the current lineup is in the midst of a U.S. tour that brings them to Chicago on Tuesday for a show at Mayne Stage. I missed the recent local date by Seattle’s proto-punk legends the Sonics at Double Door, but all reports gave it an exuberant thumbs up. I’m much more skeptical that such will be the case for the Standells, who will be recording Tuesday’s show for an upcoming live album.
