In a 25-year life span, most bands have 10 or more albums behind them. Urge Overkill, together since 1986, have six. Some bands have consecutively put out music and stay together. Urge Overkill didn’t. In 1997, the Chicago rockers called it quits. Only seven years later, singers Nash Kato and Eddie “King” Roser pulled together with new bassist Mike "Nadji" Hodgkiss and drummer Brian “Bonn” Quast for a performance at Maxwell’s in New Jersey. A live record came out of it, and last year, the band released “Effigy,” their first single as Urge Overkill in 15 years. Next up: their sixth studio album, Rock and Roll Submarine, aptly named for the band’s nautical journey as they took fans on a ride last night aboard Rocks Off summer cruise in New York.
With a rocky history like theirs, of course a simple boat ride wouldn’t start off smooth. Boarding along the FDR Drive took a wet turn when heavy rain pummeled down along the dock, leaving devoted UO fans drenched but still stoked to see the show. As guests—and the band—packed the back of the boat for shots of the double rainbow forming over the east river (these spectrums of light also caused a severe backup along the east side highway), the boat started up for its three-hour journey up and down New York’s harbor.
“It’s a really great feeling,” said “King” Roeser before the band started their nautical show. “It’s like a highlight for us. When we were younger we were a great band, but now we’re even better. Mayhem was extreme back then. It was the age of the irresponsibility. I don't even think I remember most of what happened.”
Settled on the top deck, Kato, dressed dapper in white pants paired with matching, lime green shoes, belt and shirt, dressed for the occasion, along with bassist Mike Hodgkiss in his Elvis-inspired, white suit get up. After the band posed for a quick photo, they moseyed downstairs, opening with “Effigy” then going back in time through their 16-song set, pulling from 1993’s Saturation with seven tracks, including “Back on Me,” “Bottle of Fur,” ‘Erica Kane,” “Positive Bleeding.” The band even threw in “(Now That's) The Barclords” from their 1992 EP Stull and “Vacation in Tokyo” from The Supersonic Storybook one year it’s junior, while Exit the Dragon (1995) and Submarine got equal credit with with three songs each. Submarine’s title song, along with two newer tracks, “Poison Flower” and “Quiet Person” (first of three encore songs), rounded out the set, which closed on a boat-shaking “Sister Havana.”
If there ever were any doubters, the band are at the top of their game, perhaps now more than ever. “It’s nice to wake up and feel like we’re as good as we’ve ever been,” said Roeser. “It’s something special for us.”
Urge Overkill are evidence that all great rock bands have a tumultuous existence, evolution. If they’re not extinct after it all, maybe they can see the rainbows at the end. “No, you don’t get that clubhouse feel anymore when everyone lived together,” Roeser continued as his son tugged at his shirt, pulling him along to get ready. “Now, people live in different places. I guess that’s what I miss most, but you don’t want that now.”
Urge Overkill play The Rock Shop Sat. July 16.
Photos: Patrick J. Eves
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