TODAY'S CONCERT PICK
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gunning for Houston
Rockers should be loners dosed with heavy helpings of cynicism and a twisted sense of humor. The Black Rebel Motorcycle Club get this — which made them a quick favorite when they burst out of San Francisco's hard-rockin' indie music scene of the late '90s.
Taking the name used by Marlon Brando's posse in the 1951 outlaw biker classic The Wild Ones, they established both menace, dark charm and tongue-in-cheek humor without ever saying a word.
When Black Rebel Motorcycle Club finally did say something, it was a mix of show-gazing snarls, dark harmonies and a guitar crunch that made their 2001 self-titled debut, 2003's "Take Them On, On Your Own" and 2005's "Howl" all underground classics.
The musical inspirations ranged from Rolling Stones' rockin' blues to the trippy trance of The Jesus and Mary Chain, but it was a unique hybird not to found on regular radio. It was a slow-churning buzz that grew show to show, on chat rooms and by word of mouth.
A decade into its recording life, B.R.M.C's mystique has faded a bit — but its ability to changes lives through amplified noise has not.
They have been discovered by Rolling Stone and daily newspapers and their just-released sixth album, "Beat The Devil's Tattoo," has already charted as high as No. 58.
If they aren't careful they could find themselves up for a Grammy or (gasp!) an MTV Music Award.
They may not be an underground delight any longer and the rooms they play are much more polished, but B.R.M.C. still bring the beautiful guitar clatter like few other.
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, 8 p.m. Saturday at House of Blues
Tickets $20-$35