Search - Didjits :: Hey Judester

80s punk rock classic from crazy Central Illinois band

Michael C. Bennett | Chicago, IL United States | 02/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD contains the first two platters by the Mattoon, Illinois trio. Didjits are successors to a line of rock 'n' roll lunatics, from Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis (in fact the disc has a cover of "Lucille", and two homages to the Killer), the garage rock of the Sonics, the trashiness of the New York Dolls, the dumb smartness (or is it smart dumbness?) of Ramones, and hooks aplenty in the tradition of the Buzzcocks. No other punk band in the 80s melded fast, not-quite hardcore tempos with a traditional rock-and-roll sensibility, in celebration of cars, the bad ass life style, and...fish ("Under The Christmas Fish" and "King Carp"). Drummer Brad Sims and bassist Doug Evans are rock solid, but the show is dominated by singer/shouter Rick Sims, who fires notes off his guitar fast, trebly and just barely in control, and never at the expense of the incredibly catchy tunes."