Dead & Gone
Liberation Hall, 2025
9/10
The San Francisco hard rockers Sea Hags resurrect this 10 song live recording from 1986, which has the trio in their prime and right before they signed to a major label.
“Huntin’ For Dad” starts the set with Greg Lanston’s thumping drums and Ron Yocom’s driving guitar and rugged yet tuneful pipes guiding the glam-rock nods, and “Happy Hours With You” follows with a dense climate that makes great use of Chris Schlosshardt’s thick bass.
“Ridin’ Out” and “Doghouse” land in the middle. The former is a hard hitting moment of punk and metal that swirls with an infectious energy, while the latter showcases the meticulous rhythm section amid Yocom’s pipes that invites singing-along.
Landing close to the end, “King Bee Blues” spotlights the band’s sleazy metal approach that brought them plenty of fans, and “Cock Eyed Crow” exits with the scrappy drumming, raw riffs and playful bass that complements the biting vocals.
Sea Hags only released one album, in 1989, but they attracted plenty of attention and toured in Europe with The Georgia Satellites. Unfortunately, band drama, line up changes and, in 1991, Schlosshardt’s death, cut their existence all too short. Hearing this recording makes us wonder what could have been if they continued, cause their punk roots added to the metal and hard rock sensibilities creates a very unique formula.
Travels well with: Vivabeat- The House Is Burning: The Best Of Vivabeat 1979-1986; Translator- Beyond Today: Live At The Farm San Francisco 1986