CockFight Kings, Photo by Laura Winn

Examiner Bio Throw a slab of bacon on it! Friday's Concert in the Park was sizzling hot! Literally, and figuratively...

Despite the 104 degree scorcher, a reported 5,000 people braved the heat to see CockFight Kings, Phantom Jets, The No-Goodniks, and The Snobs at Cesar Chavez Plaza.

CockFight Kings kicked things off with a lively set of rockabilly tunes in the vein of the Stray Cats.  CockFight Kings had the essential elements of rockabilly: rock n' roll and country western, but they also had so much more. Hints of punk, blues, and reggae were evident as they sang songs about "Hillbilly Blues" and hayrides.  Frontman Killer Joe pounded away at the stand-up bass while occasionally wandering into reggae vocal territory, think Sublime's Bradley Nowell meets Shaggy "Mr. Boombastic." If Jeff Foxworthy made joking about being a redneck cool, CockFight Kings make singing about it even cooler.

Phantom Jets brought the 60s to the park with a retro surf-garage-punk set.  Dressed in modern day meets 60s mod attire, the four-piece, Ted M. (vocals, guitar), John G. (bass), Sarah H. (organ), and Frank T. (drums), visually matched their The Animals meets The Hives sound.  Like many Sacramento bands before them, Phantom Jets infuse their music with horror movie references on songs like "Swinging Zombie Heads."  If the Scooby Doo gang ever formed a band (did they?), they'd wish they sounded like the Phantom Jets.

The No-Goodniks, Photo by Laura Winn

Pop-punkers The No-Goodniks celebrated their CD release by jolting things up to a notch just above "smoking hot."  Blasting through songs off their release, Life is Here! Wish You Were Great!, the band grabbed 5,000 Sacramentoans by the balls and didn't let go until the last note. Frontwoman Jessi Rose refused to censor herself for the all-ages crowd, spewing punk rock attitude and expletives with her powerful pretty pop meets gritty punk vocals. Between verses on "Wasted," Jessi raised her beer to her lips while the band continued pounding its three-chord punk rock ala The Ramones. It's safe to say Friday's set sold more than a couple CDs.

The Snobs, Photo by Laura Winn

(Read the Sacramento Rock Music Examiner review of Life is Here! Wish You Were Great! here.)

As soon as The Snobs lead singer Jason Boggs walked on stage with his saxophone, the crowd screamed.  Almost exactly five years ago (a difference of one day), The Snobs were the middle-slotted Concert in the Park band, opening for The Brodys.  On that Friday, the crowd clapped politely, but it was mostly a "take 'em or leave 'em" reception.   Fast forward five years, and I think The Snobs have become the kind of band you either hate or love.  How anyone could feel indifferently about the 2009-era Snobs is beyond me.  The Snobs sound like The Clash and The Stooges got together and formed a politically-aware party rock band.  If you've ever found yourself dancing to Iggy Pop's "Lust for Life," you're just as likely to find yourself dancing to Snobs tunes like "The Difference" and "Riot."  And Friday while the band jammed, the crowd danced and danced under the blazing sun.

The 104 degree heat was no match for Friday's show. The heat may have melted your face off, but the music rocked both socks and shoes off.

taken from: http://www.examiner.com/x-4336-Sacramento-Rock-Music-Examiner~y2009m7d20-Throw-a-slab-of-bacon-on-it-Fridays-Concert-in-the-Park-was-sizzling-hot by Laura Winn