It’s amazing that a bootleg is made from the original ½” tape, not just a copy of spinning vinyl from the original Dangerhouse release. I don’t know how that happened, but I’m glad it did. It sounds absolutely great. The Alleycats, one of the lesser-known L.A. Masque bands (compared to X and the Germs) were probably one of the most musically proficient. They were older, had been in bar bands before, but were open to and thankfully charged up by a brand new thing called punk rock that had come across the ocean from England. Randy Stodola’s tightly wound guitar chord progressions match his growling. He’s counterpointed by leggy Dianne Chai’s great backup vocals and playful, almost surfy bass. John McCarthy’s drumming hammers it all home so the songs don’t travel too far off course. It’s commanding stuff, especially for a trio. Then they become The Zarkons. Ooh, what a big hair mess that was.
–todd (bootleg)