The Rayovacs
The Colourbox, June 11, 1998
text & photos by:  Helen Halloran
L.A.'s own Rayovacs grace Seattle with their presence.
 
Since I'd already gone out on Wednesday night to see the Ya Yas, I was debating as to whether or not I should go see the Rayovacs the following Thursday.  Afterall, it was a work night, and boy would I hate to not be bright, shiny and perky for my crappy job on Friday morning!  I heard through the musical grapevine that they were awesome, so I convinced Marc (the Combover webmaster) to accompany me to this fine happenin' event.  Boy were we glad we went!
Greg, the guitar man

The Rayovacs were second on the bill of an otherwise lack luster bevy of bands.  When I arrived I was delighted to see Bon, Dale and Kurt from Girl Trouble in attendance.  Since they have excellent musical taste (much like myself), I knew I was in for a treat.

Pitita, the goddess of the bottom end
 
This band consists of Greg on guitar, Pitita on bass, and Toast on drums.  Everybody gets to sing!  Greg and Toast are veterans of the L.A. band Paper Tulips, a band that apparantly had as much luck as Spinal Tap did with keeping a drummer.  So now Toast keeps the beat, and things appear to be working out well with this line up!
Toast, the stick queen

We all totally dug the crazy quirky garagey sounds that the kids from the Rayovacs were laying down.  My friend Marc was won over!  (He loves bands with rockin' chicks in them!)  I felt compelled to procure a couple of their fine singles, a big beautiful heart shaped 45 (on hot pink vinyl no less!) and a wonderous single featuring "Weak Sauce" and "Snowflake."  These babies rock!  Woo-hoo!  A fine time was had by all!  Too bad there weren't more people in attendance.  They just don't know what they're missin'!

Pitita sings a Celine Dion song (just kidding!)
 
Unfortunately, the other bands who were playing that night were pretty uninteresting.  That might have been a blessing in disguise being I had to wake up and work for The Man the next morning.  Oh well, it would've been nice to have seen The Rayovacs play with someone good though, like Girl Trouble!  Pitita and Toast did try to lure them onto the stage, but the GT kids weren't biting.  Besides, how could they play without the Big Kahuna?
Man, can these kids entertain the troops!
 
I later discovered that the Rayovacs had played in Seattle earlier in the week, wish I had known!  I would've become a Vac-head and followed them around!  Well, lucky for them this did not occur.  There's always the next time they come to town though, or the next time I go to L.A.!  Love them thar Rayovacs!  Ya'll come back now, ya hear?

Visit Toast's Rayovacs web site!

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