Redd Kross Rocks Brooklyn with Hits and Brotherly Banter: Concert Review

Photo: Catherine Herrick

One of the most common things you’ll hear musicians of a certain age say onstage is some variation of, “We never dreamed we’d still be playing and talking about these songs” 20 or 35 or 55 years later.

For the vastly underrated veteran alt-rock icons Redd Kross, who were pivotal influences on the punk, indie, and metal scenes of the ’80s and ’90s, their music, image, and raison d’etre were retro from the start. An elaborately ironic take on the early 1970s music and culture they grew up on, the band mixed reverence and mockery in a way that helped set the cultural tone for Gen X. When their moment came in the early ’90s, with a major-label deal and their influencees becoming superstars, they couldn’t bring themselves to take it seriously.

While irreverent as ever, they’re taking it all pretty seriously now. On their current tour, they’re supporting a new album, and two retrospective projects: a book, “Now You’re One Of Us: The Incredible Story of Redd Kross,” due in October, and a documentary called “Born Innocent” (named after their first album) that shows how ahead of their time Redd Kross were. To recap: brothers Jeff and Steve McDonald performed their first show 45 years ago, opening for punk icons Black Flag in a park in Redondo Beach. Over the years, bands like Nirvana and Guns N’ Roses took notes from their look, moves, attitude, and sound.

So, what does Redd Kross look like in 2024? They’re as great as ever and not that much older. Rather than the flamboyant bell-bottoms and paisley of yesteryear, they took the stage in matching light-blue suits. Steve’s hair is still waist-length but Jeff’s is short, and he wore his glasses for half the set. They’re still incredibly funny onstage, recalling their first gig opening for Black Flag and making jokes that resonated well with their dedicated, generationally specific audience.

It’s safe to say that the majority of the audience at Brooklyn’s Music Hall of Williamsburg understood every single joke. The band knows its audience: they hit the stage at the older-person-friendly hour of 9 p.m. on a Friday and were done before 10:30.

The beginning of the set leaned on later material, including songs from their new album, jokingly nicknamed “The Redd Album.” They also played more recent tracks like “Candy Colored Catastrophe” and “Stay Away From Downtown,” showcasing their timeless pop chops. Midway through, they delved into their classic era, recalling albums like “Phase Shifter,” “Neurotica,” and concluding the main set with the 1984 classic “Linda Blair,” complete with comically big riffing.

The McDonalds’ dynamic remains charismatic and hilarious, including brotherly jabs and charming moments like Steve sticking out his tongue at Jeff mid-song. They joked with the crowd and took moments to recall their history, noting that their first show was almost exactly 45 years before this night. They thanked the audience for riding with them on their long journey, although Steve rolled his eyes sarcastically at the word “journey.”

They are joined by lead guitarist Jason Shapiro and drummer Dale Crover, both of whom joined in 2019. Crover, known for his heavy style with the Melvins, adapted to Redd Kross’s pop-psych style, proving to be a versatile and powerful addition.

The encore began with the 1982 KROQ anthem “Annette’s Got the Hits,” ending with their cover of Kiss’ “Deuce.” During Shapiro’s guitar solo, Jeff and Steve performed a nostalgic headbang, reminiscent of their childhood.

Seeing them still rocking out at 60 and 57, clearly enjoying every moment, was both nostalgic and adorable.