The Dictators NYC at the Bowery Electric

The Dictators formed in New York in 1973 as a hard-hitting rock and roll band in the style of Detroit rock ragers the MC5 and the Stooges. The band became a local legend and recorded eight albums, but marginal widespread success led the band to split up and reassemble in different configurations and under more titles than even the band members can count. Vocalist Richard Blum, better known as “Handsome Dick” Manitoba, and guitarist Ross “the Boss” Friedman presently lead the Dictators NYC.

At the Bowery Electric tonight, the Dictators NYC encapsulated the band’s 40-year history with a set that included “The Next Big Thing” and “Two Tub Man” from the first album, The Dictators Go Girl Crazy!, to “The Savage Beat” and “Who Will Save Rock and Roll” from the 2001 D.F.F.D. (Dictators Forever, Forever Dictators) album. The band even performed two songs from the Dictators’ splinter band, Manitoba’s Wild Kingdom, “The Party Starts Now!” (which was in the movie Kindergarten Cop but not on soundtrack album), and “New York, New York” (which was on the Mondo New York soundtrack). The Dictators NYC played loud, hard and fast, but most of all Manitoba made sure it was fun as well. Manitoba’s Bronx-born bad-boy stream-of-consciousness banter between songs came with a light-hearted attitude that complimented the in-you-face rawness of the band’s music. We await the next Dictators reunion.