The Split Squad at the Bowery Electric

The Split Squad is comprised of the members of classic punk bands from decades past. Vocalist/bassist Michael Giblin was in Cherry Twister, guitarist Eddie Muñoz is in the Plimsouls, guitarist Keith Streng is in the Fleshtones, keyboardist Josh Kantor was in the Baseball Project, and drummer Clem Burke was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of Blondie. The new band's name refers to the practice during Major League Baseball's spring training of teams splitting into two squads so that each squad plays against another team on the same day. Conceived in 2011 and formed in 2013, the band's sole album, Now Hear This... was released in 2014.

The Split Squad returned to the Bowery Electric, this time without a keyboardist, and rocked the venue with blazing guitars. Streng's guitar was wireless, and he dashed into the audience often for his solos; Muñoz was contained at the side of the stage but whipped out equally electric solos. The force was not only in the guitar work, however. Giblin sang catchy 1960s-style pop melodies and Burke pounded the percussion tirelessly. Falling somewhere between garage rock and power pop, the sum total was a high-energy rock and roll show.

Visit the Split Squad at www.thesplitsquad.com.

Setlist:

1. Superman Says
2. I've Got a Feeling
3. Hey DJ
4. Sorry She's Mine (Small Faces cover)
5. Showstopper
6. Hey Hey Baby
7. Feel the Same about You
8. Touch & Go
9. Help Yourself (Jimmy Reed cover)
10. Stop Me
11. Palpitation Blues
12. Now Hear This / Rock and Roll Queen (Mott the Hoople cover)

Encore:

1. A Million Miles Away (The Plimsouls cover)