The Blackfires Lay Waste to Fontana’s [2/3/12]

Stuck between a rock and a dank place – that pretty much describes the sweaty scene in the dark dungeon of Fontana’s late Friday evening.  One of our favorite unknown bands, The Blackfires, headlined the bill coming off a successful show in the Studio at Webster Hall just a few weeks ago. This performance was a quick shot of adrenaline before a higher-profile opening slot at the Gramercy Theater next month (March 24).

The Blackfires bring it – intensity in ten cities, volume cranked to 11, etc. – and Friday was no exception. For almost an hour, the five-piece “pirate rock” band crowded the tiny stage and mauled the house (and ear drums) with an entertaining set of balls-to-the-wall heaviosity. Enough crunchy twin-guitar riffs and pounding backbeat to motivate much of the well-dressed crowd to head-bang, dance, and even mosh a bit.

Their sound is best categorized as a potent cocktail combining sonic elements from Guns n Roses, Iron Maiden, Led Zeppelin, and the Darkness. A recipe for awesomeness (and ear plugs). Barely clothed except for bell-bottoms modded to the max (are those coon skins?), flamboyant frontman Cheggi Chegodaev led the band of scallywags through aural pleasures like “Sea Shanty,” “Grape Shot,” “Lost in Space,” and “Fighter.”

Yet, for us, the highlight of the show was when Cheggy grabbed his cape and three-pointed hat for a punchy little number called “Buccaneers Serenade.” The song marries danceable rhythm with punk mosh, and truly had the crowd in a frenzy.

If not for the sound dude, the Blackfires would’ve played all night.  While being kicked off stage, they weaseled an abbreviated encore and performed a rendition of Zep’s “Rock and Roll” before heading to the bar for some boozing.

So, please, if you wanna rock with the best of ‘em, do yourself a favor and check out the Blackfires.