Sonic Reducer

It’s Thursday night at Hardy’s Basement
Furious Intent’s slopping over the edge of the stage
Debbie Scenestealer’s drunk and hooting
by the soundboard where if signs are correct
she’s sleeping with Ronnie again
On stage Bobby’s saying he’s gonna cold-cock Gil
if he fucks up one more change
Spooky the drummer can’t keep time
with the apocalypse going on in front of him
Sandy’s E-string is a half cent flat
and that makes her bass sound like a sick foghorn
They’ve all got pawn shop specials to play
and someone’s got a blown tube
so there’s fuzz all over everything
and it’s starting to get painful
but at least we’re not breathing the smoke
from the patio when we’re in here
breathing the fire roaring underneath the noise
Spooky counts another one off
and it’s Dead Boys time
like we need a cover of Sonic Reducer
to crank this up any higher
but tonight they’re faster and louder
than usual
or maybe they’re finally drunk enough to play
Sandy’s finally reached up and tweaked that string
Gil’s finally keeping up with what Bobby’s putting down
and Bobby’s finally putting EVERYTHING down
gonna spend it all right here and now
every speck of how pissed he was just before this
showing in the veins ripping through his neck
and there might be blood on the strings
considering how much blood is in the song
and it seems all at once that we do
need another cover of Sonic Reducer
if Debbie Scenestealer’s gonna have anything to say about it
when she comes Docs first across the floor
and is onstage with the band
Bobby hands her the mike
and damned if ninety-five black leotard and eyeliner pounds of Debbie
isn’t turning into tornado awesome right before our eyes
as Furious Intent slops tsunami dagger fire over the edge of the stage
and Hardy’s Basement becomes the best damn hellmouth on earth
for two minutes and thirty nine seconds
right before the house lights come up
and Ronnie starts telling us to get the fuck out
we don’t have to go home
but we can’t stay here
as if we thought anyone could
or should
stay here
for any more time than it takes
to burst into flame