INDY'S WEEKLY ALTERNATIVE NEWSPAPER HIGHLIGHTING ARTS, ENTERTAINMENT AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

The Urinal Mints save your soul

The Urinal Mints
Melody Inn
Saturday, Jan. 20
www.punkrocknight.com

An assembly of true believers gathered around Saturday before the altar of punk rock at the church of the Melody … Inn that is.

Lead singer and bassist of South Bend, Ind.-based humorcore heroes The Urinal Mints, Propecia Rogaine (aka Jesus Hillary Christ) did the blessing, but considering the barn-burner of a Punk Rock Night set they unleashed, it was a blessing all the same. Omnipresent during the show, Propecia screamed out cute little hardcore numbers like “Own Your Soul.”

“It’s a minor miracle that you all got to touch the Ass of Christ,” he proclaimed as he literally showed the audience his rear for the entire song.

Lukkakke, aka The Pope, was also in fine form. His melodic buzz saw guitar lines that anchored the music, and along with The High Reverend William $aint William on the drums, they provided a stable foundation. The apex of the show came when Propecia pulled out a mandolin and led the crowd in a funny sing-along, “I Wanna Smoke Crack With You.” Here, the essence of the band shined through. Although they are a comedic band, their willingness to add new sounds, textures and noise, plus their set of tight, catchy songs, make The Urinal Mints a bit more than a novelty.

The Urinal Mints gig kicked off a month of top-shelf shows at the Melody Inn’s weekly Punk Rock Night (on Saturdays), which include The Messengers, Guns on the Run and Indy’s own punk rock sexpot J.J. Pearson and his Experience performing for $6 on Saturday, Jan. 27 at 10 p.m. On Saturday, Feb. 3, The Randies — the hot L.A. buzz band that has been featured in Blender — return to the Melody Inn as their star continues to rise, a testament to the good stuff Punk Rock Night promoter Greg Brenner and bar owners Dave Brown and Rob Ondrish are doing at the Mel.