The Victors: Victorious! (1964–1966)

TWIST AND SHAKE — September 28, 2008
Reviewed by Beverly Patterson
Victorious!

Hailing from Minnesota, The Victors were like most bands of their day, as they primarily performed other artist’s material. But contrary to the majority of their peers, they were tougher, more assured and possessed an edge that suggested something concentrated and intense. Such tactics were eventually fully realized when two of the band’s members, Jim Kane and Denny Waite, surfaced in The Litter after The Victors called it quits. As for The Litter, well, that’s another story altogether, but let’s just say they were one monster of a band and were frequently (and deservedly) compared to the wild and innovative sounds of The Who and The Yardbirds. Here on "Victorious (1964-1966)," The Victors attack and plow through deadly covers of "I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore" (The Young Rascals), “All I Really Want To Do” (Bob Dylan done Byrds style), “You’re A Better Man Than I” (The Yardbirds), “Louie Louie” (The Kingsmen), “Good Golly Miss Molly” (Little Richard), “Kicks” (Paul Revere and The Raiders) and a trio of Them gems, including “Gloria,” “Little Girl” and “One More Time.” The term garage rock has certainly been used and abused over the years, but this disc indeed illustrates just what the genre stands for. Smirking vocals, assisted by rattling guitar licks, a devil may care attitude and youthful energy by the pound rules the turf.

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