Phillyist Playlist: Electric Six at Johnny Brenda's

"Fire in the disco! Fire in the Taco Bell! Fire in the disco! Fire in the gates of hell!"

The first time I heard these words, I was in a nightclub in North London. My first reaction was, "Europeans really do listen to some weird shit...and I dig it." At the time, I had no clue that what I was hearing wasn't really European at all, but decidedly American, as these were the opening lines of "Danger! High Voltage" by Detroit rockers Electric Six (MySpace). That was the beginning of a four-month long borderline obsession with the disco-funk-pop-rock outfit responsible for such catchy, politically incorrect numbers as "Gay Bar" and "Infected Girls."

Irreverent and funky—how could these guys not catch on?

Sadly, it doesn't seem that they have, at least not on the scale that I'd expected after "Danger! High Voltage" dominated British radio and club playlists for the four months I was there. I returned to America expecting that either they'd hit mainstream popularity around the same time that they did across the pond, or at least that fame was imminent. But it just didn't seem to take.

A lack of mainstream stardom hasn't stopped Electric Six from continuing to do what they do, though. In the six-plus years since "Danger! High Voltage" and "Gay Bar," they've continued to put out albums, tour relentlessly, and rock the socks (and underwear) off anyone who will listen. They're loud, inappropriate, and more than a little bit awesome. So we highly recommend you check Electric Six when they hit Johnny Brenda's tomorrow night in support of their new album, Kill (which, incidentally, comes out tomorrow). It won't be good, clean fun—but it will be fun.

Electric Six, with The Gay Blades and Millions of Brazilians
Tomorrow, 10/20/09
9 p.m. (Doors 8 p.m.), 21+
Johnny Brenda's, 1201 Frankford Ave.
Tickets: $13 in advance; $15 day of show