LITTLE KINGS CRUNCH

Being a nasty, rasty, shot ‘n’ a beer, three-chord rock ‘n’ roll band ain’t easy--everybody knows what this shtick is supposed to sound like: the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Mott the Hoople. Putting the Anticlub’s PA system to a paint-peeling test Friday, the Little Kings displayed not only the fierce white energy expected, but also the melodic sense that makes the quintet the reigning local contenders for the Stones’ three-chord throne.

Looking more like Hollywood streetdogs than streetwalkers, the band party-crashed through an hour’s worth of car-tunes, earmarked by a crunching version of Richard Berry’s R&B; rave-up “Have Love Will Travel” that was only about the fifth best song in the set. With their snarling, malevolent scarecrow of a lead singer, gangland harmonies and switchblade lead/rhythm guitar arrangements, the Little Kings might not be doing what’s most fashionable right now, but “good-bad, but not evil” taste like theirs is timeless.