POP MUSIC REVIEW : ASTONS’ ANTICS INSPIRE GIDDINESS

Oh, what ecstatic flowers Michael and Jay Aston be! Identical twin blooms from the mystic land of Wales, they blossomed at the Palace Tuesday night, leading their group Gene Loves Jezebel through the looking glass and into the world of rock ‘n’ roll fantasia.

If that is sounding a bit silly, it’s only because the Jezebels inspire giddiness. Decked out in scarves and silks and velvet, the Astons are outrageous poseurs, primping and preening, falling all over each other, fussing with flowers and recalling a whole gallery of pop archetypes, from Brian Jones to Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler to David Lee Roth to Bette Davis fastening her seat belt for that bumpy ride.

But there’s nothing bumpy about the music the five Jezebels are making. Songs such as the Oriental-tinged “Cow” and the current MTV hit “Heartache” were soaked in solid rhythms and soaring, ringing guitar lines of the U2/Simple Minds school, creating a solid foundation for the Astons’ hard, nasal wailing and the occasional Yoko Ono-like chicken squawk.

Gene Loves Jezebel could easily become a campy bore, but the Astons’ histrionics were so goofily good-natured that they only heightened the celebratory nature of the music. Everybody was invited to this party.

The Brigade showed considerable growth and promise in its opening set. The local quartet (formerly known as Youth Brigade) has recently converted from hard-core punk to a more diversified, theatrical post-punk sound filled with strong political messages.

Compared to the headliners’ music it was stern stuff, but despite a few routine songs, the Brigade displayed a sense of dignified commitment rarely seen among Los Angeles’ current breed of empty-headed trash rockers.

Both bands will be at Fender’s Saturday.