Dramarama Sprints as Bolshoi Stumbles

One band that’s headed for the top, and another that sounds like it’s not really sure where it’s going. That was the story last weekend at the Hollywood Palladium where local heroes Dramarama shared the bill with British quartet the Bolshoi.

Dynamic and confident, Dramarama seemed very much ready for the big time Friday as it roared through an upbeat, guitar-based set. Sounding like a tighter, “professional” version of the Replacements, the sextet walked a fine line between rock grandeur and punk grunge. Singer John Easdale delivered the urgent material with a naturally forceful presence.

In contrast, the Bolshoi’s semi-psychedlic Anglo-pop seemed weak and directionless and singer-guitarist Trevor Tanner--seeming to sense that he was fighting a losing battle--failed to connect with what was largely Dramarama’s crowd. Though the Stranglers-like, dark-yet-danceable “Please” had much of the remaining audience (which thinned out steadily following Dramarama’s set) bouncing around, it was too little, too late.