Thelonious Monster’s Lovable Loudmouth

Sometimes it looked as if Thelonious Monster’s Bob Forrest could hardly wait for a song to end so he could start talking during Friday’s concert at the Palace. Not that he shortchanged the music, but really, there’s all this stuff going on. Can you believe the Dodgers? Is anybody actually going to pay money to see the Who and the Stones? The Palace is OK, but don’t mess with the bouncers. Guess what my kid did today? Forrest also discoursed on his career, his girlfriend and Michael Jordan; made fun of Tone Loc, and got some girls to join the guys in stage-diving.

Forrest is the David Lee Roth of L.A.’s street-rock set: different values, but still the lovable loudmouth. Like Roth, he’s both hero and pal to his audience, taking them through days they recognize and share. They’re days of staying one step ahead--borrowing $20, going to the bank and the 7-Eleven, making the gig.

This quintet isn’t just attitude: “So What if I Did” is simply one of the best songs to ever come out of the L.A. rock scene. With the players hitting Byrds and Love L.A. rock grooves and then cranking up a punkish, bluesish blur with the wall-of-pain power of old Crazy Horse, Thelonious Monster is making a fair bid to join Mott the Hoople in the Glorious Failure Hall of Fame.