Presidents Show Need for Touring Limits

On their 1995 debut album, the Seattle-based Presidents of the United States of America punctured the depressed heft of grunge with hyperkinetic songs teeming with froggies, chickies and kitties. The album sold 2 million and spawned three hits, and the Presidents became fast frat-house favorites.

At the El Rey Theatre on Sunday, the band looked weary as it whipped out its trademark two- and three-string guitars. Singer-guitarist Chris Ballew seemed to be losing his voice, and the Presidents showed the wear-and-tear of two years in the spotlight and long-term touring.

Ballew, “guitbass” player Dave Dederer and drummer Jason Finn worked through a fun yet sometimes faltering set of hits and songs from “II,” their less successful sophomore effort. The peak was an older tune, “Naked and Famous,” a song about L.A. that moved all three band members to pound the drums and inspired the crowd to pogo in perfect sync.

After a while, however, the in-jokes became tired and the critter songs began to sound alike. When the Presidents revealed more enthusiasm for non-originals (the Buggles’ “Video Killed the Radio Star,” the MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams,” Soundgarden’s “Spoonman”) than they did for their own new songs, it seemed that perhaps the Presidents will never move beyond their role of party band--a role that seems to be grinding them down.