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Iggy and The Stooges show lust and life at WaMu Theater

Iggy and The Stooges show lust and life at WaMu Theater
by Jessica Browning - SGN A&E Writer Iggy and The Stooges April 27 @ WaMu Theater Iggy Pop has always been someone that thrives in the face of adversity. Whether battling drug addiction or railing against the establishment throughout the short-lived heyday of The Stooges, he has managed to survive and come out smelling like a rose. Well, perhaps not a rose; but being anywhere near Iggy Pop when he takes the stage positively reeks of extreme levels of adrenaline. He is a force of nature, and proved it once again with The Stooges Friday night at the WaMu Theater. So far this year, the reunited Stooges have released their first original album in 33 years, embarked on a major US tour, and celebrated the sixtieth birthday of their lead singer just one week prior to their Seattle date. The reformed band, including original members Ron and Scott Asheton on guitar and drums, also features renowned bassist Mike Watt and saxophonist Steve MaKay. The pre-show anticipation at the WaMu was sky high to see this seminal lineup, and the crowd was ready for anything. Openers Boss Martians warmed up the stage, giving fans a chance to get used to the odd setup of the monstrous, arena-like venue. Older, cleaned up ex-punkers and hard rock fans mingled with teenagers and college students there to pay tribute to the Godfather of punk. The WaMu Theater is actually a sectioned off portion of the old Stadium Exhibition Center at Qwest Field. The outer area was lit with dimmed, club-like lights suspended over three or four bars in an attempt to distract from the convention center feel of the venue. Having said that, the sound - once the Stooges took the stage - was crystal clear. Pop, flanked by The Stooges, took the stage in a flash, all sinewy limbs, flailing arms, and high energy. By the time they tore into "I Wanna Be Your Dog", he had already jumped out into the crowd, climbed atop an amp, and pored water on himself and everybody in the pit. "TV Eye" was a highlight, as well as "Dirt" and "Real Cool Time". At 60, Pop looked absolutely astounding and yes, sexy in his low-rise jeans and trademark absent shirt. At first, the audience seemed to feel a bit on edge in the cavernous theater, but unsurprisingly, the floor filled up fast. During "No Fun", the punk icon beckoned the crowd to join him onstage, and about 20-30 eager fans of all ages did just that. Ordinarily, this can be distracting, but in the case of The Stooges it actually worked. Pop turned his back to the audience and faced the throng of dancers, singing "No Fun" over and over while staring them down face to face. It must have been a blast for the fans as well as for him. As he moved about the stage, the entire gathering moved en masse along with him. Thankfully, a magnetic performer in his sixties can actually rock a crowd thoroughly without seeming trite. "Thank you to the extremely smelly Seattle dancers," he joked as concertgoers dispersed. The energy didn't stop there. Critics and fans have expressed only mild interest in the new album (titled The Weirdness), but the tracks the band showcased actually seemed to be in line with what The Stooges do best. The songs are not complex - just good, dirty, rebel rock with a heap of testosterone and hyperactivity thrown in as well. "My Idea of Fun" sounds as if it could have been pulled from the debut album. The only surprise of the evening was the absence of anything from Raw Power. I was half hoping Pop would surprise everyone with "Lust For Life", but no such luck. Two encores later, Pop still skipped and pranced all the way through "1969" and the standout new track "I'm Fried". It's amazing that he hasn't changed a bit in all these years, and even now seems to possess a superhuman strength that electrifies and gives everyone involved a thrill. This old punk has a bag of tricks in him yet. Watch out for The Stooges, they are still alive and most definitely kicking.