Hold Me Like A Gun

Generally speaking, bands that share names with songs that they've written should be avoided like a smooch-happy barfly with a festering herpes outbreak—think Big Country, Wang Chung and the myriad swill-spewing bands of their ilk. Pomona three-piece Hold Me Like A Gun is a notable exception to this rule. The band, whose influences are apparent in their music and include the likes of punk rock godfathers Iggy Pop and MC5, delivers a hefty dose of stripped-down, '60s-inspired rock & roll with fearless intensity. Hold Me's self-titled song harkens back to an early Stooges-style sound, complete with gyrating, distorted chords, plenty of feedback and hand-claps. And songs like "First Class Whore" break the mold of wimpy P.C. rock. These aren't whiney boys lamenting the breakdown of a relationship or using the stage as a platform for social commentary and politicking. Instead, they supply their audience with rock as it should be: straight up, no chaser. The band doesn't need cheesy gimmicks or messages. They dish out solid rock that's dirty, powerful and from the soul. It's enough to make purists long for a past where the message and meaning of rock's fuzz-addled harmonics were sweet, simple and pure—just keep on rockin'. -IE Weekly