Primitives Persevere at US Reunion Show

One way or another, the Primitives' performance Saturday night at the Bell House in Brooklyn, New York, was going to be memorable. The English rockers hadn't played the United States in nearly two decades, and fans were eager to hear singer Tracy Cattell, aka Tracy Tracy, pair her patented candy-cane vocals with founder and chief songwriter Paul Court's fuzzed-out guitar.

"We missed you!" someone shouted as the band took the stage, prompting a still-blond, still-foxy Cattell to reply, "We missed you, too."

Unfortunately, the Primitives and their loyal followers would go on missing each other a little bit longer. As the group prepared to count into opener 'Everything's Shining Bright,' a song it recorded between 1986 and 1988 before signing with RCA, Court discovered his guitar wasn't making any noise. He and a roadie fussed with the cords and dials, and after a few minutes, it seemed the amp and cherry-red Stratocaster -- both rented for this, the Primitives' only scheduled U.S. reunion gig -- were finally ready to cooperate.

The quartet made it through two songs, but after 'I'll Stick With You,' Court's instrument again fell silent. Understandably annoyed, the band left the stage while the road crew sorted things out.

"This will go down in history," a flustered Cattell said 10 or 15 minutes later, as Court's supposedly fixed guitar again cut out.

Luckily, the third fix proved a charm, and from 'Thru' the Flowers' onward, the Primitives had no problems. "I'm going to leave the past behind me," Cattell appropriately sang on standout 'Way Behind Me,' further making that point with chipper "ba-ba-ba-do" girl-group vocals.

Court appeared less enthused, but if he was disappointed about the technical difficulties, he didn't let his feelings affect his performance. On the psych-rock ballad 'Summer Rain,' he played rolling, jangling chords, slowing things down before the sugar-high tear through 'Stop Killing Me,' 'Really Stupid' and 'Crash,' the group's 1988 hit single.

Court's punky take on classic '60s pop felt as fresh as ever, especially after the opening set by upstarts Frankie and the Outs. Led by singer Frankie Rose, who has also played with the Dum Dum Girls and Vivian Girls, the group is one of many au courant acts following in the Primitives' footsteps.

Cattell dedicated closer 'We Found a Way to the Sun' to bassist Steve Dullaghan, whose death in 2009 inspired the Primitives to get back together. The two-song encore featured 'Nothing Left,' all about having "nothing left to say," and 'You Are the Way,' in which Cattell sings, "Words are useless / words say nothing / words can only close the door."

Despite the air of finality in those songs, Cattell left open the possibility of additional U.S. shows. "See you soon," she said, her fingers crossed. "Hopefully."

The Primitives on AOL Music