by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Just as you're getting over your Halloween hangovers, the Misfits make it an extended holiday by pulling into town tonight, Nov. 11, at Rainbow. With Marky Ramone and Black Flag's Dez Cadena joining last Misfit standing Jerry Only, they oughta be in the best shape since, well, Walk Among Us, right? Wrong! With hopes of spying even a glimmer of their former genius, I have been rooked into witnessing a couple of their "returns." I was utterly heartbroken as they trampled over the classics like "We Are 138" and "Horror Hotel." The second to last show at Foufs was the final straw, with Only taking over on vocals and not only destroying the Misfits catalogue but also '50s classics like "Magic Moments" and "Diana," and Ramone and Cadena barely phoning in their performances. The fact of the matter is, without the original singer and sole songwriter, shrimpkin Glenn Danzig, they come across like all Oates and no Hall. Guess Only's lone motivation is the long green, as the Misfits name commands a high guarantee from promoters and perpetuates sales of action figures and comic books. If you think I'm talking out of my ass, go ahead and let Jerry chump you out of your change ($25!) for what could be best described as a tribute band. On the same bill, stomping through the oldies like "Bloodstains" and "Pipeline," will be venerable So-Cal surf punks Agent Orange, but show up early because local psychobilly champs Gutter Demons may be the ones to watch.

In Misfits-related news, peep www.sinister.com.au, go to the "downloads" section and see the video of North Side Kings singer Danny Marianinho punch Danzig's lights out. Watch in horror and utter hilarity as the Napoleon of punk goes down quicker than a Surrey girl in this clip (if you were from Vancouver, you would get that joke).

Moving on to other things dropping, prepare yourselves for some of the best metal-tinged hardcore happening in Canada right now when Ottawa's Buried Inside come to town for a good, old-fashioned beatdown at Electric Tractor on Friday, Nov. 12. Buried Inside just inked a deal with the kings of extreme, Relapse Records, and their new record Chronoclast, rumoured to be just one 40-minute piece, is set to drop in the new year. Levis, Quebec speed freaks Mi Amore and locals Black Cobra open.

A show not to be missed would definitely be punk/metal kings Zeke, scorching Cabaret la Tulipe on Nov. 13. Also along for the ride will be Vancouver's glammy punks the Black Halos and a chance to see locals Vulgar Deli right before they release their new record Kill Rock 'n' Roll on Indica.

Finally, check out Metha Mean when they open up for industrial legends Psychic TV on Nov. 19 at Café Campus. Band leader Stef Caron's day gig is being the always cheerful and smiling face behind the counter at Steve's Music Store. When he isn't pimping picks and patchcords to the strains of "Stairway to Heaven," he heads up this local industrial-metal outfit, with the forecast always calling for doom and gloom.

Counting down the days until ISIS! jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

Editor's note: Disko Akimbo is on hiatus while Raf Katigbak is in the Philippines, and will return in mid-December.

>> Music Listings