Christmas with the Ted Kennedys

It was the experience that one hopes for in a cover band, especially one that tackles such a sacred cow

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Ian Deaton has found his calling in life, playing the part of Jello Biafra just as well - if not better - than Jello himself. On Christmas night Dead Kennedys cover band, the Ted Kennedy’s, played the Earl sandwiched between El Fossil (performing as the Dentures) and Hand of Doom (Hawks playing an all Black Sabbath set). If you were in the building then you already knew what you were there to see, and the TKs tore through hits such as “Police Truck,” “Let’s Lynch the Landlord” and “Holiday in Cambodia” Like perfect DK doppelgangers. They even closed with “Moon over Marin,” so you know they’ve been doing their homework. Deaton maintained a perfect Biafra lisp during his rants about racist cops, Coors and Coca Cola while a hail of bottles, cans and beer spray rained down on the band. On stage, Andrew Wiggins (on loan from Hawks) even looks kind of like DK bassist Klaus Fluoride in his prime, enough to be his stunt double anyway. George Asimakos bares a passing resemblance to East Bay Ray, and while the bleach blond ex-Mermaid Ryan Fetter doesn’t look much like D.H Peligro, he held it down proving that he is truly a punk rock drummer of the highest caliber. It was the experience that one hopes for in a cover band, especially one that tackles such a sacred cow, and it was awesome. These guys should do this more often.