It cant be easy to be a band sharing a bill with hard and heavy Portland duo the Ax, especially if said band is obliged to play after they do. The Ax make big, growling, edgy rock delivered with minimalist perfection. Its transfixing, but trying to follow them up with something better or even just as good is no easy task. The Ax guitarist and lead vocalist Chris Pierce is uber-charismatic, but even if he rocked out in glitter-dipped tighty-whities, hed still be outshined by powerhouse drummer Adam Jelsing, who plays big, with a sick, easy precision that could carry the show all on its own. With Death by Steamship, Shadow People, Chinese. MA’CHELL DUMA LAVASSAR
Thu., Jan. 28, 9:30 p.m., 2010
