In a Facebook post from the fan page of The Sloths, it read, “Last chance before we start dropping dead?” This may sound a bit dark, but it perfectly captures the essence of this 1960s L.A. garage band, which recently reunited after four decades and released an album titled “Back From the Grave.”
The Sloths took to the stage at the Whisky a Go Go on Sunday night, opening for Love With Johnny Echols. It was a nostalgic homecoming for the band that had its humble beginnings on the same stage nearly 60 years ago.
As the band kicked off their set of 1960s classics, vocalist Tom McLoughlin exclaimed, “This is going to be really f***ing strange!” Watching The Sloths perform live in a club was a long-awaited moment for me.
I had first seen The Sloths perform back in 1965. A group of teenage boys with their electric guitars and drums had invaded my family’s guesthouse, where they played “Satisfaction” over and over again, along with their original songs like “Makin’ Love.” As a 5-year-old, I didn’t fully understand it then, but I loved being around these cool teenage rockers and cruising down the Sunset Strip in my mom’s convertible, giving them a lift to the legendary Teen-Age Fair in Hollywood. Their raw, bluesy rock style made an impact on the small, yet significant, L.A. music scene, sharing stages with the likes of Love, The Doors, and The Seeds.
The Sloths circa 1965, including from left, Hank Daniels and Michael Rummans. Courtesy image
Although bass guitarist Michael Rummans is the only original member of the current lineup, the band was joined by original guitarist Jeff Briskin for this special show. COVID prevented drummer Ray Herron from performing, so Danny Gorman of The Yellow Payges took over, while Dave Provost of the proto-punk band Droogs played lead guitar. And let’s not forget about Tommy McLoughlin of The May Wines, a horror film director known for “Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives,” who also serves as an energetic lead vocalist for the revamped band.
The Sloths’ original guitarist and vocalist was my late brother, Hank Daniels, who sadly passed away a few years ago. He not only contributed to the band’s music but also designed their Rat Fink-inspired logo. He wrote both songs on their debut and only single, “Makin’ Love.”
The idea of seeing The Sloths perform live and reconnecting with the band members who last saw me as a young and enthusiastic fan had never crossed my mind until now.
When “Makin’ Love” was released as a single in 1965, it didn’t receive much airplay due to its grungy and slightly risqué nature. The band eventually disbanded a year later, with some members continuing their education and others joining more well-known acts such as The Yellow Payges and The Kingbees. Their music slowly faded into obscurity, only to be rediscovered years later when punk rock gained popularity in the early 1980s. Garage band compilations helped fans discover the DIY roots of the music, and “Makin’ Love” found its way onto one of these compilations in 1984. The original single became a sought-after collector’s item, with prices reaching up to $6,665 on eBay! Ugly Things magazine took notice and, after reaching out to the original members, The Sloths came back together in 2011. They have since played numerous shows, from SXSW to Spain and back to the Sunset Strip. Their inspiring story even caught the attention of AARP magazine, which produced a short documentary about these retirement-aged rockers.
The Sloths played over 200 shows until the pandemic hit, causing them to take a break. However, the Whisky’s 60th-anniversary celebration, which included performances by the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Chocolate Watchband, and Love With Johnny Echols, provided the perfect opportunity for their post-pandemic return.
The crowd at the Whisky was a diverse mix of fans old enough to remember the 1966-67 Riots on the Sunset Strip, garage rock enthusiasts from Generation X, and younger patrons who either grew up with Love’s music or came to see supporting acts like Portland’s psychedelic grunge band Psych-Out.
“We played at Pandora’s Box literally the week before the riot on the Sunset Strip,” McLoughlin recalled on stage. “So then we ended up hanging out at Canters.”
After half a century, The Sloths’ garage sound still carries the mark of my brother’s “wild incoherence,” as it was once described, thanks to McLoughlin’s passionate theatrics. At the Whisky, they entertained the audience with a set of cover songs from the Yardbirds, Chuck Berry, and the Rolling Stones (although “Satisfaction” was sadly absent), but they didn’t perform any of their own originals due to the drummer situation.
The Sloths may have songs titled “Before I Die,” but that doesn’t mean they’re calling it quits just yet. As McLoughlin declared on stage, “We’re still behind the Stones, so we’ll keep doing it.”
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