An Affair to Remember:
(Or I Actually Can’t Forget Since Mighty Mohawk Man Scarred Me For Life)

By Rhonda Baughman

Mighty Mohawk Man, Elias Iscariot, or some such fucking pretentious moniker – whatever they’re calling themselves these days - swept through Northeast Ohio and rocked us like a hurricane. Unlike those Scorpions however, this dainty, effeminate teen trio of turmoil sounded good as they wrecked havoc, touted transvestitism, and generally thumbed their asses at authority.
I first caught a live show at a local quarter draft, suspect acoustics, ripped vinyl hamlet we call Sadie Rene’s (www.sadierenes.com). Who knows and who cares who the opening band was – when MMM/EE\I hit the stage, the doors to a hellish, musical carnival opened wide, I stepped in just for a peek – and never looked back. And My Dear Gentle Readers, (Kiddies, I might deduce … or drink a deuce, or douche – it’s all unclear at the moment) I have been around our Canton music scene for a number of years now. I bet I have a few years on you. What scene, you mockingly ask – and my answer is a vigorous nod and reluctant acquiescence – so, we’ll just say what passes for a scene here – and I am just a scene journalist – an historian if you will. But I am also an old hipster who once graced the pages of Maximum Rock & Roll. And if you ask what that is, stop reading this article … right … now. I know my shit.
Whatever your opinion on their stage antics, ranging from the adorable to the grotesque, the bizarre to the stupefying – they are never anything less than completely entertaining. The music is good as well – trust me, you won’t want to recall their lyrics, but you’ll be unable to shake them loose.

… This one’s for the comrades … move out now …
… Are you annoyed yet …
… Lucy’s lefty, ‘cuz she just ain’t right …
… I’m too famous, I’m too famous, I’m too famous for you now …
… Send my love to Jesus, I am every you go, but Jesus ain’t got nothin’ on my funky fresh flow …

Oh, and I could go on and on … I know there’s no escape – and soon, so will you.
But for now, turn yourself over to some hot little men, barely legal at that: Jeff Gowins, Kyle Laudermilt, and Joe Jovingo. It’s doubtful Jovingo will return to reprise his role as keyboardist, but the strongest of the three links remain: lead singer and lyricist Gowins and lead guitarist Laudermilt. Think Manson and Twiggy, Bowie and Ronson, respectively – but you know, less straight. You’ll either be glad you did or grateful you escaped the show desiccated … or uncontaminated … perhaps unmolested - that part is unclear, too.
All I know is – as Rachelle Williams, their music was good enough to grace my portfolio dvd, good enough for seasoned writer/directors like Mike Watt and Kevin Collins to inquire about usage rights, and as the drummer for Panty Puzzle, I can give these tasty tarts a run for their amps. They could not only provide aural dissemination for low-budget soundtracks, but mainstream as well, if they were so inclined. The question is: can Canton, Ohio’s notorious teenage trio pull their shit together and reach the pinnacle they deserve? Or will end up as slackers, could-have-beens, and even worse, part of the why didn’t we generation? As Jack White already did, these boys have a chance to pull the entertainment industry out of a slump – so, keep your fingers crossed …