Despite the lush of a nickname, graying, 50-something guitarist Scott Weinrich, whom I've run into now and again since '86 (when he fronted seminal doom outfit SAINT VITUS, then THE OBSESSED and a bunch of worthy solo projects), is a soft-spoken, erudite individual, who cares deeply about people, the planet and perhaps most intensely, his musical vision. So I leapt at the opportunity to witness a striped down performance at Kung Fu Necktie. Beneath the elevated train tracks, whose rumble can be heard, when bands aren't playing, it's one of Philadelphia's minuscule shot & a beer joints (with their $2 beer "Shelf Of Shame," beverages from long ago that should by now have been supplanted by the selection of craft/microbrews, yet continue to garner a trashy chic: ala Genesee, Black Label, Schafer, etc. and on this/every Thursday, two Hamms for $3. Mind you, this is in Philly!).

Alone onstage and not overly illuminated, between debuting a new song 'Crystal Madonna', Weinrich thanked the fans and offered short anecdotes like "Always liked Philly. It was the only place I could get speed in the old days?" He introduced 'Old And Alone', saying "Kind of a vindictive song I want to play next." Much of the all-too-short set was culled from the 2010 Adrift album, including the title track. 'Hold On Love' was also aired, as was 'Iron Horse/Born To Lose' made famous by MOTORHEAD. For the finale, he was joined by Nick Oliveri (ex-QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, whose MONDO GENERATOR was headlining the evening) on electric bass and a drummer for a cover of SAVOY BROWN's "Hellbound Train."

Now if there was ever a candid for a music bio-pic, Wino gets my vote!