Rock history tends to view the MC5 as an influential though ill-fated '60s proto-punk band that pushed for political revolution. But at root, all the Detroit group wanted was to get people dancing. Jazz history tends to see the Sun Ra Arkestra as one of the most colorful entries in the free music revolution. But at root, the ensemble often just wanted to get people swinging. Those most basic goals were at the forefront as current groups made up of survivors of the original acts shared a bill Saturday at UCLA's Royce Hall.
When people finally started dancing during the headlining set by DKT/MC5, what had been a solid set took off. (The group recently reunited surviving MC5 bassist Michael Davis, guitarist Wayne Kramer and drummer Dennis Thompson for the first time in more than 30 years.) Lisa Kekaula of L.A.-area band the Bell Rays (taking turns with the Dictators' Handsome Dick Manitoba and Afghan Whigs' Greg Dulli to fill in for original MC5 singer Rob Tyner, who died in 1991) challenged fans to get out of their seats as she roared through the song "Over and Over" midway through the show. The jams kicked out after that.
