Indie Band Cobra Verde Adds Grit to Glam While Evoking Glitter Era
Los Angeles Times
By NATALIE NICHOLS

Blending raw power and romantic stylishness, Cleveland quintet Cobra Verde evoked the glittery bravado of '70s glam-rock pioneers Roxy Music and T. Rex on Wednesday at the Troubadour. What else would you expect from a group that used a decadent photo featuring former Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson's daughter as the cover of its current album, "Nightlife"?

Known in indie-rock circles for its collaboration with and influence on Midwest alt-pop band Guided by Voices, the 6-year-old group offered a 50-minute set designed to make listeners throw back their heads and wriggle with delight rather than stare at their shoes.

Not that the songs from "Night-life" and the band's other material lacked substance or were slavishly devoted to the glitter aesthetic. Leader John Petkovic sang of love, war and society's foibles in styles that ranged from driving melodic rock to expansive, unrequited balladry, often punctuated by spacey, psychedelic theremin squeals expertly molded by keyboardist Chas Smith.

But the point was also to experiment and take risks. In this Cobra Verde was fairly eclipsed by the blazing abandon of the opening act, Southern California soul-rock band the BellRays. But the out-of-towners still managed to keep 'em guessing with offbeat takes on a pair of '60s hits, the Association's "Never My Love" and Roy Head's "Treat Her Right." But the point was also to experiment and take risks. In this Cobra Verde was fairly eclipsed by the blazing abandon of the opening act, Southern California soul-rock band the BellRays. But the out-of-towners still managed to keep 'em guessing with offbeat takes on a pair of '60s hits, the Association's "Never My Love" and Roy Head's "Treat Her Right."