Long Beach’s The Humpers tore their way through most of the 1990s with their own revved-up version of punk rock (and more than a little pub rock) in the style of smash-and-grab greats such as The New York Dolls, The Heartbreakers, L.A.’s underrated Joneses and early Cock Sparrer — which means lots of slashing, Thunders-style guitar and lyrics bristling with that up-from-the-gutter sarcasm. Albums such as 1993’s Positively Sick on 4th Street (with a cover photo of one of the rare Long Beach landmarks that hasn’t been torn down or gutted for live/work lofts) should have made them as huge, but as the L.A. Times reported in a headline way back when, “The Humpers’ Authenticity Hampers Its Success.” That’s the ’90s for ya! Also Saturday, Jan. 17, at Alex’s Bar.

Fri., Jan. 16, 9 p.m., 2015
(Expired: 01/16/15)

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