Because these guys cannot be stopped, they can't die, they're the men the hangman could never successfully hang. The noose would break, or the Indians would attack, or confederates would come to the rescue, guns a-blazing, just in the nick of time.

They're the Fleshtones, and their myth is their reality - invincible gods of '60s revival rock. Where American soul, East Coast garage, British Invasion and California reverb surf meet for a super-rock party.

What the Fleshtones also bring to the celebration are tons of self-aggrandizing attitude - every bit of which is superbly deserved. Because when you back up attitude you get atmosphere, and when you've got that, you create a feeling. And when you've got the feeling - well honey, you've got everything.

And that's what the lads delivered Dec. 12 at Stache's, our musical Faith Mission that offers just about any kind of music you can imagine.

Singer/organist Peter Zaremba, guitarist Keith Streng and drummer Bill Milhizer have been doing it for the better part of twenty years, sounding just as good as they ever have. Along with bassist Ken Fox (who joined a few years ago after gigging with Jason and the Scorchers), the Fleshtones showed a million light years more life than most bands half their age.

Mixing bits of their current CD, Laboratory of Sound, with tried-and-true Fleshtones originals and covers, the quartet lit up the night. Theme from the Vindicators, gave way to Screaming Skull which eventually led into High on Drugs, which set the stage for a killer, Keith- sung Way Down South. If you weren't dancing and sweating by then, you weren't there.

Anyhoo, that's exactly how they did it back in the old days: Bands grooved hard and loaded up on the jive, and the kids danced like crazy. Felt good, felt great. No bruises, no bleeding.