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Fred Cole was a teenager in Las Vegas in the early ’60s when he recorded with his band, the Lords. For the next decade and a half, Cole soldiered on through various projects, forming the Rats with his wife, Toody, in the wake of punk rock. But Cole wasn’t following a trend so much as showing how stripped-down rock and roll doesn’t lose its luster if done properly and performed with a bit of artistry and conviction. Cole’s enduring influence and widespread renown ultimately came with Dead Moon and its emotionally gripping, ragged, blues-inflected repertoire. With the demise of Dead Moon in 2006, the Coles formed Pierced Arrows. Fortunately, they’ve lost none of their momentum in writing fiery songs with a bludgeoning intensity that embody everything punk rock should be.
