Las Vegas Weekly

Pins and needles

Vegas’ new-look Tinglerz reunite former Pervz duo

Photo: Jacob Kepler

When The Tinglerz leave the Bunkhouse stage Saturday night, drummer Joe Perv seems very much in need of some Ritalin. He plays the drums like Michael Jordan played basketball—mouth open and tongue out, like he really means business as he drives the trio through a fast set of garage-rock with obvious Ramones undertones.

By the time I catch up with him, he’s sweat-covered and shirtless; when I ask if he downs a gallon of Gatorade after each show, he reveals his secret weapon, Emergen-C, which he jokes can be snorted for maximum effectiveness.

The Tinglerz are a new group formed by a pair of old friends, Joe (real last name: Mascolino) and guitarist Kei (no last name offered). They first played together in then-duo The Pervz when Joe was “29 for the first time.” (Actually, they began in 2002.) A later incarnation of the band, featuring Joe and a set of single-named brothers, Dylan and Dallas, made the cover of Las Vegas Weekly in March 2005 before The Pervz bowed out for good later that year.

Kei went on to front Jupiter Shifter, while Joe spent 2006 and ’07 anchoring The Objex before becoming disinterested in that band’s creative direction. Eager to return to rock’s roots, rather than the high-speed punk Joe had been playing with The Objex, the two reunited through the wonders of Craigslist, and have been gigging as The Tinglerz since May.

I ask Joe how his new band’s sound differs from The Pervz’s, as Clay from The Mapes, another local band playing tonight’s Tromapalooza festival—a night of music and wild sideshow acts benefiting Utah’s TromaDance Film Festival—walks by. “It’s a lot better!” Clay shouts. Joe laughs and admits that his musicianship has improved with experience. He says bassist Eric Laux, recently discovered via Craigslist and onboard for just three shows so far, has already taken The Tinglerz to another level.