Last year the Melvins were in need of a bassist (they've had nearly as many as Spinal Tap has had drummers) and drafted Big Business bassist and vocalist Jared Warren and for good measure the other half of Big Business, drummer Coady Willis, thus giving Melvins a guitarist, bassist, and two drummers! The relationship strengthened and together this Melvins quartet recorded a new album, "(A) Senile Animal," and went on tour last fall. But with the Melvins not touring this summer, Big Business have made the most of the break and have wiggled out on their own.

If you weren't busy seeing another more famous two-piece (White something or other) Tuesday night at Irving Plaza, then you might have been lucky enough to see Big Business at the Knitting Factory. On that hot and sticky evening Big Business men Jared and Coady took stage with guitarist, audio engineer, and sometimes Melvins mercenary Toshi Kasai. They thrashed out songs in support of their "Here Come the Waterworks" album, which was released earlier this year on Hydra Head Records. The crowd went completely nuts for Big Business, dancing, smashing, and bashing into each other, which in my years is unprecedented for a Knitting Factory audience.

Big Business stand to profit as the opening band for Tool's forthcoming summer tour, which is a just reward for this plucky twosome whose robust sound and volume belies their numbers. - Damien Neva

Photos: Damien Neva