If you’ve got The Creeps, you gotta start movin’

If you’re still complaining that nobody dances at punk shows anymore, then you haven’t been to a Creeps show. This isn’t where your usual too-cool-to-move wallflowers post up. This is where people get nuts on the dance floor. The sad part is, the punk-rock quartet has an even bigger following outside of Spokane.

“When we pull up in Richland, it’s like the carnival is coming to town,” said Creeps bassist Larry Reiner. “Kids show up with stickers, T-shirts – they treat us like rock stars. Their fists are in the air, and they know every word to every song.”

Creeps singer Jon Coker said, “It’s the fans that do everything. And it’s not like we call up all of our friends to come to the show. That’s why there is so much gratification, because it feels the same when we go to Portland. We give as much energy as we can, and they always give it back.”

The Creeps perform with Piss and Gothic Road on Saturday at 9:30 p.m. at The B-Side, 230 W. Riverside. There is a $5 cover.

While The Creeps’ shows are consistently well-attended, and by amped-up moshers, the Spokane scene by comparison still hasn’t given The Creeps its proper due.

“There is a lot of talent in this town, but there is a lack of media coverage,” Coker said. “You have to make it onto a label to make it in Spokane, which is too bad. When we go to Seattle and see bands, it’s like ‘Are you kidding me?’ We’ve got bands in Spokane that’ll crush these guys. The local scene is fierce, and more bars are supporting it. Now we just need to inform everyone else about it.”

Although The Creeps are current high-rankers in The B-Side’s battle of the bands, they don’t expect to win.

“(Creeps drummer Al Guest) wants to beat us up every time we enter a battle of the bands because it’s an after-school special. It’s always the friend of a friend of a friend who wins,” Coker said.

Instead, Creeps band members focus on cracking the stage in half during every performance with absolute no regard for their bodies.

“If we can cripple ourselves on stage, it’s a good show,” Coker said.

Recorded locally by Lee Stoker, The Creeps’ third album, “Small Doses,” seeks to do what the previous releases have done – reflect that same hi-octane abandon.

“The album is made to promote the stage show. To feel the energy, you gotta catch The Creeps live,” Coker said. “When you listen to the album, listen to the whole thing. It will only take 30 minutes. It’s addictive and straight to the point. Our shows are the same way.”