The Fleshtones

The Fleshtones turned out to be the most prolific and durable band to emerge out of New York's CBGB scene. The group defines the essence of garage rock: It's primal, groove-based, murky and more than a little unhinged. Peter Zaremba sings like a rockabilly zombie and plays the Farfisa like a speed-freaking Captain Nemo, while founder Keith Streng can make his guitar sound like a sitar, a siren, a chain saw and a rat in heat — sometimes all at once. The band's rhythm section is implacable and supple, handling horn-crazed rhythm and blues and the densest psychedelic trips and making even the silliest of go-go ghoul themes sound weirdly timeless. There could be no better band to close out a rock & roll showcase called Beat 'n' Soul.