BLACK ‘N BLUE AT THE COUNTRY CLUB:...

BLACK ‘N BLUE AT THE COUNTRY CLUB: For a band whose name implies bruising impact, Black ‘N Blue dispenses a rather tame form of heavy metal. The deeper problem--one that’s probably prevented the L.A. band from clicking--is that it’s an unexceptional, faceless outfit, as it showed again Thursday at the Country Club.

The show’s opening moments were encouraging, and actually hinted at greater personality this time around: When the houselights dimmed, the PA system blared Isaac Hayes’ “Theme From Shaft” instead of some brain-battering bombast, and then the quintet tore into one of its stronger--and more wryly titled--anthems, “Rockin’ on Heaven’s Door.”

But it was downhill from there. The group proceeded to string together several empty metal tunes, dominated by Riffs-R-Us guitar work. And lead vocalist Jaime St. James is neither a commanding singer nor particularly engaging frontman, leaving the show too busy and unfocused.

As if offering a tonic for the show’s lack of visual and sonic force, Black ‘N Blue even trotted out that dreaded rock relic--the drum solo! It backfired a bit because Pete Holmes is only an average drummer, and he flailed away at a kit that even Carl Palmer might consider hilariously over-equipped.

Toward the end of the performance, the group previewed a new song from its coming LP, which merely strengthened the impression that Black ‘N Blue will not follow in the bootsteps of other local headbangers who’ve hit it big. The band was scheduled to play the Pomona Valley Auditorium on Friday and moves to Fender’s tonight.