October 2004 Live Reviews (scroll down to read all of them)

COPELAND
EMERY
THE EVAN ANTHEM
THE LYNDSAY DIARIES
July 24, 2004 @ Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA)
Text by Tiffany Chow

Chain Reaction was stuffed. There was a healthy amount of excitement buzzing through the crowd, an intense anticipation for what was to come that night. The venue was alive with energy from the wide variety of kids who had showed up for the show. I do not envy a band having to open up to such a crowd. They clearly were there for a certain reason, to see a certain band, and any other act basically is seen as some sort of obstacle to who they?re really there for. Therefore, when The Lyndsay Diaries got onstage to officially begin the night, not many people paid attention. Even though he put on a strong set with a band (he usually performs acoustically), the crowd was distracted throughout the entire run of songs. Scott Windsor (the singer/songwriter that IS The Lyndsay Diaries) put forth a few new songs, as well as a good share of his older tracks.

Regardless of the A.D.D. crowd, their attention was definitely stolen for the next band. There was a sheet draped in front of the entire stage, like a theatre curtain. One difference from a theatre curtain: it never was drawn back. The Evan Anthem played their entire set behind this draped sheet with lights behind them so that the only thing the audience saw was the members? silhouettes. It was a really creative effect, but really boring for those who were not already fans. Their sound was extremely bass-driven, with sequences looped into every song. The crowd?though their attention was grabbed?was not too into it.

The distracted crowd, though annoying for the opening bands, I?m sure, made it very easy to see who everyone came out for. When The Evan Anthem tore down their equipment, almost immediately the anticipation in the venue grew tenfold. It seemed like nobody could contain themselves; they just absolutely could not wait any longer for what was to come?what they had been waiting for. Finally, Emery took the stage, and it all became clear. With stage presence and a sound like Emery?s, you claim everybody?s devotion, attention, and focus. No wonder people could not wait, as Emery were 110% deserving of the excitement and anticipation. There was a ridiculous amount of energy pouring off the stage and feeding off the energy in the crowd. The stage was a mass of constant movement. The sound itself seemed to lend to the motion. Emery?s emotional mix of screamo is the product of immense measures of heart, dedication, and love for what they do. Their fans cannot help but take part of that, as well. I could spend time telling you that the image of the band was a bit haphazard (only the keyboardist seemed to really belong in the band; everyone else had their own sense of style completely contrasting to what you would expect), but it did not matter, because they took everyone?s breath away with their show.

Emery
Photo by Heather Jagger

I think everyone was a bit out of breath at the end of Emery?s set, which paved the way perfectly for the headlining band, Copeland. There was an almost equal amount of excitement for their set. You definitely would not think to couple the bands, as their sounds are completely different...yet it worked. Fans of Emery were just as big of fans of Copeland. The four boys from Georgia opened with a favorite off their full-length. By this time, the show had completely sold out. Although Copeland?s music is pretty mellow, they are able to really bring it to life during the live show. The crowd was singing along to every line. The band played a few new songs from their EP of covers but pleased the crowd with a lot of old songs, including a very old song off their first demo.

Copeland
Photo by Heather Jagger

Overall, the night really was a success. The anticipation that had built from the start of the show to the bands everyone was waiting for really was satisfied. I don?t think anyone walked away from that show unhappy or disappointed. I know I didn?t.

ACCEPTANCE
GATSBY?S AMERICAN DREAM
THE SNAKE THE CROSS
THE CROWN
HALFWAY HOME
August 20, 2004 @ Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA)
By Beth Van Boxtel

Every time that Acceptance or Gatsby?s American Dream have landed in Southern California, I make a considerable effort to attend each of their shows. These bands work extremely hard to promote their latest albums. This show had come right at the time of GAD?s latest release, IN THE LAND OF LOST MONSTERS; and The Snake the Cross the Crown?s upcoming release of MANDER SALIS.

Kicking off the show was a local Orange County band called Halfway Home. Most known for their Internet presence and promotion, they come from a label called the Death Scene. Not nearly as death-minded as the label implies, HH ripped through their set with insurmountable energy. The guitarists shined brilliantly with their ability to play tightly and on-key. The microphone swinging was, in part, a bit monotonous, but that didn?t stop the crowd from being fascinated by the music. The bassist appeared to be convulsing to every beat, which impressed me greatly. The sweet harmonies and guitar riffs, as strong as a freight train, pulled them through the 25 minutes they were allowed on the stage. Look for these guys on tour with The Chiodos Bros and Portugal the Man in October.

A slower tempo and mellow sound was to follow this crazy rock storm. The Snake the Cross the Crown (on Equal Vision Records) were a gentle, soothing appeal to my ears. The keys were prevalent, and the vocals were sometimes paved over by the melodies. As the set progressed, the drums began pounding deeply, and the guitars became increasingly piercing and intense. This type of slower music tests my patience the most. I enjoy most genres of music; however, if there is a lack of tempo or not a whole lot of movement on the stage, then my ears and mind begin to drift and I stop paying attention. With five minutes remaining in their set time, TSTCTC brought my focus back to them with their powerful creative ballad (which included an acoustic guitar, shakers, and a tambourine). With a moniker representing the moles on their drummer?s back, TSTCTC proves themselves time after time with their ability to create such dramatically different music.

Possibly one of the best shows I?ve ever seen them play, Gatsby?s American Dream shone through with their flawless set. What separated this set from others was the array of songs played. Some came from their previous album, RIBBONS & SUGAR, while the others were directly off of IN THE LAND OF THE LOST MONSTERS, their latest release. Although the band started out a little rough, they smoothed out the edges and quickly stirred in the hearts of the audience. Captivated by their swift motions, dance moves, and hyperactivity, I fell back in love with GAD. Even with a new guitarist, the band seemed polished in every aspect. The one thing I noticed that could use a little work is some variance in the live versions of their song. I think they are missing song intros or unique bridges that could bring the set together more tightly.

Merely three weeks before the beginning of this tour, Acceptance finished recording the tracks for their upcoming, as-yet-untitled album, which is due next March. Needless to say, they were a bit apprehensive when it came to introducing the new songs to the audience. As they played two consecutive new songs, it became evident that the band is moving in a louder, diverse direction. All of their songs were, in many respects, catchy (like their single, ?Permanent?). The more rock-induced sound didn?t stop the audience from fumbling forward in support of the guys. Acceptance had a relaxed stage presence, and vocalist Jason Vena peered directly at members in the crowd, which convinced me of their professionalism as a band. From the EP BLACK LINES TO BATTLEFIELDS, Acceptance performed ?Hold On?, which was definitely a crowd favorite. My favorite thing about Acceptance is when they harmonize. It reminds me of Jimmy Eat World. Not a bad reference for a band that?s been around only since 1998.

BEN KWELLER
THE UNICORNS
August 26, 2004 @ House of Blues (Anaheim, CA)
By Mindy Poder

The curtains parted and displayed the three members of The Unicorns sprawled on the floor, motionless and face down. After a good five minutes, the curtains closed and re-opened to introduce a very alive band with even more quirky actions hidden under Nick Diamonds?s white, Adam Green-like superhero sleeve. After a few songs, a half-naked man walked around in leather pants, and Nick Diamonds introduced his band as ?Ben Kweller,? explaining ?I?m Ben, he?s Kwel, and he?s Er?; and asking, ?How were The Unicorns?? The quirky humor of the band not only spices up their live show, but it?s a reason why their songs are so successful. Songs from their second album, WHO WILL CUT OUR HAIR WHEN WE?RE GONE? (such as ?Tuff Ghost?, ?Inoculate the Innocuous?, and ?Ghost Mountain?) made up the majority of their set. After singing a verse from ?The Clap?, the band combined TLC?s ?No Scrubs? and Destiny?s Child?s ?Say My Name? into a short, entertaining medley. Diamonds, not aware of the lack of movement and enthusiasm from most Southern California crowds, tried winning the audience?s interest with insults, such as: ?You guys are so ugly.? The band also expressed their distaste for corporate ?Disneytown? and reminisced back to 1986, when Disneyland was just ?about the rides.? After admitting their prejudices toward people who dress up in costumes (i.e., Disneyland?s characters), Diamonds confessed that he was just trying to be ?irreverent.? The best part of the set was when Diamonds jumped into the crowd and pumped his right fist in the air, emulating what an enthusiastic fan should do. Kids in the crowd started ferociously petting Diamonds, while Ginger Alden was having seizures on the floor and J?aime Tambeur was pounding away at his drum machine. ?I Was Born (a Unicorn)? marked the end of their set and proved that Diamonds, Alden, and Tambeur are worthy of the name ?The Unicorns.? Like the fabled animal, the boys are captivating creatures of hard-to-believe ferocity and strength.

After 45 minutes of wishing The Unicorns would come back on, Ben Kweller and his boot-wearing band graced the stage to a crowd ranging from 13-year-old girls at their first show to cigarette-smoking scenesters looking to meet up with their Myspace.com friends. Hopefully the latter got over their disappointment of realizing their Internet friends don?t look as cute in real life while Kweller played a balanced medley of songs from his two albums. ?Living Life? made its debut on this tour and provoked members of the crowd to sway their lighters. While The Unicorns did not play the fan favorite ?Jellybones?, Kweller treated the crowd to exactly what they wanted to hear with ?Wasted and Ready?.

Even though the show featured only two musical acts instead of the usual three or more, I did not feel even the slightest bit of sadness. Instead of a lineup adorned with bands acting as fillers, Ben Kweller and The Unicorns understood what the audience wanted. What the audience wanted, as sung by Ben Kweller during ?Ann Disaster?, was ?a piece of [him].? I left with a few pieces and an even greater desire for more.

BULLETS AND OCTANE
THE STRAYS
HOT LIKE (A) ROBOT
JONNY WAS
September 3, 2004 @ Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA)
Text by Marcia Taylor

Chain Reaction is a great club! The opportunity to see a band up close and a good sound system make it one of my favorite places to hear live music in SoCal. So, I was very pleased that Bullets and Octane chose Chain for its CD-release party. I figured that the antic stage show the guys put on could only be better there than it had been at the Anaheim House of Blues (where I?d seen them perform before). When I arrived at 8 p.m., hot like (A) rocket was about halfway through a set. The San Diego-based group plays music that mixes indie, emo, and hardcore, resulting in a group of songs that are nicely varied in sound. I heard ?Labia Extension? (no, I haven?t seen an advertisement for this procedure on Comedy Central yet, despite the seemingly endless repetition of the penis-enlargement ad the station runs), ?The Problem?, ?Can You Help Me?, and ?Bliss?. The slower songs tended to be a bit too emo for my taste, but I liked the group?s harder material.

The Strays were added to the night?s line-up at the last minute when another band cancelled. I?m really glad that I was there to hear this new group. Comprised of musicians who have played separately for an average of 10 years apiece, this very tight four-piece produced a set of really driven pop/rock that reminded me of The London Suede, with just a hint of Radiohead and The Beatles on the slower numbers. Toby Marriot?s vocals are really striking, with subtle nuance in his phrasing. Perhaps some of his gift is inherited: his father was the late Steve Marriot, vocalist for early-?70s Brit bands Humble Pie and Small Faces. The Strays played a nine-song set. Standouts were ?Life Support?, ?Start a Riot?, and ?Peach Acid?. The group has recorded an EP, which will be released in the near future.

Chain Reaction seemed disproportionately full of single girls. When Bullets and Octane ascended the stage, there was a bout of prolonged shrieking that reminded me of old news clips of The Beatles arriving in the U.S. for the first time. No wonder! Not only are the members of the five-piece extraordinarily cute?even by boy-band standards?but they put on an incredible show that involves removing shirts, pumping hips, and leaping about. Most important, though, is the music, which is a powerful blend of rhythm-based, hip-shaking rock ?n? roll set to a fast, punkish beat. It makes you want to break a chair and then make out with someone. And, appropriate to the genre, the lyrics are about passionate urges (my favorite having to do with putting someone?s daddy in a microwave). There?s a definite Elvis flavor to vocalist Gene?s voice and stage presence, which definitely add to Bullets and Octanes? appeal. My favorite songs were ?Save Me Sorrow?, ?Sweet Dreams?, ?Pirates?, and ?Professional Victim?. The band?s brand new CD, REVELRY, captures its live energy and power just fine. You should run out and buy it ASAP.

Bullets and Octane
Photo by Jimbo Gray

The last band of the evening, Jonny Was, is an L.A. County-based four-piece that plays the kind of upbeat, punkish garage music that is popular right now. (I don?t mean that in a bad way.) I liked the group?s harder songs, one of which had satirical lyrics and reminded me of Angry Samoans and had a chorus that (I think) included the line ?I don?t want to go to Burbank.? Who does? I can?t say that Jonny Was played as tight and strong a set as the rest of the bands that performed during the evening, but the group members seemed younger, and, although there are two guys in the band who switch off on lead vocals, the vocals seemed hesitant and were overpowered by the guitar, bass, and drums.

Jonny Was
Photo by Jimbo Gray

I really felt like I?d been lucky to be at Chain that night, in part because I got to hear The Strays and get an advance copy of the group?s CD, which I have been listening to repeatedly since. I also have been playing Bullets and Octane?s REVELRY over and over, as well. Check out both of the bands as soon as you can?especially if you can see them live.

THE BRIEFS
NARCOLEPTIC YOUTH
THE CROWD
THE DIFFS
September 10, 2004 @ the Troubadour (West Hollywood)
By Jennifer Moncayo

The night started off with The Diffs, which I missed. However, later I was informed that the band is a bunch of youngsters, one band member being the son of somebody from T.S.O. L. People said they actually rocked, but that is all hearsay. The next band to grace the stage was The Crowd. The Crowd formed in the late 1970s out of Orange County as one of the original beach-punk bands. The band has triumphed through time and a couple lineup changes. I walked in during the end of their set to a semi-filled room of people rocking out, which included lead singer of Youth Brigade, Shawn Stern. Lead singer and original member Jim Decker stood out in his all white attire, as he passionately paced around singing. Although the room was not packed, the people watching seemed to appreciate the band as they gracefully sang along.

Narcoleptic Youth (from Corona, CA) came out next in full force and with all members wearing black pants, black dress shirts, and royal blue ties. They also added what I guess would be considered a twist on the office look, as they sported painted faces (perhaps inspired for their love of The Adicts and Misfits). Lead singer Joey Bondage had black Xs painted on his face with white face makeup and black lipstick. The rest of the band members had some variation of the black makeup around their eyes. Narcoleptic Youth originally formed in 1992 and have endured a couple of lineup changes over the years, the latest being in 2003. Their sound is a meshing of multiple punk-rock styles to create their own. The best way to describe their music is Alkaline Trio meets AFI meets a not as rough-sounding The Casualties. The band had good crowd participation, as people ran around stirring up a pit for their particular favorite songs, while a herd of people sang along in the front. They covered a Misfits? song, which was not very impressive to me. It seemed to lack...accuracy, style? I don?t know. This was my first time catching their set, despite the many times they have been on a bill for a show. I always somehow miss them. They seem to have a large fan base, so if you have not seen them, go check them out and see what you think. As for me, I won?t be heartbroken if I miss them again. Maybe it was the makeup, or maybe it was their style of music. Go see for yourself.

The night and the real fun officially started when The Briefs took the stage. I finally felt alive and remembered why I was at the Troubadour. The Briefs are a punk band from Seattle, and they possess amazing style, talent, and energy. The whole place seemed to come alive, as all of a sudden there were people everywhere jumping around and singing their favorite songs. The audience (including myself) went crazy as they played some of their greatest hits. They played a load of songs off their album HIT AFTER HIT, such as ?Knife?, ?New Shoes?, ?Poor and Weird?, and ?Rotten Love?. They also played some new songs off their new album SEX OBJECTS, such as ?Sex Objects?, ?Destroy the USA?, and ?Sally I Can?t Go to the Beach?. Their set also included ?We Americans?, ?Ain?t It the Truth?, and a cover of The Boys? song ?It?s My First Time?. It was an amazing set that left everyone sweaty and tired from jumping around so much.

The night was all about The Briefs. Every show The Briefs put on is true fun. The energy, humor, and fun that you experience from listening to their CDs are multiplied by 10, making it hard for them to disappoint. Everyone at their shows cannot help but dance around, rock out, or feel the energy. After the show was over and my friends and I were on our way home, we listened to their CD. You know that if you can still listen to the band?s CD you just saw, they did something right. If you haven?t experienced The Briefs, you are missing out. Also, bass player Lance Romance informed me that they are coming out with a new video for their latest album, SEX OBJECTS, which will be out in circulation in the near future?so get ready.

UNDERMINDED
THE MATCHES
THE VANDALS
September 11, 2004 @ the House of Blues (Anaheim, CA)
Text by Todd Markel

Sometimes attending a punk show at the House of Blues in Anaheim can be a slightly surreal experience. If you?ve never been there, it?s in a shopping area called Downtown Disney, which is located right next to Disneyland and California Adventure. After you park in a massive parking lot, you have to make your way through thousands of tired, fat tourists who are at the end of a long day of having fun. They are completely oblivious to what is going on here tonight. They may look and stare at all the strange-looking kids hanging out and attribute it to being in ?wacky? California, not knowing that a legendary Orange County punk band is holding court. I had to wind my way through the masses twice?once to the club to find out that I did not have a photo pass, then back to the car with my camera, back through the crowd of Mickey Mouse ears, and into to the club. Unfortunately, by this time, I?ve missed Undermined?s set.

This actually gave me the chance to get a beer and get well situated before the next band started. The Matches (from Oakland) played a well-received set. My first impression was that they were just another one of those cute boy band with messy hair all decked out in their punk outfits playing poppy, catchy songs, but after a few songs I realized that they were a little deeper and that I was enjoying their show?as was most of the crowd. They played a number of songs off of their Epitaph-released CD E. VON DAHL KILLED THE LOCALS. Lead guitarist Jon Devoto has a striking, large blonde afro, as well as some radical high kicks that that keep you watching him to see what he?ll do next. Among the songs played, the one that stands out in my mind the most was one called ?The Restless?, which had a lot of their mostly female fans singing along, ?These are the moments we?ll remember for the rest of our restless lives.? Lead singer Shawn Harris stayed in the photo pit, signing autographs for quite a while after their set, much to the delight of the front row. You can look The Matches up on the Web at www.thematches.com.

Finally, what the crowd was waiting for. The Vandals started their show with a little pre-recorded ?Vandals introduction music? that slowly built to a crescendo just before the curtain went up. Then, the familiar bass line from ?Summer Loving? started, and soon the crowd was singing back ?Tell me more, tell me more?did you get in her pants.? Ever-smiling singer Dave Quakenbush showed the crowd that they had a cell phone on stage, and he then gave out the phone number for the crowd to call or text message in their requests. What a great idea, totally brilliant. Very soon the phone rang, and the first request was for ?Oi to the World?, which they immediately played. Dave showed the crowd a Vandals lyrics book that he said he acquired on eBay, so he was ready for anything the request line might throw his way. Among the songs played were ?Join Me for Pong?, ?That?s a Fact?, ?Pizza Tran?, and ?Anarchy Burger?. One of my favorites was ?All the People that Go to Hell? from the FEAR OF A PUNK PLANET SHOW. And for all the old people in the crowd, they played ?My Neck, My Back? off of their latest CD, HOLLYWOOD POTATO CHIP. The encore consisted of the hilarious classic ?My Girlfriend?s Dead?, and then ?The Clown Prince of Punk?. Warren Fitzgerald posed this question to the crowd: ?What?s the most important thing in life? Your family? No, your health? No. The most important thing in life is to have a good time.? With that said, they kicked into their cover of the Queen song ?Don?t Stop Me Now?, during the middle of which Warren brought out a large ladder and decided to get over his fear of heights. (If you?ve seen previous Vandals shows, you know he has no fear of heights?and that he?s not afraid to take a fall for the team.) With a microphone between his legs while standing on top of a large folding ladder and playing a mini-guitar, Warren did a blistering guitar solo. It was incredible. He tossed down his guitar to a roadie and took a short tumble. Wow, big ending! The request line was great, the new CD kicks ass. The Vandals are always amazing and never predictable. I can?t wait for this year?s annual Christmas show. (A funny footnote, as we were filing out, a ?Disney? announcement comes over the PA: ?Disneyland is now closed?and this tram is heading for the Mickey and Donald lots only.?)

TSOL
DEVIL?S JUNCTION
DEEP EYNDE
ORDER OF THE FLY
THE DIFFS
September 16, 2004 @ the Showcase Theater (Corona, CA)
by Marcia Taylor

The last time I?d seen TSOL play was two years ago at the Inland Invasion, where the band performed a high-energy midday set despite the 100-plus degree heat. So I was very happy to head out to the Showcase in Corona?even on a work night?to see my favorite O.C. band. Unfortunately, I had to work late that night and missed the first two bands that played, The Diffs and Order of the Fly. I?d seen the latter a couple of years ago at the same venue (opening for Damnation). They wore sci-fi-type costumes and played rock ?n? roll. The Showcase was very crowded, even though it was a Thursday night, with an audience made up of about two-thirds kids and one-third old-school TSOL fans like me.

Deep Eynde, a Los Angeles-based five-piece, began its set with a hard, fast number with typical punk riffage. The group played nine songs, which mixed punk and rock nicely. I liked the slower songs, because they showcased vocalist Fate Fatal?s smooth baritone (which reminded me of The Damned?s Dave Vanian). The rock numbers also included some excellent guitar work by Eric and Tino. The two other members of Deep Eynde are Sean Vomit on bass and Hal Satan on drums. I spoke to Fatal after the set, and he mentioned how cool it was to play with TSOL, one of his band?s influences. He added that, having grown up in L.A., he was a major fan of X and other ?local heroes.? I could definitely hear X?s influence in the band?s sound, along with The Misfits?. According to Fatal, the band was asked by club management to end its set early, so they left out two of the group?s favorite numbers.

Devil?s Junction was scheduled to play next, but they never showed up to perform, so there was a longish stretch before TSOL took the stage, as the band hadn?t expected to go on until 10:30 p.m. As always, any TSOL performance was well worth a wait. The three original members?Jack Grisham on vocals, Ron Emory on guitar, and Mike Roche on bass?were joined by original keyboard player Greg Kuehn and Tiny from The Dickies on drums. Fortunately, ?Tiny? is a misnomer, both in terms of his size and his drumming style. He?s a big guy (like the rest of the band members), and he has a solid, fat sound, which is necessary when playing with Roche and Emory. As I have said before, what sets TSOL apart from other O.C. punk bands is the way the band mixes punk and rock to produce a sound that is unique lyrically and musically, as well as just incredibly intense?especially live. When the band first began playing together again in 1999, it was without the keyboards. While I didn?t miss them at the time, after having heard the band now with Kuehn, I have to say that keyboards only improve the sound. TSOL began the set with ?See You Tomorrow? (from the group?s latest, DIVIDED WE STAND), which featured a blistering guitar solo by Emory, and that transitioned directly into old-school classic ?Superficial Love?, then ?Sodomy? (from DISAPPEAR), and finally ?World War III?. The rest of the set mixed past favorites (e.g., ?Abolish Government?, ?Beneath the Shadows?, ?Wash Away?, ?Man and Machine?) with more songs from DISAPPEAR and DIVIDED WE STAND. As much as you can enjoy TSOL on disc, you HAVE to see the group live to appreciate its raw power. Also, Grisham?s repartee between numbers is always very entertaining. Although he?s abandoned inciting live sex acts onstage and encouraging violence, he still dishes out political observations and sarcastic remarks about annoying audience members (such as the very inarticulate guy with the ?fro who wouldn?t leave the stage and was attempting to praise Emory?s inimitable guitar playing). He also forbade the security staff to eject kids from the stage. As always, TSOL took requests from the audience and (of course) concluded the set with ?Code Blue?, which is one of those signature songs that a band MUST play in order to avoid a riot popping off. I left the show wrung out physically and emotionally from TSOL...but that?s always how it is.

ROY ZIMMERMAN?S
PATRIOT ACT
September 17, 2004 @ San Gennaro Caf? (Culver City, CA)
By the Jeff Penalty

I?m just gonna come out and say it: a lot of punk bands really suck. I know, I know, it?s a controversial position. But sarcasm aside, I speak the truth. Anyone with a shred of intelligence?or failing that, a speck of hear?has grown tired of punk bands that are uncreative, uninspiring, and have nothing to say. So I?m not reviewing a punk show today: I?m reviewing a show by singer/songwriter Roy Zimmerman, who might be more qualified to call himself a punk than any number of the bands waving that flag around these days.

I first saw Roy in 2001, when he opened for Jello Biafra at a benefit show for Denise Munro Robb, a Green Party candidate for L.A. City Council. I clapped politely as this tall, bespectacled man with an acoustic guitar took the stage, not expecting much. But I would soon learn that this was no ordinary man. This was Roy Zimmerman, a unique type of superhero who possesses the power to nearly coax urine from the unwilling bladders of his audience members via laughter. He delivered some of the smartest satirical songs that I?d ever heard?among them, a march about the Star Wars Missile Defense System called ?Guns in Space?, and an unforgettably side-splitting ballad about the state of the world called ?One World, One Bank?. Unabashedly left-wing and unquestionably funny, I liked this guy.

Recently, Roy has been performing regularly at the San Gennaro Caf? in Culver City, and I finally caught the show. Unlike the benefit where I first saw him, Roy does a full set at San Genarro, giving the audience their 12 bucks worth by playing for close to an hour. That may sound like a long time, but with songs like ?My Conservative Girlfriend? (?She only deals in quality narcotics and guns / She?s got a Mexican wallet made of real Mexicans?), ?Jerry Fallwell?s God?, and ?Punish the People?, you can?t help but ask for more. It?s hard to say which is more impressive: Roy?s mastery of the guitar or his keen lyrical prowess. In ?Burn, Goody Stewart, Burn?, Roy goes toe-to-toe with one of my other favorite bands, Screeching Weasel, by finding not one but TWO rhymes for the word ?uterus.? And if you put a distorted guitar over Roy?s lyrics for ?Chickenhawk? (or any number of his other topical songs), you?d have the perfect opening track for ROCK AGAINST BUSH, VOLUME III. Beyond his obvious talent as a songwriter, Roy is a true showman, and his ?Patriot Act? flows seamlessly. It?s part concert, part stand-up act, and Roy keeps the zingers coming via lyrics, jokes, and the occasional timely quote from the day?s papers. There?s no mosh pit, there?s no skinhead asshole spilling his beer everywhere, and the toilets in the venue are in working condition?but hopefully some of you punks out there can still somehow manage to appreciate a show like Roy?s.

With an election coming up and an administration that is sure to go down in history as the worst-to-date still (somehow) holding power, musicians like Roy provide a necessary release of political tension. If you?re anything like me, your heart has been warmed over the past couple years as more and more punk bands have re-politicized the genre?and you also enjoy a good laugh. My suggestion: cart yourself over to Roy?s next show. And please encourage everyone you know to help vote George out before he kills again.

VOTER AWARENESS TOUR:
THE FORMAT
STEEL TRAIN
LIMBECK
HELLOGOODBYE
TICKERTAPE PARADE
September 19, 2004 @ the Glass House (Pomona, CA)
By Beth Van Boxtel

On a whim, I ventured to the famous Glass House to see one of my all-time favorite bands, The Format. Previous to this show, I had the privilege of seeing The Format with Steel Train twice in two months. Along with ST, The Format had also taken Reuben?s Accomplice on the road for several shows. Reuben?s Accomplice was scheduled to play this ?first? date of the Voter Awareness Tour but was unable to get to the venue on time. Tickertape Parade was called in at the last minute and delighted the crowd with their opening set. Unfortunately, I didn?t arrive at the Glass House in time to see them play.

Surrounded by the 315 other young people in attendance (most of them dancing), I gazed at the commotion happening on the stage. Hellogoodbye was in the middle of ?Dear Jamie...Sincerely Me?, and I was sure the stage would break from all of the movement. There was a volatile combination of Jesse slamming down on his keyboard and the rest of the guys rocking out to their upbeat rhythms and catchy tunes. I was amazed by their ability to play with such energy song after song. They finished off their set with ?Shimmy Shimmy Quarter Turn?, a sure-fire crowd-pleaser, while a person dressed up in a beer bottle costume was drenching the audience with his Super Soaker water gun. Overall, it was a fun set not to be missed. Check them out on tour with other Drive-Thru Records? bands (including Steel Train, Socratic, An Angle, and Halifax).

Limbeck took me by surprise. Streaming from the speakers came these fundamental, solid rock melodies topped with rousing vocals and sentimental lyrics. The vocals were completely bearable, but they matched the style of music that Limbeck was playing. Their songs ?Juliette? and ?Ohio? immensely satisfied me because of the vocalist?s tone and ability to hit every note flawlessly. Hiding in the shadows on stage was Chris from the band Melee accompanying Limbeck on keys. The finale blew my mind. I was convinced that this band had lots of live experience under their belt to finish a show with a final song that included a mesmerizing guitar solo. Limbeck will be recording their next album in January of 2005, with a tentative release next spring on Doghouse Records.

Every show for Steel Train is remarkably different. This night, ST was sticking to their slower, more heart-wrenching songs?although they broke out into what seemed like a jam session between the guitarist, keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. ST?s jazzy undertones and smoother sound could best be labeled as progressive rock. I was glad they performed their infamous Jackson 5 cover of ?I Want You Back?. They were somewhat limited on the stage because of the barrier separating the band from the audience. Typically, the band invites people to find an instrument (such as a tambourine) and join in for a final song. Well, what started off as an organized attempt to get people on the stage had many people climbing over the metal blockade and crowded the area around the musicians. Someone familiar to me, Matt Vasquez (ex-Limousine), showed off some Michael Jackson-inspired moves to the audience as the singer finished off the set. It was quite a delightful and entertaining feat. Although their next album has been delayed, they will continue to tour.
Finally, my patience had paid off. The audience cheered as The Format took the stage. There were a few high and low points. I was pleased with the songs they chose to perform. They played ?At the Wake? from their first EP, several songs off of INTERVENTIONS AND LULLABIES, including ?Let?s Make This Moment a Crime? and ?Give It Up?; a cover of Prince?s ?Dearly Beloved?; and two new ones. One of those songs, deemed inappropriate at other shows due to their context, included the lines ?You?re not a whore / You just don?t know who you are.? I think I set my expectations too high for this performance. It was one of their bigger tours, but seeing them in a more intimate coffeehouse setting spoiled me. Spreading across a vast stage takes away from the dynamic between the band members. Also, their energy was mostly released in the beginning, as they seemed unusually tired and muted by the end of their set. Even after their allotted set, they played three more songs as their encore. The crowd was left amazed and stunned by the amount of songs The Format pulled off. So maybe I didn?t catch them at their best this time around.

THE COLOUR
THE ONLY CHILDREN
REPEAT REPEAT
THE ADORE
WAKING ASHLAND
September 23, 2004 @ Chain Reaction
By Michael Silver

Hipsters, greasers, and mods alike all showed up at the best hole-in-the-wall venue in Southern California on a random Thursday night. Chain Reaction was the host to a monotonous night of music, which included five bands all sounding similar and little crowd participation from a half-empty house of high-schoolers. When I showed up at a cool 7:30 p.m., Waking Ashland was just wrapping up. A power-pop quartet from Northridge, these guys had a lot of energy and tried to rock out; but with hardly anyone in the joint, they fell on deaf ears.

After the routine 20 minutes of waiting outside and smoking cigarettes, Repeat Repeat jumped on stage to the delight of the crowd. This keyboard-driven quintet from L.A. had a decent following and didn?t disappoint. Standout tracks were ?Scotch of Water?, ?Sound Surround?, and the obviously funky ?Dance Off?.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were next. Oops. I mean: The Only Children came on next, but they sounded so similar to TP&tH that you couldn?t tell the difference. Hailing from Lawrence, KS, this six-piece jam band entered the building with high expectations (the group consists of members originally from The Anniversary and Hot Rod Circuit) but unfortunately put the kids to sleep. I do give them credit for being different: the addition of a slide guitarist made it an interesting ensemble, just not powerful enough.

Later in the evening (as people kept strolling in off the street), The Adore from L.A. started their set with a song titled ?I Don?t Care?. That pretty much summed up their performance by others and me alike: n No one seemed interested in this melodic screaming nonsense. On to the main act?.

The Colour, a pop/rock band from Whittier, started their set around 10:15 p.m. with lead singer Wyatt Hull?s funky voice echoing with energy. The crowd looked tiresome, as all the jelled-down hair, tight-jean-wearing, flashy-tie-donning hipsters stood around and gazed on as the band rocked out. I really liked the use of the tambourine as they played ?Out and About?. According to the band?s Website, ?Don?t be surprised if you find yourself smiling or even dancing half way through the set.? After they played the hit ?Mirror Ball?, I had to agree. A band on the rise with good style that makes you want to join the party must be doing something right. For more info on the band, check out www.thecolour.tv.

NINTENDO FUSION TOUR:
STORY OF THE YEAR
LOSTPROPHETS
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE
LETTER KILLS
September 28, 2004 @ the Grove of Anaheim (Anaheim, CA)
By Michael Silver

The second annual tour put on by videogame maker Nintendo rolled into Orange County Tuesday night and had lots to offer. When first arriving at the Grove, fans were treated to a gaming lounge with 16 playable games and kiosks featuring new hand-held devices.

Inside the spacious venue, opening band Letter Kills started off with a modest set of headbangers and poetic jams to the amusement of the small crowd.

Fresh off the release of their new album THREE CHEERS FOR SWEET REVENGE, My Chemical Romance took the stage with much anticipation from the growing sea of rock fans. Donning a black blazer and pink, striped tie, lead singer Gerard Ward ran from one side to the other with a vengeful look in his eye. Playing a set mostly of new songs, the crowd was ecstatic, and a large pit formed in the second tier standing section (where I was conveniently located). Their best song was ?Thank Your for the Venom?, a track that sent bodies flying and people singing, ?Round and round / Hallelujah, lock and load.? The band had very good stage presence, but I felt like I?ve seen the whole high-pitched screaming, tie-wearing lead singer act before. I want diversity!

New rock sensation Lostprophets (from Wales) started their set with a one-two punch of ?We Still Kill the Old Way? and ?Make a Move?. The crowd was in full effect, with the pit roaring and kids singing along respectfully. I have to mention that there was a giant amongst men at the show, and all 6?6? of him ran in circles around the pit and tossed people aside like yesterday?s trash. Quite a scene to see. Lead singer Ian Watkins used his melodic singing and gut-roaring style with songs like ?Burn, Burn? and ?Start Something?, while co-vocalist and resident DJ/keyboardist Jamie Oliver added in his own passionate screams to their hit single ?Last Train Home?. While their new album is good, I really dig their first album, THE FAKE SOUND OF PROGRESS, much more; so when they played their final song, ?Shinobi vs. Dragon Ninja?, from that album, I basically went nuts and moshed along with the rest. Lostprophets have plenty to offer. This being their first time in the O.C. and getting the response they got, I can assure they will be back sooner than later to rock out again.

Later in the evening, I wandered outside, where I challenged a local to a game of Madden 2005. After beating him thoroughly at halftime, he quit and took off. Now, according to some belligerent chick outside, ?the coolest band ever, dude, is coming up.? Upon watching Story of the Year for an hour, I couldn?t find much to argue with. Headlining for the first time, the band tore through the set with its radio hit ?Until the Day I Die? and had the whole place singing along to ?Anthem of Our Dying Day?. Midway through the performance, the band broke out into a crazy medley of covers, starting with ?Sweet Home Alabama? (they substituted ?California? into the chorus), a revamped version of Lynyrd Skynyrd?s classic. They continued on with ?Slide? by Goo Goo Dolls, a dope version of ?I?m Broken? by Pantera, a classic Kansas track, and they even slipped in ?Beat It? by Michael Jackson. Lead singer Dan Marsala was in the zone all night, obviously having a great time interacting with the crowd and screaming his ass off. SOTY then played a new song ?The Heart of Polka Is Still Beating?, and the place erupted in unison. Some kid started doing back flips in the pit, and it just got nutty. A very well put-together tour by the people at Nintendo, and a great night for rock fans.

H20
MADBALL
NORTH SIDE KINGS
October 1, 2004 @ Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA)
By Jeff Penalty

One of my many pet peeves about the current music scene has been the recent widespread misuse of the word ?hardcore.? Words like ?punk? and ?indie? have very flexible definitions and encompass a lot of bands that sound nothing like each other, but ?hardcore? is a relatively definable term. It is NOT wussy little boys wearing eyeliner and moaning out depressing lyrics; it is North Side Kings, Madball, and H20.

I applaud North Side Kings for, if nothing else, their genius marketing strategy. They sprang up from obscurity after singer Danny?s infamous videotaped ?spat? with Glenn Danzig made its rounds on the Internet. I don?t want to glorify violence of any sort, and I have nothing against Glenn personally, but come on?that video was fucking funny! Having watched it many times, I was very excited to meet one of its stars. I was supposed to be on North Side Kings? guest list for this show, but I wasn?t. Danny came outside just before they went on to make sure I got in, and I was pretty psyched that I got to shake the hand that threw a world-renowned knockout punch. Knowing that Danny went to extra trouble to get me into the show (and knowing that he?s not averse to delivering the occasional beat-down), I watched North Side Kings while trying to think of good things to say about them in this review; but then I realized that the exchange shouldn?t be a guest-list spot for glowing review, it should be guest-list spot for honesty, right? If a band is going to get a reviewer in, they should be comfortable with the idea of letting the chips fall where they may. So, having said that, North Side Kings were pretty boring. Danny?s got a definite presence, and they have one guitarist who?s pretty cool in a metal-dude way, and I guess if you like the ?same old same old? hardcore that you could probably get into them...but overall, they were average, at best. Their set took a political turn when Danny praised our state for electing Schwarzenegger governor, calling said action ?bad-ass? in a thick New York accent (which I thought was strange for a guy from Arizona). He went on to suggest that Lou Ferrigno should replace the current governor of Arizona, whom he described as ?a douche.? The song I enjoyed most was ?You?re Still an Asshole?, which can be heard at the end of the Danzig video. Very catchy?and easy to relate to!

Honesty: North Side Kings left me wondering why I got into hardcore in the first place. So much of it sounds the same, and it?s so predictable, and how can I relate to all the muscle-flexing and ignorance? Then Madball took the stage and reminded me what it?s really about. It?s obvious they?ve been at it for over a decade, as they rocked the house like the pros they are. I don?t know if they had their own sound guy with them or what, but their sound mix was absolutely perfect and delivered maximum firepower. And that Freddy, man?he just doesn?t let up! The crowd fed off them like a pack of bloodthirsty wolves. I haven?t seen a pit like that in a good long while. It was frightening and comforting, all at once. Madball totally killed it and left the dance floor full of charred entrails. During their set, I saw one kid getting carried out of the venue unconscious and another kid getting escorted out by security in a headlock. Either way: hardcore.

When it comes to scene politics, H20 rarely comes out on top...but you can?t possibly deny that they put on an amazing live show. Tonight they were a little hampered because their bassist was in the hospital, so Chad Gilbert from New Found Glory and Shai Hulud was filling in after learning the entire set in one night. The band had also just returned from Japan the night before and had not quite shaken off the jet lag. But even at their most knackered, they still gave it everything, and the crowd got what it came for. Most of the tunes were off their first three albums (something about which no one was complaining). Vocalist Toby Morse gave a long speech near the end of the set about nothing in particular. I think the overall theme was open-mindedness, but it?s hard to say for sure. It was funny, anyway.

And that?s basically it. A good time for sure. A big ?thank you? to all the bands for reminding everyone what hardcore looks, sounds, feels, and smells like. And most of all, a big ?thank you? in advance to Danny for not punching me in the face after reading this review.

A DEAD GIVEAWAY
SAOSIN
THE REAL YOU
ARLISS
DAY OF CONTEMPT
October 2, 2004 @ Soma (San Diego, CA)
By Beth Van Boxtel

I am a big supporter of local music in San Diego. This show featured four great acts from Southern California (mostly San Diego) and one band from Australia. The show was a spectacle, as I assumed it would be. Presale tickets sold out, which gave Soma the dilemma of calling the show ?sold out? or moving the bands to the main stage. Soma?s owner, Len, chose the latter. Over 750 kids packed into main stage area.

I arrived at the end of Day of Contempt?s set. I admired their energy and charisma. These charming mates from down under played a vast array of songs that could be compared to Hatebreed. They were undeniably the hardest band on the bill. The aggressive melodies and metal breakdowns combined with the thrashing vocals rang loudly in my ears. Day of Contempt will be touring across the U.S. for the next few weeks in support of their full-length SEE THROUGH THE LIES on Goodlife Recordings.

I?ve had some misgivings about Arliss. They took center stage with such professionalism that I was appalled. What happened to the high-school band that used to annoy local radio stations with their latest show information, which highlighted their shows on an ice rink?! I put aside my past impression of this band and focused more on the individual talent of the members. The most impressive aspect of this band was the mind-numbing, outrageous character named Loniel playing drums. This double-bass-pounding, skilled steed was the strength of the entire band. Why is it that boring, everyday punk bands have the best drummers? I will answer that for you: the drummer is what makes the band. This is especially true in this case, where the drummer pulled off a two-minute solo that left everyone in the audience in disbelief. For a guy who walks around a restaurant with drumsticks in his back pocket and has a job at Guitar Center, I hope he finds his calling with a more established band.

With only two practices under their belt, The Real You had their fair share of strengths and weaknesses. Members of Cellar Door (Ryan Striker), Shotgun Vegas (Joe Miller), and Parker Theory (Will Hernandez) created this five-piece rock group, which reminded me of what Finch was like in their early days. The Real You have definite potential. They should knock out their slower-tempo songs and wipe away the acoustic song (which would fit better at a Saves the Day show). The first and last songs were the highlights of the set. The matching, intricate guitar play was riveting. The singer?s, bassist?s, and drummer?s vocals got progressively better throughout the set due to the sound technician?s experience and ability to create a perfect reverb on their voices.

Finally, we get to the most anticipated band of the night. Less than four months ago, Saosin resurfaced with a new singer and a short session on the Vans Warped Tour. New singer Cove Reber (previously of Mormon in the Middle) shone through with his vocal range (a mirror image of former Saosin singer Anthony?s). I also appreciated the goofy dancing on stage and crowd interaction. Cove has improved his vocal abilities since the Warped Tour. I felt like a proud mother watching her son as the crowd gathered close to the stage and chanted ?COVE? in-between songs. Saosin played most of their songs from their 2003 release TRANSLATING THE NAME. With 10 minutes left in their set, Saosin performed an instrumental song that included a heavy breakdown. Meanwhile, Cove danced and played around on stage. Saosin introduced one of their newest songs, ?Bury Your Head?, which included all four boys up front screaming into the microphones. This song will most likely appear on their upcoming album, which should be released in three to four months.

With the confusion of the show?s lineup and schedule, an overwhelming majority of people fled the venue, thinking Saosin was the headliner. Soma had placed the local band, A Dead Giveaway, as the headliner because they were kicked off of a show a few weeks before. Within 10 minutes time, A Dead Giveaway began playing to a handful of watchers. There were a few groupies in attendance, as they made their presence known with their matching painted tank tops and rowdy spirit. As I stood there in the few passing moments that this band played, I decided that I had heard enough. There was not much originality to this band. Perhaps I left too fast, but with the conclusion of Saosin, my mood shifted from excited to over it?as I?m sure many others felt.

SKA BRAWL TOUR:
THE TOASTERS
NEW BLOOD REVIVAL
THE ISRAELITES
THE CULPRITS
October 3, 2004 @ Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA)
By Luke Skywalker

After missing the Culprits, I prepared for ISRAELITE TRAIN by listening to a cassette tape which I bought seven years ago from church bookstore. A five-song demo of everything in The Israelites repertoire in ?97 was not a very good clue of what was to be expected by ?the longest-running ska band in L.A.? Apparently, in the past few years, this seven-piece ?ska, rocksteady and reggae? band learned a few more songs. The 15-year-old group came out swinging with an all-out instrumental that got the whole dancehall skankin?, featuring solos from each of the horn players. Alto saxophonist Kyle seemed to be the key horn-blower and showed off his God-given talent. The other band members talents were exposed throughout the rest of their set, which included popular songs ?Sally Brown?, ?Roots?, and a tribute to The Skatalites.

Feeling the heat of the small club left me with a need for fresh air, and that?s pretty much where I remained for the next 30 minutes, missing most of New Blood Revival?s set. Best decision I made for the week. From what I heard of that set, I?m glad I stayed out in the refreshing night air. I did peek my head in just to get a look at the band, and I can certainly say they are INTERESTING. Their guitarist and bassist look metal, the horn section look like stoners, and the lead singer looks like Tom Delonge of Blink 182 but sounds like Mark Adkins of Guttermouth. But just to give the seven member band a fair shake, I signed their mailing list and listened to their free demo the next day. Then I made another brilliant decision: to immediately remove myself from their mailing list upon receiving an update. New Blood Revival is THAT bad.

The night was not a total loss, for the headliners were soon to play their set in a grand fashion. Hearing a sound check of curse words, I rushed the stage to stand front row to be entertained by The Toasters. This legendary band played an amazing set focused on their audience. Inviting fans to come up on stage to dance and occasionally passing the microphone to the crowd to shout a lyric, this group of six are gifted at entertaining, performing original ska hits like ?Weekend in L.A.?, ?Talk Is Cheap?, and ?Decision at Midnight?. My choice song of the evening had to be the revamped version of ?Sweet Home Alabama? (replacing ?Alabama? with ?Jamaica?). Even though towards the end of the set I was moist from sweat (most of which belonged to singer Jack Ruby Jr.), I still had a great time.

RAMONES 30th ANNIVERSARY SHOW:
October 3, 2004 @ Chain Reaction (Anaheim, CA)
Photos by David JiRo
 

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