Punk Is Alive And Well

Having just returned from an outstanding night of punk rock I have many things to say.

In chronological order as best I can remember them here we go:

First off, screw House of Blues! My ticket and their "official" website said the show would start at 9 pm sharp. I arrived at 8:57 and the band I was most eager to see "Black President" was ending their set. This is the 2nd time in 3 months I have missed their set and I am furious. 8 songs of theirs I have been able to procure and they are all outstanding and I want to see them live! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The sting was short-lived however as I was able to speak with their guitarist Charlie Paulson (Goldfinger), who is one of the great guys in the world of punk. He and I had emailed back and forth about a concert idea of mine several months back. As always has been he was a pleasure to speak to and was very encouraging about my vision. He made sure to establish that he wanted to be updated and wanted to be part of whatever I could create if it was possible. He also told me that Goldfinger heads into the studio Monday to start recording their new album....yeah!!!

So Dead Sea Dave and I got a good spot about 10 feet from the stage and waited for the next band "Hit Me Back" to arrive on the stage. At first glance it appeared to be as the great Ron Burgundy would say "Amateur Hour". After about 30 seconds I realized that it was possible that we were seeing he future of punk rock. The band plain and simple was awesome...classic punk rock with songs that lasted no more than 1:37. All about disdain for the government, society and relationships...without any emo bullshit.

Dead Sea Dave was looking for a lady friend during this set and knowing his taste I pointed out a contestant (which was made quite easier considering you had to be 21+ to hang out downstairs at the House of Blues on this evening...all the youngsters were herded upstairs...which at first I admit I enjoyed). After I pointed her out a mosh pit broke out and as luck would have it Dead Sea spilled a portion of his beer on the aforementioned young lady. Being the kind young fellow he is Dave offered to buy her and her good friend drinks between sets for his terrible indiscretion. We hung out at the bar , made small talk and waited for the main attraction for the evening "The Circle Jerks" to start their set.

Finally out comes the legendary Keith Morris (all 55 years old of him), looking great and sounding even better. This was the best I have ever heard his voice sound as he crooned over classics such as "Wasted", "Question Authority", "Murder the Disturbed" and my favorite track of the night "Wild in The Streets" which was exactly as I had remembered it. Greg Hetson (Bad Religion, Black President...probably the greatest punk rock guitarist ever) was on fire the entire night.

The entire set was great even though 2 classics "Group Sex" and "Wonderful" were left out...fun night at the concert hall nonetheless.

The major highlight of the night had to be when Keith Morris stated "Had we known all the kids would be herded up stage and not allowed downstairs we would not have played this show...this is bullshit and house of blues knows it". Almost immediately about 200 under 21'ers rushed from downstairs through the security and created the most punk-rock moment San Diego has seen in years. Luckily for the youngsters they got to mosh for 5 or 6 songs before the HOB gestapos started kicking them out. Several times Morris exclaimed "What the fuck are you doing...the kid did nothing wrong why are you kicking him out?"

And so after a wild 1 and 1/2 hour set the show was over...an outstanding night of punk that is rarely seen anymore...As Morris said near the end of their set "We can't do everything for you guys...if you see something wrong take care of it yourself."

And so ended a great night of punk...

Ramble Over