by GE 138

Wowsers! Now you know that an Old Timer Punk Fest like this is simply too hard for someone like me to resist, and add on the fact that it was my Birthday weekend and well, you get the picture. Sure, I know that the Circle Jerks play at a much slower pace than they used to. and that G.B.H. sounded more Metal than Punk nowadays, but so what? I like some of the latter day Circle Jerks songs, and I was willing to give G.B.H. the benefit of the doubt, so I stumbled into the Huntridge looking forward to a good show. I wish I would of found one.

Opening band The Daycare Swindlers seem like nice people, but their very Avengers sounding music didn't do much for me. Chick singer/guitarist... chick bass player... dude drummer. Yawn.

Now I had heard some good things about Toxic Narcotic, but I'm not sure why based on what I saw. Growled out vocals over noisy music. Reminded me of Raw Power. Wasn't feeling it. They seemed really into what they were doing, so I'll give them that.

I ran into Matt from Walk Proud and his wife Sandy while smoking outside. It was cool seeing him again after all these years.

G.B.H. were up next and it didn't look good from the beginning. Colin didn't have his hair spiked... Ross looked really old and tired. The only one who looked the same was Jock! G.B.H. played all the Hits and the kids ate it up. Colin was talking a lot of shit about Las Vegas, which was irritating, and the drummer with the double kicks kept fucking up the songs, so once again, I was disappointed with G.B.H. Boooooooooooo. I saw Fat Mike & Crew hanging out backstage... and while back there I ran into Chalo from the Plugz!!! I was soooooo stoked!!! After acting like Fan Boy with him for awhile, I tried to get him to call my wife Debra, because she knows him too, and he said maybe later. Of course he never did, but that's beyond the point. The fucking Plugz man... the Soundtrack to my Childhood.

Speaking of my childhood, the Circle Jerks were playing next, and I had my doubts about this as soon as I saw the drummer setting up behind the kit. He didn't look good. Keith looked like a Rastafarian Lord Of The Rings gnome... Greg looked like he wanted to be anywhere but on the stage... and I was surprised to see Zander Schloss playing bass. Wow. The Circle Jerks played all the Hits... some covers... the kids chased themselves around in a circle... Punk Rock. I just couldn't help but think to myself, "If only you kids could of seen the Circle Jerks back in the day". If you did, you'd be just as disappointed as I was. Keith told the story of the roof caving in the last time they played Las Vegas like a zillion years ago, and I remembered that show because I was there when it happened. It's been a long time since the Circle Jerks played here. It'll probably be even longer until they come back and play here again.

by GE 138

Now I couldn't of asked for a better show for my birthday. Nardcore man! Reminded me of the shows at the Cathay... heh heh heh. Anyways, after the Circle Jerks - G.B.H. fiasco, I headed straight to the Cooler Lounge to catch this show. It was so over sold it wasn't funny. People were just spilling out of the doorway... rivers of pee flowed from the Food For Less store all the way down to Decatur. It was a sight to see.

Missed most of Thunderfist. But my new friend Stacy from Utah said they were good, so I'll take her word for it. I was way too busy drinking and chatting to pay attention to Lust, but what I did hear wasn't too good. All the Locals were out in full force... Jess and his pink thong... Rick and his side burns... Pitt and his mesh shirt... even Dan was there. Straight Edge Dan? In a bar? Now I've seen everything.

The Bad Samaritans still suck. Nothing's changed since I last saw them at U-Gene's many many moons ago. Hollywood Hate sucked as well. Dammit! I wanted to hear some Ill Repute and I wanted to hear it now! I went out side to chill... chatted with Mike Palm from Agent Orange and Matt from Walk Proud. Me and Pitt and Dan listened to the Loud Pipes live recording from the T.S.O.L. show... good grief! We were laughing the whole time at Dan's cracking voice. :-)

After that we all rushed inside to catch Ill Repute... about fucking time. From the first note they played, they place went ape shit for them. People were singing along to all the hits (Cherokee People - Laugh It Off - Sleepwalking - Clean Cut American Kid), stage diving and trying to circle pit in a pool of beer and god knows what else... It was a sight to see, I can tell you that! This was Pitt's first time ever seeing Ill Repute, and it sure was a good show to see. Punk fucking Rock.

Agent Orange had no chance of moving the crowd like Ill Repute did, but they gave it the good ol' college try. The few songs I recognized sounded OK, but they were few and far in between. Sometimes it happens. A band will just get smoked, and on this night, Ill Repute ruled the Cooler Lounge. Hands down. After everyone went home after the show, Me and Pitt ended the night chatting with Jock from G.B.H. until the sun came up. He liked Agent Orange more than Ill Repute, so there! Shows you what I know! LOL Kick ass gig!