Friday, August 21, 2009

THE SO-CAL PUNK INVASION

THE SO-CAL PUNK INVASION WITH FEAR,
AGENT ORANGE, D.I., TOTAL CHAOS, AND BLOODHOOK

EMOS Austin, August 15, 2009.

By General McPeace

The heat blazed past one-hundred degrees yet again. A dark porch covered by a tin roof filled with people eager to watch a show reminiscent of 1983. Mohawks, shaved heads, spiked hair were all visible. Jackets (yes jackets) and t-shirts advertise allegiances to punk bands of the eighties rather than the commercial realm. Tonight was a time-warp. No giant, plush tour busses are parked outside the club, just vans and a small RV.

The stellar line-up was enough to bring the geriatric punks (like myself) and the new blood out to pack EMOS from front to back. The line outside EMOS moved slow but steady as the crowd paid the $20 cover or $20.43 for the “discount” advanced purchase ticket including service fee. How would this show rate in the old punk pricing-scheme of $4 for a local show, $5 for a local show plus an out of town band, or $8 for the “big” touring-band show.

The music started before most of the crowd entered the club. Total Chaos, the second band, played an energetic set while the bodies flew around the pit. Total Chaos’ sound and feeling is more like an English anarchist band than a So-Cal band. Celebrating a couple decades of performances, and showing their real roots, Total Chaos recognized local punk bands between songs. Total Chaos could have played longer, but a tight schedule had to be maintained to get through the remaining bands.

When a tour has this many bands that could head-line the show, it is difficult to set the order. Did the bands play a game of rock, paper, and scissors to determine the line-up? Could you see Lee Ving bringing a hammer to the game as his trump card? Here’s how it went down in the R.V. before the show…

Casey Royer from D.I. says, “hey Total Chaos, I hear there’s going to be a protest at the Texas Capitol tonight, can you check that out for us?” The R.V. door slams shut as Total Chaos rushes out on a reconnaissance mission. The other bands sit at the table. The smoke in the R.V. is thick. They count together, “one, two, three.” Casey casts paper stating “I choose rolling paper.” Mike Palm of Agent Orange casts scissors. “My scissors cuts your rolling paper.” Boom! Lee Ving slams his hammer on the table shouting “I don’t care about you, F-you! We go last.”

So that’s why D.I. played next. With Casey at the helm, the vocal antics did not disappoint the crowd. He discussed punk, politics, and drugs So many D.I. songs come attached to a story. These interludes brought context to the stories that are older than many in the crowd. These lessons were absorbed by all. The dense (not mentally) crowd heated EMOS to the level that just standing still produced sweat. D.I.’s set ended too early. D.I.’s set included the highly anticipated “Johnny’s Got a Problem” and “Richard Hung Himself.”

Next, the trio from Orange County brought their surf punk waves to Austin. A fortunate few were able to catch a wave and crowd surf. Mike dedicated “To young to die” to that crusty old punk Les Paul. Agent Orange played the posh hits and a Dead Kennedy’s cover while the wilting audience was sprayed with water. The wet floor and crushed beer cans made the pit a bit more dangerous. Again, the clock proved to be the enemy, ending Agent Orange’s set before fully satisfying the audience, leaving the desire to have a little more Agent Orange.

Fear, a band known for antagonizing and taunting audiences, worked their way to the stage. The theme for Fear’s set was established before playing their first song. Lee took a survey of beer drinkers. There was a near consensus of beer drinkers. The excitement and anticipation built-up as more people pushed their way towards the stage. By the end of the first song, the tone for Fear’s performance was set. Lee stopped the song to admonish everyone from throwing things on stage and warned the crowd that Fears set would end if it happened again. Fear soon returned to the theme with a series of beer inspired songs. Fear established the need for beer, then having a beer with Fear, and finally having another beer.

If you would like to see highlights from this show, some videos are available on YouTube:

D.I. (talking)- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgMWys4NlEU
D.I. “Amoeba”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxHUOBv1j1s
Agent Orange “Secret Agent Man”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeOa3F7y6kc Agent Orange “To Young To Die”- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_Ao2uINYWk

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