The Adolescents and Youth Brigade at The El Rey

© Big Wheel Media

In addition Steve Soto and Tony Reflex were invited on the Joe Sib Show “Complete Control” a few days prior to the El Rey show and spent much of their time spinning some classic old tunes. Saturday finally rolled around and as we pulled up to the El Rey the first thing we see is the Indie 103.1 van parked out front and kids lined up around the block waiting to go inside.

While everyone was filing in, there were many familiar faces that we saw. Not only close personal friends, but many punk rock notables like Brett and Greg Hetson from Bad Religion, Robert Schmidt from Flogging Molly, The Diffs, ADZ and a few others.

The night got underway with Boobie Trap who tore into their set, not relenting for a moment. Vocalist Kelly Hall performs her songs such with raw emotion and intensity that makes this band stand out so clearly.

The Briggs came out next and also pounded out an awesome set. The crowd really got moving to some of the tunes that were played, and were all out there to have a good time and get warmed up for Youth Brigade.

When it was time for Youth Brigade to go on, everyone was already pumped to hear these guys shred. Some of the more notable songs that they played were “Violence”, and “I Hate My Life”. The heat was intense in the pit and that didn’t stop anyone, neither could the overbearing security guards. The set ended with “Sink With Kalifornia” and then it was time for the Adolescents to take center stage.

Everyone was getting restless waiting for The Adolescents to go on, but just as the crowd began chanting “Ad-o-lesc-ents” the house lights were dimmed and a medley of songs from the musical “Mary Poppins” was being played.

Moments later 5 shadowy figures, who would be The Adolescents entered the stage and tore into “No Way”. Almost instantly Tony dove off the stage right into a crowd of awestruck fans.

There was plenty favorites played that night such as “Creatures”, “Rip it Up”, and “Amoeba”, not to mention a few new songs as well. There seems to be a lot of requests for OC Confidential and Lockdown. The pit was absolutely amazing, but when The Adolescents play, and are preceded by a band like Youth Brigade the energy is sure to be electric. Towards the end of the set, the security whom Tony dubbed “Napoleon Dynamite, was rushed and there were stage divers flying off the stage left and right.