Backyard Party – Santa Ana, CA

It's true that out of all the cities encountered in Orange County, Santa Ana is the city that singlehandedly and frequently hosts the largest quantity of backyard gigs. Last night however, a backyard gig was to be hosted in North Santa Ana, which is an area close to the city of Orange. The neighborhood is known to be a pretty upscale area; an area in which the majority of Santa Ana's Punk scene has little connection to. Most of the people planning on going to the gig joked that the party would most likely be raided within ten minutes because of the location, but to the scene in the city, a party is a party, so the plan was set to invade the neighborhood. The bands listed on the flyer that were set to play consisted of: Nuclear Rockets, O.K.T, The Sociopaths, Mafia Rusa, Trauma, Dawn of Eternity, and Riff Raff.

Upon arrival at 8pm, the party was barely commencing, and most people of age were drinking, and others were waiting around for the bands to start setting up. The backyard was relatively large, and most cliques could be seen interacting amongst each other and occupying separate places in the yard. A band quickly began to set up, and within 15 minutes, Nuclear Rockets began to play. The band performed a 30 minute set and upheld music that resembled the sound of The Casualties. With sloppy energy, the band conveyed their street Punk persona through their lyrics above all. Once the band's set was over, the next band began to set up their equipment, and more people began to flow into the yard to fill it up.

Anaheim metal band Dawn of Eternity began to play shortly after and performed a 20 minute set. Dawn of Eternity maintained a death metal sound combined with thrash metal. Few metalheads were present during the band's performance, but a couple of punk kids attempted to cultivate a circle pit in which individuals would clash their bodies against each other one on one. When the band's 20 minute set was over, another band began to prepare the equipment for their band's arrival.

Close to 9:30pm, most people were surprised that the party STILL had not been raided by the cops. As everyone continued to engage in the festivities of the party, Trauma commenced their set and immediately induced an aggressive circle pit. The band played fast paced punk rock and through it, upheld nonstop action in the pit. The band performed a lengthy set of approximately 30 minutes, and throughout that time, played one of the best sets of the night. Eventually the band's time ran out, and once they dismissed themselves, people began to walk back to their cliques to await the next band.

As the night approached 10:15pm, people were anxiously waiting and wondering who the next band up would be. Out of nowhere, a drunk man walked up to the microphone and began to sing a song in an R&B manner. Most of the people at the gig were laughing and yelling out, "American Idol!" Part of the crowd was confused, and others were simply consumed by laughter as the man attempted to sing in a soothing voice. Within 5 minutes, a girl ran into the pit and yelled out, "Party's over! The cops are here!" Loud groans could be heard from all sections of the yard, and those who were of age, finished their drinks and began to walk out. The cops made their way into the yard and began to tell the crowd that it was time to go home. It was almost 10:30pm, and the party was officially over.

While it was rare that a Punk backyard gig was held in the vicinity of North Santa Ana, the location proved to be competent in successfully hosting a Punk rock evening for the city's scene. It was surprising to most that the party even lasted 30 minutes, and the fact that it lasted 3 hours was unbelievable. The upscale suburban neighborhood exceeded our expectations and bestowed upon Santa Ana's Punks a perfect setting that they would otherwise never consider. The backyard gig was innovative and immensely exciting, let's hope this won't be the last we experience of Punk rock nights in private residential neighborhoods.
 

-Stephanie M.-
Big Wheel Senior Staff Writer

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 

                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

 

Gil Scott Heron – at The Warehouse – Aberdeen, UK – April 27, 2010

Gil Scott Heron calmly walks on stage - but instead of heading straight into singing he starts to tell stories about how a volcano with a name that no-one can pronounce had stopped him playing Aberdeen the week before. He explains that he had managed to hastily re-arrange his flights to the UK to perform some dates for the first time in about 8 years. He’s dressed in a suit and a flat cap, the stories and jokes are about dwarves and he tells us that black history month in the US should be moved from February because it is too hard to pronounce. This has the audience laughing along, then he says that it’s time to do what he came here for - to sing some songs.

The crowd put up a mighty roar as he sits at the piano and hits the first notes of “Blue Collar” and sings in his dusky voice. He plays the first three songs on his own before he is joined by his band. He played old tunes including “Pieces of a Man”, “We Almost Lost Detroit” and “Winter in America” but nothing from the new album.

The percussion section was great too especially the drummer on the bongos, he did a great solo where he played them with one finger, his elbow, one handed and got the crowd to join in too, clapping along. The faster they clapped the faster he played.

He finished the evening with a stirring long rendition of “The Bottle” - he may look frail but this man can perform and still hold a crowd. He’s a true artiste.

 

-Dod M.-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

 

Joan Jett and The Blackhearts – at Hollywood Park – Inglewood, CA

In Inglewood, two of the main attractions are the Hollywood Park and the Forum. Out of the two, one may expect the Forum to host legendary Punk performers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts; however, Friday night was a different story and more Punks than gamblers and horse lovers showed up at the infamous race track. Joan's performance was apart of Hollywood Park's "Fan-tastic Fridays" in which people who attend the horse races can see the night's artist for the low price of $8, and anyone else can join after 10pm for $20. Although the actual performance was not scheduled to begin until 10:30pm, my party arrived at the park around 8PM to lounge out on the grass and check out a few of the races, despite the abnormally cold weather.

The set up reminded me of Warped Tour; mainly due to the outdoor stage and the food, drink and merchandise stands placed around the surrounding area.

As time passed, more and more people began gathering around the stage, some totally Punk-ed out, and some looking as if they just came from the races and eager to hear some good fashioned rock and roll. To my surprise, no opening acts were placed on the bill before Joan and the Blackhearts, which made the already-long wait seem even worse, but everyone was mingling and having fun waiting for the Punk goddess to emerge. At 10:30pm, the planned time for Joan to arrive, a man came on stage to get the crowd cheering for Joan but also announced that we would have to wait fifteen minutes longer to hear her classic music. At exactly 10:45, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts came out to hundreds of screaming fans and played the Runaways acclaimed hit, "Cherry Bomb". She also performed a plethora of other Runaway songs, such as "I Love Playin with Fire", "School Days" and "You Drive Me Wild".

Jett apologized for the cold weather and thanked the crowd for waiting, and showed her appreciation with "Bad Reputation", causing the audience to go crazy. She also performed songs "Fetish", "Androgynous","Fake Friends" and the hit "Do You Wanna Touch Me?", with the audience clapping their hands to every beat and singing along to the chorus. Through each and every song, the singer and the rest of the Blackhearts maintained their reputation for fast-paced, revoluntary Punk rock persona, and shone through her last three songs, the three of her greatest hits: "I Love Rock n' Roll", "Crimson and Clover" and "I Hate Myself for Loving You". Because it was so late at night when Joan and the Blackhearts exited, and because she played her most well-known tracks, I was under the impression an encore would not happen; I was wrong. The audience cheered and chanted, and a few minutes later the Punk rock legends walked back on the stage and rocked out, playing "Real Wild Child" and "Everyday People", with greater passion and energy than before. She thanked and introduced the rest of the band, waved, blew kisses and exited the stage around 12:15am.

Walking out, everyone was chatting about "how hot she was", how she still maintains that mature sense of angst within her and how Joan Jett and the Blackhearts can rock out with intensity and a passion that never seems to burn out. The Punk rock icon annihilated Hollywood Park and the city of Inglewood, leaving big shoes to fill for the proceeding acts during the next few weeks for "Fan-tastic Fridays".

 

-Sarah K.-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

The Bronx – Violent Soho – Mariachi El Bronx – Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss – at The El Rey Theatre – Los Angeles, CA

Sean Wheeler and Zander Schloss, Mariachi El Bronx, Violent Soho, and The Bronx got together The El Rey Theatre in LA on Tuesday for a bad ass night of music. A crowd of hundreds of die hard Bronx fans showed up despite the stigma of a Tuesday night show and the pain of working on a Wednesday with a hangover.

 

If you haven't got a chance to check out out Mariachi El Bronx, do yourself a favor and check them out. Mariachi El Bronx is simply genius. I have never been a big fan of Mariachi music, but The Bronx, Mariachi style is one of the sweetest sounds I've heard. A total opposite of the Hardcore Punk band The Bronx, Mariachi El Bronx is like their sweet alter ego. The soft melodic side of The Bronx, along with Matt's smile, captivated and seduced the crowd, leaving us all wanting more as they left the stage.

Next up was Violent Soho from Australia. This band took me back to 1995. Everyone was comparing them to bands such as Mud Honey. You could definitely her the 90's influence. I was so enthralled by they're awesome hair I almost had a hard time hearing their music. But all joking aside, they put on a pretty good show and everywhere you looked, people were digging their sound.

After a short intermission, The Bronx busted on the scene with a fury, and the crowd was ready for what was to come. Front man Matt Caughthran climbed off the stage, over the barricade, and into the crowd. His fans made a circle around him as he talked, then he informed everyone that  "this shit was about to go off". The band started to play "Hands of History's Stranglers" and as he belted out lyrics the crowd formed a seriously intense circle pit around him.

The fans loved having him screaming  right in their faces and he sang the whole song in the crowd with swarms of people violently slamming and smashing all around him.  Matt engaged the crowd through out the whole rest of the show and The Bronx put on a kick ass performance. It was the perfect way to spend a Tuesday night! Totally worth a Wednesday hangover.


 

-J. Moncrief-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews
 

 

 

924 Gilman is in trouble and may might shut down

Alert - Alert

On July 1, 2010 a huge rent increase by nearly $3000.00 a month will hit the famed all ages club, jeopardizing the future of 924 Gilman.

The club’s rent has been increasing every year for the last 23 years, and up until now they’ve been able to make the adjustments needed to compensate for those increases, but what they are facing now is the equivalent of having 23 of rent increases condensed into one, and once it goes into effect the clock will begin to tick away as they struggle. >>> Read more HERE

There is plenty YOU can do to help keep this ALL AGES club alive and well. Go to their website HERE and you can donate or offer your help.

The Jim Jones Revue – at The Tunnels – Aberdeen, UK

First thing I note about these guys is that they look great, just as a rock ‘n’ roll band should. Long limbs encased in skinny black suits and Chelsea boots, the hair is a mix of slicked back DA’s and grown-out Stones cuts of the most synthetic black you can imagine, polished guitars low-slung and their trademark electric piano set somewhere around knee height! There’s a quick hello then they slam into the first number like a freight-train hitting a wall and at once, the stage is a blur of activity and I don’t know where to look first.

What the Jim Jones Revue do isn’t anything new. It isn’t anything particularly clever or groundbreaking or pushing out at the boundaries in any way. No, what the Jim Jones Revue do is take good time fifties-style rock ‘n’ roll, the beating heart at the centre of ALL contemporary music since then, and drag it into the 21st Century kicking and screaming, then shove it right into your face shouting “Remember this?”. They play like men possessed with everything turned up to 11. They’re showmen too. No inch of the stage is uncovered as they shimmy and shake, crouch and leap, pout and preen their way through the set. The piano player must have thighs of steel as he maintains something that resembles a limbo position throughout the set, one leg pumping out the time, his hands a blur as they pound up and down his keyboard. Jones himself is a magnetic front-man, sometimes cajoling, sometimes piss-taking as he teeters on the very edge of the stage forcing the crowd into participation.

It’s a strange crowd though. Rapturous cheering and applause after each song but nobody is moving much at all. However, it’s the piss poor attempt that meets Jones’ best efforts to get a call and response session going during one song that is the most cringe-inducing. I dunno whether it was a Sunday hangover, or the thought of work in the morning that made everyone so subdued but it was really slim pickings that I think the band neither expected nor deserved.

Unperturbed though, they tear on through the set, laying waste to most of the tracks from their self titled album from last year An untitled new song is aired and it sounds pretty damn decent. . The 100mph pace is only slackened for the sleazy bump & grind of Cement Mixer. These guys are so unbelievably tight as they scurry around the stage, never dropping a note, making it look so effortless and cool. Even their roadie never stops moving from start to finish, bopping away whenever he’s not retuning guitars or adjusting cymbal stands. All too soon though, time is called and we reach the last song. The DJ starts up right away so we know there is to be no encore tonight. To be honest, going by how drained Mr Jones looked as he collapsed into a chair by their merch stall, I think we’d have been pushing our luck.

So…..to summarize…..the best live rock ‘n’ roll band in the country right now? I dunno, but the wide grins and animated conversation in the car on the way home would hint at it so they must be pretty damn close. They’re the Jim Jones Revue – catch ‘em while they’re hot!
 

Review by: New York Johnny

Photos by: -Dod M.-
Big Wheel Overseas Correspondent

 

More photos of the event can be seen HERE

 
                                          Go HERE to see all the latest show reviews

 

 

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