Show Preview: The Adicts – at SLO Brew – San Luis Obispo, CA – October 28, 2014

Coming to SLO town on Tuesday, the 28th of October, is the English punk band The Adicts. Proving how vast the Punk genre really is, the Adicts have always played light-hearted songs with upbeat lyrics and their own special Punk flair.

Originally from Ipswich, Suffolk, England the band has made a name for themselves as true showmen all around the world. Not everyone knows, but, in 1975 they debuted as Afterbirth & The Pinz, soon after they changed their name. They were very popular in the 80's on the UK indie charts and their album "Sound of Music" hit the official UK charts and earned them great fame.

Later, in 2004, their single “Viva La Revolution” was featured on the video game "Tony Hawk’s Underground". Their current line-up consists of Keith "Monkey" Warren (singer), Pete "Pete Dee" Davison (guitar), Michael "Kid Dee" Davison (drums), John "Scruff" Ellis (guitar), Shahen Hagobian (bass). On stage these performers are dressed in classic “droogie” style taken from the film version of A Clockwork Orange. Keith, always puts on joker makeup and is known to throw playing cards and confetti at the audience during the show.

Even though they have been touring since the 70s, The Adicts still put on a very energetic and lively show. The band is no stranger to SLO Brew, having played here many times before, but all of us here on the central coast love having these guys back again and again. Personally I have never seen a better show than the Adicts, and I’ve seen them about 8 times. I know this is a bold statement, but these guys are worth every penny you may pay for a ticket. The Adicts literally never fail to disappoint and SLO Brew gives us the chance to catch them in a smaller more intimate setting.

To demonstrate how serious I am about how important this show is I’ll provide you all with a quote from one of my favorite movies of all time, “What you got back home, little sister, to play your fuzzy warbles on? I bet you got little save pitiful, portable picnic players. Come with uncle and hear all proper! Hear angel trumpets and devil trombones. You are invited.” See you at the show!!

You can check out The Adicts Official website HERE for more tour dates in California, including their Halloween gig at The House Of Blues in Los Angeles!

-T. Wallace-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

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Reagan Youth – DFL – Decry – STALAG 13 – SideKick – Skaal – Tartar Control – and Rockous – at The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA

This was a $5 matinee show at the Observatory in Santa Ana. They've had several of them and I've heard that these shows go off. Judging by the line up for this show, I could see why this could be true.

 

The first band was "Raukous", they were a pretty new and upcoming 3 piece band with Ryan Hadley on drums, Max Camp on Bass, and Fern Etcher on Guitar and Vox. Kinda Weirdos with a little SKA thrown in.

Up next was was Tarter Control. A 2 piece band with what looked like a robot as their 3rd member.The robot was their drum machine with the other guys on guitar and vocals. This band had a lot of humor in their music. Great stage performance and good musicianship made Tarter Control a band worthwhile. I don't know how many times the singer jumped off stage or looked like he was throwing a fit on the stage as they played their fast "Dickies" like set. Very entertaining.

Skaal is a very tight mid 80's sounding Punk. Kinda reminded me of Red Beret or Condemned to death but a bit faster.

Sidekick played next and had Scott from Social Task sing their 1st tune which was a Ramone cover of Blitzrig Bop, and the crowd went wild. Scott is a really good front man and he proved it today. Sidekick played a really good hardcore set. Nice tempo changes in their songs and they didn't sound like just another Punk band.

 
Oxnard legends Stalag 13 played next. This was the "In Control" line up minus Ron. They played all of their classic songs and  got the crowd really going. Their singer fits them well and I'm sure Ron would be proud. The two guitar sounds of Blake Cruz and Dave Casillas are one of the best duo guitar players in Punk rock. They play very well together as they did 30 years ago. Larry White is one of the BEST hardcore drummers around and John still looks the same after all these years and rocked it on bass. This band is still powerful and energetic as it was some 30 odd years ago.

Another early 80's punk legend band "Decry" played next. Farrell, the original singer who started it all back in 1981/82 reminds me of Rik L Rik meets Charlie Harper when he's on stage. Decry is very original sounding and have a great debut LP they put out back in the early 80's. I wish they would put out another one, as this band shows a lot of originality and musicianship. Justino and Keith add a lot more to the band than previous members and this is by far their best line up. The new guy Steve Porter adds so much to their presence and it shows when all four are on stage playing together. They still do all of their classics and a few covers (Sonic Reducer by the Dead Boys).

DFL played next and did a very short set. This early 90's punk band played so quick that by the time I got up front...they were done.

Reagan Youth played last and I've never seen them before so I was really looking forward to their set. With only one original member (Paul on guitar), I didn't know what to expect.When they started playing I was really surprised. It didn't sound like your typical Punk band from the early 80's. It was hard but different.

Good musicianship and a unique sound and look made it interesting. Really dense guitar sound and good vocals. Like I said...not your typical Punk sound.

They played a really great set and left the crowd wanting more.

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Michael Vellejo-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

 

 

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