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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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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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Jesse Wagner – Happy Wags

Fans of the Aggrolites over the years have come to adore the band and their live performances, mixing their unique Dirty Reggae sound with versions of timeless Jamaican classics.

But one song always stood out at live shows, the E.K. Bunch sing- along “Banana”. With the real meaning of the song Banana still drawing a few chuckles years later, it still remains a wildly popular song to sing to live. Adapted for the bands 2007 appearance on the hit television show ‘Yo Gabba Gabba!’the classic- turned kids song, has no doubt help parents years later in teaching their children the importance and fun in eating healthy fruits.

Taking it one step beyond,talented front man Jesse Wagner has brought his guitar with him and written “Happy Wags”a whimsical journey through key childhood life lessons. As some parents, new and old, have come to find out, the library for children’ s music is painfully mundane,and all too annoying. And heavens help you if your child finds him or herself among The Wiggles faithful. Enter Happy Wags,a wonderfully crafted 9-track album that destroys all previous notions of what children’s album should or could be.

Harnessing his own roots and influences, Happy Wags touches on several different musical styles from your Ska/ Reggae infused tracks like ‘Use Your Words’and ‘Pee- Pee In The Potty’to 80’s R&B and country folk style songs. Parents and children will no doubt enjoy Jesse Wagner and his powerfully soothing vocal style, as he stresses the importance of the little things children must learn and some adults have seem to have forgotten over the years, like Pee-Peeing in the Potty (instead of around it) as made painfully clear by venuebathrooms across the U.S.

‘Happy Wags’ offers a wide array to the developing child mind,from a innocent yet catchy animal sound sing-a-long in “The Lion The Snake & the Monkey”leaving Old McDonald and his wimpy barn, showing kids the fun and wonder of the jungle as they hiss and roar to the Harry Belafonte style tune.Even incorporating a Ramones style punk tune kids will jump and spin to as they learn to play with one another, even provoking the punker turned parents out there to throw on some old leathers and join them.With old friend and fellow Aggrolite, Jeff Rofredo, jumping in on the fun, there is even a bass happy rock-a-Billy style song about chewing, and taking your baths.

Aside from the valuable learning lessons for children that Happy Wags offers, the clear upside to this album is the replay value for the parents! Its precisely crafted and engineered to satiate the parents musical palate as well, your little bundle of energy may not yet be familiar with Traditional Ska, Reggae, Rock-A-Billy or Soul but you are,and that goes along way as you will find yourself singing along with your pride and joy, and only further deepening the pivotal parent child bond.

Jesse Wagner knocks it out of the park with this album and may prove a key-learning tool in your child’s progression and devolvement.And most likely will end up in your music library as well. The album is slated for release on June 10t h through Asian Man and Fun Fun Records. Do yourself and your kids a favor and be sure to snag a copy.

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Contributor
 

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