Westcoaster 2012 Tour Preview: Featuring NOFX – Old Man Markley – Lagwagon – No Use for a Name – Pour Habit – Pulley – Ellwood and Many More – January 12 Through 18 – at The House of Blues – Anaheim and Los Angeles, CA

For almost a year, NOFX has taken a break from playing in California, with their last Los Angeles appearance being on New Years Eve 2011 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. With the exception of Fat Mike playing with Me First and the Gimmie Gimmies at Punk Rock Bowling 2011, and both Fat Mike and Eric Melvin playing recently at Occupy San Francisco, collectively, the band has been laying low from the stage.

Starting New Years Eve however, NOFX will be embarking on a west coast tour titled Westcoaster 2012, with their first performance being kicked off on New Years Eve at the House of Blues in Las Vegas.

Westcoaster 2012 features a few Fat Wreck Chords bands, with Old Man Markley playing the entire tour with NOFX. Other rotating Fat Wreck Chords bands on the tour include Lagwagon, No Use for a Name, Pour Habit, and Ellwood. New Years Heave(as they call it), the first night of the tour, will feature Lagwagon, Old Man Markley, and Holding Onto Sound.

Old Man Markley, a band that has established their presence by playing "punk bluegrass," is fittingly playing all of the Westcoaster 2012 events and providing music that one wouldn't expect to hear at a punk show. The San Fernando Valley based band provides performances with instruments such as a washboard, mandolin, autoharp, and a fiddle. The band, which only recently formed in 2007, is already renowned for playing festivals such as Punk Rock Bowling, and playing with bands such as Youth Brigade and Screeching Weasel.

Long Beach natives Pour Habit have also established their presence in the scene within the last five years. The band maintains fast paced hardcore with the melodic nature typical of most Fat Wreck Chords bands. The band signed onto Fat Wreck in 2009, and so far has two releases out. Their most recent album "Got Your Back," was released earlier this year in April.

Punk rock band Pulley, which is also joining the tour, most recently released an EP titled "The Long and the Short of It." Pulley formed in the 90's and is known for upholding melodic punk substances. The band's history is interesting in that former members of Strung Out and Face to Face have been involved with the band. The band also features Scott Radinsky, who formerly played with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

San Jose natives No Use for a Name first formed in 1987, consisting of a mostly hardcore punk style that garnered them attention in Maximum RocknRoll's "Turn It Around" compilation. The band is recently better known for their melodic music and the vocal styles of Tony Sly. No Use for a Name joined Fat Wreck Chords in 1993 and has been with the label since.

Next to NOFX, Lagwagon is considered to be the most prominent band that fans are anticipating from the tour. Lagwagon features RKL drummer Dave Raun, however, the band righteously holds their own place in the punk rock scene through their music alone. Lagwagon has garnered immense attention since the 90's, joining the ranks of bands such as Green Day and Rancid. However, unlike many of the pop punk bands of the 90's that rose to mainstream success, Lagwagon has remained true to their ideals by refusing to major label deals and mainstream connotations. Joey Cape, the band's vocalist, is renowned for his solo music career, further augmenting recognition to himself and Lagwagon.

 

Out of the 16 performances that make up Westcoaster 2012, five will be taking place in the greater Los Angeles area, with two taking place in Anaheim and three in West Hollywood. Both Anaheim performances land on Jan 12 and 13 respectively, with the first performance involving Old Man Markley, Pour Habit, The Bombpops, and the second night featuring Lagwagon, Old Man Markley, and Ellwood. On Jan 14, the first of the three Hollywood shows takes place, with Lagwagon, Old Man Markley, and Ellwood opening up the show. The last two shows in the LA area take place the following week on a Tuesday and Wednesday. On Jan 17, Pulley, Old Man Markley, and The Bombpops join the stage. On Jan 18, which is the last LA appearance, No Use for a Name, Old Man Markley, and Pour Habit will all be performing.

 

 

 

Other California stops that the band will be making during Westcoaster 2012 consist of The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, The Ventura Theater, House of Blues San Diego, and The Fillmore in San Francisco. Tickets are available via Livenation for $35, however, it is recommended that tickets be purchased immediately because these shows will sell out. Currently, the Jan 13 show at Anaheim's House of Blues is already sold out. Don't miss Westcoaster 2012, maybe NOFX will finally play The Decline for fans, but the only guaranteed way to hear it live is to witness it yourself at one of these upcoming shows.

 

-Stephanie M.-
Senior staff reporter

 

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