Adolescents – Harrington Saints – The Atom Age – at Thee Parkside – San Francisco, CA

Here's a show I looked forward to for ages, last time The Adolescents played San Francisco was nearly a year ago and it sold out before I could get a ticket, so this time I booked fast and when I heard The Harrington Saints were the special guest of the night my excitement instantly doubled.

I got to Thee Parkside about an hour before the show because I wanted to catch the Saints for a chat and watch the bands load up. Maybe I'm weird but I find the loading of gear, setting up merch tables and clearing tables and chairs from around the venue part of the excitement. I always get this feeling in my stomach like something amazing is about to happen and with such a good lineup I was confident it was going too.

When I walked in there was a few heads from the Adolescents crew making their rounds and most of The Harrington Saints and crew having a pre show beer. We talked and laughed before I had to go back outside and get my wrist band thing from the promoters, who seemed to be pretty damn cool. As time went on, more and more people started showing up and there was a nice little crowd in and the venue. The crowd that night was a good mix, a lot of skater punk kids, a few skinheads and a bunch of Punks, as drinks were flowing and the lights were dimming it was soon time for the first band to take stage.

The first act on was The Atom Age, I had heard of these guys before but never seen them live so I was stoked. When I seen them tuning their guitars and taking their places I was excited to see a saxophone player. The sax player was wearing a slick suit too and super looked the part. They started their set with a really good fast one and me and my buddy Talon looked at each other and said “Damn this dudes are good” they played a nice mix of rock'n'roll punk with really good gang vocals. Their sound is energetic with elements of ska flowing through out. Their set was really fun and at one moment one of their members hoped over the gates at the stage and moshed with everyone, I think he even climbed up a pole. It was cool and they were great. These guys are really good, their on Asian Man Records and are definitely worth checking out.

After they're set I went outside to have a look at the merch tables, there was some great stuff out there from all bands and I noticed Chris Arredondo (drummer of The Briggs and other great bands) was working The Adolescents merch, I didn't get to talk to him but he seems like a really cool dude. “Hey Chris!!! We should hang out some time!!!”

Second up was The Harrington Saints, anyone that knows me, knows how much I love this band, enough to get a tattoo I think. Yeah. I'm definitely gonna do it. Every time they play the entire venue goes insane and the energy they put into their performance is nothing short of incredible.

They got on stage in style with “When the saints go marching in” playing out through the PA. I though that was pretty rad and as the guys got in they're places and the crowd crashed together I managed to get a nice little push free zone for myself and my camera, that doesn't happen often.

They took a minute too tune up and than Forrest (the drummer) started the explosive set with the classic opener “OCD” once the guitars and vocals kicked in everyone there was jumping around and having a great time. The saints are so much fun live and they really believe in the music they are playing and what they are singing about. I recorded them for most of the their set until Darrel and the boys called me out and I spent the rest of their show swinging my fist and shouting along.

The entire set was full of great oi and street Punk, some older ones from classic albums like “Dead Broke in the U.S.A.” and some new stuff from “Pride and Tradition” if you haven't checked them out make sure you do.

The new album is available online through Pirate Press Records and was produced by Lars Frederiksen of Rancid. I spoke with members of the band after their set and they have some touring planned, be on the look out for a date in a town near you, and if your reading this from the UK keep your eyes on The Rebellion Festival's line up. You may have a surprise coming your way.

Last up was The Adolescents and I was so stoked to see them, it's not every day you see a legendary american punk band that has been around since 1980. As Tony and the gang got up on stage a great big sweaty crowd sardined around them and only seconds into the first song the place went nuts again. The influential band started off with the classic “No Way” they were very energetic and it good to see they still have so much passion, everyone there was having a lot of fun and singing along. Their set was full of some fast ones and some slower ones, I would have preferred all fast but it was still a great set.

They played for quite a while and there was some serious moshing going on, they played many of my favorites including “Amoeba”, “Rip It Up” and “Who is Who” among others and stuff from more recent years. I really enjoyed the whole thing and I can finally tick The Adolescents off my “Bands to See List”.

-Brian McCann Jr-
Big Wheel Contributor

Photos by Jody Lyon

 

 

 

 

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