GV30 – Social Distortion – X – Adolescents – 30 Years of Goldenvoice at The Santa Monica Civic Auditorium – Santa Monica, CA

The largest punk rock celebration in all of LA kicked off Friday night in Santa Monica with some of the genres biggest and most influential bands taking the stage in front of a sell out crowd. The event known as GV30 is a celebration of all things punk in LA, and who better to host it than the man who founded Goldenvoice productions; mister Gary Tovar.

Things got off to an early start as OC’s Adolescents took the stage before a crowd who were more than eager to get the shindig up and running at full steam. No more than 10 seconds into their set was the circle pit a mad rush and push scene of youngsters and old schoolers slamming to the sounds of The Adolescents’ classic “No Way”. Lead vocalist Tony Cadena lead the group into classic cuts from the bands 80’s albums as well as newer tracks pulled from The Fastest Kids Alive and O.C. Confidential which pleased the very angst driven crowd into oblivion through out their hour long set. The crowds reaction had more in common with that of a headliners as opposed to a band opening a show, and it was most apparent during the anthemic “Amoeba” and “Kids Of The Black Hole” which closed out the set on a very chaotic high note.

During the changeover a large video screen projected classic footage and scans of gig posters promoting punk rock shows that Goldenvoice produced some 25 years ago. Many fans born after the fact watched in fascination as photos of P.I.L. Motorhead, The Ramones and The Clash illuminated above the stage. As a huge fan of all the aforementioned bands it was a pleasure knowing they rocked the same building I just so happened to be in at that very moment.

Up next were the headliners and perhaps the largest band to be playing GV30 all weekend, the one and only Social Distortion. Fullerton’s finest have had a huge year, perhaps their biggest ever in the bands 3 decade long career and the crowds roar was proof enough that the 3,000 people in attendance weren’t leaving this show early at all. Mike Ness dressed to the nines in all black and a fancy fedora made his way to the stage with guitar in hand and lead the boys right into the classic cut “1945”. The floor erupted into a huge sway of pushing and circle pitting and continued on right into their second song “It’s the law”. (Mike took a moment to mention that that song was written while he did time in Orange County Jail, it’s pulled from the album “Prison Bound”) Newer cut “Machine Gun Blues” off the 2011 release “Hard Times and Nurserey Rhymes” found its way into the set and fit in perfect along the bands 80’s and 90’s material. The nights early sing a longs continued with “Bad Luck” and the Kroq friendly “Story Of My Life”. Things may have seemed to mellow out a bit, but things quickly turned the tide when they pulled out the faster tempo tracks “Another State of mind”, “Telling them” and “Mommy’s little Monster”. As always it was the Johnny Cash cover “Ring of Fire” that closed out their set and sent the night off on a positive note with everyone singing in unison.

 

As the lights were turned on and everyone made their way for the exits it was apparent that many were really excited to be there and were definitely coming back for the celebratory mayhem that was to continue the next night and right into Sunday.


-Louie Bones-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

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