JFA – The Stitches – Joe’s Garage – Pacifists – Meow Twins – at Riff Haus – Fullerton, CA

On Saturday night I got a few conflictinging phone calls about what time the show started and then got out of the house a little late and when I got to the Riff Haus I parked as quickly as possible. I ran into a few friends out front and started chatting with them, chewing the fat, and talking about absolutely nothing significant. After a few minutes I noticed that there was some music coming from inside and someone replied "Oh yeah it's just some girls." I then realized that I was missing the Meow Twins for no good reason. Leo TZ was working the door and tried to chat with me. Leo is awesome but I just wanted to get inside and catch up with him later. Finally when I got inside the Meow Twins were ending their set. I was bummed because what little I heard sounded good and all the kids that I know in that band are top notch. Their recordings on myspace are pretty lo fi but give off a cool riot grrl/neo New Wave (Newer Wave?) feel with some rad female vocals.

I went outside and talked to Leo since I had just blown him off and ran into a few other friends. Pacifists, who are another Joe's Garage side project with Mike Fleck on vocals and our own Matt Craig on guitar game onto stage and they were really a pretty menacing outfit. Mike really surprised me with his sinister vocal approach and the guitars were dirgey and kind of creepy. I really dug their set. Mr. Fleck was throwing slices of cheese out into the audience which made the dance floor kind of gross but it was relatively harmless. They did a cool cover of "Red Tape" by the Circle Jerks. Unfortunately their recordings come off as more goofy and intentionally annoying and don't match the intensity of the band live, but if they get their shit together and starting taking their music seriously they could have something really cool going on. Live they had sort of a YDI/Murder Junkies vibe with some classic melodic O.C. punk influences mixed in that help to make things more interesting.

Joe's Garage really got people going and they are always fun to see. Joey had a pretty wild ensemble going on- a super baggy Hawaiian shirt and super tight black jeans. It was cracking me up and he made a comment about how he wasn't "really from Hawaii," which made things even weirder. They were a bit slower than usual but still played a rocking set, with all of their cool original songs and "Bite It, You Scum" thrown in for good measure.

I've never been very into The Stitches so I sat out their set, but there sure were a lot of people having a good time and it seemed like their set was well performed. JFA were pure energy as always and they remain just about the coolest band around. The whole room was hot, hectic, and sweaty.

All of the classics were played- "Beach Blanket Bongout," "Preppy," "Lowrider," "Jody Foster's Army," and the Peanuts theme song. JFA have really stayed true to the Skate Rock blueprint that they helped to create and have helped to keep things going so younger generations can join in on the fun. If anyone tells you JFA isn't awesome, tell them to go to bed.

-Ditch-
Big Wheel Asst. Editor

Photos:
Dead Man Photography

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
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