Mighty Mighty Bosstones – Cobra Skulls – Chase Long Beach – Knockout – House of Blues – Hollywood, CA

Earlier this week I had my doubts about whether or not I would have the PRIVILEGE of seeing The Mighty Mighty Bosstones this past Thursday. If you were one of the early birds who tried to buy tickets a few days in advance you know what I’m talking about. Besides going all the way to the House of Blues to get tickets just to find out they were closed, the tickets online were not available until two days before the show. If your one of those people who think they can get away with showing up and walking through the door this still wasn’t your lucky day.

In what seems like a luxury theses days, The Bosstones originally emanating in the early 80′s from Boston, finally got to play a show for the Los Angeles crowd. The last time they played in fact was for the Jimmy Kimmel show last December, which also happens where lead singer Dicky Barrett works as an announcer.

After doing quite a bit of research I realized that the amount of times the Bosstones have played in Los Angeles in this decade, can be counted with the fingers of one hand. With that said, and coupled with fact that this is their only So-Cal show, it was no surprise that this turned out to be an awesome show. However, like any other concert, you can’t skip the preliminaries.

Usually when the opening acts are playing the crowd is small and increases with the shows procession, this was no exception. However, it is extremely rare that the first band has the potential to be the final act and may even overshadow the other bands that followed. The band was "Knockout", straight out of Riverside since their inception in the year 2004.

Knockout quickly began there set with songs like "Another Wasted Night", "Moving On", and "One Night in Paris". Off the bat it was clear to see that the band had influences ranging from over thirty years of Punk Rock, Ska, Reggae and even hip-hop. With quick style changes reminiscent of sublime, the singers quality must be commended for appropriately fitting any style they had put out. They were also ready and willing to pay homage to Jimmy Cliff with an their interpretation of "The Harder they Come."

After a few more songs the crowd was a little bit more limber, filling in a little bit more and I could have sworn one of the guys from fishbone was in attendance earlier. Sadly, many of us are guilty of being tentative when getting into the pit for the first band. After a shout out to 30 year vets Fishbone and Bad Religion only a few more people could not contain themselves when Knockout began to play Bad Religion’s "Generator". Even though only a few people could sing along, they still left quite the impression as they finished off their set.

As usual with the culmination of a bands set list, the crowd can only shrug their shoulders, stand around or go back to the bar for another beer. After only a few seconds however, the beer trip came to a screeching halt when a man from the right hand side where the reserved seats are, stood on his soap box and asked the crowd to have a listen to some acoustic music. The man turned out to be part of a six man hillbilly jamboree band, with the most eccentric musicians you could ever find. Out of what seemed like thing air, a full musical set had appeared and the band played 2 songs. Before leaving they announced their name was "Larry and his Flask" and promised to come back after Chase Long Beach, continuing the pattern until the Bosstones Played.

I have never been more confused in my life then when I had to figure out who was still a part of the Chase Long Beach line-up. Despite the departure of two singers and a bass player the band still managed to play an excellent set with out skipping a beat. However there was a slight problem filling in the void of the previous male bass player, who did sing on some songs. Besides that, the band still managed to play "Pall Malls Crisis" and "We’ve Got Pockets Like Nobody’s Business". The crowd continued to move with hesitation but still managed to knock off the drink from a big guy, a very scary looking one I might add, who amongst others were surrounded by the few volunteers ready to pit. It seems that the recent line-up changes hasn’t affected the bands ability to play their songs, which was clear by the end of their set.

Larry and his Flask came back to deliver three more songs. With the crowd even bigger than the first, they were able to conjure more participation. The guitarist and stand-up bass player even went into the crowd to play their instrument. A small set that was entertaining and a little funny to see these hillbilly looking guys playing the hell out of there instruments with extreme passion and energy. Amongst the barely audible band, all that could be heard where the stomping’s of feet, rhythmic clapping, and two almost incoherent drunk guys behind me talking about how it was so awesome having entertainment in between sets. I couldn’t have agreed more.

Larry and his Flask finished up whilst being interrupted by the sound check for The Cobra Skulls. A three piece that started in 2005, led by a pompadour wearing bass player. The Reno, Nevada denizens have actually been around a shorter time than the rest of the opening acts but have found some recent success. A most recent accomplishment was being added to the Fat Wreck Chords roster, and are currently working on a new EP with Fat Mike from NOFX. The Cobra Skulls also contributed to the diversity of music in their own right, by playing what sounded like a mix of rockabilly and Punk rock. After playing "Rebel Fate", "Faith is a Cobra" and "HDUI" the band even took a stab at comedy and delivered an off color joke. The was seen with good humor, even by a member of the offending group who was standing right next to me. The crowd began to move a lot more like a Punk rock circle pit by the end of the set, which is usually a sign that the big guys are getting drunker and the final act is coming up.

Once more Larry and his Flask delivered there almost audible, yet masterfully skilled folk songs. Even surprising the crowd one more time by bringing out two trumpets and a trombone finishing up there final act of the night and bringing the opening acts to an end.

Now, if you’ve never seen The Mighty Mighty Bosstones live, you might be asking yourself what the fuck is that guy doing dancing on stage? Well, much like the conductor for the LA Philharmonic with his weird gesticulations, Ben Carr is an integral part of the group. Along with Dicky Barrett and the other members, the Bosstones bring Ska,Punk Rock,Metal, into a huge conglomerate that is surely the product of the early 80′s Boston hardcore scene fused with a two-tone Ska influence.

By this time it was 11 o’clock and the House Of Blues in Sunset was packed. The tickets that were only available just 48 hours prior must now have been sold out since the bar,the balcony and of course the floor was full of Bosstones fans. Then as the curtain opened and the preceding music stopped, the Bosstones banner was revealed from behind the drum set which followed by a huge eruption from the crowd that was sure to be heard all up and down the sunset strip.

Without a second wasted the band played "Graffiti Worth Reading","You Gotta Go!" and "Kinder Words", but not with out a fight ensuing on the left side. Aside from the drunk asshole who was escorted, the crowd was seemed to be joined as one. Swaying from side to side, only broken apart by crowd surfers who where aided to front where security guards could bring them down safely. The crowd that was once uncertain about starting a pit was now in full swing, but by the time that happened the floor was too packed to have a fully functional pit. Thus leaving many individuals to skank in place while watching the Bosstones perform.

The Bosstones got to play "Someday I Suppose", "The Rascal King", "A Jackknife To A Swan" and many other songs spanning there 8 albums and over twenty years of experience. Then after explaining that they couldn’t get a good musician to play with them, they brought out Jimmy Kimmel to play bass clarinet and help out with "The Impression That I Get" and "Devil’s Night Out". Then the band led themselves off stage while the crowd made it clear that they needed to hear more songs.

Then Bosstones came out again this time Dicky Barrett had on a green shirt, and the lights were turned green up against the banner on the stage. The crowd seemed to calm down in accordance to the softer mood of the song "A Pretty Sad Excuse" up until its tumultuous and exciting end, which led up to "Awfully Quiet" finishing up the set.

It really felt like that the crowd in the House of Blues that Thursday night made The Bosstones feel welcome and very much relevant. Hoping that we would see him soon again, Dicky Barrett stayed a little while to pass out set lists, water, towels and to say a final good bye.

Walking out of the House of Blues and on my way home…Larry Was Still Playing Songs in front of the venue on the Sunset Strip.

-Gabriel R.-
Big Wheel Music Scene Contributor

 
 

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