Nardfest 2013: Dr. Know – Ill Repute – Stalag 13 – The Missing 23rd – False Confession – The Grim – Aggression – and The Rotters – at Ventura Theatre – Ventura, Ca

So the day finally arrives: NARDFEST 2013 at the Ventura Theater. Originally, this show was called "Nardstock" but the friendly supposedly "anti-establishment" good people from the original "Woodstock" served Jeff Hershey with a "Cease and Desist" order once they found out about the title "NARDSTOCK". Oh well...as the Deadbeats once ranted "KILL THE HIPPIES!!".

OK...on with the show. This show featured the best of what Oxnard has to offer. Being a part of the Nardcore scene is somewhat of a very special group. The people there know everybody and its a very tight group. Unlike the LA/OC scene...everybody there got along and its like a very close/tight family. No, I'm not from Oxnard, but I feel that I am qualified to say that I am part of that very special scene as my band has played with virtually all of the Oxnard bands at one time or another. We even played on Ill Repute's very 1st gig. I have also personally been a part of a few Nardcore bands (but that's another story).

As for the name "NARDCORE" it's a little confusing as to who actually invented the name. From what I remember (and hearing it from an OG punk from Oxnard) the name came from Jamie Hernandez (Love and Rockets fame) and Ruben Sanchez (OG punk). Around 1980, as Ruben and Jamie would graffiti punk band names around the Oxnard area, they thought of how they could graffiti the Oxnard group. Ruben remembered seeing the scene report in an issue of MRR and remembered how the New York logo was the big "X" and then "NY" on the top and bottom and "HC" on the sides. He simply put an "O" over the "X" but remembered that the STAINS (Great E.L.A. Punk band) have a logo just like that. He then changed the "O" to a diamond shape and then put the "X" through the diamond. That was the "OX" part. Then came the "N" on the top, then the "A" on the bottom, and then the "R" on the left side and the "D" on the right side. There you have it: NARDCORE!! After awhile, Jamie coined the term "NARDCORE" because Washington DC had "DC HARDCORE" and L.A. had "L.A. HARDCORE". A little bit of NARDCORE history. Now, lets start with the person who put this all together and did an EXCELLENT job doing so "Jeff Hershey".  I've never heard of Jeff  before this, but I'll tell you this, he can put on one hell of a great show! A very cool and friendly person. He greeted us as we arrived and made sure everything was OK with us. Something most promoters lack these days.

 

It seemed like everybody from Oxnard and surrounding area's were there. The show started early (around 4pm) due to the 8 bands playing and a special sneak premiere of the Ill Repute film "Clean Cut American Kids". We got there early as Dr. Know was doing their sound check, met Jeff Hershey and immediately starting socializing with everyone there. Ran into Becca and Bob Porter (Original Ventura Punx), Kathy Rodgers (Photographer and Editor-in-Chief of Mute On The Floor Fanzine), Zizi "Carrot Women" Howell (OG Punx who photographed every Oxnard band...among others), just to name a few.

As 4:30 came around, the Ill Repute film started. I didn't know what to expect and I was told that the film was not completely done, that this was just a sneak look at what was completed. This film is a MUST SEE if your into Nardcore or just OG Punk in general. A really good, in-depth, look at the history of Ill Repute. Everybody has their fav Oxnard band and which band is their representation of the Nardcore scene. I believe the band that stands out the most is Ill Repute. Their is no other band like this. The guys in the band are super cool/great music/true to the Punk form. OK...enough ass-kissing. The film gives you everything you could want from Ill Repute:interviews with the band members and their fans/great live footage/very informative info/and history. Like I mentioned before...a MUST see!!

First up were the Rotters. A 1978 OG Punk band from the Ventura area. Their claim to fame was their smash hit "Sit on my face Stevie Nicks" which immediately got banned from airplay on all stations. They were introduced by Dave Graves from FRANKENSTEIN and played a very well set which included "Sit on my face" which the crowd recognized and enjoyed. They also dedicated a song to Brandon Cruz who was nowhere to be found.

Next up were Nardcore legends "AGRESSION". My band has played with Agression many times and they were always a great band to play with. This line-up featured original LP drummer Mark Aber Rooney and was joined by Big Bob, original bass player. Also on bass was Danny Dorman (bass player from Circle One). The singer ,Jess Leedy dedicated the set to Henry Knowles and Mark Hickey, the 2 main Agression players who have passed on. This line-up played most of the "Don't be Mistaken" LP and played it very well. The new singer, Jess, is a strong frontman and seems to do this new line-up justice.

Next up was the Grim. The only band not originally from the Oxnard/Ventura area. These guys started in the early 80's out of the San Fernando Valley.Part of that whole Mystic Records scene, The Grim played a classic early 80's punk set. Led by Tim Grim, these guys are 1st class punk rock!! They also did great versions of the Circle Jerks "Up against the wall" and "Live fast..die young". Go see this band when they play cause you won't be disappointed!!

False Confession gets better and better every time I see them. This band is not like any other Nardcore band. They have their own sound and look. Fred, the guitarist has his own original style of playing and is one of my fav guitar players. The guy can play!! He's played with many other performers and groups including Pearl Harbor and Motorcycle Boy. Israel also has his own style of being a frontman. The band does a really good mixture of Punk/goth/glam (the good glam not the cheesy glam)/and hardcore. Not many bands can pull that off. Drummer Harry is also an excellent pro musician. He's played with The Cramps and Lords of Altamont among others. Ismael Hernandez is on bass and was an original member of Dr. Know. Ismael fits the band perfect. They played a really good solid set.

Next up was the Missing 23rd. These guys started in the mid-late 90's and have that Classic DC Hardcore style of sound. Mix that in with Nardcore and you have Missing 23rd. They played a really powerful set and was a nice addition to this late 70's-early 80's show line up. I don't think they play too much so if you have a chance...check them out!!

After The Missing 23rd was another really good Nardcore band...STALAG 13. These guys rarely play due to the fact that their singer lives in Australia. Well....I didn't know this until I talked to Blake the guitarist, Ron the singer couldn't make the show. So...they got the singer from "IN CONTROL". This guy was a madman on stage as he stage-dived in the pit and put on a really good set. I think Ron would have been proud. This was the In Control LP line-up. Both guitarist Dave and Blake played really well and powerful. John Morris and Larry White are also on the In Control LP and ripped it up. Really nice seeing these guys again up on stage for one last final time. Who knows...maybe Ron will have that itch again...lets hope so.

It was time for Co-Headliners, Ill Repute, to take the stage. As I said before...these guys are THEE Nardcore legends. With great tunes like "Fuck with my head/In Society/Clean Cut American Kid/and Greed...you can't go wrong!! Wish they would do the really old tunes like Punk Love (didn't think I remembered that, huh Tony!!). If their was a punk hall of fame...these guys would be in the top 5 list of all-time great bands. Even Carl, the original drummer showed up and played on a few tunes.....in kilt, even!!! They sounded really good and even though the songs are around 30 years old.....its still classic!!

The last band up was Dr. Know. This is the recently reformed Kyle Toucher lineup. This is another band that is one of my all-time fav bands. Again....My band, Circle One, played with them many times and it was always a great time playing with these guys. Kyle still kills it on guitar and the rest of the band fit in very well. This band went through many changes but it has always been Kyle's band. At one time, Ron from Stalag 13 sang for them!!! That's how close-knit the Oxnard scene is. They had people from different bands playing and filling in and then started their own bands. The highlight of the night was when Ismael and Fred joined Dr. Know on stage and played a few songs from the "Plug in Jesus" LP. The place went wild as the wall of sound traveled through the Theater. Dr. Know is another band that has a lot of history. It would take another full article to tell you about it. The band played an amazing set as they left the crowd wanting more!!!

What an amazing show this was. Again....a very BIG thanks to Jeff Hershey for putting this on, it's a show I will never forget.

 

       

    More photos of the show can be seen HERE

-Mike Vallejo-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

 

 

 

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