The Adicts – at The Ventura Theatre – Ventura, CA

There are some bands that you like for a couple weeks and forget about. There are some bands that you listen to for months on end and then eventually store away in your ipod. Then there are the bands that no matter how much time passes or how much your musical tastes develop you will always hold near and dear to your heart. For me The Adicts is one of those bands.I remember being enthralled with the songs of praise album from the first time I heard it. The over all composure and construction of each song was quite literally music to my ears. As the years progressed I had made several attempts at trying to see The Adicts. Each and every time some freak force of nature stood in my way and prevented it. Finally on Sunday March 27th, after 8 years I finally got to catch a live show. Was it worth the wait? You're god damn right it was!

After a month on the road, The Adicts Organized Confusion Tour came to a close at the Ventura Theatre. The stage was set  and the crowd was patiently awaiting The Adicts to take their stance. Just then, the lights were dimmed and the opening music from Stanley Kubricks A Clock Work Orange starts to play. One by one Pete Dee, Kid Dee, Scruff, Fiddle Dan and "12" as they affectionately called him all take their place. They start to play "Ode to Joy" as Monkey make his Grand entrance.

The crowd is cheering and the space close to the front is getting tighter and tighter. As soon as they start with "Joker in the pack" movement from every which way breaks out and a scramble to either find you place in the pit or move away from it sets forth. Is a beautiful thing to see everyone singing and dancing along while limbs flying over head as people crowd surf and all the while confetti flies every which way. The entire band has this free spirited and joyous presence on stage and incredible interaction with the audience. The place is a circus and Monkey is the ring leader and the clown.

Each member of the audience takes every song a different way. While playing "Troubadour"  I can hear girls screaming from different parts of the room, During "I Am Yours" The entire crowd sings along.

During "Bad Girl", Monkey asks all the bad girls to come up and dance proclaiming the naughtiest girl will receive a prize. My favorite point in their set is when the played "Fools", for a moment I couldn't quite place the song but I knew the tune and sang along with every word. This was a song my memory had buried and the Adicts themselves had resurrected.

They play the anthem of change that is "Viva La Revolution" and tribute to lost love "Steamroller". As they take their  bow and exit the stage the crowd begs for more, pleading the band to return requesting songs like "Songs of Praise" and "Love Sucks". After what feels like forever, they retake the stage and put the cherry on top of the Sunday night with "Bad Boy" and "Who Spilt My Beer".

It was a night I wont soon forget and a band i will be sure to catch again.

 

 

-Desire G.-
Big Wheel Reporter

                   More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 

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