The Adicts – Gonzo Fiction – Spitting On Cops – Hurry Up and Die Alreadies – at Karma – Victorville, CA

The Adicts are back again in Southern California Starting off their Life Goes On 2009 tour in Victorville.  When I first arrived to the venue, Fans were already lined up patiently waiting to get into the venue. It was my first time going to the Karma and I  was really impressed by the venue. The inside was filled with scattered tables and stools, there’s an outside patio area where people could smoke, and the venue has it’s own full bar. The place gave a nice and friendly atmosphere. Kids and Adults scattered the venue, some sitting on stools and couches, patiently waiting for the show to begin.

The Hurry Up and Die Alreadies were up first. People immediately began to bunch up to the front of the stage ready to enjoy some Punk rock. The Hurry up and Die Alreadies is a Punk band with fast, rock steady beats. The crowd bobbed their heads and looked very pleased, I was too. Some fans in the front sang along to their songs throwing up their fists and the pit was small but going strong. Their sound was great and did an excellent job to start off the Night.

Second band to proceed was Spitting On Cops. The band’s hardcore Punk, and thrash influence made the audience go crazy. The band brings forth and old school sound that, as the band describes,  “..makes Jesus Christ himself start a circle pit”. The pit seemed to grow bigger and stronger with every song like a black hole consuming the audience into the pitting vortex. Some great songs from the band include “Spitting on cops”, “Beer and Weed”, and “Drunk Punk Anthem”.

As the third band was setting up, the crowd was already claiming their spot in the front for they knew The Adicts were going to go on after Gonzo Fiction. Gonzo Fiction combines old school Punk and classic rock with heavy guitar sound. They played some new tunes, some old ones and did some covers that were obviously a crowd pleaser. The vocalist, Jesse –O, moved around the stage and climbed the speakers energetically.  The band knew how to work with the crowd and definitely did a good job warming them up for the Adicts.

Now the time had come. The Adicts bastard road crew came out and started to unveil The Adicts equipment. From the surrounding conversations, it was obvious how excited the crowd was. Kids tried pushing their way to the front. Some made it, some didn’t. I had seen the Adicts numerous times, so I let those who haven’t seen them go in front of me. There were times the lights dimmed down and the crowd would start to cheer thinking the band would come out, it was a false alarm.  Time seemed to have slowed down for it took almost half an hour for everything to be set up and tuned. The crowd didn’t seem to mind the long wait for they were singing to the background music such as Sublime and Sex Pistols. Some old timers were talking about the times they had seen The Adicts in the past to the younger kids who were about to pop their Adicts cherry for they were about to see them for the first time. I looked around and saw that the crowd had tripled in size. Time had finally come and the lights were turned down for good. This was it; the crowd was in silence anticipating the final act of the night.

The Infamous Clockwork orange Theme began. The crowd cheered their hearts out as clockwork droogs came out on the stage. Fiddle Dan started off “Ode To Joy” and the cheers grew louder as the band joined in. “Joker in the pack” soon followed, Monkey ran out to the stage and the place went into chaos. Cards, confetti, Streamers, gloves, and beach balls were thrown out and everybody tried to grab what they could during the marvelous set. Everyone sang along in joyous harmony, the pit went nonstop through every song like clockwork.

As the show went on, Monkey and Pete Dee informed the crowd that it was Kid Dee’s birthday.  Every one wished him a happy birthday. The Adicts finished their full set with Ode To joy once again and as they walked off the stage, the crowd chanted for an encore. The chanting grew louder and The Adicts came back on and finished off the night With “Steamroller”, “Walk On”, and “Bad Boy”. Fans of all ages, the youngest there being a one year old (no Joke), enjoyed the night undoubtedly. The greatest thing about this show that I noticed since the start is that The Adicts were able to unite the scenes in Victorville together. Punks, Skins, Greasers, Psychobilly, Glam, Metal and Hardcore (just to Name a Few) fans came together as one to enjoy show. It was very unfortunate that Mel could not make it on this tour and we all wish him the best of luck and a quick recovery.

After the show ended, a majority of the crowd left the venue but a couple fans stayed behind hoping for someone to come out. To their surprise and mine, Monkey came out to greet the fans. He happily took pictures with everyone, signed everything that was put in front of him, including my Adicts tattoo. It made the night even more memorable and worth it for those who waited.

Angelica Lopez, from Adelanto and seeing the Adicts for the first time,  summed up the night for everyone who was there,” The show was bad ass”.

No matter how many times you see The Adicts, you will never get tired of them. They bring something different and new to the show every time. They make Young fans forget about school and their daily worries, and make the older folks feel young again. No wonder why they are the longest serving punk band with original line up.

-Rob Nuisance-
Guest Big Wheel Reporter
 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
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