The Aquabats – Buck O Nine – Supernova – at The Music Box at Fonda Theater – Hollywood, CA

The Aquabats are my one of my favorite bands, and are hand down my favorite live band. When I found out they were playing at the Henry Fonda Theater in Hollywood, I immediately called my best friends and got our tickets. I had seen the Aquabats play with the Phenomenauts at the same place back in 2007 and had the time of my life, so I had high expectations going in. While reading the Aquabats blog on their MySpace, I read that they were having an after party and the first 75 people to buy a special shirt got to enter and meet the band! Knowing this, my friends and I arrived at the Fonda around 5PM, dressed in tight red long-sleeve shirts (to imitate their Holiday rash guard) with a painted "A", black skirts, and glitter black eye-masks. At 7PM, doors opened and we ran in, yet still waited in a merch line that seemed to take forever, making me anxious that the special shirts had run out and I wasn't getting into the party. Eventually we made it up to the front, and ordered the royal blue Aquabats Holiday Extravaganza t-shirt and light blue wristband, guaranteeing my friends and I entry into the meet and greet.

After the merchandise frenzy was over, we walked into the floor area, where a huge game of Duck, Duck, Goose was taking place. A wide variety of people were playing -- from Punks in patched, denim vests to kids dressed in Aquabats rash guards and Anti-Negativity helmets, and someone was even dressed in a full Pikachu outfit! A few minutes later, a dance-off broke out into the middle of the game, with everyone dancing crazy and having a good time. Once a bigger crowd came in, the game disbanded, and the audience waited for the first band, Supernova. The band came on at 8PM, in a cloud of fog and dressed as astronauts. The band constantly yelled "U.S.A!" and showed their patriotism throughout their set, and even claiming an acceptance of Canadians. They threw out foil and encouraged everyone in the crowd to create accessories and get creative with it. Supernova performed with energy and humor, and especially entertaining  the crowd with their famous song "Chewbacca", featured in the film Clerks. The band exited the stage, leaving Buck O Nine to play next.

I had never really listened to Buck O Nine, but I knew that my friend really liked them, so I was excited to see them. Not only did they not let me down, they surpassed my expectations. Lead singer Jon Pebsworth had great interaction with the crowd, while playing great ska music similar to the Mighty Mighty Bosstones that riled up the audience. With their amazing horns section and large riffs, they performed hits such as "My Town", "Irish Drinking Song", "On a Mission", and "Water in My Head". Jon and trumpeter of the band also performed a rendition of "Pass that Dutchie", getting the crowd to sing-a-long. Buck O Nine stopped their great set around 9:20PM, 25 minutes until the Aquabats were scheduled to play.

By this time, the floor was packed with fans, some chanting the phrase "Holy Guacamole! We've Got Chips!" from their song "Pool Party". At precisely 9:47PM (two minutes after they were set to come on), the curtain lifted showing MC Bat Commander, Crash McLarson, Jimmy the Robot,Ricky Fitness, EagleBones, and Cat Boy, who was making a special appearance just for the holidays. They came out performing the song "Danger Woman!", followed by their signature song, "Super Rad!" and "Red Sweater". The floor was pure insanity, with a huge pit and people skanking left and right. After the three songs, the band stopped to introduce themselves and talk about their experiences -- one being trapped in a cave, and led into the song "Tiger Rider Vs. The Time Sprinkler!" The first few songs foreshadowed a night of whimsical, random superhero humor that only the Aquabats have perfected. The band went on the perform the hit "Pizza Day!", "Hot Summer Nights", and my personal favorite "Cat With Two Heads", which of course was in honor of Cat Boy. MC Bat Commander, who donned a backwards hat, claimed we were breaking all the rules that night (hence the backwards hat), when his monologue was soon interrupted by a huge cobra! The Aquabats played the song "Attacked by Snakes" during this segment, with the huge cobra slithering across the stage, trying to attack the Bat Commander. Another villain who came out that night was a Burnt Tortilla man, who pushed MC Bat Commander into the crowd. The Bat Commander exclaimed that "someone more powerful than Oprah Winfrey" needed to save him -- and out came Santa Claus! MC Bat Commander told all us kids that the real Santa was here to fight off Tortilla Man, and that he did. Throughout the rest of the night, the Bats played "Look At Me(I'm a Winner!)", Captain Hampton and the Midget Pirates", and closed with their most popular song "Pool Party", where they threw out inflatable pool accessories. The band then left the stage, however they played a video of their tour bus breaking down, forcing EagleBones to push unsuccessfully. The rest of the gang then hops out to help push, but then they soon realize no one is driving and they crash into a parked car, with MC Bat Commander then proclaiming "Let's go back and play another song!". Seconds later, they came out and performed "Fashion Zombies!" and their special holiday song, "Holiday Road" from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. MC Bat Commander hilariously attempted to perform other holiday songs before getting the right one, such as "Holiday" by Madonna and "Holiday in Cambodia" by the Dead Kennedys (he just mumbled the verses and yelled out the chorus, poking fun at Jello Biafra); and told the audience to "act like Pennywise" when singing the "Ohhhh-Ohhh-Ohh-Ohh-Ohhd" part of "Holiday Road" (making fun of Bro Hymn).

While the rest of the crowd was exiting the venue, my friends and the other lucky 70 stayed on the floor, waiting for the employees to finish cleaning and the Aquabats to freshen up so the party could start. We were waiting patiently against the wall, not knowing what to do because they had no formal instructions on what would happen, when a security guard came over and told us that the band members were already on the floor meeting the fans. The Bats weren't dressed in their usual blue rash guard, utility belt, and black Dickies, but instead they wore black sweats and black jackets saying "The Aquabats Super Show!" on them. The first band member we waited to meet, and the most crowded around, was MC Bat Commander. Along with the attire, he wore a golf hat and kept his signature mustache on. Although he seemed tired, he kept his humor and tried his best to show energy, and graciously took pictures with us. The other band members, EagleBones, Cat Boy, Crash, Jimmy the Robot, and Ricky Fitness all had less of a wait, but were all very nice as well and we had a chance to interact with them more. Crash even told us that his kid's elementary school teacher showed up, and talked to him about his son's poor grades, which made us and him laugh and told him that he didn't need good grades on Aquabania. We left the party around 12:15AM, after we had met and gotten autographs from everyone. It was the funnest concert I've been to thus far, but I expected nothing less from the Aquabats and their hilarious and amazing talent. I'm going to continue to live the Aquabats way of life, because according to MC Bat Commander, "each and everyone of us is an Aquabat".
 

-Sarah K.-
Big Wheel Music Scene Reporter

 

More photos of the show can be seen HERE

 
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