LIVE AT THE
HOUSE OF BLUES
April 10, 2004 - The Adolescents are finally back in "The OC" after a week long tour of the west coast. Being that this was the last show on the tour, everyone in the band was exhausted. However, that did not impede on the energy, or the quality of the show. The night got under way with Orange County Surf Punks, The Crowd. They played a rad set, with excellent energy. The thing that I like about The Crowd is that they mix their old tunes in with the new ones pretty evenly, which keeps the audience captivated. It's always a treat to hear the old tunes like "Modern Machine" and "Right Time." However, songs off the band's latest album Punk Off are just as great to hear live.
Agent Orange followed, opening with the awesome instumental "Pipeline." They blasted out many of their Living in Darkness era classics like "No Such Thing" and "Cry For Help in a World Gone Mad" and of course, "Bloodstains." Interestingly enough, the only song they didn't play from their first album was the title track. (And "Mr. Moto" if you go by the '92 re-release.) Though I thoroughly enjoyed Agent Orange's set, it was a bit predictable. I'd really like it if Agent Orange would decide to work on some new material like so many other bands are doing now. However, if Agent Orange decided to keep playing the same tunes, I'd be perfectly satisfied as well. All in all, Mike Palm and the crew played a great set laden with Old School hits that the place went wild for.
(Intermission)
Yeah, you guessed it, time for The Adolescents to go on stage and treat us all to the final show of the tour. The band opened their set with "No Way," "Who is Who," and "Self Destruct;" one song after the other, never letting the energy drop. Fans were treated to a surprise as the Adolescents took the stage - though the opening songs remain the same, lately there have a few changes relating to the lineup of the band. First we had Rikk leave us, then he was replaced by Johnny Two Bags of Social D. This time however, the ADS were minus Two Bags, and up another Agnew. That right folks, Frank Jr. has stepped in to fill the shoes of his Uncle Rikk! This was a genuinely awesome lineup with Father and Son Agnew (who is a chip off the ol' block). Frank Jr. really did a great job playing with the ADS, and puts the Adolescent back in the Adolescents.
The set progressed with all the usual hits and the sprinkling of new songs throughout the set. One thing I did notice this time is that the crowd is becoming more and more familiar with the new songs, and are responding really well to them. That's a good sign for the new album (whenever that comes out!) The ADS finished their intended set with their classic "Kids of the Black Hole", but were cheered into doing an encore which was absolutely rad! The guys came back out to do "No Friends" and a cool cover of Eddie and the Subtitles' "American Society." Though Tony drew a blank with lyrics, Steve jumped right in and helped his pal out. Hope they play that cover again sometime!
Well folks, that's all I've got to say. If you want more details, then you should have gone to the show! See ya folks next time!
The Idiot,
-Lackass
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