This was my first show after my emergency double heart bypass surgery that was preceded by five major heart attacks in October of 2025. I lost my notebook, but that is okay because I remember most of this incredible night extremely well. After all the trauma, pain, and uncertainty, it was simply ecstatic to be at a punk rock show with my friends and fellow aging punkers rocking out to four kick-ass bands!
Spider was onstage when I arrived almost on time. Spider jams. Know this. Not enough people know this. Iggy Pop knows this because he has frequently played Spider on his BBC Radio 6 show. The night was young, and the audience still sparse, but as always, Spider put 110% into their megasonorous performance. Spider is so great that I made up a new word to describe it. I don’t remember the song order, but the shredding “Reeperbahn” and “Tabula Rasa” were in there. Vocalist Hector’s microphone was swinging dangerously close above our heads while bassist Brian’s turbulent head-banging and charging around seemed to add another layer to the “I’m about to get hit” feeling. Guitarist Karl’s guitar had once again roared to life and only he could contain it and bend it into a buzzing storm of sonic intensity. Drummer Chris, pounded away with tight precision and enough abandon to make Bill Stevenson proud. Is this hyperbole? Not at all, after my near-death experience, all my senses have become magnified with a newfound appreciation of life.
Up next were Thee Toe Tags. This Long Beach punk outfit bills itself as: “The finest in average rock ‘n’ roll bands,” but it was a whole lot better than that. I was thinking: “This is some solid punk rock that reminds me of The Stitches with a bit of a 60’s garage rock flair”. I usually don’t give a fuck about fashion, but their rhythm guitarist was looking ultra slick in his dark sunglasses, leopard-print collared shirt, black slacks, shiny shoes, with his vintage amplifier equipment. I blame the jangilly (another new word) coolness on him. The vocalist (sorry, no names here, I lost my notebook), explained that he narrowly arrived to the gig on time because he had to drive from Santa Barbara and he was sick. That did not diminish his energetic performance one bit. I also remember they did a cracking rendition of Mudhoney’s “Hate the Police.” The first song, “Swamp Mama,” a hip shaking and catchy ditty was stuck in my head for a couple of days. Thanks. I liked it.
Channel Three was great as usual, and I made it a point to get a good shot of the entire band because Phinky likes to keep posting photos of only Mike when I submit my show reviews. I got a photo of the set list, but I do not remember a song entitled “Santa Misfits” starting out the show. Maybe I was still a bit addled from my near-death and anesthesia experience, or maybe it was the THC gummies I had been eating to deal with the pain of my slowly-healing and sensitive sternum. Whatever, the place was now packed and the old guy circle pit was swirling in full force. From my somewhat safe place up front near the stage left, I lost myself in the joy of Channel Three classics like “Catholic Boy,” “Indian Summer,” “I Didn’t Know” (one of my personal favorites), “Manzanar,” and of course, “You Make Me Feel Cheap.”
About midway through the set, longtime cohort of CH3, Paul Lucas, dressed as Santa Claus, got onstage while the band was playing and started throwing out little Christmas gifts of candy and small toys to the audience. I took my friend Cathy’s walking cane and playfully hooked his bag and pulled it toward me. His stunned surprise turned into mutual laughter, but I did not get any presents. It was impossible to get a photo of the entire band from where I was standing, so I braved the crowd and shoved my way closer to the center front of the stage. The circle pit was churning directly behind me and I thought: “I am taking a big risk to get this photo, and if I get hit, it might crack my sternum wide open.” Well, I got the picture and you are looking at it here. The set wound down with a fun cover of Elvis Presley’s “Blue Christmas” and what do you think they played last? If you answered “I’ve Got a Gun,” then consider yourself a knowledgeable Channel Three fan. As an added bonus, Mike signed my copy of the 1982 issue of Flipside Magazine with him on the cover.
When Adolescents took the stage, I felt like an adolescent again. This being the first show since my incredibly painful open heart surgery and being clinically dead, I felt the same giddy excitement I felt when I first started going to punk shows way back in 1981. When the first tension-filled chords of “OC Confidential” began, I closed my eyes and let the building sonic power sweep me away. I used to be a Buddhist monk (really, I am not joking), so I know how to find the meditational state of mind wherein I can enhance my senses and become completely immersed in the moment. Nothing else except this moment existed, filled with thundering rhythm, powerful emotions, roaring energy, and I thought: “All that pain, all that terror, all the worry, none of that is happening now. I made it! I survived and now I am here right where I want to be!” This is like I died on October 20th and the afterlife is more of the same thing. I died and came back to life and I get to do the same things again. This is the closest to Nirvana I ever come and it is simply more of the same life I had been living before. I opened my eyes and saw Adam Gomez on drums looking directly at me. (Adam, who plays for The Dickies, was filling in on drums because Mike Cambra was unavailable.) He knew what I had been through and I am sure he was enjoying watching me writhe in sonic ecstasy.
Cathy and I were right up front as usual on stage left with the dynamo of perpetual motion, Brad Logan, directly in front of us. Watching Brad perform is a show in itself and I had to duck a few times to avoid getting hit in the head by the headstock of his instrument. The place was packed and the slam dancing was intense, so I had to stay alert and avoid being unexpectedly injured. The set was a good mix of classic Adolescents oldies and newer songs such as: “Losing Battle,” “Who is Who,” “Serf City,” “Lockdown America,” and “Wrecking Crew.” Of course the audience members knew all the words and could be heard singing along to every song. During “Amoeba,” the audience sang so loud I was amazed they seemed to almost drown out Tony’s vocals. Of course the room went completely ape-shit crazy and even though I got knocked down, I was okay and laughing. Brad once again almost hit me in the head with his bass and I had to block it like a punch. Brad saw that, looked at me and shouted: “Marcus!” In between songs, he crouched down and asked me how I was doing and if I was okay. It made me feel good to know he knew about what happened to me and cared about my well-being.
The show ended with the ever-popular magnum opus “Kids of the Black Hole.” Tony may not jump around like he used to, but his delivery throughout the entire night was solid and strong, and especially so on this one. I met eyes with Adam once again, he was drenched in sweat and it was amazing how this guy can just jump into Adolescents or DI and perform like he had been a member of those bands since day one….even though he was not even born then they first formed. No encore. None needed. We were all completely spent and satisfied. It is good to be alive.
Thanks again to Adam Gomez for putting Cathy and me on the guest list for the upteenth time. Be sure to check out his Drum-Thru Drive in channel on YouTube, and also take the time to visit his Sweetwater page that details the equipment he uses along with detailed descriptions and other musical gear he recommends to fellow musicians.
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