I got there late because if I am not late, I will not be there. I bought my cohort Cathy a ticket because I was only able to finagle myself one VIP ticket for myself. It was well-worth the $45 price. We brought the wheelchair for ease of transit for Cathy and quickly discovered that being in a wheelchair is just as good as having an all-access pass. Nobody questioned her when she came with me to backstage and other restricted areas or when we helped ourselves to free pizza and drinks. The Los Angeles Oi band Bomber had just appeared on the large stage. I rolled Cathy into the up-front VIP viewing area and I took my position between the stage and the barricade. Sorry for the bad pun, but Bomber really did explode onstage and I thought: “How is it possible that I have never heard of this band before? They are great!” Right away I was reminded of The 4 Skins, Blitz, and Sham 69. I think the first song was, “Fuck ICE! Fuck You Too.” I did a bit of research and discovered that Bomber is a relatively new band, but the band members are no strangers to punk rock. These guys have been in punk bands such as Toughskins, The Choice, and The Generators since the 1990s. Sorry, I don’t know who is who, but I do know the audience loved them and it was a strong start for my long day of punk rock bliss. Bomber gets extra points for their huge “Don’t Be Racist. Thanks!” emblem.
It was time to wheel on over to the small room to check out K/Crush. The entryway between the large room and the small room was a long hallway-like area with a long inclined plane that served as both walkway and wheelchair ramp. I would get a running start and push Cathy up it as fast as I could to maintain momentum. I got a lot of cardio-work out exercise that way throughout the day. K/Crush is a grit-pop band with deep lyrics from Huntington Beach featuring James Kaa (The Crowd) on guitar. In fact, the band played “Right Time,” one of The Crowd’s well-known songs. Chuk Davis from Smut Peddlers was on rhythm guitar. Was this punk rock? Not really. Was it good? It was great. Should you check out this band? I highly recommend it. (I found out later that I missed The Voids on the large stage while enjoying K/Crush.)
Then it was back to the main stage to check out Zoinks! The crowd was surprisingly light and I wondered where everyone could disappear to because I did not see a flood of people pass me going toward the small stage room. Well, they missed out because they did not appreciate early 1990s melodic punk. They started out in Reno Nevada, and released the “Well and Good” LP on Dr. Strange Records in 1997. I was stoked to hear “Sapsucker Sluggo” live. Ah yes, melodic punk rock grit makes me happy. The audience may have been light, but the enthusiasm was heavy. It all reminded me of how it was in the early days of punk rock when this music was out of the public eye and it was “our little secret.” They played songs from the album “Bad Move Space Cadet” but my notes are illegible, so just trust me….it was wonderful. Do you like Screeching Weasel or Common Rider? Well, then you will like Zoinks! too. Founding member/guitarist Zac Damon also played in both of those bands. The sound in the large room was better than it was the day before. It was too loud on the first day and the music tended to get tangled up in itself and melded into more of a roar. Somebody fixed that.
The Penetratorz cured my woe. This band includes two members of Voodoo Glow Skulls, with Jorge Casillas on bass and Joe McNally (former Voodoo Glow Skulls trumpet), doing the vocals. Brother Eddie Casillias was on guitar with Keith Olson on the other guitar, and Mark Torres on the drums. Yes, this was much more to my liking. The Penetratorz penetrated my psyche with good old punk rock with a roots rock undertone. My notes read: “Solid. Catchy. No-frills. Reminds me of The Freeze.” Jagged Baptist Club had ended their set and the small room flooded with people. Good for them. Some little kid punk rocker who appeared to be about 10 years-old was digging it and jumping up and down. Joe obliged they boy by stepping down from the stage and started swinging the mic cord like a big jump rope. The boy took the cue and did an impressive job of jumping rope while the band continued jamming. That was fun.
I quickly rolled Cathy down the long ramp toward the large stage to check out our friends known as CH3. I took a sharp left and stopped at the free (for us) pizza supply. The large room was filled with eager fans young and old. I took my position at the front of the stage and set my meal down on the edge of the stage. Lead guitarist/vocalist Mike Magrann chided me while he set up his gear: “Eating pizza after having heart surgery?” I shrugged it off and told him I was in the clear as long as I watch the cholesterol numbers. The band blew off the doors with the first song, “I Wanna Know Why” from 1982. This song is about feeling alienated and judged by society. The irony was that we were now in a regal venue 44 years later, with our subculture firmly entrenched in modern society. The slam pit was as tumultuous and sweaty as ever. Mike facetiously claimed “We are the godfathers of punk rock!” This was not far from the truth as he and rhythm guitarist Kimm have been at the CH3 helm for 44 years. Bassist extraordinaire Anthony Thompson has been in the band for about 25 years, and the solid and focused Nick Manning has been pounding the tubs for about 10 years. I think this is the most solid lineup CH3 has ever had. It was wonderful to see so many people from three generations rocking out to old favorites like “Catholic Boy,” and newer tunes like “Put ‘Em Up.” During “You Make Me Feel Cheap,” Christina from The Hellflowers provided the female vocal. Hey guys! I think it’s about time for another CH3 album. Also Mike Magrann’s new book “Tin Knocker” is available and you really should pick it up. Look for my erudite review of it on the mighty The Punk Site soon.
Another quick push back up the ramp to check out The Maxies. I have loved this silly bunch from Redlands, CA for about 20 years. Their shtick is to dress in all red and white garb, with Anonmyous-like masks while playing melodic and goofy punk rock; much like The Dickies. (They are supposed to look like tampons.) Just before they played, my former fiance’ from 17 years ago approached me, ran her finger down my chest where my heart surgery scar was, and asked if I was okay now. I told her I was and that Maximus Maxie (the vocalist) was going to write a song about our breakup many years ago, but I told him not to. She asked: “Is it ‘My Girlfriend is a Lesbian?”’ I laughed and said: “No, but close enough.” Joyful chaos soon ensued as the band actually started playing that song. Maximus proclaimed it was Dr. Strange Bill’s birthday! “Happy Birthday Bill!” It was not Bill’s birthday. The Maxies’ mascot Bipolar Bear also made an appearance and slam danced with the adoring fans. Maximus then added: “Bill is a dick!” You get the idea. Fast, melodic, zany, and just plain fun. The set ended as they always do with the succinct and juvenile, “My Band is Better Than Your Band.”
It was time for more melodic punk rock from the 1990s courtesy of Cleveland Ohio’s Whatever. They broke up for a while and got back together again. That is happening a lot nowadays. Good. The modern incarnation is much more musically adept, but just as intense. Whatever is anything but whatever. It is a huge wall of sound with tumultuous intensity and some intricate guitar work to accentuate the chunkiness. Dr. Strange Records released the LP “Youngsters” in 1997, and “Into Darker Days” recently in 2005. Go pick up on that. My favorite tune from the set was “Shelter in Place,” from the new album. It has hard staccato guitar, a mid-tempo beat, and insightful lyrics like “The world’s on fire/ but it’s safe in here […] We can hide/ Shelter in place/ We can lock ourselves away.” I guess they grew up because they have harmonious backup singing now. Great stuff.
Then it was time to “Hang Ten in East Berlin” with DI on the big stage! Right out of the gate, we were hit with the fan-favorite “Johnny’s Got a Problem.” Everyone in the packed large room went ape shit wild! This was followed with a Rikk Agnew tune called: “Falling Out.” You know it: “Have a good time/ while there’s still time…” Boy, I can relate to that. After “Chiva Chiva,” everyone was overjoyed to hear a very popular song that was written by Casey: “Amoeba!” The crowd was signing along, and it was so loud that it almost eclipsed Casey’s vocals. It gave me the chills of delight up and down my spine. Afterward, Casey commented: “This is one of the best shows I’ve played in my life!” I concur. I have never heard DI sound better. After all DI has Eddie Tartar (The Dickies / Wasted Youth) on bass and his brother Joey on the drums, and Clinton Calton (Korn / Sacred Sons) shredding on the guitar. (Eddie’s brother Joey usually mans the drums, but he was MIA on this day.) Stellar performance!
The band I wanted to see most of all was up next. The Skulls. This band was one of the first punk bands in Los Angeles starting out way back in 1978 and were regulars at the infamous The Masque in Hollywood. Vocalist Billy Bones is the only original member, but with James Harding on bass, Monster Matt (3D Invisibles / Monster Trux) on drums, and guitarist extraordinaire Kevin Preston (Prima Donna / Green Day) shredding his axe, it was still The Skulls. Yes, you read that right. Kevin has been a touring member of Green Day since 2019! Sadly, the audience for this performance diminished by about 50%. I was astonished. Too bad they didn’t know their punk history. My notes are minimal so you know I was rocking out instead of writing. I remember hearing “Victums,” “Kill Me, Kill Me Kill,” “Let’s Get Rid of New York,” “On Target,” “Models,” and “I Don’t Care.” Basically, they played everything I wanted to hear, including Cathy’s favorite, “Monet.” I don’t know how old Billy is, but since I am in my 60s, so he must be in his 70s. That does not diminish his performance one bit. The man is the living embodiment of vitality. I watched Alex Mack (The Billybones / The Hellflowers), in the crowd completely losing his mind. Kevin’s high kicks, splits, and incredible guitar work simply blew us away.
While I was busily taking photos, another photographer gave me a hard shove and knocked me down. I almost punched him, but I did not want to get thrown out. I got up and shoved him back. He ignored me. Scanning the audience, I saw Monkey from The Adicts walking around and enjoying the show, unrecognized without his stage makeup. Damn, that was an incredible set. Thank you gentlemen. Just after the set, I was sitting on the edge of the stage. Some guy asked me if I needed help getting down. “NO!” I said incredulously, and I wondered: “Do I look that old?” I later saw a video of The Skulls’ set and I saw myself. Yeah, I guess I do.
The final band of the day was The Mainliners, also performing on the big stage. How is it possible that I had never heard of these guys before? The room quickly filled to bulging capacity and I knew it was going to be good. These vatos channel La Raza through a heavy duty, high-energy, blistering fast punk rock conduit. Immediately the crowd erupted into a frenzy of slam dancing, fist-pumping, and manic pogoing. Stage divers steadily made their way up, did their little jig, and launched properly over the barricade and back into the crowd. I was reminded of Suicidal Tendencies at times, but not so much for any metal similarities, but because of the angry energy level, and the cholo-ish vibe. What did they play? The only song I know for sure was “No Mas Tequila,” with the genius lyrics: “Snorting some coca/ smoking a rocha/ fucking a chola.” Brilliant.
A young stage diver, a skinhead kid who looked to be about 12, got up onstage, but the song ended before he could launch. Vocalist Cash Mathieu pulled him to his side and announced: “We are here today for the Punk Rock Make A Wish Foundation.” Everyone laughed, and the kid put on a stupid long-hair wig for further comedic effect. The music started again, he got a running start, and leaped high overhead. A photographer I had previously met got a great photo of it. He sent it to me, said I could use it, and then later told me not to. Well, I am going to use it anyway. I want you to see it because it is awesome, that guy will probably never find out, and I most likely will never see him again. Yeah, The Mainliners kicked ass. After this long and eventful day, I was exhausted and thoroughly pleased. I saw my former fiance’ standing alone. I went up to her, told her that I still loved her and I always will. I quickly walked away before she could respond.
Dr Strange Records will be hosting the Winter Bash on January 16th & 17th 2027 at The Cathedral in Pomona, CA. This review was delayed due to Marcus suffering heart related health issues, we at The Punk Site all wish him continued good health.
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