May 20-22, 2005
By: Lackass

© Skate Scene Media

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Rather that doing a show by show review of the gigs we went to this weekend, we decided that this weekend was packed with enough excitement to make this Team Goon's first full out weekend report. The other half of our crew went to Vegas to a pool skating event while the other half stayed here in LA/OC to take in some Punk shows. We kicked off the weekend at the Brigg in Huntington Beach.

There we attended the premiere of Duane Peters' movie, which was like a punk rock version of E! True Hollywood story. It is a great movie, packed with interviews and anecdotes from Duane's Mom, old school pro skaters and other important figures in the punk rock/skate scene.

The show got rolling with JFA, a band that doesn’t play often enough for the amount of people that like them. A couple of the more memorable songs that they played were “Out of School” and “Cokes & Snickers”. The Crowd was up next and began their set. Being that we had just a little too much to drink, we must apologize for the quality of the photos. The Stitches took the stage next and got everyone hyped for Die Hunns who were due up next.

The Hunns went on and the crowd really got moving. During “Nuke HB” our photog was even tossed on his back while trying to take a photo, no damage done. The Hunns went on to play plenty of crowd favorites such as “Skate Away” and “Love ‘n’ Hate”.

The night ended with a couple of black eyes, nothing too serious, all a result of some serious slamming. Now it was time to go home and get some rest for the D.I. show the following day at Lamppost Pizza.

As we were getting ready to leave for the Lampost show, Joe, the guitarist for Wrecking Crew gave us a call to say that they were playing at the Anarchy Library. He asked if we could go down to see them before D.I., so we headed down to see Wrecking Crew play a quick set and then headed out to Lampost.

When we arrived at Lampost Pizza in La Mirada, there were kids everywhere. This was sure to be a sold out event, and w bet plenty of kids were turned away because of capacity. We walked in with enough time to catch the last song of Cell Block 5 (Geez…thanks a lot Wrecking Crew). As I walked around I heard a few people say that the show and atmosphere was very much like how it was in the early 80’s. Riot Gun was the next band on stage and right from the start the pit was intense. It was apparent that this show was different. There was an element in the air that gave the feeling that this show would turn out differently than others, but for now it was the pit that was active.

Drain Bramaged then went on and after maybe one too many beers things started to get out of hand. There was more than the normal amount of slamming and just plain aggressiveness. Words were said and a fight broke out. It started in front of the stage where the band was playing, the drummer getting tossed around and drums kicked in, and the guitarist’s guitar getting broken. The fight moved all around the room, and the sound of breaking glass could be heard everywhere. The place was a wreck and the police had to be called, and medical attention was needed.

The fight was over by the time the cops showed up, but that didn’t stop them from showing off their authority to people who weren’t doing anything. Next time they should go after the people who started the trouble instead of taking out their frustration on 14 year old kids.

Believe it or not, there was moment when the crowd thought the show would actually go on, but that was short lived. One thing that comes to mind is a female cop who said “I’m not having a good day!” and then started harassing more people. Well guess what, handling large crowds is part of your job weather you are having a good day or not. Maybe she would have rather been giving parking tickets?

As the crowd left the building; passing D.I. and the injured dude, Eddie Tater was letting the disappointed crowd know that D.I. would be playing the next day at the Anarchy Library. Some people likened this show to a smaller version of an Olympic Auditorium show in the early 80’s. Things started to clear up and so everyone went home, some considering to show up to see D.I. the next day.

We had planned to go to the D.I. show at the Anarchy Library weeks in advance, but we didn’t know that they would be going on stage so early. We hauled ass on the freeway and got there in time to catch the last few songs of their set. “Youth in Asia”, “Amoeba” and “Johnny’s got a Problem” were among some of the songs that they played.

This was defiantly one of the most interesting weekends that we’ve had in a while, and though we don’t condone violence between each other, it is an element that is present almost anywhere you go nowadays. What people need to remember is that the scene is about going to shows and having a fun time with friends and strangers alike. Brutalizing your fellow Punker is no bueno big guy!

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