Just got home from one of the craziest concerts I’ve been to in a good long while. Went to the Orange County Faire, saw the Pig Races, had some mediocre pizza and then went to Pacific Amphitheater.
First up, Orange County’s own, The Vandals. I can’t really say I’ve ever been a fan of this punk band, only being vaguely aware of their existence most of my life. But, two summers ago I saw them open up for Flogging Molly at the fair and really enjoyed them. I wish the feeling were mutual. They hated us (the audience). Everybody (those few of us who showed up at 7) stayed in their seats for pretty much the entire Vandals set. And the band was obviously taking it personal. Frankly, they were pretty Butt-Hurt about it. They did a great set, but the attitude was trying. They played some songs I didn’t know (Vandal songs). I enjoyed “My Girlfriend’s Dead”. And “Oi to the World”, but the covers were the real show-stealers. They performed “America, FUCK YEAH!” from Team America. They played that one last time and I freakin loved it. They closed with “Don’t Stop Me Now” by Queen, a song that I love anyway. Overall, great show, but feel better guys…
Next was The Mighty Mighty BossTones. I liked these guys since my best friend Josh gave me a mix tape in 1993 with two song by them on it (the tape was entitled “Joe 93a: From Bad to Interesting” for you Joe Tape fans out there). Since then I have only picked up one of their older CDs “SKA, Core, the Devil & More”. So, I was pretty thrilled when they opened with “Our Only Weapon”, one of the 2 songs Josh sent me! Bad Ass! They tore it up on that stage. I only knew about a third of their set, but that was more than I expected. They pulled out the Bob Marley song “Simmer Down” which is off of the CD I have, and they played all their big hits. Strangely enough, Jimmy Kimmel came out and joined them in playing “Knock on Wood”. Surreal, but nice.
I saw something during their set I’d never seen, even during my illustrious tenure as a concert security guard. There was a scuffle in the Mosh Pit, and when security went in to remove the offender, Dickie Barrett, BossTones’ lead singer, stopped the show and insisted that they let the guy go. He personally vouched for the guy (who, of course, turned out to be a douchebag). I just found that very strange…
Anyway, the BossTones wrapped up their set and suddenly their banner dropped and there was another beneath it of Barack Obama that said “DREAM” across the bottom. It was unexpected and very powerful. Some people in the crowd cheered, while others booed. My guess is all those Oi! Boys who came to see The Vandals were horrified. I hate those guys (Side note: saw somebody at the show I wanted to pound; glad I wasn’t drinking; He’d have deserved it, but still…)
Dropkick Murphys started their set in a strange way: with a Sinead O’Connor song echoing across a darkened stage. “The Foggy Dew” from the Cheiftans with Sinead on vocals. It was kind of eerie…
Then the Murphys tore onto stage and took over. Another band that I don’t know many of their songs, but they played enough that I knew to make me happy. They played “Bastards on Parade” which I wasn’t expecting. That song got me through some dark times, practically became an anthem of mine. “Try to see the young man, not the Monster you now see…
They also played “Black Velvet Band” (Tom’s great comment: I can’t believe I just headbanged to Black Velvet Band), “Fields of Atherny” and of course “Kiss Me, I’m Shitfaced”.
I recognized some of the others. “Captain Kelly’s Kitchen”, “Shipping off to Boston”, but plenty that I had never heard.
We had some kick ass seats. I ordered the tickets online the day it was announced and we were in section 3 Row C. The seats in front of up were plastic folding chairs. The problem was that we were, as TSwag described, the “Staging Ground” for everybody trying to sneak into the pit. And, BOY did they try. I have never seen so many drunk, belligerent, entitled people in one night before. They really felt that they DESERVED to be in the good seats. Jackasses.
Over all it was a great show. Everybody had a great time, and I wasn’t forced to kill anybody. As Maile puts it: “Could you ask for anything more?”
