You're out of your element Donny

"Were you listening to The Dude's story? So you have no frame of reference here, Donny. You're like a child who wanders into the middle of a movie"

-Walter Shobchak

Lucky you! Today is the daily double, 2 show reviews for the price of 1!

Guttermouth - Counterpunch - Caskitt- Castoff (2/20/15 @ Soda Bar, San Diego CA)

Tonight's theme brought to you by Nostalgia and Fish Tacos.

I was super supposed to go up to Hollywood on Friday for the 9th annual Dre Day celebration show. But by the time I got off work, I just didn't feel like driving up there. My teeth decided to start acting like little pieces of shit, and I was getting tattooed on Saturday, so I had a pretty good excuse for not going. Instead I decided to keep it "local" and head down to San Diego to catch this show.

I also decided at this show that I was going to start taking notes, just to get my general in the moment impressions of everything, and because I think my immediate reactions to stuff is way better than my post reflection. Also, I'm totes super profesh now :P





Pre Show Pizza Party!

 

 

After the required preshow pizza and beers, we headed to the Soda Bar. This is something I have always noticed when a punk band who was "big" in the late 90's/early 2000's plays in San Diego, it always attracts the worst fucking people. Lots of goatees, plaid shorts, long socks, neck tattoos, baseball hats and DC and Volcom gear. The type of people who if they said after the show they were immediately heading to the desert to pound Budweisers and ride quads, you wouldn't be that surprised. The type of people where at any second a fight can break out. I mean, the Soda Bar isn't exactly the biggest place in the world, and there was a lot of people packed in there, I grabbed a beer at the bar and was heading towards the stage, and I was trying to get by this dude who was literally standing there flexing on purpose so I couldn't get past him. I mean actual flexing. It was fucking weird. I am a huge fan of 90's skate punk, it is what got me into the punk scene, but god damn it if I don't hate the bro's.

Castoff

I didn't know who Castoff was prior to this show. I guess they took a long time off, and recently got a new drummer and bass player. The only thing I could think while they were playing was they sound exactly like 90's skate punk. If you think about Bad Religion, Pennywise, Strung Out, or any band like that, but you don't think of a specific song, they were that. I heard a few of the key words in their songs, words like unity, authority, and time. Total 90's Core.

Warped Tour Rating: 1998.

 

I would like to point out at this time that this guy standing next to me was playing Candy Crush on his phone the entire time.

Caskitt

Look, I have already told you Caskitt is rad, so I don't feel like I have to tell you they killed again. Just, shut up and preorder their new album This Machine Kills Sadness March 10th. It comes out March 31st on Compact Disc and digitally. Notes from my notes: "Did they just cover the Friends theme song? Yes, yes they did"

Warped Tour Rating: Staying home and watching Netflix instead

Counterpunch

The trip down memory lane continues! If Castoff was High School, Counterpunch would be my early 20's. Totally have what sounded like the Drive Thru Records sound. Very melodic with some screaming. I could honestly only listen to like 3 songs before I had to go out and smoke a cigarette. I actively try and forget this musical period in my life, so being confronted with my past, I wanted non of it.

Warped Tour Rating: 2006.

 

 

That motherfucker is still playing Candy Crush.

Guttermouth

Oh boy. So a few years ago I saw Guttermouth play at Rookies Sports Bar (weird, I know) here in Oceanside. It was the worst fucking show I have ever seen. Mark, the singer, was so drunk, stumbling about, falling off stage, forgetting lyrics, and at one point just left the stage, assigning a random audience member to take his place. It was terrible. And not terrible in a Skiba beautiful disaster kind of way, but terrible in a I don't ever want to pay to see Guttermouth play again kind of way. But here I was (way to follow through with your convictions Kevin). So when Mark stumbled by with his puka shell necklace, reeking of weed and booze, I was ready for a repeat. Luckily, Kenny wanted to bail and Ricky knew of a place in Encinitas that has dollar fish tacos which fucking ruled.

Warped Tour Rating: Fish Tacos > Guttermouth

 

 

Mac Sabbath - Black Fag (The Hideout, San Diego CA)

I woke up Saturday pumped. It was finally time to get legit tattooed. It's been a while since I got a real tattoo, and I had an appointment with who I consider the best tattoo artist in San Diego, Jasmine Wright (jasminewrightisyourfriend.com). After a few hours of pain, I walked away with actual art etched in my skin forever.

 

cool star bro

 

After getting stabbed a bunch, I headed to North Park to wait for the posse to show up. I was going to get pizza again, but I found myself in Live Wire instead drinking a beer. Pliny the Elder actually. I heard good things, and it didn't disappoint. Then #2 came and went. Then number #3. By the time I started on #4, our misfit Avengers assembled and it was time to go watch check out some themed cover bands!



Black Fag

Parking in North Park at these bars is fucking hard. By the time we parked and regrouped and got in, we pretty much missed the band. Caught the last few songs, and from what I could hear, it sounded like it would have been a good time. I will totally try and catch these guys for real next time I have the chance.

Mac Sabbath

McDonalds themed Black Sabbath cover band. These are the words that sold me on going to this show. Unfortunately, the place was so fucking crowded I couldn't get anywhere near the front to try and watch this band. Plus I was pretty drunk at this point, so without the visual aid, and the fact that it was so loud from people talking in the back of the bar, there was no way I could even think about paying attention. Plus the place was getting pretty smoky from the fog machine, and my new tattoo was starting to burn, so I spent most of the time hanging out outside. I did eventually make it back in, and it cleared out enough to be able to catch the last song they played, which was actually kind of cool. Sounded a lot like Sabbath. The singer was dressed like Ronald, the drummer was the Hamburglar, and the bass player and guitarist was the Grimace and Mayor McCheese. Except fucked up metal versions of all these characters. Everybody who did see them seemed to enjoy it, so there's that.

couldn't make this up if I tried

 

 

Was super pumped on the Denny's after party though. Eggs, bacon and Mashed Potatoes. Shit ruled.  

 

So yeah, that's it. Didn't like stuff, missed stuff, got tattooed, got drunk and ate some potatoes. Story of my fucking life. Had fun though, and in the end, isn't that all that really matters?

 

Until next time turds, I think I have a week off of shows, then its Shell Corporation super fun party weekend!