Punk Rock Bowling @ Downtown Events Center

This morning I went downtown to catch up with Claudia, Denise & Jesse from the Hyatt/Loews Lake Las Vegas.  We had brunch at 1228 Main, a cool spot that Claudia likes.  What a morning!  We spent 3 hours laughing non stop, about everything and nothing.  I hadn't seen these guys since we moved from Vegas 11 years ago, and catching up was like we had seen each other last weekend.  I didn't like how they said life was working in the hotels these days.  Sounds like Covid made management forget how to treat employees in the Concierge industry.  But otherwise all three were doing and looking great.

We were at the venue just before 5pm in order to catch the English Beat.  I saw them here in 2012 and really liked it, and today it added a mellow start to the day.  Mirror In The Bathroom was the only song I recognized and got the crowd riled up at the end of their set.

The English Beat setlist

Bratmobile were up next.  I was surprised to find out the had been around since the early 90s and from Washington.  They would have fit perfectly into what I was listening to at the time, but is seems they have slipped through the cracks.  They put on a good show.  I knew none of their stuff, but picked up a bit of Cheap Trick Record, and their Cherry Bomb cover to finish the set was a pearler.

Bratmobile setlist

Old school punk back on the main stage, with Stiff Little Fingers.  Again, not sure why I've never heard of this band, but that is the beauty of coming to Punk Rock Bowling - to find new, and new to me bands.  I liked their message of community in their songs and their between song banter.  They looked like they were appreciative of the crowd, and blown away that they had the opportunity to play for so many years.  Hate Has No Home Here was a particular favorite mid-set.

Stiff Little Fingers setlist

I watched a little bit of Scowl, but wasn't taken in by them.  I used the rest of the time to seek out food.  Then it was back to the main stage for Gogol Bordello.  I will tell you now, Hell will freeze over before Gogol put on a bad show.  The whole bands energy from start to finish is an amazing way to convey their message to the crowd.  And there was no one in the crowd standing still.  I Would Never Want To Be Young Again started it for me.  Straight into Not A Crime & Immigrant Punk and the crowd was on fire - matching the band for energy.  While only a 9 song set, it fit Punk Rock Bowling perfectly, and Start Wearing Purple was the finisher you'd expect.  That song was stuck in my head for days.

Gogol Bordello setlist

Sounds weird to say, but to wind down after Gogol Bordello, the small stage had the powerful Quicksand.  Their singer/guitarist looked familiar.  I looked him up an realized it was Walter Schreifels from the Gorilla Biscuits.  Then I remember them talking about that back at Riot Fest (though I missed Quicksand there).  More heavy and angular (think Helmet) than punk, Quicksand continued the energy push and the crowd was into it.  I need to look into them more - I'd never heard their stuff - and they were good.

Quicksand setlist

Another reason to come out this year was Madness.  Their show back at the House Of Blues in April 2012 is still a highlight from living in Vegas.  Tonight it took a little longer to get that feeling.  Sound issues meant they were delayed getting on stage, the crowd becoming restless - as you do on the last act of a 3 day festival.  The band finally arrived behind the Star Wars theme and, predictably, launched in to One Step Beyond, much to the roar of the crowd.  They then played a bunch of songs I didn't know, including 3 off a new album, and started to lose the crowd (I thought).  A poor attempt at humor had a band member badly singing a shit version of Livin' On A Prayer, under the guise of a casino audition.  But straight after they launched into House Of Fun, and all was forgiven.  From then on, it was all the good stuff.  Baggy Trousers, Our House and It Must Be Love.  The delay at the front end didn't allow for an "encore", so the band played pretend, we cheered ike it was a stage return and they finished off the set with Madness and Night Boat To (Cairo) Vegas.  Dave and I even got in the pit for the last song.  It's been years since I've done that, and afterwards I remembered - cause I'm 51, not 21.

Madness setlist

A great weekend's music was only outdone but getting to hang out with some old friends.  The boys keep asking to come to Vegas, to see where they were born.  I've only been back twice in 12 years.  We'll have to do it sooner, if just for them.  That and I didn't get to visit my old work-wife, Lisa.  SHifts and shows didn't allow us to cross paths.  Next time.

The Crap Facts
This is my 507th concert.
This is my 7th concert at The Downtown Events Center.
This is my 153rd concert in Las Vegas.
This is my 153rd concert in Nevada.
This is my 308th concert in the USA.
This is my 2nd English Beat show.

Bratmobile are the 590th band I've seen.
Stiff Little Fingers are the 591st band I've seen.
Scowl are the 592nd band I've seen.
This is my 5th Gogol Bordello show.

Quicksand are the 593rd band I’ve seen.

This is my 2nd Madness show.

Punk Rock Bowling @ Downtown Events Center

The late morning started with Erik & India at Eggworks for breakfast.  Another old favorite breakfast place from our days of living here.  Afterwards we just took it easy until we headed downtown in the late afternoon.

We got down to town earlier than predicted.  Enough time to catch Niis.  A few songs anyway.  I felt like I was being yelled at.  During and between songs.  We left the sunny main stage area to grab a water and head over to the side stage.

This was the reason I had to be hear early today.  The mighty Cosmic Psychos.  Saw them last October for the first time in 31 years, and here they are, back in the US.  Just for Punk Rock Bowling.  Not more an appropriate band.  They only get a 20 minute set, but they have set a standard for the day.  A Nice Day To Go To The Pub lets the crowd know they are dealing with Australian rock royalty, and leads into a crowd singing Fuckwit City.  All 7 songs are what they played back in Asheville, and just as great.  The finale sees Macca do his famous shirt-off belly roll with a guitar over the back of the head during David Lee Roth.  Fun set.  Wished they'd played longer

Cosmic Psychos setlist

Back over to the main field for Destroy Boys, where a majority of us preferred the Golden Nugget's shade to standing closer to the band.  A good set of songs that I didn't know, except for the Should I Stay Or Should I Go cover.  Destroy Boys had a good energy and did their best to pump up the crowd, which was not an easy task this early in the day, and in this heat.

Destroy Boys setlist

We took a break for an early dinner (missing Snooper) before heading back into the now majority shaded main stage area.  When that sun is gone, it feels so much better.  And when it sets, it feels perfect.  The Subhumans then gave us 40 minutes of old school English punk.   Alot of political and social commentary from another band that I had not heard before, even though I'd heard their name for years.  Too Fat, Too Thin was a favorite of the night.

Subhumans setlist

The first chords of Starcrawler were ringing out as we reached the side stage.  Singer Arrow de Wilde has a unique stage presence.  Her tall figure stalking the stage really fits the music.  I had seen de Wilde walking around earlier, not knowing who she wa.  But she is a lot taller than I am and her distinguished mane of hair makes her hard to miss.  Her stage presence makes her seem bigger.  And the crowd love them.  Maybe some LA people who know the band, but they were deservedly well received.  As usual I didn't know any of their songs, but quickly joined in to the recognisable Ramones cover Pet Semetary.

One of the reasons I came out for this show was Rocket From The Crypt.  It had been 25 years since I last saw them, opening for Mudhoney in Sydney, though I have seen other John Reis bands in the meantime Hot Snakes, The Night Marchers & Me First & The Gimme Gimmes).  Hoping to hear some of their RFTC album, we got 13 songs from other albums instead.  While a great rock band, they weren't like any other "punk band" on the line up.  A mid set On A Rope was my favorite.  Not quite as I remembered all those years ago, but still glad I got to see Rocket From The Crypt again.

Rocket From The Crypt setlist

Back over to the small stage as The Chats arrive to a thunderous applause.  No talking tonight, just ripping through as many songs as possible in 50 minutes.  Pretty much the same songs as the Neighborhood Theatre 2 weeks ago, but definitely at a faster pace.  6L GTR amped up the crowd sufficiently, and it never settled down after that.  The Smoko / Pub Feed ender was fantastic and had the crowd exhausted.  Another great performance from this band.  I'll happily see them anytime they come around.

The Chats setlist

Another reason for the trip out was for Devo.  It's been a while since we saw them at the old Joint, and it seems like they are wrapping up touring after 50 years, so I got to see them while I can.  The show starts with a Devo video introducing their career by "manager" Rod Rooter, before the red dome hats hit the stage.  It was a slow start, but once they started Girl U Want, the crowd whipped into a frenzy.  Quickly followed by their most recognizable song, Whip It, Devo showed they are still ahead of their time.  So good!  A costume change after Planet Earth - into their yellow plastic Devo suits - saw them play 5 awesome songs til the end of their set.  Uncontrollable Urge was a song I knew but didn't realize was theirs, and Smart Patrol/Mr DNA was a definite highlight.  We only got Freedom Of Choice as an encore, but what a way to end.  This show was just as good as the first time I saw Devo in 1997 at Livid.  It was worth the trip to Vegas on it's own

Devo setlist

The Crap Facts:
This is my 506th concert.
This is my 6th concert at The Downtown Events Center.
This is my 152nd concert in Las Vegas.
This is my 152nd concert in Nevada.
This is my 307th concert in the USA.
Niis are the 586th band I've seen.
This is my 4th Cosmic Psychos show.
Destroy Boys are the 587th band I've seen.
Subhumans are the 588th band I've seen.
Starcrawler are the 589th band I've seen.
This is my 3rd Rocket From The Crypt show.
This is my 3rd The Chats show.
This is my 3rd Devo show.

Punk Rock Bowling @ Downtown Events Center

This morning we got up earlyish and drove down to the Punk Rock Museum.  We only decided on this last night, and opted for an early start, given the weekend.  Dave met Erik & I there and we had the place to ourselves for the first half an hour or so.  Dave is an annual memmer, so we had our own personal tour guide for the first hour, til he had to leave and meet Dee. The museum is great, plenty of memorabilia from the last 50 years of punk (mostly American).  Dave says they rotate stuff through their regularly, he sees new stuff every visit.  I liked the Pennywise garage.  If we'd known we'd have stayed longer, as Guitar Wolf played and hour after we left.

We hid from the heat back at Erik's house before we headed downtown to the show at around 3pm.  Erik dropped me off, as he was going to his godson's graduation first.  Within moments of getting through the gate, I hooked up with Dave and we went into the smaller stage to see Teen Mortgage (he'd already got in early to buy merchandise and see a couple of bands).  Teen Mortgage was a great start.  This 2 piece had a fantastic energy and sound, and the lucky few that were there early enough really dug it.

Into the main stage area to catch The Skatalites.  In the early afternoon heat, the Jamaican band bought a very mellow vibe.  Like the Specials 5 years ago, The Skatalites left everyone relaxed - not in a frenetic condition like the rest of the days punk bands.  After running into Ricardo from Trader Joes, we disappeared, before the end of the set.  Though we could hear a ska version of Viva Las Vegas in the middle of the Guns of Navarone.

The Skatalites setlist

999 were on the small stage next.  Old school English punk from the late 70s.  Dave knew of this band, but I'd never heard of them.  It was basically a half hour of hard driven rock.  Good show that would've been better if I was more familiar with the content.

Back into the main stage for Lagwagon and the first relatively big crowd.  I never got into this band.  They have the Fat Wreck Chords sound that is only best used by NoFX.  Most of these unknown to me songs, sounded the same, and yeah I can tick them off a list of bands I've seen, but probably not again.

Lagwagon setlist

Back at the smaller stage, Madball united a crowd not only out from, but on stage as well.  I don't knw who was watching from onstage, but it seemed like family and New York Hardcore royalty hanging out with friends.  I don't know any Madball songs, but like Gorilla Biscuits and H2O at Riot Fest, this band put on a show.  And the people loved it!  Lead singer, Freddy Madball, was having a great time.  As was his 8 year old daughter.  Watching on stage, she knew the beat of every song , and joined dad for a song, and played it like she'd been on stage forever.  She had all of dad's moves down and was not afraid to come to the front of the the stage for the crowd.  Freddie's son also joined dad for a song, though he seemed a little more reserved - hanging back as dad covered the whole stage.  This may have been the most fun set of the day.

Madball setlist

Billy Bragg was definitely a big drawcard for me.  I was supposed to see him 18 months ago in Raleigh. But I got Covid and had to miss out.  He labeled himself pretty well.  As much a punk, as a folk hero, or great story teller.  I thought it brave for him to be up there on his own, mixing great stories both with and without music, which really suited the audiences beliefs.  Erik finally joined us just after the start of the set.  Sexuality was great to hear.  Woodie Guthrie's All You Fascists Are Bound To Lose got the biggest cheer of the day.  Waiting For The Great Leap Forward was the song I wanted (and got).  It was perfect.  And the closing A New England was a song I forgot I knew, and a great end to his too short set.

 

Billy Bragg setlist

Back to the smaller stage for the ever ready Gorilla Biscuits.  Again their positive message and hardcore beats were a great mix for a good show.  From the opening trumpet of New Direction, Civ came to dance.  He had a blast, and was in the crowd as often as he was skankin' around the stage for the entire set.  And the band's energy was matched by an enthusiastic crowd up front, and an out of control pit.  While this set didn't reach the heights of Riot Fest las September, it was still a damn good show.

Gorilla Biscuits setlist

Too many people at Gorilla Biscuits means we didn't get back for the start of the Descendents closing set.  Of course we got our spor and I went to get a drink of water and they played the 1 song I knew, I Like Food.  All 17 seconds of it.  This is my 4th time seeing them, I should probably get better at knowing their songs.  They are short and sharp.  The loyal Southern Californians were soaking it up, but just after halfway through, Erik & I had had enough (Dave had gone after the Gorilla Biscuits) and made our way back to the car, listening to the rest of the gig walking through the streets.

Descendants setlist

On the way out I picked up the obligatory festival shirt to add to my collection of too many black shirts.  I good first day.  Hot, but not Las Vegas extreme, and I enjoyed all I heard.  Looking forward to continuing tomorrow.  I was in bed within 10 minutes of getting back to Erik's, and asleep within 2 minutes of that - still on East Coast time.

The Crap Facts:

This is my 505th concert.
This is my 5th concert at The Downtown Events Center.
This is my 151st concert in Las Vegas.
This is my 151st concert in Nevada.
This is my 306th concert in the USA.
Teen Mortgage are the 581st band I've seen.

Teen Mortgage are the 250th time I've seen a band in Las Vegas & Nevada.

The Skatalites are the 582nd band I've seen.

999 are the 583rd band I've seen.

Lagwagon are the 584th band I've seen.

Madball are the 585th band I've seen.

This is my 2nd Billy Bragg show.

This is my 2nd Gorilla Biscuits show.

This is my 4th Descendants show.

Las Vegas

After 5 years it's back to Vegas again. Again, Punk Rock Bowling has sent me back to my former home. The appeal of Devo, Madness, Billy Bragg & Rocket From The Crypt have once again bought me out of festival retirement and into the realm of 3 days of rock.

I fly out early Thursday and Erik picks me up for the airport. Lunch is at Sickie's Garage at Town Square with Hogie, one of my oldest friends in Vegas. Great to see him, and all is well with him. He's out of the hotel industry and all seems well with him and family.

I have Erik's car and decide to just drive around to all the places that bring back memories. Out Desert Inn Road to the old apartment, and the house in Summerlin where we bought the boys home. Went to the Golden Knight's practice facility, where there was nothing when we lived there, to pick up a couple of souvenirs for the boys. After lunch I just drove straight up The Strip. The first thing I came across was the Pinball Museum. I loved this place when we lived here. It has moved, and is 3 times the size it used to be. I did pretty well to limit myself to just an hour here. Driving up the Strip is surreal. I find it hard to grasp I used to live in this town, and worked on The Strip for a long time. I drove all the way to downtown and just marvelled at how I thought he town was physically bigger that what it was when I lived here.

For dinner Erik & I went to Frank & Fina's, an old favorite of A & I's (actually the first restaurant the boys ever went to). Great meal still. I'm glad they survived the pandemic and can still dish out a great meat and great service.

On Friday, Erik had to work.  India drove him so I had his car again.  I started the morning at Jamms, another Vegas favorite from way back.  A great breakfast with the same server who was there when we left 11 years ago.  Did some more just driving around, mostly on the east side near UNLV and ended up driving west out to Red Rock Resort, and got out to have a look.  It looked the same, though I don't think any of the restaurants were the same.  All casinos look alike to me, so there was no need to be there, besides nostalgia.  I drove out to Red Rock Canyon, waiting for Erik to call to pick him up from work.  I thought I'd drive through the park and enjoy Vegas' surrounding mountains.  But now you have to have a reservation.  Wasn't ready for that, so I just drove back to Erik's.  Of course as I'm pulling in to his place he calls to come and get him, so I turn around and do so.

That evening we meet Dave at Firefly, near our first apartment, for dinner.  The food is as good as I remember, even though they are in a different location.  Great to see Dave, who I haven't seen since last Punk Rock Bowling.  It's great to see him doing well, and that his spa business is back on the up.  We'll spend the next few days with him at PRB.  He recommends going to the Punk Rock Museum, so I think we'll check it out before tomorrow's show.

The Chats @ Neighborhood Theater

I know it has only been 7 months since I drove up to Asheville, and I'll see them again in 2 weeks at Punk Rock Bowling, but The Chats were impressive enough to see again.  And I felt compelled to support some Aussies in my adopted town.

I arrived at the Neighborhood Theater late, as we had been at the boys' school sports night, celebrating their soccer season with the school.  A change from a suit into jeans and a tshirt and I was ready to go.  The place is packed (again)!  How do people from Charlotte know about the Chats?  Not only know about them, but are into them.  Kick off happened not long after I found my spot at 9pm.

From the opening song, Namboured, the crowd was into it.  A flood of stage divers did not stop for the entire 50 minutes.  6L GTR was when it really started for me.  This is a great, fast song, and with a real Australian feel to it.  "Don't need a fancy car, just need a...six litre GTR".  I'm not sure if people knew what they were singing along to meant, but they were at full belt.  Ross River, Stinker, The Kids Need Guns (Really? Are we getting the irony of singing that song in the US?) and Ticket Inspector are so Australian.  It's great for me to have a laugh along with and at.  Eamon had his little rant before the blistering Price of Smokes.  Smoko is another great song coming at the end of the set.  But the finale, Pub Feed, sent the crowd into further overdrive.  Such a simple subject full of great Aussie pub references.  Makes me homesick.

I was a bit bummed that they only played 50 minutes, but The Chats blazed through 24 songs, each better than the last.  For me, it's great to see a newish rock band have a rabid fan base, and that they are Australian - all the better.  I hope they can have a long career.  If this show is any indication, there are a lot of people that feel the same.  Vegas in a couple of weeks should be fun.

The Chats Setlist

The Crap Facts:

This is my 504th concert.
This is my 11th concert at The Neighborhood Theater.
This is my 109th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 131st concert in North Carolina.
This is my 305th concert in the USA.
This is my 2nd Chats concert.