I had been looking forward to this show for months leading up to it. The sheer ratio of quality of bands to quantity of bands was mind-blowing. There was never a doubt in my mind that the “Ian Dixon Memorial Day Bash” would disappoint and lo-and-behold I was instead even more blown away than I could have hoped for.

First up was Mind Eraser, a band I had fallen in love with upon first hearing the Cave LP, but had unfortunately failed to see prior to this. Powerviolence, baby! Visions of Siege and Neanderthal ran through my head as they pounded away with sledgehammers of hatred and frustration. DFJ stalked the stage like a gladiator looking for his next victim as the band blew their bass cab with low-end fury, thus ending their set early. Short, but sweet.

Fucked Up took the stage next and tore ass through all of their hits like there was no tomorrow. While I usually get a more laid back vibe after the initial onslaught of their set, the band rocketed past song after song. Like Vikings falling on a hapless village they raped and plundered with their unrelenting punk rock fury and then got the fuck out of their before anyone knew what hit them. Anyone out there who has seen Fucked Up before knows what’s up, anyone who hasn’t... you better ask somebody.

Kill Your Idols is my favorite band, ever so I obviously loved their set, which was spot on. The guys really looked like they were having a blast playing this show as they sped through a shorter set than normal, trimming out all of the “cool songs you want to hear, but don’t lose your mind over” and leaving only the “songs that make you punch yourself in the face and kick your exe in the stomach” songs. They distilled their essence into a brain numbing thirty minutes. One of the best sets I’ve ever seen them play.

 

I’ve heard a lot of people dogging Warhead’s set, but let me tell you; this was a righteous twenty minutes of snotty, arrogant, Japanese, punk rock. While the sound mix for them was definitely off, diminishing from the nuances the band displays on record, their raging tunes rocked the place one after another, stopping only for their singer to yell some stuff I couldn’t understand and the crowd to yell back some stuff, obviously not understanding him either. It was all pretty chaotic, fun, and loud. The dudes in the band were obviously really stoked to be playing and had a great time.

Forward, another Japanese export, took the stage next, fortunately to a much better sound mix. All of the subtleties were audible, as was the great stage banter from the singer; limited English that was right to the point (“Where is the love? Fuck George Bush!”, “I don’t speak English so fuck you!”). Ripping, Motorhead influenced punk rock with a heavy emphasis on the rock. I’d never heard Forward before, but they’ve got themselves a new fan. Out of control, alcohol fueled, attitude driven craziness!

Finally Tragedy took the stage. I’d been waiting two years for this set and my excitement was at it’s peak. The band’s heavy, d-beat, hardcore punk has constantly left me awed on record and their no bullshit attitude coupled with compassionately furious politics is some of my favorite fuel to go and fight the world everyday. The stage was really set for me to be disappointed, but instead I was greeted with an immaculately tight performance backed up with a massive sound from the CBGB’s sound system. Thrown on top of that was a stage presence which I can only describe as the harbingers of the revolution. At one point I thought “this is the sound of the end of the world.” I hope I’m right.

-DREW