The Adicts, Symbol Six, Knife Wielding Maniac, The 40 Ouncers, Brothers of Brazil, Igor Spectre
The Key Club, Hollywood, CA
Monday, September 10, 2012

I’m probably one of, like, three people on the planet who had never seen The Adicts, so when I got invited to go to this, I jumped on it. The Adicts are known for their wild shows . . . so, I had to go.

I got to the Key Club at about 7:45 pm (on a frickin’ Monday night). Parked across the street in a lot, the guy charged me $10.00 or was it $100.00 either way it was as painful as running naked through a cornfield backwards.

The tickets were outrageously priced at $25.00 to $30.00 a pop. I’m not sure if I’ve ever dropped that much for any band.

Got in line, told the ten foot tall security guard that I was on the list, he looked at me, shrugged and said, “Get to the back of the line.” Another cornfield experience. So I buzz the Symbol Six manager, Ginger, let her know that in the back of the line, she says, “come up to the box office.” I do, they let me in.

I walk in to the club, and it is deserted. Maybe twenty people milling around.

The first band up was Knife Wielding Maniacs. The singer looked like a young Ron Reyes. I felt bad for them, they were playing their hearts out, but no one was there and there only one or two people clapping. Sucked. They weren’t bad.

The second band of the night was the mighty . . . Symbol Six! As I’ve stated in the past (I’ve never seen a band more times than I have these guys), when you see Symbol Six there is always the feeling that this is the show. Whether they are headlining, or opening, they are the band of the night. Over the last year they have played with all the key bands, TSOL, The Mau-Mau’s, Billy Bones, The Gears, Circle One, you name them. And Symbol Six has always upped their game a few notches. Not to say the other bands aren’t good, I’m saying if the other band is playing a good set, Symbol Six will play a great set, and Eric Leach will howl the vocals from the pit while it erupts leveling half the club.

Symbol Six played one of the classic tracks from the Posh Boy EP, Beverlywood. The great thing about this track is as it’s being played everybody in the joint is singing along, and pumping their fists.

And then faster that you can turn from the Spice channel to Desperate Housewives when your wife walks in the room, Symbol Six steamrolls into their modern classics, like Dog Days, and Go and brand new songs (not on any album, yet) Never Gonna Make It, again everybody is singing along.

When Symbol Six went on the place was pretty empty, after two songs there were a couple of people leaning against the stage, by the fourth song (I think it was Viva) half the pit was throwing gang signs. Yeah, it was that kind of crowd.

After the Symbol Six set I went downstairs to check out all the merchandise tables. Another band started I went to check them out, no one seemed to know who they were, and they went on . . . kind of droning. Then another band and another for close to four hours. It was hell. Finally around 1:00 am, I was about to leave.

Finally, at 1:00 am The Adicts hit the stage. Monkey was draped head to toe in Christmas lights. Shooting confetti from an umbrella, throwing oversized playing cards into the crowd as well as dozens of stickers. These guys put a great show.

Within minutes the place went nuts, the bouncers were pulling kids out in chokeholds, I was midway back and I saw something flying at me from the corner of my eye, I ducked and some broad’s high-heel pump knocks the guy behind me.

Anyway, this is what the Key Club had to say about the Adicts:

The Adicts are an English punk band from Ipswich, Suffolk, England. One of the more popular punk rock bands in the 1980s, they were often in the indie charts at that time. Their song “Viva La Revolution” was featured in the video game Tony Hawk’s Underground. It was also featured in a commercial for the E! channel advertising their reality television show Pop Fiction. Warped Tour 2009 is the first time The Adicts have played the punk rock festival.

The Adicts originated as Afterbirth & The Pinz in late 1975. They soon changed their name to The Adicts and became known for their distinctive Clockwork Orange droog image, which, along with their urgent, up-tempo music and light-hearted lyrics, helped set them apart from other punk bands. In the 1980s, they temporarily changed their name to ‘Fun Adicts’ and ‘ADX’, mainly to coincide with children’s TV appearances.

Their music has catchy melodies and lyrics, and often features extra instruments and sound clips, such as carousel music in “How Sad”, violin played by Derick Cook in “Joker in the Pack”, and gongs and keyboard percussion by Anthony Boyd in “Chinese Takeaway”.

The musicians wear all white, with black boots and black bowler hats. The singer, Keith “Monkey” Warren, wears joker make-up, and his clothes were usually wild, patterned suits (such as checkerboard or polka dot), flared trousers and colorful dress shirts. He also tends to wear a bowler hat and gloves. Along with the look, come stage shows involving items such as streamers, confetti, playing cards, beach balls, joker hats, toy instruments and glitter.

LAST ONE TO DIE is officially out, order at: https://www.createspace.com/3669330.