It seemed fitting that all three of those bands played in Detroit during a single week after Thanksgiving. Considering how badly the Lions are playing we could all at least give thanks for some great music.
SNFU played on Friday, Nov 29th at the Shelter, which is downstairs from St Andrews. Unfortunately this was one of those "doors open at 6:30 pm shows" which kept the crowd down as the bands were all done by 9:30 or so. This was the first time I saw SNFU & they put on a good show.
Saturday night saw me back at St. Andrews for Screaming Utters, Bouncing Souls and the return of the Descendants. This show as rightfully sold out, but the "doors open at 7" meant that we stood outside till 8 basking in the late November Michigan weather. This show lived up and surpassed all my expectations. Both the Utters & the Bouncing Souls played loud, energetic sets and set the stage for the Descendants. For all of the problems this "punk revival" has caused - it has at least given us an opportunity to see bands that I thought were gone for good. Even better, the Descendants new album "Everything Sucks" is the best work they've ever done. It's cool listening to the old songs that you've loved for years (a.k.a Pistols, Ramones, Buzzcocks), but it's even better when the new stuff makes you forgot their old songs. The Descendants started off with "Everything Sucks" & kept on playing through three encores with no let-up. I haven't been able to get that tape out of my car tape deck since then.
Luckily there was a break to recover until Social Distortion played on Wednesday, December 4th at the State. They were originally booked to play at St. Andrews, but my getting to Ticketmaster early didn't matter as ticket demand moved the show to the much larger State. This time I actually figured out the "door open at 7:30" routine and got there just before Social D hit the stage. It's been too long since the last Social D show & album, but the wait was worth it. They started off with "Under My Thumb" & actually made a Stones song sound good & covered songs from the "Mommy's Little Monster" era to the "White Light, White Heat, White Trash Album" that should be in everybody's house if you have any clue to what good music should sound like. Social Distortion is a band that has lived through tough times and has become stronger and better for it - I think that there's lesson for me in that. What a deal - great music & you learn the meaning of life for one price.
After that week I needed a break, but was so enthused by an email from Ric of Boris the Sprinkler thanking me for my review of their show, that I got over Desirable Discs & bought the only BTS CD I could find.