Classics of Love / Suicide Machines

Classics of Love / Suicide Machines: Live at Pouzza FestLive at Pouzza Fest (2012)
live show

Reviewer Rating: 5

Contributed by: FelixTFelixT
(others by this writer | submit your own)
Published on May 29th 2012Seeing Jesse Michael live was definitely on my bucket list. It was actually the only point on my bucket list. Now I can die a happy man. It was even worth missing the Voodoo Glow Skulls/Suicide Machines/Less Than Jake show next door. I got there around 10 p.m., to be sure there would still be ticket.

Seeing Jesse Michael live was definitely on my bucket list. It was actually the only point on my bucket list. Now I can die a happy man. It was even worth missing the Voodoo Glow Skulls/Suicide Machines/Less Than Jake show next door. I got there around 10 p.m., to be sure there would still be tickets. The naivety of being an old fuck...

When I got there, Opposition Rising was getting ready to play in front of about...five people. It was probably the band that was the farthest removed from punk during this weekend. They even said at the beginning that we had to pretend they're punk, just before playing some of the most aggressive hardcore I ever heard (but I didn't hear much). They're a bunch of hippies though. They even have a song against animal cruelty. Pussies.

The next band, Slobs, didn't seem to have been doing that for a long time. They looked quite young. However, I really liked the frontman. I thought he had a rock star attitude. It was more punk than Opposition Rising, and a lot more garage-sounding too. It sounded like music that wouldn't have felt out of place 20 years ago. It was a good show.

The next band, Porcelain Forehead, was awesome. It was a bunch of old punkers of the '80s who had reunited recently and who started playing shows again. Their age was quite noticeable until they took the stage and played some good old-fashioned punk rock. The singer has a very distinctive voice and the way he moves on stage is awesome. I talked to the bass player a little bit after the show. Very nice lady.

Then Classics of Love got on stage. When Jesse Michael appeared in front of the crowd, everybody cheered. The room was packed at that point. Normal, since most people only wanted to see this band. I got to say, they did not disappoint. They delivered the goods big time. I wasn't actually familiar with their material. It's a lot harder than what Jesse used us to. The people in the pit were crazy. I got hit pretty bad at some point, but I went back in anyway. I didn't know the night was only getting started... During the show, Jesse said that the Suicide Machines would play a set after, or a secret show if you will, at the end of the bigger (but not better) and probably more crowded show next door.

When Jay Navarro and a bunch of other dudes walked on stage, I knew it was going to be the best night of my life. I had never had the chance to see them live, so I was excited like a young college girl attending her first Aerosmith concert. They played some of my favorite songs, like "Hey," "Too Much" and "Numbers," and they played "Silence" for the encore. I don't remember the whole set, but it was a mix between their first two albums and their last two. Their self-titled and Steal this Record were ignored. Those two had some good songs, but they probably knew that most people didn't expect them to play any songs off those records. It was easy to see that Jay had been doing that for a long time. He had quite an easiness on stage, and he was constantly interacting with the crowd. During one song, he even jumped right in the crowd to sing with them. He had no problems passing the mic during most of the songs so that people could sing with him.

When all is said and done, it was easily the best night of my life. And I'm happy to say that the pit was douchebag-free. Those who went in with only the idea of picking a fight got thrown right out. Everybody was there to have a good time, and we had an awesome time instead.

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Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not respon sible for them in any way. Seriously.

FelixT (May 30, 2012)

Oh, and I think a lot of people were actually yelling Op Ivy songs when Jay asked Jesse to come back on stage. Jay then said that Op Ivy was awesome (he even showed his Op Ivy tattoo) but that tonight, it was CoL' s time and that they killed it that night (to use his words).

FelixT (May 30, 2012)

Jesse hadn't left the venue for the Suicides Machines encore, but the rest of the band (or most of it) did. And... sorry for the bucket list thing, English is not my first language. I just saw it used a lot recently so I thought it was a common expression in English. Apparently not. No need to be rude.

thegreatestmanalive (May 29, 2012)

Jesse was still there when Jay asked him to come up. Does anyone else think he was just super uncomfortable for some reason? Almost sheepish. Until he sang. Then he crushed it.

johngentile (May 29, 2012)

"I'd also like to point out frustration with people thinking Classics Of Love are going to be an Op Ivy cover band. I heard a lot of people at that show and afterwards saying how they were shocked COL didn't sound like Op Ivy and this and that. Can the world just not be done with that band? They broke up what like 23 years ago and were only a band for 2 or 3 years to begin with. Every one in the band has said they've moved on but their fans can't seem to."

True that.

Also, I genuinely think that COL > Op Ivy, although they are both awesome. I'd rather hear CoL tunes live than Op Ivy, as well.

mclz (May 29, 2012)

I the reviewer gave this anything but 5 stars they deserve to be punched in the face.

gazibo (May 29, 2012)

I was at the LTJ / Suicide Machines / Voodoo Glow Skulls show which was pretty good. I left part way through the LTJ set so I could make it back across the street to Foufs for the Classics of Love set and the secret Suicide Machines show. Classics of Love were amazing. After that I got to see Suicide Machines for the 2nd time within hours, only this time in front of a small crowd and by at this point, the singer was wasted. For the encore they were looking for Jesse to come back on stage with them, however he had left the venue. Many were hoping for an Operation Ivy cover, but that did not happen. Suicide Machines did cover Sound System at the other larger LTJ show.

Babrook (May 29, 2012)

"And I'm happy to say that the pit was douchebag-free."

MISSION FAILED.

kidgotham (May 29, 2012)

That was a fun night. CoL were just great.

mcflynnthm (May 29, 2012)

I was in the pit for that CoL set. So much fun.

mikeinflames (May 29, 2012)

I would have to agree with eazy on the use of bucket list. Anyone who uses that sounds like a mid-aged douchebag.

I managed to catch both suicide machines sets and I'd have to admit (based on set list) the set at Club Soda was far better. It was pretty much exclusively songs off Definition and Battle Hymns, which they don't do very often any more.

I'd also like to point out frustration with people thinking Classics Of Love are going to be an Op Ivy cover band. I heard a lot of people at that show and afterwards saying how they were shocked COL didn't sound like Op Ivy and this and that. Can the world just not be done with that band? They broke up what like 23 years ago and were only a band for 2 or 3 years to begin with. Every one in the band has said they've moved on but their fans can't seem to.

eazyd2 (May 29, 2012)

fuck me i wouldve cum my pants so hard if i was there.

also can every cunt drop off using the term 'bucket list' all the time. did anyone ever know what the fuck that was before the jack nicklaus and denzel washington movie?