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Now let me begin by saying the small punk scene rarely gets a show to come through town. We have basically 2 punk venues. A DIY place across town that is more for local bands and every now and again a national act. Then we have Zydeco. It is a big room above a bar with a corner stage and like 4 lights. Recently Zydeco has been hosting about 1 punk show per month. So I commend them for somehow getting Lars to stop by.

When we got to the venue, Lars himself was outside the door handing out stickers and talking to the crowd as they filed in, and I must say he is one of the nicest guys to talk to. Kordova, a local street punk band opened the show flying through about 12 songs in 20 minutes. They sounded pretty advanced for a local band and had their timing down. These guys have really began to rise to the top of the local scene, and what better reward for them than opening this show.

Next were the Briefs. As much as I had heard about them, I have never had a chance to listen to their work. Now I wish I had, because their sound is incredible. From the opening note, you just couldn't resist the urge to pogo to their melodies. The fake accents also made their sound unique. The only songs I can remember are Piss on the Youth, and We Americans, which really got me turned on to these guys. Their set was only about 20 minutes, which was much too short. The crowd got into them during the last few songs, and these guys deserved more time.

After a short break, The HorrorPops took the stage. I will admit that I am not the biggest Horrorpops fan, and I would have rather seen the Nekromantix play this slot as they on some previous Lars shows this summer. However, Patricia and Kim got real into the set and made it fun for the crowd. They said all they have heard about Alabama was that it was boring, but after a kid asked Patricia to bite him, Kim told the crowd "People want us to bite them, oh wow that is really boring!" He kept going on and on about how much they were enjoying playing for such a small rowdy crowd. The set itself was in fact a good one, and it won me as well as the rest of the crowd over. Selections included (in no order) Mis Take, Ghouls, Kool Flattop, Psychobillys Out of Hell, and Drama Queen. They closed out with a cover of Billy Idol's Rebel Yell, with Kim taking over the bass duties.

To close out the night, Lars and his Bastards wondered out on stage before the crowd of 200 (no joke, that is being generous with the number). He starred off by saying that instead of yelling and doing the whole CD intro thing, he wanted to tell us that Tim will call him tonight and ask how the show went, and he will not be afraid to tell him if it sucks. So since he has waited 12 years to come here, we'd better be hanging from the rafters by the end of his set. This may have been a mistake however, since people here try a little too hard to impress visiting bands, because no sooner than the band launced into Dead American, 3 kids were hanging from the rafters and it looked like the roof was about to cave in. From there they went into Anti Social, and had to stop to tell everyone to move back because Lars thought things were getting unsafe. Then the set continued with the huge sing along of To Have and Have Not. Next came a sampling of the new material complete with circle pits and airborne beer. Lars had to stop again and tell people to quit hitting the mic stand, because once someone hit him in the mouth with it and he lost a tooth. Army of Zombies came next followed by a mix including a new song called Bastards, Wine and Roses, Campbell, Leavin Here and a Motorhead cover which he introduced as a song about a girl. Some kid yelled "and she was dope sick!" This prompted Lars to sing the first verse of Dope Sick Girl with the crowd. The set closed with Skunx, which Lars dedicated to Joe Strummer as he lit a St. Joe Strummer candle and his brother and friends who have passed away. A short encore followed with 6 ft 5, during which someone up front did something to piss of Lars and get him to smack their arm away from him. The encore ended with Vietnam and a great solo by Lars.

All in all this show was great, however I was dissapointed with the turn out and the idiot up front pissing off Lars like 3 times, which sort of ruined the whole positive vibe that was going for the rest of the show. When everything was over, the venue announced Less Than Jake was coming in July, which is the biggest punk type band to play this venue so far. Maybe the scene is trying to grow here in Birmingham...who knows?






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    Posted by enjoy on 2004-07-15 13:55:49
    My Score:

    I was at this show and it was amazing. The pit was great and the crowd was into the whole show. The Bastards put on a great show as did The Horrorpops, The Briefs, and Carova. I don't personally agree with Lars' frequent usage of working girls but I got to talk to him and he came across to me as a cool guy who could use a shower. Anyways. Great show.

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 at 2:55 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Also, wear bandanas around your kneck when you're in public. Jesus Christ.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 at 2:54 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Fuck you dirty punks. Clean up, get a sweater vest, grow a white boy fro and buy some Modest Mouse or something... For christ's sake, put some clothes on.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, July 13, 2004 at 1:15 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    BSD is comedy......................

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 at 6:01 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I saw the Briefs not too long ago, and I think the story behind the accents is they used to just use it to sinf "We Americans" because the song is sort of a perspective of America from other countries. However, they seemed to amuse themselves by talking in the accents. So maybe they are just wierd like that I dont know

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 at 5:45 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "BSD is saying to only hang out with people just like you! "Backed by MTV?" wtf? I bet you like Modest Mouse, arent they on MTV and all over the radio MODEST MOUSE SUX! BSD SUX! hes a whiney 15year old kid"

    Yeah! And Incubus and Cat Power and the new Morrissey and yeah Blink is cool again! No...

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 at 1:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    BSD better watch out because according to Lars, he "doesn't go anywhere without his weapons"

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, July 12, 2004 at 12:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    BSD is saying to only hang out with people just like you! "Backed by MTV?" wtf? I bet you like Modest Mouse, arent they on MTV and all over the radio MODEST MOUSE SUX! BSD SUX! hes a whiney 15year old kid

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 10:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I've listened to the Briefs before, and I've never really heard any British accents, maybe they do it different live.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 9:05 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    What's the point of a music forum if you're not supposed to criticsize music? I'm offering my critique, and even though you obviously don't understand it, I don't think I'm changing anyone's views by saying what I think of Lars.

    And the "they achieve more in a week than you will in your pathetic life!" line just makes them out to be shitty rock stars. But I'll get started on playing punk dress up, hiring prostitutes, and hanging out with pop-punk bands really soon, okay?

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 8:54 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    ''Both of those albums, especially AOCTW, were backed by MTV deals''

    big fuckin deal. Good music is good music. If I like a song, I like the song, not the freakin label owner who signed the said band that wrote the said song.

    Stop trying to be punker than punk and listen to the fuckin music, already! You like the music but not the label? Fine, steal the album off of the internet, that way you'll be able to tell all your punk friends that you stole it from label ''X'' and thus are not giving them money. There you go, 100 punk points!

    I fuckin hate people like you (not you specifically, more what you're trying to be) I don't fuckin care what label a band is on, as long as the said band don't change their style to please the label.

    How dare you to even suggest that Rancid changed their style to please anybody, they don't need to please no one, they now got enough money to do whatever they want without worrying about paying the bills. And even when they didn't, they stayed true to their roots. These guys did wonders for the punk scene and they've probably influenced in one way or another or are good friends with at least half of your favorite ''punk'' bands. When you can say that you've accomplished in your life half the things Tim or Lars accomplish every week, then I'll take your cred or ''ghetto image'' you're trying to give yourself, seriously. it's fuckin pointless to criticize artists like you do on here.

    ''Did you ever turned down 1 Million-and-a-half dollars? I have!''
    -Tim Armstrong

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 5:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Both of those albums, especially AOCTW, were backed by MTV deals.

    Do you not remember how much "Ruby Soho" was on? Not to say that makes it bad music, it just doesn't have much credibility.

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 5:47 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Motorhead is one of Lars' favorite bands, so I don't think he is trying to claim he invented something they have already done, he just enjoys continuing on with it. The guy has plenty of credibility. Many kids who are just starting to listen to punk usually have a Ranicd cd or two. And if they do nothing else, at least they expose a new generation to punk of the present and past. After Lets Go and Out Come the Wolves, it baffles me how anyone can say Lars has zero credit.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 4:26 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "And while I don't particularly like GC I think it's fuckin punk rock to stand for them when everybody and their mom seems to hate em with a passion."

    Nobody cares about them. I know I don't. I mean, I recognize them for what they are (a poor attempt to cash in on a music scene that's birthed a lot of great music), but I don't go around shouting "GC's not a punk band!", mainly because we already know this. The thing is, Lars walks around like he has credibility, but he's friends with them. He claims to "keep the punk flame alive", but tries to tell me to accept a band that's doing everything in their power to make sure punk is no longer dangerous.

    Of course I hate the idea behind Good Charllote, and I'm not even one of those "don't listen to GC and Blink 182, buy some Crass!" guys. If you honestly enjoy their music, go ahead and buy it all up. I won't even correct you when you put on a Misfits patch and walk around thinking you're hot shit.

    Don't tell me to buy/like music by a guy who's supporting what I think is a music industry scam that will cash in on punk rock, while leaving it void of any danger it had in the past. Fuck that.

    -BSD

    Posted by Jesse on 2004-07-11 14:19:57
    My Score:

    With the different bands list BSD, you really don't need to throw The Promise Ring in there. You know as well as I do how they're nothing even close to mall-punk. Horse Latitudes and 30 Degrees Everywhere were totally poppier versions of Cap'n Jazz, and while the band explored a poppier sound with Nothing Feels Good and especially Very Emergency, Wood/Water is a completely new take with slow acoustic and piano driven songs. Now you might not like The Promise Ring, but you don't have to be unnecessarily vicious.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 2:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Lars Fredericksen may be a legend and Rancid may be a great band, but LFATB still haven't really impressed me...this is meat and potatoes street punk, it's heart is in the right place but other bands have done this same thing a lot better

    Joe

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2004-07-11 10:19:04
    My Score:

    "Being punk to me is being open-minded. And while I don't particularly like GC I think it's fuckin punk rock to stand for them when everybody and their mom seems to hate em with a passion."....heh, touche.

    Anyways, BSD, I think you've got the same opinion of MRR here. It's probably exactly what they'll say "OH NO! WHAT A SEXIST PIG! HOW DARE HE!". If they agreed to do it, then that's their choice. Who cares. He didn't drag them off the street, tie them down, then rape them with his camera. Everyone are grown-ups.....they can make up their own minds.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 8:35 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    oh and stop the ''but-but-but Lars likes Good Charlotte and they're like so not punk, dude!'' comments, already. It's being redundant.

    Being punk to me is being open-minded. And while I don't particularly like GC I think it's fuckin punk rock to stand for them when everybody and their mom seems to hate em with a passion.

    You should put more time spiking your hairs, and less time judging about anyone's street cred because clearly you're talkin out of your ass.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 8:26 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    ''they didn't ever think to rub it in my face when I looked at their album cover.''

    OMG two censored topless women on an album cover!!!11! Where is the world heading??? LOLz

    As far as I'm concerned, I don't think any of these two women have been forced to do the photo shoot, they do whatever the fuck they want with their body, and it's not as if they were spread wide-open on the cover.

    Stop being so fuckin prude, it's freakin censored for people like you god dammit.

    I personnally prefer nice-looking women instead of violence or death on my album covers... but hey, that's just me I guess.

    Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, July 11, 2004 at 3:09 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'm sorry, but it's just a bit too hypocritical for a "punk rocker" (which he was at one time, no doubt) to talk about "the spirit of punk" and "keeping punk alive" in interviews, then write befriend GC and say "hey I'm cool with them so you be cool with them".

    Worse, this is a band that's not just straight out BAD, they're so stupid that their badness is a joke. It's bad music made to make money. I don't see how it doesn't totally contradict Lars' "beliefs".

    And don't tell me about ghettos, I know about ghettos. In fact, you could say that I care about them so much I wouldn't constantly bring up my childhood to scapegoat my faults. Hiring hookers is for shithead rednecks and drug dealers. So fuck him if he's still so "ghetto" that he needs to degrade women. Fuck him for saying he's from a "ghetto" (not really a ghetto, but oh well, I'll let him have the pleasure of calling it that) just to get out of hot water when it comes to having 0 credibility.

    Did GBH and Motorhead have pretty lame beliefs when it came to women, too? Yeah, but they invented the game Lars is playing, for one, and for two, they didn't ever think to rub it in my face when I looked at their album cover.

    Seriously, the album cover looks like something Kid Rock would do. So lame. Learn how to treat women with respect, then maybe you could stop hiring hookers, Lars.

    -BSD

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2004-07-10 23:34:36
    My Score:

    BSD, you have problems with a guy you've never met, being friends with people you've never met. That's kinda....stupid.

    Secondly, Lars actually writes good songs. His records are like autobiographies; it's written in present tense, whether it happened in the past or the present. For being honest, and not writing dorky love songs, I applaud him.

    And the album is amazing.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 10:53 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Lars is a douche. He looks like a cross between 50 Cent and Stevie Wonder.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 10:33 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Lars wouldn't say anything about the government. both him and Rancid tend to steer clear on that subject. Plus why make fun of his backround? He was raised in the ghetto by a single mother that could barely speak english...just hilarious. Plus if you read this months article on him in AP, he says he hires prostitutes on a regular basis, probably why the album cover is 2 women on his lap.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 7:33 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    I'm not gonna buy "Viking" based on the fact that the cover isn't a joke. First befriending Good Charllote, then exploiting women on an album cover? Shame on you, Lars "Bling and Bitches" Frederiksen.

    The funny thing is, if he was asked "why does your new album cover look like a suburban adolescent white boy's wet dream?" he'd say something like "Back where I grew up, we didn't have any money... Our porn was so bad, the government edited out the womens' titties with stars. One night I remember jacking off with Hell's Angels and some punk drunk skinz... maybe Joe Strummer, too... Took six hours..."

    -BSD

    Posted by sickboi on 2004-07-10 18:08:54
    My Score:

    Remember that Chipmunks cartoon? That shit fucking ruled. The time machine where Alvin picked the "mystery prize" and became poor as shit... Or when they tried to get on "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous" and turned that shitty cabin into a mansion?

    Fuckin A.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 5:04 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The new VIKING album is fuckin great, awesome really.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 4:32 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Really, now, if anyone could tell me what the huge difference is between the following list of bands, I'd really be grateful:

    New Found Glory
    Blink 182
    Good Charllote
    Sum 41
    Finch
    Mest
    Yellowcard
    Simple Plan
    Promise Ring
    Three Day Grace
    The Chipmunks (circa their punk rock covers album)

    -BSD

    Posted by Jesse on 2004-07-10 05:44:22
    My Score:

    My Friends Over You is a NFG song, BSD.

    Posted by princessdanarchy on 2004-07-10 04:17:21
    My Score:

    Some of the best music on the market; Can't wait to see them on Warped this summer

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, July 10, 2004 at 12:21 AM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Hell, If the singer of Good Charlotte is boning Hillary Duff, we should have him arrested for child molestation so he can be put in jail and we'll never have to listen to GC again. Oh and even though Joe was not drunk skin punk, he is Lars' biggest idol

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 11:20 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Joe Strummer wasn't a drunk punk skin, though. I don't get it.

    -BSD

    Posted by notaclevername on 2004-07-09 22:19:31
    My Score:

    kinda wish i had gone to this now
    word up to the x205x, yo...and all that bullshit
    less than jake's gonna rock, as will comeback kid

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 8:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Shit, I'd befriend GC if I could. Their singer is boning Hilary Duff.

    Posted by thefirstfive on 2004-07-09 19:42:57
    My Score:

    I saw this tour in Atlanta. My girlfriend took me for my 20th birthday. It was the most amazing live show I have ever seen. Beats Bad Religion,Beats ben folds five, beats Queens of the Stone Age. And the thing that really got me was how much Lars cares about his crowd. No fighting, no one gets hurt, people who feel faint get pulled to the side of the stage to watch. God it was amazing. Love your fans.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 7:17 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    to the person below: it's fast, loud, raw, street-oriented, genuine, melodic

    Posted by Anchors on 2004-07-09 17:34:06
    My Score:

    If somebody could explain to me why people like this band, that'd be terrific.

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2004-07-09 15:16:59
    My Score:

    Ah, BSD, who are you to say that Lars can't be friends with Good Charlotte? I'm sure he sees something good beneath their wicked capitialist greedy bodies. They are people, at the end of the day.

    The new album (I'm still not sure how exactly I got it) is absolutely fantastic. Blows the first one out of the water, and the first one was classic. Tim Armstrong singing about breasts, songs about coke....can't get any better.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 3:13 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    Whats with BSD and all his hating, you getting picked on in JR. High?do you need a buddy?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 3:06 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    where'd you hear their new cd?

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 2:55 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The Briefs sing in English accents? Ughhh. That's irritating.

    And I really can't listen to Lars anymore since he's become friends with Good Charllote. I guess it's his way of saying to the fans "My friends over you!"

    -BSD

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, July 9, 2004 at 2:51 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    The new Bastards album is unbelievable - it's fuckin awesome

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