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The Suicide Machines / Lost City Angels

live in Hollywood
2005
live show

Review by: mr. kenzington
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Published on August 19th 2005

Roughly nine years ago, I took a trip from Flagstaff to Lake Havasu to see one of my favorite bands, the Suicide Machines, play a show with the Blue Meanies and the Aquabats.

The show, quite simply, was amazing. The Machines played on the stage of an old movie theatre while the re-release of the first Star Wars played behind them. Kids who had been fighting prior to the Machines coming on were told by the band to chill the fuck out and come together to enjoy the show. I danced my ass off with friends and left that night with the feeling that I had experienced the perfect punk show.

Several years have passed since that show. I’m old -- by audience standards (29!), I’m fat -- by health standards (260!) and a lot of shit has changed throughout the years. However, one thing has remained constant: I still fucking love the Suicide Machines and have always made an effort to catch them when they come to LA. Fortunately for me, the Machines came to L.A. this past weekend to play a show at the Troubador with Bullets to Broadway and Lost City Angels.

I’ll keep my review of the opening bands very short. Prior to this show, I had never listened to or seen Bullets To Broadway or the Lost City Angels. I thought both bands were great though, as they both brought great energy to the show and played strong sets. I’d encourage anyone who hasn’t seen them to check them out, and I actually wouldn’t mind picking up their respective discs.

With the opening acts having completed their sets, the Suicide Machines were set to come on. Anyone who has been to the Troubador knows that there really isn’t a dramatic entrance, just a simple filing down from the stairs before the start of some music. True to form, the Machines came down the stairs, said a few simple words and opened with "Break The Glass." I recently read in an article that Jay was quoted as saying that he’s tired of playing that song and would much rather retire it. While I can understand that, I hope they never do, as "BTG" seems to open shows perfectly and remains one of my all-time favorite songs.

From there, the band proceeded to rattle off several other classics from Destruction By Definition and Battle Hymns, including “Hey” (I haven’t heard them play that in years), “New Girl,” “SOS,” “No Face,” “DDT,” “Someone” and a list of others. Several songs were played off of A Match And Some Gasoline and the band introduced a few new songs from War Profiteering Is Killing Us All as well, including “Capitalist Suicide” and “War Profiteering.”

True to TSM style, the performance, energy and music that night was amazing. The band sounded great, the crowd went off and the Troubador shook with kids singing along to songs that seem to resonate even after years and years have passed.

As for me, well, my fat ass danced, skanked, somersaulted and skanked some more until I thought I was going to puke from exhaustion. I sang along to old songs that mattered to me when I was 21 and still matter to me at 29, and sang along to new songs that I can only hope matter as much to me at 40 as they do now.

A few years back I recall someone asking me whether I was “too old” to still be going to punk shows. I responded that music was music and wondered why, as people grow older, do they frown on punk shows but find it acceptable to see a Top 40 band or go to some radio fest where each member of the crowd knows one or two popular songs from a band the radio and their friends tell them to love.

The answer is easy. They don’t know what we experience at punk shows. They can’t comprehend what it’s like to pay 15 bucks to see your favorite band, say hello to them at the merch table and then sing along to every one of their fucking songs with 300 other kids who all know and love the same lyrics.

As I left the Troubador on Saturday night, I couldn’t help but smile. I had witnessed the perfect punk show again and the Suicide Machines reminded me why I keep coming back. Thanks guys.

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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 22, 2005 at 10:39 PM (EDT)

exactly, i feel the same way. i saw suicide machines and the briggs and both [mainly suicide machines] blew me away as i skanked my head off. by far the best show iv been to. keep skankin and so will i

myspace.com/smockamis

Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 22, 2005 at 6:29 PM (EDT)
My Score:

Score is for weighing in at 260 and doing a somersault! Pretty insane, dude.

Posted by Sick_Nick on 2005-08-21 00:31:53
My Score:

Nice review man, I didnt skim threw any of it.

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2005-08-20 22:57:16

" saw Suicide machines when they toured with descendents 'Everything sucks' tour in 96/97?. "

Come on, you know that tour was all about shades apart!

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 6:22 PM (EDT)

What a perfect review of a show. I find most of them boring as hell, but not this one. This is what it means to be in your late 20's and still have a passion for what really matters to you not what all the other fuckin people think. Im 26 now, bout to be 27 in november and all I hope is too see The Suicide Machines one more time (not at a warped tour) but in a club where a real punk band like them belongs.

Posted by maverick on 2005-08-20 14:05:47

One of the bands I owe my life to. I will still sing every word when this band comes to town, no matter how crazy looks I may get from the youngins. How anyone could not love the Suicide Machines is far, far beyond me.

-Scott

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2005-08-20 10:46:44

So water shoots out of you like clockwork?

Not always.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 5:37 AM (EDT)

I saw Suicide machines when they toured with descendents 'Everything sucks' tour in 96/97?. I saw them in denver a few weeks ago(as well as overa year ago) and they still put on a killer show.

Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2005-08-20 04:44:33

"geyser"

So water shoots out of you like clockwork?

Posted by fattony on 2005-08-20 02:05:41

I was at this show last night. Fucking incredible! I never considered myself a huge fan of The Suicide Machines before, but I am now.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 1:48 AM (EDT)

you mean people that arnt cool are on myspace??? well what a shocker.

Posted by AlmostPunkEnough on 2005-08-20 00:32:02

"This guy lost at life."

i've see you post that in 4 different threads now. it's not funny. you;re not funny. everyone knows it's you. please fuck off.

Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 12:06 AM (EDT)

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile &friendID=3137240&Mytoken=20050819174526

This guy lost at life.

Posted by Russe11 on 2005-08-20 00:02:26

mr. kenzington for staff 05'.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 10:53 PM (EDT)

Awsome review. I remember seeing the Suicide Machines with the Blue Meanies when i was 16. I'm 24 now and only a few of my friends still listen to punk so i often have to drag my girlfriend to shows or go alone. I too feel old when i do get out to shows.

Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2005-08-19 19:47:41

Yeah, glad someone older than me is still doin' it!! I feel like a geyser at 26, but I still enjoy it!

Posted by Russe11 on 2005-08-19 18:24:36

Great review that was really inspiring for a kid my age. I haven't seen The Suicide Machines yet but I really fucking want to. Thanks for keeping it in my mind.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 4:44 PM (EDT)

"Why eleven paragraphs?"

Because twelve would have been overkill.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 4:43 PM (EDT)

Nice review. I'm 31 and still go to shows, although the only one I now go down front for is Avail (which is required by law). Otherwise, I just chill in the back or off to the side and drink some beer or Johnnie Walker. Got to bring the kids to the playground the next day after all.

-Dino Radja

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 4:00 PM (EDT)

Why eleven paragraphs?

Posted by MrStabone on 2005-08-19 15:36:52

i like seeing older folks at shows. it makes me feel better to be there too.

all the better punk bands have an older fan base anyways.

Posted by joeg on 2005-08-19 15:04:41
My Score:

score for the review, the show and the suicide machines. i was there too. after seeing them 5 years ago and missing out on them every time since, that night cemented the suicide machines in my top 5 favorite live bands. incredible setlist. they played pretty much every song off dbd. crowd was stagediving and dancing and you could tell the band fed off that energy. at the end of the set during new girl, like 50 kids jumped on stage and jay was trying to sing but just gave up laughing as he was being engulfed by kids. great ending to a great show.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:20 PM (EDT)

I'm 25, and I missed these guys in Albuquerque. Fuck fuckity fuck fuck.

Sounds like they're still rockin' it live ... nice review.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:00 PM (EDT)

i feel old at shows and i'm only 19

i hope Sucide Machines make their way down to South Florida while theyre still playing "Hey Ska"

-sharkie

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 12:35 PM (EDT)

DIAF Kirby

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 11:52 AM (EDT)

When's that Suicide Machines / Insane Clown Posse song droppin'?

Haha, oh man...

- Kirby

Posted by nikobart on 2005-08-19 11:26:20

such a nice & sweet review

at 27, I'm still looked at by lil kids who wonder what kind of ass I'm to come to these shows. So I can easily understand your feeling.

I'm scared this band will come & play in Paris.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 11:25 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Great band. Great live show. Great review. Well done.

Posted by poopypants on 2005-08-19 09:54:24
My Score:

thanks for making me feel younger! i generally feel like the old head at shows but you've got me beat.

And fuck people who think you have to be young to go to shows...granted I don't mosh anymore because I feel like someone beat me senseless the next morning (never felt like that when I was 18) and the thought that I ever stage dived just blows my fucking mind now, but god I love to go, just chill at the bar, have some personal space and watch a great band. I enjoy shows just as much this way now, as I did being front row in the pit when i was 17-21.

God I'd love to see the Sucicide Machines again...3 warped tours, 2 times at the short lived pgh venue 'the world', and ...damn...laga shows...hmm...4 off the top of my head, maybe 5? still not enough. the past 8 years have gone fast since I first saw them blow a then little known band blink182 off the stage at warped tour 97 as the second act of the day (blink played first)

the new album is sooooo good

paul (oh yea...im 25)
scores for the machines live

Posted by CrookedSuperhero on 2005-08-19 05:31:15

Come on, another uk tour....

Posted by Psychoos231 on 2005-08-19 04:11:53
My Score:

Suicide Machines always put on a great show

Posted by TahoeJeff on 2005-08-19 03:54:47

I just got back from the show in Seattle...it was awesome. Similar set list. Lots of old stuff. No S.O.S. though. The opening bands were awesome too. I'm definitely looking forward to the upcoming Bullets to Broadway EP. Pretty good review. I remember them coming to town, summer of 96...I remember having to listen to the show outside, because it was an over 21 gig and I was only 15.

Posted by SomeoneAnonymous on 2005-08-19 03:32:50

Buck O Nine is still together?

Posted by stevejonestherealbones on 2005-08-19 02:58:25

damn. that show from years ago sounds rad. aquabats, blue meanies, and suicide machines...

i have seen all three but never as a trifecta of spazzcore anal rippage.

- jones the bones

- stevejones8770@yahoo.com

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:44 AM (EDT)
My Score:

The Troubadour is my favorite venue. The Suicide Machines are one of those bands that I never got to see when I actually listened to them, and now I don't keep track of them. This review makes me wish I had gone though. Great ending paragraphs.

Posted by Anonymous on Friday, August 19, 2005 at 2:34 AM (EDT)
My Score:

Saw this show in San Diego which included Buck O Nine as well. What a great balanced show that I really enjoyed.

Posted by Dante3000 on 2005-08-19 02:12:14

Makes me even more pissed that I missed them at the Bottom of the Hill.
-Dante