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Epitaph Records -- Millencolin

Rancid / Los Difuntos

live in Echo Park
2006
live show


Review by: Mr. Kenzington
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Hellcat Records (Logo)

Published on April 7th 2006

A lot of thoughts were going through my mind as I was driving through unbearable fucking desert heat to see Rancid and the Lunachicks play the Party Gardens in Phoenix, Arizona. For one, I had no idea where the goddamn venue was. Secondly, it was my first punk show at the ripe old age of 20 and I didn't quite know what to expect. I hadn't discovered punk until I was 18, so I had no idea what a live punk show was like and I questioned whether or not I'd fit in or if I'd get my ass kicked. It's funny looking back on those thoughts now, but they seemed valid at the time.

As far as Rancid was concerned, all I knew was that Let's Go and the self-titled album had created a feeling inside me towards music that I never knew existed, and the anticipation for the show had consumed me for months since I first bought the ticket.

To make an already long story short, I eventually found the venue, saw the show (without getting my ass kicked) and left that night feeling better than I had ever felt in my life. Rancid had lived up to everything I possibly could have hoped for and as a result of that show, a door to countless other bands, shows and friends was opened up.

Those same feelings of excitement and anticipation filled me each time I drove to Echo Park the past two weeks in March to see Rancid play their final two shows of a month-long stint at the Echo. Upon arriving at the Echo my first night, I was immediately taken back by just how small the venue was. Holding no more than a maximum capacity of 250 people (approximately), I couldn’t help but sense that that night’s show would be special, if only for the reasons that the band would be a spitting distance away and the size of the venue provided a unique intimacy (even by punk standards) to a band of their magnitude.

Drinking a beer I watched as the night’s first band (of 3), Los Difuntos, took the stage and tore through an enjoyable set of emotionally charged psychobilly. My first time seeing them, I found them pretty raw, but I enjoyed their energy and look forward to seeing them play another show locally soon.

Up next, to my surprise, was Rancid. Waiting anxiously as the sound checks seemed to take an eternity, the crowd suddenly broke out into a cheer as Matt Freeman took the stage with Brett Reed and began playing the bass-line intro to "Journey to the End of the East Bay." Tim and Lars quickly followed onto the stage and the crowd broke out into a sing-along, shouting every word to the song that gives a nod to a small band known as Operation Ivy.

Ripping into song after song, Rancid proceeded to tear through their catalog, playing songs from Let’s Go, Rancid (first self-titled), Rancid 2000, ...And Out Come the Wolves and Life Won't Wait. Highlights for me included hearing "Seven Years Down," "Detroit," "Maxwell Murder" (with Freeman’s amazing bass solo) and "You Don’t Care Nothin’."

To my amazement, the band also played two songs that I never expected to hear from them: "Sound System" and "Knowledge." As close to Operation Ivy as I will ever get, I skanked to exhaustion and watched as Tim, Lars and Matt flew around the stage similar to the kids who danced in a frenzy on the floor.

The rest of the set was as furious as it had started, with little talk from the band in between songs and chorus singing from the kids in the crowd throughout the entire show. No sooner had they taken the stage, it seemed Rancid was finished with their set.

I stayed at the Echo long enough to see several enjoyable songs from Time Again before I made my way out into the night to drive back home. That high you get from seeing a great show was burning inside me, and the anticipation of the following week’s show was already beginning to build.

As I’m sure many of you do as well, I feel lucky to have discovered punk rock, albeit late, and am eternally grateful to each and every band that has ever made me feel so fucking full of life after a simple show.

As for the Rancid show I went to the following week? It was fucking great. Guess I didn’t expect anything less. After all these years, the door has never closed.

See you guys at a show.
Mr. Kenzington






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    Posted by GlassPipeMurder on 2006-09-02 01:14:09

    drinking a beer at age 20? silly goose, you have to be 21 to drink beer!

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 28, 2006 at 9:15 PM (EDT)

    what the hells wrong with all of you. who cares what song they play or waht album its off of, SHUT THE FUCK UP! so what if more people than you know the song, rancid is fucking amazing and you're all fucking gay. stop trying to be more punk or some shit like that, NOONE FUCKING CARES YOU ASSHOLES! god, let them play songs people know more, who cares? I have every song ever made by them and I dont fucking complain about what songs they are playing live! They are all amazing songs and you should all be seriously ashamed of yourselves for juding a band on what songs they play live when they make such great music

    Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, April 12, 2006 at 4:05 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "1%er" was a slogan that was popularized by the early Hell's Angels, officially it meant that they were the 1% of motorcycle riders that weren't allowed into the American Motorcycle Association, but over time it came to mean more like they're the lowest 1% of society, the crazy scum that won't fit in with the rest; and the "1%" patch is still common on Angels colors. Read Hunter S. Thompson's first book on the Hell's Angels for more insight, it's actually really fascinating even though it predates the gonzo style.

    Posted by Not-To-Regret on 2006-04-12 02:16:38

    Can Someone tell me what a 1%ER is?
    and the connection to the Lars and the Bastards song? (1%)

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 10:31 PM (EDT)

    I remember seeing Rancid a few times and never thought they really cut it live. Then a few years later I saw a setlist and it seemed like the whole thing was Wolves/Let's Go. Seemed pretty lame for a band who put out so much good music since then (like Life Won't Wait) to totally rely on their biggest commercial success in concert. Maybe I'm wrong .. is there a set list from this show?

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 8:48 PM (EDT)

    I remember seeing those assholes. One of the Lunachicks pulled out a tampon and hit one of them square in the face.
    Mr. Kenzington

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 7:59 PM (EDT)

    I was at that Party Gardens show, and got my ass kicked by a bunch of nazi skinheads. :(

    Posted by lushj on 2006-04-10 16:05:09

    Awesome, thanks!

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2006-04-10 15:38:09

    Jesse, I got a used copy at Reckless Records in Chicago.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 1:31 PM (EDT)

    "Or Lars made that album that was basically white thug gangsta rap set to shitty punk generica."

    I enjoyed it. Still do.

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 11:05 AM (EDT)

    everybody used to yell out op. ivy songs to common rider when they played but jesse always said it wouldnt be right to play those without the rest of the band

    Posted by Anonymous on Monday, April 10, 2006 at 8:21 AM (EDT)

    "wait, aren't you supposed to give up on punk when you turn 20?"

    you're lost, get the fuck out of my scene.

    Posted by dietcokeofpunk on 2006-04-09 20:07:37

    c'mon, biker = punk right?

    Posted by gladimnotemo on 2006-04-09 16:59:06

    I'm so glad Lars has gotten over the biker thing, or so it seems.

    Posted by lushj on 2006-04-09 03:45:37

    They played "Salvation" at the show I saw (the 2nd of these 4), plus at least a couple from the "s/t 2000" one.

    I get the impression from the range of songs they're playing that they're practicing all of the records, so who knows, maybe we'll hear "Lady Liberty" on their upcoming tour- that's one I'd love to hear live.

    Posted by Not-To-Regret on 2006-04-09 02:22:58
    My Score:

    I wanna see a Rancid show where they play songs like Hoover Street, Life Won't Wait, 1998, Poison, Antennas, Django, Rattlesnake, Salvation, Outta My Mind, I Wanna Riot etc... you know... their good songs. Seems like they always play stuff from Wolves and Let's Go, maybe its just easier for them to play stuff from that era. Score is an average rating of their catologue.

    Posted by lushj on 2006-04-08 20:30:03

    Re: Audio Ransom Note- thanks! Did you buy it new, if so where? I've got it up @ interpunk and other places, trying to figure out where people buy stuff like that.

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at 7:07 PM (EDT)

    I guess I gotta give bravery points to anyone who stuck with Rancid after they signed to Warner... Or proclaimed Good Charllotte to be their "proteges" (echoing the Dr. Dre/Eminem thing)... Or released that bad album with an even worse single... Or Lars made that album that was basically white thug gangsta rap set to shitty punk generica.

    -Will

    Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, April 8, 2006 at 3:07 PM (EDT)

    "Better Rancid covering OpIvy then, well, just about every other band who's ever covered one. At least Matt and Tim know how to play them!"

    I agree,,but its not like big city and especially knowledge are tricky songs to master that should be left to the pros or anything...

    Posted by aahhhh on 2006-04-08 13:40:24

    the problem is that lars sang jesses parts and matt sang tims parts. why cant tim sing his own lines?

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2006-04-08 04:17:11

    I'm with Jesse, if there's anyone who has a right to be doing them it's Tim and Matt. If they and the kids have a good time then who cares.

    Two of the better live Op Iv covers I've heard are "Knowlege" by Bigwig and "Unity" by The Code. They're both pretty solid.

    And Jesse, I picked up "Audio Ransom Note" today. Good stuff, I don't know why I never bought it earlier.

    Posted by Godfather on 2006-04-07 19:27:51

    Bleh... there should be a law banning Rancid from doing OpIvy covers..

    -opivy


    i could not agree more

    Posted by lushj on 2006-04-07 19:11:49

    Better Rancid covering OpIvy then, well, just about every other band who's ever covered one. At least Matt and Tim know how to play them!

    Seriously, if I had a buck for every good cover of OpIvy I've heard (besides Rancid's recent one), I'd be just about flat broke. Stop the madness, people!

    Posted by Archangel on 2006-04-07 17:07:10

    I can't take live reviews that read like journal entries seriously.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 4:46 PM (EDT)
    My Score:

    "To my amazement, the band also played two songs that I never expected to hear from them: "Sound System" and "Knowledge." "

    Bleh... there should be a law banning Rancid from doing OpIvy covers..

    -opivy

    Posted by dietcokeofpunk on 2006-04-07 14:17:12

    I still laugh at the fact that my first show was the mighty mighty bosstones, who i thought did "time bomb", and despite it being the best show i ever went to, I was slightly upset by them not playing it. I later found out my mistake, and discovered rancid.

    Posted by LMChc on 2006-04-07 11:38:12

    "I wonder if Lars is still jacking records from kids who put his band up in their houses to sleep after gigs.

    -Ken"

    I don't think the Hilton girls have records.

    Posted by ejaculine on 2006-04-07 10:54:12

    I still remember one of the my favorite shows. It was at Carleton University in Ottawa. It was Rancid, AFI and The Ripcordz in i guess 1995. I havent been able to see Rancid since then except for the Warped Tour. It's just not the same. I really wish they would do another canadian tour. At least I still have that awesome show in my memory.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 9:44 AM (EDT)

    I wonder if Lars is still jacking records from kids who put his band up in their houses to sleep after gigs.

    -Ken

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 7:40 AM (EDT)

    Rancid/slackers show in dc a couple of years back was one of my favs of all time-oldpunker-

    Posted by shindo on 2006-04-07 07:38:44

    "P.S.- I've been saying that "Life Won't Wait" is the "Paul's Boutique" of the 90s since, well, it came out."

    Jesse I think I love you.

    -adam

    Posted by general_disarray on 2006-04-07 05:48:44

    your experience at this show totally reminded me of the first time I went to Millencolin when I was 17. It was my first punk show and I had to drive 2 hours to Seattle. Me being from a really small town had no idea how to get around Seattle. The excitement I felt at that show really reminds why I love punk rock. Nothing in the world can beat tiny ass venues with bands that you truly love. Thanks for putting it in perspective.

    Posted by lushj on 2006-04-07 04:49:12
    My Score:

    I saw the 2nd of these 4 shows, with the also incredible Aggrolites. All 4 shows were supposed to be acoustic, but the 1st one didn't go so well so they said fuck it and switched to an electric set. They busted out "Sound System" as the 2nd tune- the first time Matt and Tim had played it electric in 17 years! (they played it acoustic @ a private event a couple months ago for the first time since 1989)

    Seriously small venue, seriously blazing set, I'm glad to hear they're going out on the road on a real tour and not that squeeze-in-30-minutes-of-hits clusterfuck called the Warped Tour.

    P.S.- I've been saying that "Life Won't Wait" is the "Paul's Boutique" of the 90s since, well, it came out.

    Posted by jockmcbored on 2006-04-07 04:40:26

    thought these had given up what with matt being ill, lars thinking dave courtney/jonny allen is cool and trying to be like them and tim still not being able to get over his divorce

    surprised to see them playing gigs at all

    Posted by OzmanX on 2006-04-07 03:34:53
    My Score:

    Nice review. I would have left before Time Again took the stage.
    Were these the free shows?

    Posted by joeg on 2006-04-07 02:12:51

    nice review. sounds like you had a great time. for some reason, i thought these echo park shows were going to be acoustic sets but i guess not. i don't think i would've gotten in anyways since tickets sold out in like a day.

    Posted by TheOneTrueBill on 2006-04-07 02:07:30

    Is it wrong that when I read the line about the two Operation Ivy songs I got a little chill up my back? I don't think so.

    I've yet to actually see Rancid outside of 15 minutes on the 2001 Warped tour. For as much as I don't really listen to them that often anymore I'd still LOVED to have seen this. I'm super jealous.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 2:04 AM (EDT)

    They also played Op Ivy's "Big City." Some other notables were "Bob" (NOFX), Hoover Street, Hooligans and of course, "Radio." Lars took the lead on all the Op Ivy songs.
    Mr. Kenzington

    Posted by rubyx on 2006-04-07 01:42:26
    My Score:

    Did they play "Red Hot Moon"? That is honestly my favorite Rancid song, minus the "rap" at the end. Score is for "Red Hot Moon"!!!

    Posted by SalsaShark on 2006-04-07 01:36:36

    What the fuck?! "Sound System" and "Knowledge"!?! WHAT!?!?! Fucking shit, I would kill to see that live. Did Tim sing both of those?

    Wow.

    Posted by notfeelingcreative on 2006-04-07 01:22:00

    Holy shit, "Sound System" and "Knowledge"?! I wouldn't have expected that in a million years. I always found it odd that Common Rider didn't play any OPIV songs, though.

    Posted by matt_are_the_union on 2006-04-07 01:05:02

    mr. kenzington, congratulations on being the most well-spoken person I have witnessed in a long time on this website. it's nice to have you in punk.

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 12:57 AM (EDT)

    Life Won't Wait was fucking brilliant. We'll have to agree to disagree on that one. Indestructible is probably my least favorite of all their efforts, but I think it still has a lot of songs that will stand the test of time. Maybe they agree with you though, they didn't play any songs off of that album.
    Mr. Kenzington

    Posted by northdakotaKILLS on 2006-04-07 00:51:36

    i'm a rancid fan and all, and i've loved them for many years, but how the hell can you justify "indestructible". oh man. that album was so terrible, even worse than "life wont wait".

    hanging with good charlotte and calling them the future of punk? sounds like someone wants to make some money. yuck.

    Posted by Godfather on 2006-04-07 00:48:19
    My Score:

    and this one's for operation ivy

    Posted by Godfather on 2006-04-07 00:48:00
    My Score:

    this score is for rancid

    Posted by Anonymous on Friday, April 7, 2006 at 12:45 AM (EDT)

    wait, aren't you supposed to give up on punk when you turn 20?

    Posted by sickboi on 2006-04-07 00:13:28

    Sounds like a great time. Especially the Op Ivy songs.