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Bouncing Souls / Street Dogs

live in Washington, D.C. (2006)
Epitaph Records

Reviewer Rating:

Contributed by: Chris
(others by this writer | submit your own)

Published on October 20th 2006

Some things in life are a certainty. Free beer will always taste better, the Dallas Cowboys will always be the most hated team in the NFL, no state south of Maryland can make a good cheesesteak, and the Bouncing Souls always put on a good show. With an impressive lineup of the Souls, Street Dogs, Whole Wheat Bread and World/Inferno Friendship Society, the opening night of The Gold Tour was sure to live up to the band's long history of unforgettable performances.

Starting the night off were NYC's cabaret/circus-punk experience, World/Inferno Friendship Society. I'm a recent newcomer to the group's apparent cult-like following, but was eager to see what everyone was talking about. I was impressed with a set heavy on their recent Chunksaah release Red-Eyed Soul, and found the chemistry of such an eclectic and member-heavy group to be amazing. Frontman Jack Terricloth found a specific interest in a young man up front that seemed to only know how to use one finger the entire set. Either he was completely uninterested and found this as his only way on communicating his opinion, or considered this the "punx" show of respect. Either way, Jack had a good laugh with him, inviting him to dance on several occaisions. Aside from this kid's antics, the rest of the crowd was very motivated by the group's interactive performance. Without a doubt, I can honestly say that with more exposure and a broader touring schedule, "the Inferno" could be the next big thing in independent music.

I missed most of Whole Wheat Bread due to an interview, but caught a little of their set and heard the majority of it backstage. The main difference I caught, based on only seeing them once prior, was how incredibly tight they have gotten. And based off the opinions of a few friends in attendance, they crowd response was very positive, especially from material off their upcoming EP, Punk Life.

Next were the Street Dogs, whom I have been anxiously been waiting to see for some time now. I caught a very brief portion of their set with Social Distortion, but not enough to base any serious opinion on. But this night, they PWND this show. Frontman Mike McColgan reminded me of 12 years ago, seeing him front his former band, Dropkick Murphys, with the same energy and emotion. Bassist Johnny Rioux only further cemented his imposing impact live that has been made apparent on the band's last effort. The entire set was a non-stop marathon, with Mike running stage-left to stage-right, forcing the words into the crowd with urgency and enthusiasm. Material from all three albums was well represented, with huge audience responses to "You Alone," "Savin Hill," "In Defense of Dorcester," and "Fighter," plus newer tracks like "Not without a Purpose," "Fatty" and "Toby's Got a Drinking Problem." Street Dogs have unfortunately been hidden under the "former DKM singer" rock, but on this night, they made it perfectly clear that they are a serious band that will make their own mark, by clearly providing the performance of the night.

It's no shocker, I love the Bouncing Souls. Some bands just carry on, and maybe you become oblivious to the criticism. The Gold Record has given me everything I could ever ask for in a Souls album, and their peformance only added further compliment. Obviously, the set was heavy with new material, including the opener "The Gold Song," their Avoid One Thing cover of "Lean on Sheena," "So Jersey" and "Letter to Iraq." Of course, their classics "Kid," "True Believers" (with impromptu backing vocals from Mike McColgan), "K8 Is Great," "Argyle" and many more were well represented. My only question was the conversion of possibly my favorite Souls song ever, "Say Anything," transformed into a solo/acoustic peformance from Greg. Not to say it wasn't entertaining, but that song is so full of life and energy, it deserves the full treatment I've come to expect.

The most notable aspect of the set was the audience sing-along. In between filiming and photography, I'd find myself standing side-stage, singing to all my favorites, only to look around and see members of the Street Dogs, Whole Wheat Bread and World/Inferno Friendship Society mouthing the same words. Call it cheesy, but I think it reflects a considerable amount of respect in how much this band as influenced so many.

If you were to only see one show this fall/winter, I can without a doubt say that The Gold Tour is not to be missed. A punk plethora of fun for anyone, regardless of age or tastes.

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William_David (October 25, 2006)

Nice review. I checked out the tour in Chicago. World/Inferno was fun, but short. Whole Wheat Bread went from kind of a joke/gimmick to a great live band that has worked their asses off over the last year, in my opinion. Street Dogs blew me away. I hadn't seen them live before this, and didn't know what to expect, but they much better than the Souls, not to take anything away from them. Bouncing Souls put on a good show, but it just felt a little weak after Street Dogs left the stage.

Anonymous (October 23, 2006)

I turned 21 during the Souls set that night...

Man it was a good show.

Can't wait for it to come back round in Baltimore.

Anonymous (October 23, 2006)

Score is for the sack of shit below me.

Anonymous (October 22, 2006)

lean on sheena is a cover song? wow. that's the only song i liked on the new record.

Anonymous (October 22, 2006)

Fridays Chicago show was amazing The Bouncing Souls are by far the greatest band alive and kicking today.

danperrone (October 22, 2006)

no manthem???

:[

ph (October 22, 2006)

BS are great on cd but the most boring act I've ever seen, and i've seen em twice!!

salsashark (October 22, 2006)

Cleveland set list (out of order):
-The Gold Song (Opener)
-Better Things
-K8 is Great
-Say Anything (Acoustic)
-Fight To Live
-Here We Go
-Private Radio
-Letter From Iraq
-The Pizza Song
-Freaks, Nerds and Romantics (I went nuts for this -- this is my favorite Souls song)
-Born To Lose
-Lean On Sheena
-ECFU
-No Rules
-Lamar Vannoy
-For All The Unheard
-Some song about "turning back time"
-Hopeless Romantic
-That Song
-Sing Along Forever
-True Believers
-Gone
-Kids and Heroes

Torgo (October 22, 2006)

The Gold Song
Private Radio
Hopeless Romantic
Kid
Lean On Sheena
No Rules
The Something Special
East Coast! Fuck You!
Better Things
Kate is Great
True Believers
--
Moon Over Asbury
So Jersey
Sing Along Forever
Neurotic
That Song
The Pizza Song
Fight To Live
Born Free
Here We Go
Argyle
Letter From Iraq
Gone
--
Say Anything (acoustic)
Kids And Heroes
Lamar Vannoy
For All The Unheard

fritobandito (October 21, 2006)

I was pretty bummed when I showed up and found out it was sold out. I couldn't care less about the Souls, but I was looking forward to seeing W/IFS again, even if it was gonna be a short opening set.

Ah well.

Anonymous (October 21, 2006)

wait...this isn't the lillingtons CD?

kingofsuck (October 21, 2006)

That is pretty odd about the acoustic version of "Say Anything." It's always the high point of the show for me, as it's my favorite song of theirs (and also the first of theirs I heard).

And just for the record, I like the Street Dogs better than DKM. Even Do or Die era.

Anonymous (October 21, 2006)

One of the consistantly great live bands out ..... FUCK UP

Moo

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

One of the consistantly great live bands out there right now. My favorite DKM stuff was with Mike McColgan anyway, so it made perfect sense that the Street Dogs would be just as good, if not better and to me, I'm right. I see them whenever I can, can't wait for the new album

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

eastsidemagsthbs (October 20, 2006)

did i mention whole wheat bread played maxwell murder. and the crowd went absolutely nut.s

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

Was at the NJ date. Great show all around. Love the Souls, love Street Dogs, much respect for the other 2 bands. Check out the tour if you have a chance.

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

sickboi, can you fucking do math? its 2006. DKM started in 1996. That's 10 years.

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

The show was indeed great. World Inferno had tremendous energy. How did I never hear of this band before? Well, I now own three of their CDs; every one is great.
And yes, the Souls (along with Against Me) are a great sing-along band. This was the fifth or sixth time I've seen them (I'm too old to remember them all), and they've always been a blast.

skolarx (October 20, 2006)

i caught this last night in Detroit. only really watched whole wheat but they have become incredibly tight with cj on bass. the last time they had played here it was his first show with them and he wasn't singing or anything and they played a shortened set, last night they were on and the crowd when nuts for them. that said they still aren't doing anything that all of us haven't seen a billion times before but they do it well. plus they played the opening minute of reign in blood

eastsidemagsthbs (October 20, 2006)

one of the greatest shows.ever.

MrStabone (October 20, 2006)

this was a great show

i fucking missed world inferno

was not impressed by whole wheat bread at all, but they were pretty together and i am sure they are nice dudes

street dogs are great. that's my third time seeing them and the best response yet. once was at warped and another in LA. good to see them on the east coast.

souls were great as always. great to see them at the black cat for what i am almost certain was the first time in a little over 10 years.

Godfather (October 20, 2006)

probably "Get Up"

yep, pretty sure that was it

Godfather (October 20, 2006)

and yeah, they did play a dkm song from do or die

Godfather (October 20, 2006)

good times

WainscottRockCity (October 20, 2006)

probably "Get Up"

baseball (October 20, 2006)

i swear they did because he was like "as some of you may know i used to be in a band called Dropkick Murphys, a group of great guys, and this is a song from when i was with them"

or something like that, i know i didn't imagine that

sickboi (October 20, 2006)

I seriously do not remember hearing a DKM song. A lot of the Street Dogs' material sounds like shit from Do or Die, but please, if someone knows, fill me in.

baseball (October 20, 2006)

oh and Chris, Street Dogs played a song off Do Or Die at the show, i'm like 90% sure

just don't remember which one, i was thoroughly shitcanned by that time

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

In Boston The Street Dogs played a Drop Kick Murphys song....

Lucky me!

baseball (October 20, 2006)

i couldn't have asked for a better show on my birthday

this show was sooo good, best of the year probably barely edging Lagwagon/Lawrence Arms/A Wilhelm Screen

all the bands performances were excellent, i was a little pissed we spent too much time at the bar down the street (damn delicious Scottish Ale) before the show and missed 3 W/IFS songs, but that was my 3rd time seeing them this year anyway

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

I'll be at the New Orleans date. Love the Souls, how can you not? I also think the Gold Record is arguably their best, right up there with 'summer vacation'.

Paul

sickboi (October 20, 2006)

My bad, 1995. The EP was released in 1997. The 13 years was 1 year off, but I'm basing the 12 year comment on the fact that its almost 2007.

sprainedsoul (October 20, 2006)

I can't wait for this tour to hit Florida. There are worse things than spending my birthday singing along with the Bouncing Souls.

Oh, not sure what calculator sickboi is using, but '97 was not 13 yrs ago.

sickboi (October 20, 2006)

2 comments: dkm was not around 12 years ago, and the street dogs are still doing dkm songs

1. DKM formed in 1996. Do or Die came out in 1998. I think their first EP was Boys on the Docks, and was released in 1997. So its almost 13 years. You lose.

2. What DKM songs are Street Dogs doing? They've had Ken and Al from DKM sing on a song or 2, but I've never heard of them doing DKM material.

Damo (October 20, 2006)

"Bouncing Souls always put on a good show"

not always fella, not always

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

where is the Lillingtons review?

MrStylson (October 20, 2006)

You brought up a very valid, yet often unspoken understanding:

The Bouncing Souls are the embodiment of sing-along punk.

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

I went to the New Jersey show and have to say that World/Inferno rocked the fuckin house down. Bouncing Souls are better everytime I see them. I didn't like Whole Wheat Bread or Street Dogs but the show was great just for World/Inferno and the Souls.

ozmanx (October 20, 2006)

This review brings a smile to my face.

Anonymous (October 20, 2006)

2 comments: dkm was not around 12 years ago, and the street dogs are still doing dkm songs

SloaneDaley (October 20, 2006)

I hate that this tour ins't coming to Toronto. The Souls are one of my favourite bands and The World/ Inferno is fucking amazing... Fuck.

according to The Loved Ones' Dave Hause The Souls and Strike Anywhere will be touring Canada including Toronto next year.

score is for these bands/review, even if I've only seen the Street Dogs live.