The Arrogant Sons of Bitches

Disclaimer: Apparently expressing your extreme devotion to a musical genius over the internet is “creepy stalker shit.” Well, if a Conneticut ska forum thinks that making fun of my review of Bomb the Music Industry! is going to stop me from reviewing the Arrogant Sons of Bitches reunion show, then they are sadly mistaken. If you think my affection is “stalkerish,” then please keep your hurtful comments to yourself. Now that that is out of the way, it’s time for a review of one of the best shows I have ever been to.

Before the show a few of my boyfriends and I went to the Quizno’s closest to New York City’s Knitting Factory. I was really excited for the ASOB reunion, and then to heighten my excitement, Jeff Rosenstock himself walked into Quizno’s. I was eating the same food as Jeff. As he exited the eatery I shouted “Jeff Rosenstock is God!!” One day I’ll muster up the courage to talk to him in depth.

My boyfriends and I waited on line outside of the Knitting Factory. We got in and the show started right on time. The first band was a local ska/punk band called the Fad. They put on a pretty entertaining opening set. They even covered another local ska/punk act, the High School Football Heroes. Unfortunately, they also covered one of the worst bands ever: Bad Brains. I covered my ears to block out all the hate.

After the Fad left the stage, ASOB came on. As promised, they were playing two sets on this night, one sandwiched between the Fad and the Matt Kurz One, and a second one to close the show. ASOB opened their night up with the first song from Three Cheers for Disappointment. This set was all of that album, with some random songs thrown in to replace the classics that were re-recorded. The set was full of energy, and so was the crowd. Whenever I see Jeff, I always want to get my skank on, but everyone was just going so crazy that I could never get my skanking in. Everyone there rushed the stage, shouting along to every word, trying to get as close as they could to the man behind the music. I never got that close; I guess everyone else there was just a better “stalker” than I was.

With about 15 songs already sawed off, they exited the stage leaving the crowd wanting more. The next act did not stand a chance to draw the love that ASOB had just received, but the Matt Kurz One gave it all he got. He had an interesting performance, because he played keyboard, drums, guitar, and even sang all by himself. It was kind of upsetting, because he was playing with himself only, and I wanted to go up on stage and be his partner. He finished a 25-minute set, and the crowd was even more ready for ASOB than they were the first time.

After setting up, ASOB tore into "Kill the President." This time around the crowd was even more excited, and the band seemed to feed off of it even more. Other old favorites were played, such as "Royale Fuck Deluxe," "Radio Single," and "RSTLNE." After hearing the crowd break into a rendition of "Congratulations John on Joining Every Time I Die," a BTMI! song, Jeff was inspired to have ASOB play the song as well. The crowd was really into it, and even Rosenstock’s band members got into it, despite it not being an ASOB original. The song acted as a catalyst for the rest of the set, and everyone on stage seemed to be really into it. Whether it was the horn section going nuts, or Jay Tea attempting to prove Mitch Clem wrong by being the coolest keyboardist ever. The set continued on, and while the band got drunker and drunker, and sloppier and sloppier, the show became more and more fun. The band was clearly having fun as evident by unusual song selections. These were mainly covers which included a Radiohead cover, a mini Saves the Day cover, and a little medley of covers that included "American Pie." The band then had an “encore” which included "I Hate Punk Rock," a long instrumental buildup, and then closed with "So Let’s Go Nowhere."

I left the Knitting Factory with a more than satisfied feeling. Any time I get to be that close to Jeff and the gang is a treat, but when it’s a reunion show the intense feeling of pleasure is so great that I become overwhelmed with joy. I can’t wait for the show on Long Island tomorrow [which has since passed - ed.], and if this is really the last two shows for ASOB, then thanks for everything. Hug and kisses, Neill Cawley.

Set list (from memory and in no order):

• Sorry, We Steal
• RSTLNE
• So Let’s Go Nowhere
• Kill the President
• Royal Fuck Deluxe
• Abandon Ship
• Radio Single
• Built to Fail, Motherfucker (3 times)
• Pornocracy
• Go Ska
• I Just Wanna Have Sex With You
• Fuck You.
• ...And the Flame Dies Out Again (The Inevitably Glorious Exhumation of Daylight)
• I Hate Punk Rock
• The Guy from Subway
• Better Off Dead
• Everything But the Pizza
• Kill Your Cats
• I Like Green Day
• Radiohead cover
• all of Three Cheers for Disappointment