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The last time I saw NOFX, it was another two-show mini-residency at Toronto's unfortunately named Kool Haus and they opened the first show with "The Decline." First song.

As far as I could tell, it was only the third time they had played it in its entirety to an audience (the first two being at Slim's in San Fransico, just before that tour), so word hadn't gotten around that it was even a possibility. It was a more macabre experience than you might imagine, as seeing NOFX play "The Decline," especially when not expected, can result in making people's heads explode. I personally saw three explode that evening. I have the stained T-shirt to prove it. But I digress...

After that, NOFX had much to live up to, but inviting along the mighty Dillinger Four was a step in the right direction. I didn't get there on time to see the opening acts, or the always exuberant Flatliners.

It's been eight years since Dillinger Four toured to Toronto, the last time being behind Versus God on a tour opening for Against All Authority. This is something not lost on them as Paddy mentioned it both times, when not expounding on all things sexy -- which he did, at great length, and hilariously. They played the same tight set both nights (understandable for their lack of extensive touring), which was peppered with standout tracks from the new C I V I L W A R, like "Gainsville" and "Minimum Wage Is a Gateway Drug." The strangest thing was that the crowd seemed to know the new songs just as well as some of the older material like "Doublewhiskeycokenoice." Curious!

They played for around 45 minutes and left the stage announcing, "We've been Fucked Up, thank you," and "We've been Brutal Knights, thank you," respectively.

After the show on night two, D4 also played a drunken "secret" show at Toronto's Punk Bar of choice, Sneaky Dee's (where the nachos are tasty and the snobbery is free). Reportedly, they played a longer, sloppier set, where Paddy took an electric razor on stage, taking clumps out of his hair and beard every couple of songs, 'till he was bald and clean shaven. What a showman.

Take each album from their long and storied career and put them on shuffle, and you more or less have an idea of NOFX's set lists the past few visits. When a band is not touring behind an album, more often than not they give a "Greatest Hits"-type selection. NOFX clearly have a wealth of material, but apart from songs that videos were made for ("Bob," "Stickin' in My Eye," "Franco Un-American," etc.), they don't really have clearly defined "hits" or "favorites." Where one fan might consider "No Fun in Fundamentalism" or "The Brews" to be hits, others might not. So needless to say, the song selection is very random, the only constants being "Intro" to start and "Theme Song from a NOFX Show" (with a super extended accordion outro) to end. While it doesn't seem as cohesive or paced as other bands, it's never ever predictable.

As always, the stage banter was top notch. Topics ranged from their last album ("which IS a good record!" Mike was keen to point out), to Barack Obama's upcoming presidency, to Eric Melvin's drug use, to even how Punknews.org would review the show, in contrast with Mike's own "B-" grade of the show.

Also of note was the announcement that "NOFX Backstage Passport" would be getting the George & Wheezy treatment by getting its very own spinoff, starring Nubs (a.k.a. Tally), the Torontonian that was immortalized in War on Errorism's "She's Nubs." The show is in production now, and was being filmed at the venue for inclusion in the show. The highlight of the second show was when they decided to make a dream come true by giving Tally her first ever stage dive. Fat Mike first warned the crowd, "If one of you drops her, the show is fucking over," then went into "She's Nubs" and when it kicked in, Limo picked her up and threw her into the excited crowd to big cheers (and thankfully, no droppings).

So, there were no exploding heads time, but there was tossing of a limbless person, women getting turned on en masse to Paddy's naked torso, Eric Melvin inexplicably leaving the stage for a whole song and a wide variety of good tunes, and really, what more can you ask for?



People who liked this also liked:
Choking Victim - No Gods / No ManagersDillinger Four - Situationist ComedyLifetime - Two Songs [7 inch]Descendents - Milo Goes To CollegeNo Fun At All - Big KnockoverNo Fun At All - State Of FlowNo Fun At All - No Straight AnglesRancid - The Music Videos: 1993-2003 DVDRise Against - Appeal to ReasonDillinger Four - Midwestern Songs of the Americas



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    Posted by Tinner on 2008-10-17 03:39:11

    Just ordered my D4 vinyl from Fat! Hopefully got one of the coloured ones!

    Posted by Torgo on 2008-10-16 20:34:43

    Way to mention roughly 1 song NOFX played.

    Posted by daved4 on 2008-10-16 17:58:06

    best show i went to this year! D4 were fucking great

    Posted by crackpotdemagogue on 2008-10-16 12:05:24

    pretty disjointed review... and i want to hear more about D4, what was the setlist? why the fuck were you not at the 'secret show'?

    Posted by chrisss on 2008-10-15 22:40:17
    My Score:

    Wait, my score should have been 8.

    Posted by chrisss on 2008-10-15 22:39:05
    My Score:

    Score is for the second night. The first night was almost depressingly boring. D4 were good on Wednesday, but they had so much more energy on Thursday. NOFX's first set was pretty dull, but the second night was solid almost all the way through. Sick of hearing all that fucking reggae, though.

    Second night was also a bonus because I did not get puked on. First night, not so lucky.

    Posted by BarleyPat on 2008-10-15 22:34:42

    You can buy crack from the mayor in Washington.........but California has better cocaine.

    Posted by swank on 2008-10-15 22:10:22

    Just to clarify, the show I made reference to at the beginning of the review was the first date of their 2005 north american tour, I realize they've played The Decline several times since then.
    But at the time it was new, and needless to say exciting.
    Thanks for reading.

    Posted by chickswithdicks on 2008-10-15 21:52:56
    My Score:

    first night people weren't digging D4, and frankly nofx were pretty lackluster.

    at least i got to sleep with jon daley.

    Posted by Seanith on 2008-10-15 21:42:27

    Give your head a shake for missing the Flatliners. Both tiimes i've seen them this year they made a good show great.

    Posted by eran_zombis on 2008-10-15 21:41:09

    "what a bag of dicks NOFX fans are."

    Indeed. These are the kids that throw french fries at others at lunch.

    Posted by dave_s25 on 2008-10-15 20:41:00
    My Score:

    i came from winnipeg for both shows and they were both amazing my personal favorite was dinosaurs will die

    and i was at that calgary warped and they played more then 2 songs, off hand i know they played Eat The Meek, I Wanna Be An Alcoholic, Les Champs Elyees, and The Decline, plus i am pretty sure they played Leaving Jesusland

    Posted by misterspike on 2008-10-15 18:51:56

    You forgot to mention that Fat Mike was a slobbering drunk...on the second night at least.

    Fat Mike = Consistent!

    Posted by jacknife737 on 2008-10-15 17:59:17

    I had to miss both shows, words cannot express how much fuck my life.

    Posted by eazyd2 on 2008-10-15 17:44:38

    needs more cowbell.

    Posted by kelly_d on 2008-10-15 17:35:18
    My Score:

    Ya Nofx definately has played the decline more than that. In fact i saw them do it at the 06 Warped Tour in Calgary, and they played it when they were in Edmonton (looks at ticket stub) on May 6th this year. I also read a review from the the show in Calgary then night after said show and "the decline" was played also.

    Posted by loose72 on 2008-10-15 16:56:43

    Ya I saw them at Warped a few years back in Calgary, They also played The Decline, What was funny, is that there was only one person around me freakin out besides me, knowing what they were playing,
    The band did a intro and then Fat says "Ok, we got one more for ya", then plyed the start of the Decline, Everyone was boooing cause they thought they would only play 2 songs, until they finished their masterpiece..
    It was great to hear my favorite NoFx album live...

    Posted by american_666_jesus on 2008-10-15 15:59:41
    My Score:

    I'm going to the show in Baltimore next Friday and I hope they play Theme From A NOFX Album. I've never seen that live, but I've always wanted to. I remember when they played in DC back in 05 and did the Decline in its entirety. They gave a warning before along the lines of "We're going to play an old song, so find somewhere comfortable to stand for the next 18 minutes."

    Posted by Since94 on 2008-10-15 15:51:28

    You forgot to mention that Fat Mike was a slobbering drunk...on the second night at least.
    Paddy 1 Fatty 0

    Posted by dialoguefromamovie on 2008-10-15 15:15:01

    D4 always saying that they are different bands when they play never gets old.

    Posted by SloaneDaley on 2008-10-15 14:55:45

    I went the first night, fuck the crowd was annoying and insulting toward D4, what a bag of dicks NOFX fans are.

    Posted by wentz_equals_death on 2008-10-15 14:35:38

    fucked up and brutal knights lol

    Posted by Joshisnthardcore on 2008-10-15 14:09:50
    My Score:

    1st comment and i must say, however good if a show this might have been, i wouldnt have minded reading a review of the new d4 album instead since it came out yesterday. so my score is for the album.

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