The Adversaries: punk as punk gets.  I had anticipated this show after being impressed w/ their set the last time i'd seen them, though it was nearly six months ago.  They took the stage and, foregoing the usual soundcheck, went right ahead with a musical kick to the face.  Now this was punk, pure and simple, but that's not what sets these guys apart.  No, it's the fact that they're actually good at it, a tight punk band.  The drums were fast, breakneck fast.  I'm a fan of the roto tom as well.  The guitar was biting, i loved the ska-esque strumming on some songs.  The bass sound was amazing,  the ampeg did a nice job with the great catchy basslines.  The vocals were loud, harsh, and, yes, very punk, in all the best ways.  I missed the horns that were present last time i saw them (they were also one of the few bands who can actually pull off ska anymore), but their absence didn't leave the band helpless.  I love punk rock, but i'm not usually impressed with "true punk" bands very often, but these guys were tight and impressive, even catchy.  Unfortunately, i didnt catch the closer, but i definitely will next time.  \../ Rock on guys.\../

Everyone once in a while I begin to forget what punk is, well tonight Nick reminded me, it is "somthing you can buy at Hot Topic for $19.95." But, all jokes aside this show was great, some people may write these guys off as a Rancid cover band, I don't think I've ever heard them play a Rancid song though and I've been a member of the band twice. The two Ramones covers were awesome, the Op Ivy cover was as always to my liking, and when they covered The Specials I was to quoute a song played on the PA earlier that night...Like Woah. The originals were great stand outs include Anna and Molly is Bitch. Also the stage presence was awesome, it is shows like this that keep whatever little piece of punk there is left alive.

Ska without horns...in the new millenium? Impossible, you say? I laugh at you, these guys can rock the reggae, the punk, and the whatever else they play. Much like the 590s they aren't one of those bands that will win any contests when it comes to greatest musicianship ever, but they have that passion for what they're doing and it shows, it doesn't matter if they are reminding us "Molly's a Bitch"  or if the are telling us "Punk Rock is an Oxymoron" these guys rock. Even if they aren't musical genuises they deserve recognition for putting passion into each song they play.

 

Gathering Grounds 11/7/03 - Everybody skanked to The Adversaries. How can anyone have a bad time at one of these guys shows? I mean they are fun, they can be singing about politics, stupid drivers, and life one minute and be covering Jabberjaw off the Cartoon Network the next. Nothing beats the crowd getting involved with the music, somthing I wish other bands encouraged quite frankly. Big props to Amanda and all the other ladies who got up on stage and did their thing that night. This show as always made me love punk and ska again ... it also made me want to beat up the mosh pit ninjas... who decided a mosh pit should be a martial arts expose?

 

Well, what can I say other than we are looking at a musical revolution in the making. Sure, they may not be popular or anything like that compared to other bands ... you always have a good time at their shows though. Tonight was no exception. They played some old favorites including "I Don't Wanna Wait" and "Standing On  the Corner" as well as some newer numbers "Chugging Down Anti-Freeze", "Mr. Radar", and a cover of the Ramones classic "Judy Is A Punk" It didn't matter if you were skankin' to the beat, sittin' in a chair, or slammin' in the pit this show was fun for everybody.