Holidays In The Sun USA - The Stone Pony Asbury Park NJ 7th September 2002
Going to a three-day music festival is an event, no matter what the circumstances are. Going to a festival 5000 miles away is one hell of an event. Not only that, but this one was being held at the legendary Stone Pony, Asbury Park, New Jersey, so before you even get there, you know that something mighty is in the pipeline.
And HITS USA 2002 was mighty, no doubt about it. Sadly, this may turn out to be the last overseas HITS, but if it was, then it was one hell of a way to go out!
And HITS USA 2002 was mighty, no doubt about it. Sadly, this may turn out to be the last overseas HITS, but if it was, then it was one hell of a way to go out!
HITS USA
Before I give the honourable mentions, I should say that all the bands that appeared over the weekend deserve a huge amount of respect, as do Darren and Jenny, the organisers, and all the staff at the Stone Pony, except for that miserable git behind the bar, who had all the personality of a stepped-in dog turd.
With such a big festival as this, you can’t possibly see everyone on the bill. You have a tendency to catch bits and pieces as bands overlap and you are bound to miss someone. Thankfully, The Skeptix would be playing a gig the following Monday with all the bands I had missed, from Friday, so that was OK. The only band I missed totally, all weekend, was Electric Frankenstein. They went off just as we arrived on Saturday. I was really pissed about that. That said, here goes with the God of Thunder Honourable Mentions for HITS USA 2002:
With such a big festival as this, you can’t possibly see everyone on the bill. You have a tendency to catch bits and pieces as bands overlap and you are bound to miss someone. Thankfully, The Skeptix would be playing a gig the following Monday with all the bands I had missed, from Friday, so that was OK. The only band I missed totally, all weekend, was Electric Frankenstein. They went off just as we arrived on Saturday. I was really pissed about that. That said, here goes with the God of Thunder Honourable Mentions for HITS USA 2002:
UK Subs
Charlie Harper is still doing his thing and he does it so well. This is UK punk at its mightiest with one of the original legends of the business. Major respect to him and long may he continue.
(Photo taken at Connections, Clifton, NJ - 5/9/02)
(Photo taken at Connections, Clifton, NJ - 5/9/02)
Adolf and the Piss Artists
Adolf and the Piss Artists may well have split up by the time your see this and that is a shame. This is a band of real quality with some good songs. Atlanta streetpunk at its best.
(Photos taken at The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
(Photos taken at The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
The Riffs
Hailing from Portland, OR, this band kicks some serious ass. Heavy Punk with a bad attitude and a major groove. I like these guys a lot and they rock like bastards!
(Photos taken at The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
(Photos taken at The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
The Breakaways
If you find yourself going through APA withdrawal, then dial yourself into some Breakaways. If you liked APA, you’ll love this brand of Atlanta streetpunk just as much. Plus ca change, plus c’est la même chose.
(Photos taken at The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
(Photos taken at The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
Resistance 77
These guys were on the same flight out and, in fact, they were sat behind us. They’re from the Nottingham/Derby area and I thought were really rather good. Not especially punky, I didn’t think, but a good tight band and an all-round classy performance nevertheless.
The Skeptix
Well, of course I am biased, these are my friends. But, here is an honest objective view of their appearance.
Four guys formed a band twenty years ago at school. They recorded a few songs, released a couple of singles and an album. As punk faded in the UK, they went their separate ways, for the next 17 years.
By sheer chance, Fish found out that their records were being sold in the US. He made some enquiries and discovered that there was a demand for The Skeptix in America. He got the old band back together. They rehearsed the old songs, wrote some new ones and played one warm-up gig before playing HITS UK in July. They were offered a spot, high up, on the big stage at HITS USA, just two months later.
Four guys formed a band twenty years ago at school. They recorded a few songs, released a couple of singles and an album. As punk faded in the UK, they went their separate ways, for the next 17 years.
By sheer chance, Fish found out that their records were being sold in the US. He made some enquiries and discovered that there was a demand for The Skeptix in America. He got the old band back together. They rehearsed the old songs, wrote some new ones and played one warm-up gig before playing HITS UK in July. They were offered a spot, high up, on the big stage at HITS USA, just two months later.
Gash
Fast forward a month: original singer, Snotty, breaks his leg and is confined to his hospital bed. He will not be able to make the trip to HITS USA. The Skeptix may never get a chance to play top an American audience ever again, so the decision is taken to do the show with a temporary replacement for Snotty. With three weeks to go, Gash has his first rehearsal with the band.
On Friday 6th September, The Skeptix, featuring Gash on vocals, plays its first and only warm-up gig in front of a live audience. On Saturday 7th September, The Skeptix plays to one of the best, most enthusiastic audiences of the weekend at HITS USA.
This is not my opinion. This is a statement of the facts. I have photographs and video footage that show the audience The Skeptix drew.
That they played at all is a miracle. That they played so well, deserves major respect
(Photos taken at The Met Café, Providence, RI - 6/9/02, HITS USA - 7/9/02 & The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
On Friday 6th September, The Skeptix, featuring Gash on vocals, plays its first and only warm-up gig in front of a live audience. On Saturday 7th September, The Skeptix plays to one of the best, most enthusiastic audiences of the weekend at HITS USA.
This is not my opinion. This is a statement of the facts. I have photographs and video footage that show the audience The Skeptix drew.
That they played at all is a miracle. That they played so well, deserves major respect
(Photos taken at The Met Café, Providence, RI - 6/9/02, HITS USA - 7/9/02 & The Local 7, Long Island, NY – 9/9/02)
GBH
GBH were excellent.
Old-school punks I remember from the first time around. The same amount of energy in the songs, just slightly less movement about the stage.
Old-school punks I remember from the first time around. The same amount of energy in the songs, just slightly less movement about the stage.
The Adicts
I was seriously surprised by this lot. I didn’t expect to enjoy their set. I didn’t actually ever think of them as punk, to be honest, too theatrical, but, whaddyaknow? I loved them. I thought they were great and took an inordinate number of pictures of them – a couple of which are really excellent, even though I say so myself.