Friday 1st August 2003 - South Central LA
By the time I'd spent two hours walking up and down Hollywood Boulevard, I was quite unutterably tired and shagged out.
I had arranged to meet Fredie, a Demon fan from Costa Mesa, I'd been chatting to on the message board for a couple of years. I was going to spend the night at his place, then hang out the next day with him. He was going to take me to Huntington Beach and for a Waco's Fish Taco! I phoned him. It seemed the easiest thing to do would be to meet later, at the Allen Theater.
I wandered back to the Pig 'n Whistle to find the others still sat where I'd left them, still drinking. Big surprise there! It was 3ish and the load-in was 5PM, so we went back to the van and began the battle with the traffic and headed out to South Central LA and The Allen Theater., in South Gate. Apparently it could take an hour-and-a-half to go the few miles to South Gate. It's just like the M6 at Birmingham on a Friday teatime! I think I fell asleep, because I don't remember that much about the journey and I certainly don't have any photos until South Gate... I'm getting old. Nurse! My bath chair!
I don't know what I was expecting, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't what we found.
I had arranged to meet Fredie, a Demon fan from Costa Mesa, I'd been chatting to on the message board for a couple of years. I was going to spend the night at his place, then hang out the next day with him. He was going to take me to Huntington Beach and for a Waco's Fish Taco! I phoned him. It seemed the easiest thing to do would be to meet later, at the Allen Theater.
I wandered back to the Pig 'n Whistle to find the others still sat where I'd left them, still drinking. Big surprise there! It was 3ish and the load-in was 5PM, so we went back to the van and began the battle with the traffic and headed out to South Central LA and The Allen Theater., in South Gate. Apparently it could take an hour-and-a-half to go the few miles to South Gate. It's just like the M6 at Birmingham on a Friday teatime! I think I fell asleep, because I don't remember that much about the journey and I certainly don't have any photos until South Gate... I'm getting old. Nurse! My bath chair!
I don't know what I was expecting, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't what we found.
South Central LA
Sold Out show!
I suppose I had visions of some sort of war-torn, riot-plagued, battle-scarred, no-go zone. You know, homeboys, gangs, hookers, drugs, drive-by shootings, loads of something-something and bling-bling. Maybe I've seen too many episodes of Boomtown and The Shield, I don't know.
South Gate was actually, really quite nice and tidy. Sure the locals weren't white, but I didn't care. However, I have to admit, I was a little wary, at first. Where I live, the only nonwhite people in town run the takeaways, the tailors and that's about it. My level of exposure to nonwhite cultures is strictly limited to buying Indian and Chinese food, or the odd Kebab. It is true that we are scared by what we don't know and I was on edge for at least 30 seconds, until I realised that I was being an asshole.
Some kids were wandering around, dressed in their punk finery, eyeing us pretty white boys up and down. We ducked inside the building, out of the heat. The Allen Theater is a credit to the community, it really is. It is a beautifully restored Art Deco building, both inside and out. I sat down at the back of the auditorium. It was cool, dark and quiet. The next thing I know, it is a couple of hours later! I went to track down the others. I noticed Fredie's PT Cruiser out front. Believe me, you can't miss it! I couldn't find The Skeps, but I did find The Brats in the pizza shop a couple of doors down. I hung out with them and we did our best to put the world to rights until show time.
South Gate was actually, really quite nice and tidy. Sure the locals weren't white, but I didn't care. However, I have to admit, I was a little wary, at first. Where I live, the only nonwhite people in town run the takeaways, the tailors and that's about it. My level of exposure to nonwhite cultures is strictly limited to buying Indian and Chinese food, or the odd Kebab. It is true that we are scared by what we don't know and I was on edge for at least 30 seconds, until I realised that I was being an asshole.
Some kids were wandering around, dressed in their punk finery, eyeing us pretty white boys up and down. We ducked inside the building, out of the heat. The Allen Theater is a credit to the community, it really is. It is a beautifully restored Art Deco building, both inside and out. I sat down at the back of the auditorium. It was cool, dark and quiet. The next thing I know, it is a couple of hours later! I went to track down the others. I noticed Fredie's PT Cruiser out front. Believe me, you can't miss it! I couldn't find The Skeps, but I did find The Brats in the pizza shop a couple of doors down. I hung out with them and we did our best to put the world to rights until show time.
Street Brats
This was probably the best performance from The Street Brats on the whole tour. It was hot, but not unbearable and the crowd were heavily into the whole scene. A sold out show in LA; the boys were charged up and it showed. They were superb.
I also got some nice pictures... the lighting was interesting and colourful...
I also got some nice pictures... the lighting was interesting and colourful...
The Skeptix
It is difficult for me to be objective about The Skeptix any more. I always think they're crap! Aw, that's cruel. Cruel, but true. Seriously, they are crap, though. Honestly. If they were any crapper, they'd have invented the toilet. I jest. The Skeptix can be really good, if they have the right amount to drink before playing. Too little lubrication and they're too tense; too many pints of personality and they're looser than a whore's knicker elastic and play as if they've forgotten how to play. It's a fine balance, but if you're lucky to catch them on a a good night, they're electric. This was one such night. Congratulations LA!
Truth be told, this was their best show to date. The 'SOLD OUT' sign on the Box Office window had even made the guitar player smile - a first for the tour.
Click here for the next bit
Truth be told, this was their best show to date. The 'SOLD OUT' sign on the Box Office window had even made the guitar player smile - a first for the tour.
Click here for the next bit