Show: NOFX
Date: December 31, 2010
Venue: The Wiltern Theater
City: Los Angeles, CA
NOFX
Photos by Nicolas Bates
Written by Michelle Oberg
The appropriately dubbed “New Years Heave” show at The Wiltern Theater in Los Angeles was a punk rocker’s worst nightmare. If that one flew over your head, it succeeded fan’s greatest expectations. Headliner NOFX rang in the New Year with Dead To Me, Old Man Markley, and surprise guest Youth Brigade. Whoever said “punk is dead” clearly didn’t spend the eve amongst the largest loitering and belligerent crowd this theater has ever seen. By 10:00 P.M. fans seemed to be either slumped over in a corner, bloodied, passed out or projectile vomiting. By 11:00 P.M. there were already two rounds completed by EMT’s wheeling out the less fortunate who just couldn’t hang with the big boys.
Most evenings at The Wiltern are contained and controlled. But the scene of mostly grungy, hardcore punk rockers lingered throughout the venue and lobby even once the artists took forth to the stage. The stage set-up wasn’t elaborate; however, the audience didn’t seem too concerned with aesthetics. The only flair that the group brought to their stage design was their hand-made banner that hung above the drum riser which blazoned: “Stop eating animals, NOFX sucks.” Attendees where promised and assured that though the show falls on a major celebratory holiday, it would be themed for the occasion. This included balloons, streamers, “silver stuff,” booze (for sale), and the “oh so traditional” countdown to midnight and toast from NOFX. Surprisingly, they supplied ¾ of those aforementioned party tools and opted to play until the minute before midnight. That left one minute of gibber-gabber and drugs references to celebrate. Fat Mike, (vocals/bass) proposed there should be a “heroin balloon present” in lieu of the NYC Times Square ball for the countdown. That one-minute turned into two, so next was, “Oh, shit, Happy New Year.” Throwing tradition to the wind, the band presented an unforgettable show and one with a new song they penned and played the same day of its conception.
Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s go back to the beginning…
At 11:40 P.M. on the dot, the lights went dim for the arrival of NOFX’s Fat Mike, Eric Melvin (guitarist), Erik “Smelly” Sandin (drums), and El Hefe (lead guitar/trumpet). Though the crowd was rampant, it took another 6 minutes for them to make it onto the stage. When they did, El Hefe entered first, donned in a black suit, and covered Minor Threat’s “Straight Edge” with his Louis Armstrong twist on the tune. His fellow band mates followed in a slightly different wardrobe approach: they were in drag. Wearing colorful wigs, sparkly dresses, tights, and little top hats, the group broke right into playing the hits.
The anti-media and anti-mainstream, independently successful group has come a long way in the past couple decades. They have perfected their live performance through their sound and stage presence. We already know “they don’t care,” but perhaps it’s the carefree mentality they commonly share with each other that invokes this natural and effortless perfection in their music and compatibility as a group. Though punk rock isn’t my personal genre of choice and I don’t appreciate their purpose as their fans do, the music is undeniably well played and filled with talent.
After rocking through “Stickin’ in My Eye,” “Leaving Jesusland,” “We Called it America,” and “Kill all the White Man,” fans became more unruly through the progression of the night. Water bottles, liquids of all sort and garbage rained through the venue from the main level and mezzanine, while others where kind enough to dispose of their stomach acids in the trash cans instead of on the person beside them.
Erik “Smelly” Sandin and El Hefe play their respective instruments so fast and heavy their actual hand movements are barely noticeable. Spotlights bounce around on stage but mainly stay on top of Fat Mike, being that he is the front man and all. The vocal performances of Fat Mike, and Guitarist Eric Melvin when he provides back up, balance each other and connect so well with the fast paced instrumentals. A personal favorite is when El Hefe’s guitar sound wavers, creating this “wom wom” type sound of each note. The most enticing part of the show was the trumpet incorporation; a little brass adds a little class– a nice touch for a classless bunch.
A highly-successful show, turn out, and holiday celebration was completed with their new song, created just for New Years night in particular: “New Years Revolution.” Still using handwritten lyrics and sheet music that was used in their meager 4 times of practicing before taking it to the stage, fans were delighted. The song took pleasure in pointing out clichés about the New Years Eve holiday. Lyrics to the song included, “Fuck NYE, Fuck Resolutions!”
The ever-present surrounding of drugs and alcohol provided additional entertainment to coincide with NOFX’s loud and proud performance of the damned. Other songs performed included, “Seeing Double at the Triple Rock,” ” Linoleum,” “She’s Nubs,” and “I Wanna Be an Alcoholic.” Lighters flicked to the tunes, friends and family huddled on stage behind the drum riser and the group stuck it to the man, yet again. The lights came on, and patrons stumbled head over foot to get outside and make their way back home. Reminiscing of the night’s festivities carried on as the crowd exited, and perhaps some will even remember what had happened. It is doubtful that one is to see a sight like the one just described, but regardless of replication, if you’re a punk rocker, you should check out their website for upcoming shows, tunes, and album info.