Well after a good few years between the time they came here before, and this night. Both bands headlining the tour make their way back to St. Louis.
The show was Tix available at door only, so I made sure I got myself and friends there early, just in case. After all it was at the Creepy Crawl, and sometimes you can never tell if a show will sell out at that place, unfortunately, not tonight. But that's ok, because I feel like it was a good amount of kids ready to have some fun. Including the 3 guys decked out in mustard bottle costumes.
After several hours of standing around, a fairly long line starts to form and its almost door time, and I was standing in the very front of the line of course, and Rylan Perry from the River City Rebels comes up to me and says "don't pay", I stopped for a minute looking confused, then he comes back over and says "alright I'm gonna put you on the guest list." Awesome. If anyone has ever read my reviews before, you should know I love the river city rebels, so I felt truly honored. So around 7:15 the doors opened and on with the show!
The first band opening for the night, was Psycho Dad, they are a st. louis local, and the reminded me a bit of "The Homeless Wonders" if any remembers those guys. They played catchy skapunk, and only a trumpet was there to back up the horn section. But everything sounded tight and good, they only played about 5 songs and I wished they would've played more, so I'm sure I will go check them out again sometime, until then, if you ever see them billed, go see them.
Next on the list for opening bands, was Swift Kixx, now i had seen them before and knew what to expect, and it was much, they too played skapunk, but it wasnt exactly catchy, nor played very well, i think they tried to make the simple ska chords way to tough with the harder edge they put on them, i cant really pin point any bands i'd say they sounded like, so i will just opt for early years Blue Meanies. I dont think i'd ever go watch them headline a show in St. Louis, but i wouldnt pass a show up if they were booked on it.
Next up was the biggest suprise of the night, Goldblade. Now i didnt really know what to expect from these guys, but it was crazy once they got going, everything seemed a bit sketchy at first, but a few songs into their set, the lead singer ripped off his shirt and the crowd went crazy. They played what seemed to be very early style english, punk / rock n roll. I'd have to say, i was quite impressed with they way they got the crowd going, and the intense stage presense the lead singer had, now im not certain but i think these guys are fairly new to this part of the world, so if you get a chance, check them out, it's worth it!
Up next was every little piece as to why i went to the show in the first place. Now i don't know how many times ive seen the rebels, but its been a good number, and they really have come a long way, and i say this because, they last time i saw them in st. louis was almost 2 years ago, before their release of "Livin' to play, Playin' to live", back when they were headling with Darkbuster (rip). Anyways, everyone was all geared up ready to rock out, even the new guitar player, Jake, at least i think his name is Jake. Then the bopper climbs up on the the stage, making sure all the rats and rebels rousers in the crowd were ready for some good ass shakin', and they kicked it off with the most excellent show openener i've ever heard "Such a bore" . After that, they proceeded to rip through more crowd pleasers off the new album "No good, No time, No pride" including, "Aborted", "Drunked Angel", "No Good", and "Pass the basket." Then of course pulled out another great cover of "Chinese Rocks" by Mr. Johnny Thunders, and played some real old ones off the first cd, "Hate", Millitary Atitiude" and rounded out the set with a few off the second release mentioned previously "6 am" and "Daddy was a Drunk" and as rumored, they played some new material, well one fo the rumored two songs, "Dreamy 17" its in a bit fo a different direction, but it comes from the heart and its very good. And just like the last few times i've seen them closed everything up with "Small Town Pride" and by about this time, everyone in the place had caught on to the lyrics and sang along to the chorus. So between the bopper swan diving out into the crowd and rolling around on stage, and brandons bad jokes, and the rest of the band plain going crazy. I'd again have to call them the highlight of the show. Like i sayevery songle time, Go See them! Witness the madness.
And last but not least, was the infamous mustard plug. Now i must confess, i skipped out early on them, due to the rest i will need for the catch 22 show friday, at the creepy crawl. But i've seen them plenty of times, and from what i saw, no surprises on the list, but before i left, i happened to hear at least one song off every cd they ever put out, and i'd have to say the new stuff is really great sounding, it has a much more mature quality to it, then the rest of the cd's, however my favorite being "Evildoers beware" a fine album, and they played my favorite song "Go" off of it, and even snuck "skank by numbers" into the set for all the old schoolers! On a final note, id just like to say, after 12 years of rocking mustard plug had never really changed the way the handle things, but energy wise compared to the rebels on this evening, it was lacking sufficiently!
Psycho Dad - 7
Swift Kixx - 4
Goldblade - 8
River City Rebels - 10
Mustard Plug - 9