#audactiy

Evolving @3AM…

Six months ago I set out on a journey of financial independence and found my life’s purpose instead… In the last few months, I have discovered that Creativity is not only an attribute, it’s a mindset, a way of life, a  journey of self discovery and a total understanding of one’s insecurities…it’s the result of being authentic to self and open to life…its disrupting comfort and saying fuck the…

Here’s a reading playlist that shouldn’t be hard to make. It’ll enhance the experience or give you a good introduction to each band. 

Thursday July 20th, 2017, The Marked Men headlined a show at The Regent Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles. My brother, best friend and I made it a top priority to attend. I have quite the affinity for The Marked Men and had been wanting to see them for years. Discovering them was a cathartic experience. They played a style of punk rock that I had definitely heard before but now it was perfected. It’s an assault of Dan Electros and Telecasters for wallflowers and introspective punk kids who aren’t tough guys. They just wrote better songs. I feel like the torch was silently passed to them but not everybody got the memo. So that really fucking hot night in Los Angeles was an important one. Royal Headache, Audacity and Flatworms are the openers. I’ve only heard of these bands, but I was excited to get a live introduction.

The Regent is spacious, really dark, simple and it feels like home every time I’m there. The floor is at an incline. I wonder how that’s going to go with the environment of a punk show.  We’re greeted with an intense and fast band called Flatworms. A gnarly style of punk with a hypnotic aspect like something of the krautrock persuasion. I was pretty taken back almost immediately. I suddenly had an urge to lose my mind. Typical male with unresolved anger at a punk rock show. Every song was another jolt of electricity that added to the energy of the room. There’s not a full blown pit but crowd physical crowd reaction came in waves. That’s a compelling opening band. If your band isn’t even promoted on the ticket and you’re playing with a band with a cult following, there’s not a high likelihood of making a huge impact. Flatworms seemed to be the exception to that uphill battle of a rule. Their singer was a nice dude too. We gave him a beer for a dope set and our good deed was rewarded with a free copy of their 7” Red Hot Sand. Thanks bud. I’ve listened to it several times since the show and it rips. I recommend you check it out too. My group gets closer to the stage.

Being that this was an evening of hybridity, Audacity brought a more quintessential OC garage rock feel to the Ramones tempo party we were all taking part of. Catchy songs with good melody and a sense of humor showing that you don’t take yourself that seriously is refreshing. To be geek for a second, I immediately saw the colors and logo for the first Adolescents album come from behind the drum set. Except it was a shirt that read, Rikk Agnew. (Original guitarist for the Adolescents) That alone got me invested before a note was played. Every member of this band seem to have a strong personality like cartoon characters. The music is infectious. I found myself saying “damn this is a hit” about every other song. The room has filled up a bit. The waves have gotten a little bigger. Suddenly making sure my PBR doesn’t spill is becoming a priority. Apparently whoever is standing in front of me is becoming one as well. She was beautiful human being with blonde hair and a denim jacket. All logic went out the window, so I felt compelled to talk to her. I can typically put that aside and stare at my shoes politely or drink another beer but for some reason, that didn’t seem to be an option. Every beer run we made I would attempt to be charming by offering to include her. She tolerates my feeble attempts at any interaction and the awful inside jokes about beer and Black Flag tattoos from my boys and I. We’re amusing at best.

But now it’s time for Royal Headache. I’m comfortable saying I love each band that played that night. But gun to my head, the highlight might have been discovering Royal Headache. They were a name I heard tossed around for years but I was never exposed to them. Imagine if sixties soul songs and punk rock had an affair with the resentment and partying of something like Guided By Voices and the intensity and rage of Husker Du. That to me is Royal Headache. There’s a familiarity to them. I suddenly feel like I’ve been a fan for my whole life when it’s really been twenty minutes. Shogun is the truth and I’d like to be him when I grow up please. Like a true anti frontman, he just doesn’t give a fuck about anything you think. He’ll out perform you too. On top of that, they play shameless love songs. I’m completely caught up in the moment. These themes are starting to put me under the influence. As if buzz from a bill of only good bands and a room of like minded people wasn’t enough. The blonde girl with the denim jacket is magnetic. She has an orange glow similar to Charlie Murphy’s description of Rick James. I have a spot not right next to her. All I have is to maybe say something polite, but at least that’s something I suppose. Then the pit pulled me in. Oh well, probably for the best. I accepted the pit and embraced these wallflower anthems as my punk rock missed connection soundtrack. There’s love, snot, beer, comradery and a stiff little finger all at once.

The only consolation of their set ending was the fact that I was finally going to see The Marked Men. Now is the time to take it all in. People rush for a final bathroom break or a beer run. The seas of the pit part, and there’s the blonde girl with the denim jacket. The punk rock gods have shined a light on me, so I thought. My main objective was to get to know this person as much as human possible while the hosts of this party set up. I’m not going to bore you with the details but I like her quite a bit. We seem to be hitting it off. We both said it was cool to meet someone who liked The Marked Men though we were in a room filled with people who shared that sentiment. I’m positive she’s a figment of my imagination now.

“We are The Marked Men. This song is called A Little Time.” A four count from the back of the drum set kicks into a 45 minute set that made everyone in the room forget how shitty it was outside of the Regent. That’s all it took. There wasn’t much else said in-between songs. They just plowed through the rest of their set. There’s a stoicism to their appearance. A Marked Men set requires patience, stamina and discipline in order to execute properly. It’s calculated and emotionally charged. All of the pleasure points of being a fan of the band were hit. What was probably just a strong handful of knuckleheads including my party felt like the place exploded. I’m front row presses up against the stage with my new friend.

On The Outside and Don’t Lose It back to back hit hard. I got that same inexplainable feeling of “finally” that I had when I first listened to that album. At first it was surreal, then I thought about the various experiences of the people in the room. I wondered who traveled far just to see this. Who is having this music heal their wounds? Is anyone in here a day one fan who have been waiting for this far longer than the years I have?

I decided to play roadie when the crowd adopted the mic during the last song of the night. Fix My Brain was something everyone had been waiting for apparently, myself included. That was it. There was a new energy in the room compared to the beginning of the night. An overwhelming buzz and that feeling you get on Sunday night before school the following morning. Life resumed. I bid farewell to the blonde girl with the denim jacket. I wish I would have walked her to her car. Hug and a smile. That girl knocked the wind right out of me. As did whoever rammed my rib cage into the stage earlier. Still feeling that one.

This was a good night. Not just for me but for rock n roll. I saw a lot of people fulfill what was a fantasy to them just a few months ago. That’s a cool thing to see. I hope it happens again, if it’s right. So here’s to Flatworms, Audacity, Royal Headache, The Marked Men and the blonde girl with the denim jacket.

Check out and support all of the bands here:

Flatworms 

Audacity 

Royal Headache