I was too busy to take any photos, so here’s a quick recap from my brain:
Saturday night in Kona, I was a little nervous about the show because it was a new, untested venue and to test the waterswith a fast hardcore band like MDC seemed a little risky. But everything went great. Trey Wonder and the Graveyard Thunder opened the show with their poppy/punky jams and even through in a Misfits cover. By the time the Alcohaoles got on stage, the place was starting to fill up and they blasted through about 22 minutes of crazy comedic hardcore, railing against Baby Yoda, shoes, and other pressing social topics. Their threats to start a shoe bonfire after their set were empty, however. I was running the door for most of the show so unfortunately didn’t get a closeup view of the bands. El Sancho played and it was our first show as a three-piece (at least since the last time we were a three-piece). Still sounded good! Once MDC jumped on stage (err, on floor, there is no stage at this venue), the crowd went crazy. We’ve played some shows with bigger crowds, but this was the biggest active crowd I’ve seen at a punk show on the Big Island – everybody was getting into it.
Sunday morning MDC and El Sancho island-hopped over to Oahu for the all day festival featuring FEAR and many other bands. They had two stages set up, one inside, one out. We played outside and it was a nice patio atmosphere. Made some new friends and sold a few records and shirts. There were so many bands playing I lost count. I saw 13th Legion. Undercity Kings, Narcoleptic Youth, MDC and FEAR. I was bummed to miss Badass Noise, I thought they were playing at 8pm so I went outside to grab some food, came back in at 8 and they were already off the stage. Luckily I get to see them at the end of the month in Hilo when they open for Houston and the Dirty Rats.
MDC was great, but MDC at an all ages DIY punk show with no stage is honestly a lot funner than MDC at a bar with a barricade between the band and the audience. They still sounded great, but the punk show the night before was funner than the rock show.
FEAR was the final act and who everyone was waiting for. Their set was brutal and quick, flying through all the hits and some rarities. Lee Ving still looks like he’s having fun on stage and he can still belt out all the songs like he was 40. That may or may be my last chance to see them, because living on an island, we don’t get too many touring bands here. We’re all thankful they made the trip out here.
Next up, Houston and the Dirty Rats fly in from New Jersey Sept 30th with Badass Noise, El Sancho and Nancy Boy at the Hilo Town Market! All ages, 7pm, $10 at the door.