Dirty Rotten Imbeciles
Galaxy theatre, santa ana, ca.
April 18, 2002
Also Check Out The D.R.I.
Interview
Many times a writer is scheduled
a show review. This was one in which I requested, rather insisted on
covering. As a believer of the punk rock lifestyle, D.R.I. is one of those
bands that refuse to twist and compromise those beliefs to sell an album.
Well that’s how I remembered them. That curiosity is why I was anxious
to see them perform. When I arrived at the infamous Galaxy theatre, I
immediately saw every type of person possible. From old and young (even a
grade schooler), long hair, clean cut, no hair, Dio, Motley Crue, Dead
Kennedys, Exploited, Long Beach Dub All Stars shirts (to name a few of
many). Basically the same turn out to be expected of a D.R.I. show. This
is simply due to the “what you see is what you get” attitude they’ve
always lived up to. No secrets, no tricks, and no gimmicks. Straight
forward in your face punk aggression, the way it was intended. I now was
sure their music was still that, theirs, true and pure. The four bands
which warmed the stage were all very punk and diverse, as D.R.I. is in
itself .
Finally
the moment had obviously been perfect. It was that time, the “filler”
music had stopped, lights dimmed and in the midst of the darkness you
could see Rob sneak behind his drum set. Immediately afterward, Harold
stepped out, baseball cap, fro, and a cigarette danglin’ from his mouth,
strapped on that sweet Fender jazz bass. Next I noticed Spike with that
wicked smile, I could tell he was just as anxious as us to get the party
started. Finally the Dirty Rotten voice himself…Kurt , with no
hesitation, the madness had started. Not even a second had passed before
there was a sea of fans, in a perfect unifying pit. Immediately
after the first song I realized how D.R.I. unified this punk rock scene.
Spike stepped to the mic, and asked what we wanted to hear, and to no
surprise, “I don’t need society” was followed. After 15 minutes or
so of pure mind dazzling punk rock bliss, Kurt stopped to mention, “I
want to thank each and every one of you for coming out tonight to support
our 20th anniversary. Everybody who has ever bought an album, shirt, or
even a button, we owe this all to you.” Needless to say, that threw the
already captivated and jam packed audience into a complete frenzy.
Throughout the show, D.R.I. took us on an exhilarating roller coaster
ride. Even today with such a wide array of fans, their pit is always full
of people picking each other up when the other falls, rather than kicking
one when he is down, showing their unconscious effort and uncanny knack
for unity. In their crazy and astonishing 20 year history, like their
album “crossover” expressed just that, “Full speed ahead” is
also not only a title, but D.R.I.’s statement.
- Rodney@cabands.com
Also Check Out The D.R.I.
Interview
