The Hellbenders

The Hellbenders • B-Movie Rats 
• The 440s 
October 13, 2000 @ Club Mesa, Costa Mesa, CA
By: Aimee Schwartz

       I was quite surprised to walk into Club Mesa, and for it to be kinda dead. I really expected more people to be out on this Friday the 13th. Maybe they were scared, but I ventured out to see some great bands on this night. 

     Starting off with The Hellbenders, which are an L.A. based band. They played with a replacement bass player which just so happens to be their friend Bill, bass player from the B-Movie Rats. So he fit in quite nicely, and knew all their songs. How convenient can that be. Its hard to describe The Hellbenders, they are a hard hitting, garage type punk band. I hate classifying bands, because everyone brings their own style to what they play, but if I had too, that's where I would put them. They got the crowd ready for some great music through the night. Check out Hellbenders Interview coming soon in out interviews section!

      Next up was the infamous B-Movie Rats, another L.A. based band. Now remember that poor guy Bill (bass player) that had to play two sets, well you couldn't even tell. They tore into their set pumping out great rock-n-roll. The B-Movie Rats have a new drummer, and guitar player that really bring their sound all together nicely. It is always a nice treat to have such great bands come to the Orange curtain every now and then. 

     Last up was Philadelphia band The 440s. They are a quartet fronted by one rockin' chick named Wendy belting out vocals and great guitar, along with fellow front-runner vocalist and guitar player Steve, with Jay playing bass, and Dave drumming. They were fun to watch, all dressed to the core, and also great to listen to, think Runaways, Supersuckers, X, and all aver great punkabilly. (is that a word)? They had songs about strippers, cars, and sex, all the elements vital to life!!! They had the entire bar watching and groovin' right along with them. I wasn't expecting anything, but when you're not expecting much, its usually when you get the show of a lifetime.

Aimee Schwartz