NOFX

NOFX
The Mad Caddies
Furious IV
Feb 26, 2001 @ House Of Blues, Hollywood
Review & Photos by Snack Baggs

    Now I knew I was in for a really piss pour night when I got the call that the writer to the show had cancelled and I had to fill in as resident music expert as well as photograph the show for posterity. I had five dollars to my name, and the show was in the parking hellhole we call L.A. One thing for sure I didn’t have the money to pay for the house of blue’s valet parking, ( valet parking at a punk show? What the hell is the world coming to?) and I really didn’t want to leave my ride out on the street. So I dropped my five for a shithole parking place and started making my way to the venue. I was really happy to find out that after signing just about all photo right’s away, the photo area for the show was pathetic. And the security was about as helpful as a second pair of balls. I was informed that I had to shoot from the crowd and that I could only shoot for the first two songs. So my only hope was to wade into the sea of sweaty bodies and stank ass and see if I can get some shots.  Great!

 I found my way to a decent spot by the stage to catch the last few songs of the opening band Furious IV. They were a tight touring four piece with a lot of energy and good vocals. They were playing to a tough jaded L.A. crowd tonight, so they got a 50/50 reaction from the crowd.  It’s hard to pass judgment on a band, having only seen a few minutes of their set. But they were talented and worth checking out, but I’m not running out tonight to buy a cd maybe next time.

                Up next were the effervescent tunes of Santa Barbara’s The Mad Caddie’s. These guys are one of the survivors of the recent ska movement that seems to be losing a little steam now. But the Caddies are staying alive and thriving with their quirky antics, and  power driven ska.  I’ve only seen them once before tonight’s show and I was more impressed the second time around. They played a great punk slash polka dity that got the crowd moving for the first time tonight. They were playing with a stripped down two man horn section, that had a good range in style from ragtime, to blues and even polka they had their shit down. I definitely recommend that you check them out when the come thru your town.  And coming up next the reason everyone was here tonight the punks from the Bay area Nofx were gonna take the stage.