Battalion of Saints, Casbah, Fri night Feb.9
show review and pic by Brian LaVallie
I was looking forward to seeing the Battalion of Saints at the Casbah Friday night. It’s been years since I had seen them at the Adams Avenue Theatre, then produced by Casbah owner Tim Maze. Back then they opened for punk icons G.B.H., Discharge, The Dead Kennedys, The Exploited, Broken Bones, and the Misfits among others. The politically charged lyrics are as relevant today as when they were written in 82’ with their first release, a four song EP titled Fighting Boys, and Second Coming from 84’ (both records with amazing cover art by (R.I.P.) “Mad” Marc Rude).
The Battalion of Saints took a long break after the death of guitarist Chris Smith who reportedly slipped and hit his head on the tub…. and they also found syringes and evidence of overdosage. In 2004 sole original member, vocalist George Anthony compiled a band and began performing again as the Battalion of Saints (their name apparently came from the amount of players they went through (a battalion), and the fact that they definitely weren’t saints) from their initial attempts under the name the Nuetrons. At the Casbah, the Battalion of saints consisted of George Anthony vocals, Scott Bertoloni and “TK” Londis Kues on guitars, Matt Anderson on bass, and Mario Rubulcaba on drums. It was ear to ear grins from all as the bullet paced drumming held up the guitar and bass changes, while George came in with amazing timing to provide rebellious political sentiments like the end of their classic Fighting Boys: “You wonder about the government and why they have wars (it’s) cus they really don’t want us around”, and talking about youth prostitution in the song Intercourse, “so they walk the streets late at night , trying to get money so they can survive, selling their bodies for a cheap price, any old john will suffice, intercourse is the only way that some kids can stay alive”. The slam pit varied in intensity but was mostly friendly, as the anthems came in full force, and clean, note for note from their classic recordings. Most left sweaty and satisfied with the finale being their cover of Motorhead’s the Ace of Spades, which erupted the pit to a frenzy til George threw the microphone into the ceiling and was out the side door before it hit the floor.
Duane Peters Gunfight put in a totally hardcore performance before the Battalion of Saints came on with the tattooed and scarred skater/hellraiser Duane Peters delivering vocals while swaggering drunkenly in-between shouting lyrics with unbelievable timing and on key to some great punk music reminiscent of Social Distortion. As Duane sweated through his clothes and mused between songs he reminded me of what a punk version of Jim Morrison could have been like. Fortunately for him, he puked most of the drinks that he had in him in two separate episodes during the show, which had little effect on him, and they played on as if they had practiced the event. He left the stage slowly, exhausted and swollen like he’d gone rounds with Mike Tyson.
Unfortunately I missed the first band Bumbklaatt but did get their CD Ciegos and liked it. Two members are from my hometown of Chula Vista and two are from Tijuana. It reminded me of Agnostic Front or and edgier Youth Brigade with some of the vocals sounding like Lucifer himself. The show was excellent hardcore punk and F*** off to all of you who were going to go then wimped out only to five finger shuffle yourselves to sleep.
Brian LaVallie