SLAM PUNK
Thursday (Nov. 17), 7:30pm doors / 8pm show (Youth Brigade scheduled start at 9:15/9:30pm; The Bouncing Souls scheduled start at 10:30/10:45pm), Oceans Bar & Grill (1819 S. Kihei Rd.); 891-2414; 808shows.com; $20 advance / $25 door
Living progenitors of pogo punk–SoCal’s Youth Brigade and New Jersey’s The Bouncing Souls–gig Maui for the first time, with the isle’s own Order of the White Rose and Minor Setback opening the show.
A band of three brothers named Stern–Mark (bass), Adam (drums) and Shawn (guitar)–formed Youth Brigade in 1980, and are credited with having had influenced punk notables like Pennywise, Rancid and The Nation of Ulysses. Their first studio release, Sound & Fury, followed 30-city tour with Social Distortion in 1982 (their yellow school bus-driven misadventures of which are chronicled in the cult doco Another State of Mind); and due to a reported dissatisfaction with the product, was re-recorded and released the following year, concurrent with an expanded North American tour.
Youth Brigade disbanded in ’85 following an ambitious European tour–one of the first hops across the pond for an independent, underground American act. More than a decade since their formation, they reunited in 1991 and recorded their six-song EP Come Again.
Since 2007, their lineup has been sans-brother Adam, and currently includes John Carey (guitar) and Joey “Balls” Garibaldi (bass). They’re reported to be in the midst of working on a new album, their first in more than 15 years.
Capitalizing on the Rutgers University town’s music scene in the late ’80s, East Coast-based The Bouncing Souls (though not college students themselves) are heralded as a seminal component to the burgeoning modern punk genre. Beloved by fans for their “anthemic shoutalong choruses,” (Allmusic.com reviews) they pay homage to the good Dr. Marten, who’s squishy shoe souls are part and parcel for every punk.
The Bouncing Soul’s lineup has remained relatively unchanged over the decades, and currently includes Greg Attonito (vocals), Bryan Kienlen (bass), Michael McDermott (drums) and Pete Steinkopf (guitar). Punknews.org reports the band’s working on an album slated for release in spring of 2012, a follow up to their unique 2010 album Ghosts on the Boardwalk. They say, “We’re doing it all ourselves again. A return to complete DIY songwriting.”
Maui’s own Order of the White Rose may be a niche band, but because of their nonpareil POV–undoubtedly the only pure punk ensemble in the world that explores kanaka maoli sovereignty issues (though the band members themselves are not kanaka)–their message transcends any rift created by genres’ ever-antiquating tendency for dogma, and stylistically speaks to a desire to rage for what’s right. Anyone even remotely connected to Hawaii’s heavier side knows the trio–Nate and Noah Robertson (bass and drums, respectively) and Steve Hart (guitar)–and know so not only for their technical talents, but their unabashed views of uncommon rationality.
Fellow islanders Minor Setback are an up-and-coming act worth monitoring on the local scene, and features Brandon Harrison (vocals), Corey Johstone (bass), Joshua O’Conner (guitar) and Jay Stewart (drums).
If tonight’s punk show but headlined our proud punk Mauians, it’d be worth the Southside trip to get a good toss in the mosh. But add Mainland greats like Youth Brigade and The Bouncing Souls to the marquee, a great show is a guarantee.
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