This was not an all ages show and even though that meant there were no kids, there was a vast age range. Some folks seemed barely 21 and others were at the other end of the age spectrum, meaning there was about a 50 year age span. I took that as a good sign.
I read that the first band, La Sombra, described their sound as doom metal. In the past I have felt that this genre takes itself too seriously and lacks originality, but La Sombra changed my mind completely. This trio has plenty of talent and creates songs that sound familiar and original at the same time. They had no visible set list, but I noted that they did bust out their latest single “Walrider”. Their heavy, sludgey sound was impossible not to head bang to, and everyone got swept up into their vortex. They had a great use of dynamics and tempo changes and well-timed doubling of bass and guitar. The drummer was a heavy hitter, rounding out the sound in a satisfying way. There was a joyful raucous pit for most of their set, full of smiles and camaraderie.
Next up was Street, the only description of which I could find is “SF H/C” which I took to mean “San Francisco hardcore”. Their name, their bio, and their sound is all consistent – which is to say, stripped down. Their no-nonsense songs often started with a clever bass riff for a stanza that was then immersed in their noise. However, hardly anyone in the audience was watching them and listening to their music dynamics. They were either in the pit or watching the pit, which had become a chaotic drink-spilled mess complete with somersaults and crawling as well as a brief appearance by a skateboard. The melée quickly encroached on me and had to switch my focus from watching the band to shoving the pit participants away from me. This meant I did not watch the band as much as I intended to. At this point, it was all about the energy from the band fueling the fun.
I thought this level of activity would continue, but when Cardiel started their set, the crowd was apparently stunned into immobility. I understand. This is my fourth time seeing them, and when they begin their set it’s hard to do anything except assume a worshipful stance. Samantha Ambrosio holds nothing back and drums like her life depends on it, and Miguel Fraino creates a wall of sound with his guitar and the largest pedalboard I’ve ever seen. Ambrosio has transparent drums and a light that she hits on well-timed beats to shine through them. The effect is mesmerizing. Originally from Venezuela and hailing from Mexico City, they played many songs off their latest album El Armagedón Afterparty, such as “Destino Bowl Secreto”, but also earlier works like the song I think of as their anthem, “Skaterock México”. At one point Ambrosio requested someone get her a beer, and I admit I got a little aggressive in ensuring I was chosen for the task. I’d do anything to keep that amazing sound going, and this was an easy and enjoyable way to do so. Everyone was in their thrall for the duration which always seems too short to me. Cardiel is more than a band, they are a phenomenon.
When The Boneless Ones came on, lots of people had left the show. I’m not sure why, I guess they had come to see the other bands. This is a damn shame, as they missed a swell set from the band who were there at the beginning of punk. Despite the smaller crowd, they seemed to be having a blast playing their old hits like “Skate for the Devil”, and busted out some new tunes from their latest release Back to the Grind (2022) – emerging decades after their last release in 1987. Max Fox (vocals) freely admitted he no longer skates and hadn’t for some time but clearly retained that identity in his spirited songs on the subject. Troy Takaki still has all of his energy and skills and made me a fan of his stick bass. Newer members Chris Kontos on drums and Craig Locicero on guitar fit in so well you’d think these four all played together back in the day (Kontos did very briefly). It’s been said that Locicero plays an Eddie Van Halen-style guitar which would seem a mismatch for punk. That’s pretty accurate, and somehow he makes it work.
What makes The Boneless Ones so great after all this time is that they have plenty of skills and energy to back up their irreverent demeanor. They invited all their friends on stage for the last song to sing along, which added a bit of chaos but they held the song together and it added to the excitement of their set. That was a sweet ending to a great evening.
Review by Artemis Jones
