GV30: Social Distortion, X, Adolescents - Santa Monica Civic Auditorium - 12-16-2011

Javier Cabral

Mike Ness, still a badass

​See also:
*Reviewed: Black Flag, Descendents, and The Vandals at GV30 Night Three, 12-18-2011
*GV30: An Epic Interview With Social Distortion's Mike Ness
*Goldenvoice: The Hazy Punk Rock Early Days. Founder Gary Tovar recalls the unlikely beginnings of the influential concert production company

For the celebration of Goldenvoice's 30th anniversary, founder Gary Tovar kicked off a weekend of celebration old school style. Before Coachella, Goldenvoice focused on a genre of music that was just a tad faster and a little more untamed than the others -- punk. Yesterday, the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium's fluttering LED screen advertised neither International Gem & Jewelry shows nor symphony performances, but instead Social Distortion, X and Youth Brigade. The crowd was huge -- almost 3000 -- and many were reliving their rebellious youth.

Javier Cabral

​A fence was set up isolating the auditorium. The line to get in zigzagged not unlike a line for a roller coaster -- only, it ended in a frisking. Another sign of the times? An eight feet border between the crowd and stage, and an army of bouncers. Eh well, what can you do?

Javier Cabral

Adolescents

​Still, the show still was as badass as you'd imagine. The pit shifted into full rumble as soon as the Adolescents went on. The floor shook as they played that last fast-forwarded riff of "Kids of the Black Hole." Singer Tony Cadena was generous with his mic, handing it off to someone in the crowd so they could sing along.

Javier Cabral

Gary Tovar comes clean on stage

​Before X came on stage, Gary Tovar himself came out. He noted that he was given their album as soon as it came out, but never actually listened to it until a year later. "I wasted a year of my life" he lamented.