Total Chaos - Someone's Backyard - 12-10-2011
See also:
Javier Cabral Rob Chaos and Shawn Smash of Total Chaos
*East L.A. Backyard Punk Scene Rages On
*The Five Best East L.A. Backyard Punk Bands
Better than...drinking beer anywhere warm.
On Saturday night around three hundred heads showed up to a tiny backyard in Elysian Valley, where the 2 and 5 freeways meet. The cold temperatures (for L.A. anyway) didn't keep anyone, it seemed from checking out humble punk rock superstars Total Chaos and an epic lineup at a house party.
Total Chaos has recorded for Epitaph, Punk Core and SOS Records, which they co-founded. Which is why it was impressive that they were willing to still play a backyard show that might get broken up by the police any minute.
"It's cool, it's cheap, not corporate, that's not what it's all about," said Shawn Smash, Total Chaos' guitarist. 
Javier Cabral The Convicts
The show likely wouldn't of been possible without the efforts of bassist Miguel Conflict, the newest edition to Total Chaos. He is an unsung hero of the Los Angeles punk scene; he's been the drummer for Social Conflict -- an O.G. East L.A. punk band that has been around since 1994 and was also on the bill. He turned his house into a recording studio and co-founded Innocence Lost Records, which is basically the only label documenting the contemporary East L.A. punk rock movement, through a series of compilations.
The very venue-worthy lineup for the evening also included Abactive Ramex, Underground Alliance, The Convicts, and Naked Aggression. There were no overpriced drinks, greedy promoters and ticket companies here, just chilled 40s of malt liquors and a $3 admission -- $4 after 7:30.
The bands were hyped up and at their peak. Hell, you would be too if you were opening for Total Chaos. The Convicts were as loud and as intense as always. Social Conflict handed out free merchandise and demos to fans, and played hits like "Razorblade Mary" and "Promised Land."
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