Mike Atta Benefit - The Echo & Echoplex - 1/25/13
The Adolescents, Mike Watt, and others
Rebecca Carter Mike Watt
Mike Atta Benefit
The Echo and Echoplex
1/25/13
It's time to "pogo and stomp the shit out of cancer," said Alice Bag at Friday's benefit concert to support punk forerunner Mike Atta.
See also: *Mike Atta's Battle With Cancer Inspires Action in the OC Punk Community
*Henry Rollins on Alice Bag's Legacy
Diagnosed with stage four kidney cancer in 2010, Atta -- a member of the seminal late '70s OC punk band Middle Class -- underwent treatment and had the kidney and an adrenal gland removed. Unfortunately, the cancer returned and spread to his lungs. So for the occasion, some of punk rock's finest gathered together to raise money for his treatment.
Hailing from Santa Ana, Middle Class started in 1977 and is regarded as one of the defining bands of early hardcore. Today, Atta owns a vintage furniture shop in Fullerton, Out of Vogue, the name taken from the Middle Class' first EP. 
Alice Bag
The scene that he helped pioneer came out in full force. Thirteen acts came out, including White Night, The Garden, The Peeks, The Abigales, Urinals, Shattered Faith, CH 3, Agent Orange, Audacity, 45 Grave, White Flag, Mike Watt and the Missingmen, and The Adolescents. Together, they put on one hell of an old school show. The vibe was reminiscent of the early punk days, and the energy was through the roof. White Flag blew out one of their speakers early in their set!
Alt-roots group The Abigales put on an excellent set, but the real show stopper was Mike Watt and The Missingmen, who tore through The Clash's first album in its entirety, knocked out some Minutemen songs, and performed their staple cover of Wire's "Ex Lion Tamer."
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