Gorilla Biscuits @ CBGB's 9/3

Last summer Gorilla Biscuits made a come back for the whole "Save CBGBs" scam. Tickets for the show sold out really quick but they were holding a bunch at the door. I wasn't going to miss out on Gorilla Biscuits big comeback so I showed up 3 hours before show time and stood in line. When I got there the line was already around the corner. It was fucking hot as hell out that day and after an hour I was dehydrated and sun burned buy that was ok because I was about to see GB.

Then after another hour or so, after the line barely budged, I saw Civ outside. He walked up to me and started bullshitting asking me to help him spread the word about the show. It was just about full inside but they were playing another set after the first. I figured for helping out I would get into the first set but I was not rewarded for my efforts. Right about then the monsoon rains started up and I still stood there for about a half hour before I called it quits and headed home.

Because of last years horror I had to see GB this time around, plus this would be the last time (for real) at CBGB's. This time I bought my tickets ahead of time. We got to the show about an hour after the doors were supposed to open. They still weren't letting anybody in and everyone had to wait in line. I thought about leaving and coming back but they didn't announce the openers so I assumed it would be someone good.

While I was in line I overheard two guys in front of me mention that Bane and Bold were opening up. I'm not a huge fan of either but considering I've never seen either band live I was cool with waiting in line. So finally after about 45 minutes in line they let us in. Shortly after we got in Bane took the stage.

Like I said, I dig Bane but I'm not really into them that much. I was expecting them to be a bit heavier live but it was pretty much straight hardcore. The crowd was going nuts during the entire set but I stayed back and had a beer. The singer's voice got a bit annoying after awhile and he kept preaching between songs. I agreed with most of what he said but the dude was long winded to say the least.

After Bane finished up Bold got on stage. Bold was significantly better then Bane. I always knew Bold was one of the first "progressive" hardcore bands - if that means anything, but I never really was into them. I have to say they were pretty damn good live - much better then on tape.

When Bold finished their set I left my bar stool behind and headed up front for GB. I was super excited to finally see the legends at action - and on their home court! Well what came next was a huge surprise.

After a long wait an old rastafarian dude with an acoustic guitar walked onto the stage...Holy shit! HR! The most elusive man in punk rock started playing the first of three acoustic songs. It was a weird change of pace from Bane & Bold. Some people seemed to be getting impatient with the acoustic stuff. Most were respectful to the man that started it all. It was very cool to see old HR after all these years, too bad the rest of Bad Brains weren't with him.

The crowd had to wait again after HR but soon enough Gorilla Biscuits took the stage. Then came the famous horn intro from "New Direction" and then boom...wait what happened? Somebody forgot to tune their guitar. Everyone had a big laugh about the false start and they cued up the horns once more. This time everything worked out but the effect wasn't quite what it could have been.

Their wasn't one second during the set that the place wasn't going apeshit (no pun intended). Speaking of apes some maniac was in a full gorilla costume the whole time. GB did not disappoint at all - two songs during the set had guest vocals. One of the guests was Porcelly (Youth of Today) and he fucking killed it. Apparently the whole straight edge thing pays off because he looked like he was about 18. The other guest vocalist was Toby from H2O. I think he does guests vocals at every single CBGB show.

This show was great and easily worth the $10 cover. If you weren't there then I feel for you cause there aren't many shows like this one.

Check out Brooklyn Vegan's pics (a lot better then mine). Also check out this MP3 of HR I made:

MP3:
HR (Bad Brains) Surprise Performance

Gorilla Biscuits

Rat Bones?

HR!!!