After we decided that we couldn’t stomach the shit sandwich that “The Misfits” were trying to feed us, Senor Citizen and myself drove a couple of the Angry Samoans over to The Exit to get prepared for them to play there in the upstairs section of that fine little bar. We arrived and it turned out that the bar didn’t have ample equipment, namely a guitar amp. They had a drum set and some other equipment. Senor Citizen made a few phone calls and was able to save the day (er, night) by finding a friend with the needed gear who was willing to bring it down to the club. While this was going down, I was enjoying some beers with Mike and Kimm of Channel 3 and helping celebrate Kimm’s birthday. CH3 were asked to also play after the Samoans, but sadly they didn’t do it, only because they were too wiped out and didn’t stay that long.
Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
We made our way upstairs and the band set up and I found a good spot to stand. While it was over to the side of the drums in the opening of the fence, it turned out to be the best place to stand because that place soon got so packed that you couldn’t move through it. I may have had a little more room than most everyone else in that room except the band themselves.
Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
The Angry Samoans played and did a longer set than they did at Riot Fest. They were just as good, but even more fun due to the intimate atmosphere, and general really good vibe of the people in the room. There was just a really good feeling about and people seemed friendlier than usual. It felt like an old time basement punk show, something kind of special. But the feeling would only get better.
The Germs
The Germs
Half way through the Angry Samoans set, the members of The Germs showed up and were watching the show. Someone had the good sense to ask, or the band may have offered, to do an impromptu set with the on-hand equipment. The band happily agreed! After the Angry Samoans were done, they handed the gear over to The Germs who did about 20 minutes worth of material that sounded better than they did at Riot Fest and had that same fun vibe to them. It wasn’t a show as much as it was just a little party. They even ended with “Shut Down” and at one point, Pat took over the drumming duties. They played “Circle One” again which once more gave me that weird feeling that due to the lyrics (“I’m Darby Crash”), they shouldn’t play it, but aside from that, it was still a really fun time. The place somehow got more packed as they played and the crowd were way into it and having a blast.
The Germs
The Germs
During The Germs set, The Effigies showed up and agreed to play a short set too. So when The Germs were done, they tagged out and The Effigies brought in their own guitar and bass and set up and played a few of their classics. They closed the set with “Security” and while the crowd was a bit thinner when The Germs left, there were still plenty of people there living it up and dancing about.
The Effigies
The Effigies
At about 3:30am they had to pull the plug for some reason. The dude who was in charge of the equipment was apologizing to Senor Citizen and myself for having to shut it down at 3:30am but those were his orders. We told him not to be sorry, that it was a blast and everyone had a great time. It truly was the most fun evening I think I’ve had this entire year, first the Riot Fest show which was a lot more fun than the first night, and then this special impromptu show with a great crowd. I really felt lucky to have been there and was really glad to have stayed out after the Riot Fest show.
The Effigies
The Effigies
After The Effigies finished, I hung around and waited for Senor Citizen to return from dropping of a couple of the Angry Samoans to their hotel and we hit the road wiped out, but still elated from such a fun evening. While the Riot Fest itself had all the trappings and was run like an arena rock show or a metal show, some good people in attendance and some good performances made up for its shortcomings and the party at The Exit that night was the icing on the cake and made a nice closure to the weekend’s activities.
I got home at around 5am and hit the sack. On Sunday I spent all day pulling the pictures off the camera and preparing them for the site and just relaxed, still being wiped out from all the activity.
And now I have two nights of Bauhaus ahead of me! The sad part is it doesn’t look like I am able to get a photo pass for them, which really sucks. Allegedly there is a limit on how many they can give out, even though I actually have tickets and don’t need a free in, just the pass to photograph. I have never heard of a photographer limit before and I apologize in advance for anyone hoping to come here and see some photos of the shows later this week 🙁
Even more photos after the jump…
Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
Angry Samoans
The Effigies
The Effigies
The Germs
The Germs
The Germs
The Germs
The Germs
The Germs
Man, I kept yelling for “Shut Down” and West said that it was “for dreamers” or some crap like that. What I wouldn’t give to be two years older so I could’ve gone to the after party.
Great pictures!
Arrgghhhh!!!! I’m so pissed I didn’t go to this. I was also at Riot Fest sat. night and grabbed the flyer they handed afterwards for the Angry Samoans show. BUT, my dumbass friends didn’t feel like going to the Exit so we just went home. If I would have known of this show in advance I would have skipped Riot Fest altogether.
Ugh, leave it to me to be the wet blanket. I sure would have gone, but I’m so sick of bands with one original member or some skeleton of the original pretending to be the real deal.
A remedy… whenever band names are listed or referred to they should have an asterisk for each missing member. The Dead Kennedys should be “Dead Kennedys*”. The Misfits should be “Misfits***”.
Here the discriminating music lover can identify shows that exhibit distortions of the original band.
As a huge fan of Jello Biafra I think it is shameful that a fake knockoff goes out to reap the rewards of a name associated with a historical band. The continuation makes a mockery of the important original message. They’re just sellouts, profiting off of previous success. That’s not in the DK’s 1980 mission statement!
Can you start using the asterisk system please?
Mr. Scorpio!!!
Hows tricks?
Indeed there was a lot of bullshit being passed off as history last weekend and, no doubt, there was some blatant money grubbing.
Most of the folks that I got to hang out with, however, seem genuinely in it for the fun.
Fuck the “Misfits***”!!!
Up with “Live From Combustion Manor”!!!!
Excellent pictures and comments. I agree with 100% of what you said about Saturday night, both at Riot Fest and at Exit. What a fucking fun night…especially the after-party!
For those of you that missed Germs at Exit, I wish you all could have come but there wouldn’t have been room. They weren’t meant to play at Exit anyway, it was impromptu. But, this was how you were supposed to see them. It was very intimate in exactly the way that Riot Fest was not. At the Congress there was a row of bouncers between them and you, and they were on this big stage looking very tiny and sounding like shit. At Exit I was standing right next to the drummer and right behind Lorna. It was everything that Riot Fest wasn’t.
Lorna Doom told me they will be touring next year so keep an eye out for them. I don’t know when they will be back but if you missed them this time, you’ll have to see it when they come back. Hopefully in some place small. That’s how you are supposed to see the Germs… not at some crappy bouncer infested Big Stage hippy shithole.
Thanks for the article and photos! You got some great shots.
I havent’had that much fun since 1980
This is DAN AGENT of RIOT FEST/ Secret Agent Bill-
I helped book ANGRY SAMOANS at EXIT and OK’ed the addition of the GERMS as well as the EFFIGIES last minute that night. What a great night!!! Money grubbing??? If you only knew!!!! This was for the love- the ticket should have been 50 dollars but was WAY cheaper compared to the amount of talent that congregated from around the country to do the gig. Most of the bands were way cool to hang with!! Especially GERMS!!! They proved themselves by blowing away everyone else!! Sorry if you are reading this and you played RIOT FEST in another band. GERMS 2005 may be weird but still fucking kicked all sorts of ass, and you cannot argue that! Next year will be killer as well!!! Thanks to everyone who supports real punk like Dickies, Angry Samoans, Germs, Bouncing Souls, Flatfoot 56, Minority One, and more. Chicago is a big city and people should open their ears to the up and coming punks!!! ROCK ON-
Danimal
dan@secretagentbill.com – Feedback? let me know. THANK YOUS!!!!!!
You should take your own advice about opening up your ears to the up & coming Chicago punk bands.
I would if it didn’t require sitting in a club for 12 hours in one sitting, that is just too much to deal with. Put a couple on a bill with one or two bands that I am familiar with and that drew me into going to the show in the first place and I’m all for it.
I meant that for Dan Agent
Joe Shmoe (aka- ???)-
Mail me a demo and i will gladly check it out.
PO BOX 18260 CHICAGO IL 60618.
MXV-holy crap. The Exit after party sounds freakin’ sweet.
I wish The Effgies and Angry Samoans would tour the East Coast-(like DC)
Maybe someday!