Sacramento, CA - Memorial Auditorium
May 5, 1997



Big Show Set To Rock Sacramento Memorial Auditorium

A capital concert will occur in the Capital City on Monday evening, mere blocks from the magnificent capitol building.

A show featuring an all-star lineup of The Offspring, Social Distortion, L7 and AFI will take place at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, and will undoubtedly send concert-goers home with happy memories of their own.

The mere mention of The Offspring to punk fans inevitably brings some sort of reaction. Unfortunately for the band, the reactions are both good and bad. The band had a huge hit a couple years ago with Smash.

This success led to their leaving their original label, the "independent" Epitaph, for the promised land of a major label deal.

In turn, some punk fans screamed "Sell out!" This attitude ignores a couple musical industry realities. First, Epitaph has had so much success that they should at least be considered a "major indie," if not a "small major" label. Second, how many of those fans who are wailing and gnashing their teeth would have turned down the money The Offspring were offered?

That defense stated, there can be no real defense of their music -- a brainless version of second-wave punk with virtually no redeeming values. I guess it shouldn't have been any surprise that a major label would throw money at them.

The best reasons to attend this show are the bands on the "undercard." Social Distortion is a band that's always worth seeing whenever they play.

Social D plays a brand of punk that's loud and proud.

This isn't hardcore thrashing, though. The band is very tight, and a strong sense of melody pervades the music.

If you haven't heard them, don't be put off by all the tattoos and singer Mike Ness's songs about his life as a loser. This is a band that just about any fan of rock music can like. That is, if melody and majestic power are two qualities to your taste.

L7 also plays music that's stylistically loud and powerful. This all-female band has made a name for itself in an area of music that's all too often dominated by males.

The music is kind of a louder, harsher Veruca Salt with way more attitude. L7, like Social Distortion, is fully capable of headlining a show in their own right. They were a featured performer in last year's Lollapalooza tour, drawing good reviews.

This capital idea for a concert is being brought to the Cap City by the good folks over at Abstract Entertainment, topping off a sensational string of shows they've offered recently.

Just to mention a few, the No Doubt/Cake/Vandals show at Arco Arena, the Reverend Horton Heat/Red Five and Matthew Sweet shows at the El Dorado Saloon and the that dog/Red Five and Brendan Benson/60 Ft. Dolls shows at the Press Club.

Monday's bill also features AFI. Tickets are $16.50 and showtime is 6 p.m. Of course, all ages are welcome at the Memorial Auditorium.

By Cary Rodda, from California Aggie