Dead Boy Productions

 

 

The Knitting Factory's Cinco De Mayo Fiesta
Moonlight Cruisers, Pep Torres, Calavera, Los Difuntos, Pachuco Jose Y Los Diamantes, Dead End Stiffs, Gambers Mark, Nicotyna (MX), The Triggers, Bad Luck Bandits, The Kraneos (MX), Graveyard Drifters, Psychodemons, The Nutrinos, and Noway Jose

Well the show started on somewhat of a bad note. Not that anyone did anything wrong, its just that the Graveyard Drifters had to play all but one song of their set without their new lead singer Scott. He and the Graveyard Drifters’ new guitarist Johnny were stuck in traffic. However, the rest of the band managed to do a great job of taking over. The room the Graveyard Drifters played in was really tiny, but they managed to pack it with 50 or 60 kids. Finally at the end of their set, Scott and Johnny finally got on stage just in time to do one last song. All was not lost for them.... it turns out later that night they boys were allowed to go back on stage and play their set all over again (thanks in part to a band that was not able to play that night). After the Graveyard Drifters set, Lori and I decided to go check out the main stage to check out the opening band in the main room. When we got there we noticed that there was quite a few people who were here to watch the opening band, and they were getting quite a good crowd reaction. This was the Dead End Stiffs from the San Gabriel Valley. Their style of punk rock and ska influenced music really got the crowd going. Lori got a bunch of really good shots with her camera while I sat back and just took it all in. The lead singer was pretty smashed, but you would have hardly noticed until the song stopped and wow then it’s a different story. But, hey, who cares it was Cinco de Mayo. Manny of the Dead End Stiffs threw out a few shirts and all was well for their set.

If you are not too familiar with the Knitting Factory in Hollywood, well let me tell you. There is a small room with a stage, a second room with a bigger stage, and a third room with an even bigger stage and a balcony. It is hard to get around when that place gets packed (thank God for backstage passes) we tried to move from one end of the Knitting Factory to the other and it took almost 15 minutes. Then Lori and I realized that we had backstage passes and were able to get from one end to the other in a matter of seconds.

After the Dead End Stiffs’ set we moved down the way to check out the last of the Nutrinos set. We have actually thrown a show with them before, and just like back then, we enjoyed watching them play. The crowd really got into them, which is always nice to see.

Up next was a band that we never got a chance to see. Los Difuntos from LA was up. They got the crowd going with punk rock influenced psychobilly music.

After catching most of Los Difuntos’s set, we got a chance to see a band I really like, our friends, the Psycho Demons. They were playing to a pretty full room. I noticed that a few kids were singing along to some of their songs. One thing that I really like about this band is that for a bunch of big Mexicans, they do move pretty well on stage. I am not too big on bands that just stand there and play. These guys have some energy. What was pretty sweet too was that they even played “PVC Chair” by Demented Are Go. That really got the kids going. It was nice to see that all their hard work was paying off with loyal fan support.

After them, we got to check out the Bad Luck Bandits out of Orange County. This is a three-piece band that offers a good show. They even covered “Folsom Prison Blues” by Johnny Cash. Again this was in the little room, packed with kids wrecking all over the place.

After taking a break from everything that was going on we decided that it would be a good time to stake out a place for us to check out Calavera. We stood on the second floor balcony where Lori got some killer shots of Cejas as well as Pony and Alex. Back in the second room we got to catch the tail end of Nicotyna. Based out of Mexico, this band only brought two band members with them, the lead singer and the drummer. The other band members came from the Nutrinos. They used the bass player and the guitarist. Now I’m not good at all with Spanish, but this time was one of those times where I just didn’t care. The lead singer was a rockin’ chick. I know most of you out there have never heard of this band, but check out their MySpace page (www.myspace.com/nicotynamexico). I had a blast checking this band out. It was a real treat to see this band. The music was great and they do put on a terrific show.

Pumping right along we went back up to the balcony to check out Pachuo Jose y los diamantes. I wish I knew more about this band, but goddamn they put on an entertaining show. By now the main room was packed. Then the band comes out, followed by two gorgeous ladies. Their’s was an energetic style of rockabilly with a saxophone player. He (the saxophone player) even put on this oversized sombrero and was bouncing all around the stage. Everyone seemed to really enjoy this band.

After Pachuo Jose’s set, we went backstage to hang out for a bit and get some air. Cool air was not easy to find in the Knitting Factory (especially when the place is practically sold out). Well now came one of the biggest highlights of the evening. A mariachi band with at least 6 if not more musicians made their way out to the main stage to perform music that I haven’t heard for quite a long time. It made me feel like I was at an old Mexican wedding. It was very nice. The crowd was even treated with a group of Mexican folklorico dancers who have been with Black Cat Entertainment for the past 4 years. It was nice. There were even a few songs where the whole crowd was singing with the band. I’m sure it took a lot of those kids back to a time when their tia’s and tio’s and a few guitars surrounded them.

After the mariachi band played, they left the stage so that the Moonlight Cruisers could take the stage. We wandered backstage where we met up with the boys from the Psycho Demons. Wow, talk about interesting ride to Hollywood. On the way to the Kitting Factory, they were stuck in traffic, pulled over to help a man who was having a seizure (my heroes), and had their van break down two times. The second time, a homeless man who happened to be right next to their van helped them. Turns out he used to be a mechanic, so he was able to help them out with their problem.

Okay, so while we were talking about their exciting day, I noticed a particular song that was being played behind me. It was a song that was played in the movie “Three Amigos” during the fiesta for El Guapo. Anyways, so I started bobbing my head, and then everyone caught on to that song and we all stopped what we were doing, turned around and started clapping. It was really cool. The whole evening was really cool. We made new friends, got to see a bunch of cool bands. Just had an absolute blast. We wound up leaving just as the Moonlight Cruisers started playing. I was tired, and I know that the Moonlight Cruisers always put on a good show, but we just decided that it was time for us to take our leave. On our way out, we did notice some flashing lights and I thought an alarm was going off inside the knitting factory. Turns out some kid pulled the fire alarm. That sucks....