I can finally cross NOFX off my list of bands I'd like to one day see in concert. And what a great show it was! I got to the Crystal Ballroom in middle of the opening band's set. I had little interest in their music, so I hit the merch booth. I was interested in a black t-shirt, but was unsure which size would suit me best. I patiently waited my turn and asked to see both a small and medium. The lady misunderstood me over the loud music and gave me only a medium. When she had cycled through the line and returned to me, I asked to see a small. After cycling through the line again, I finally asked for what I really wanted...a medium green t-shirt. The lady's already a little annoyed because she's the only one working the merch booth and very busy. I hand her a $20 bill and she asks if I have a $5 bill so she can give me $10 change. Apparently, she's running out of $5 bills. I thumb through my wallet and tell her I do not have a $5 bill. She throws me my change and is off to help the next person.
No Use For A Name are the next band. They're much better live than on record and I enjoy them much more than I thought I would. I spend their set in my usual spot at the edge of the mosh pit. It's been a long time since I've been to a punk show. I'd nearly forgotten how violent things get. At least I didn't get kicked in the head by a crowd surfer this time. I spend most of my mosh time near the girls. They don't push as hard as the guys. I almost fell over a couple times and got spun around once. One thing I observed was the difference between moshing at a punk show and a rock show. At a punk show, people will actually (and rightfully) pick you up if you fall. Sure beats getting trampled to death (Bernadette O'Brien 1979-1996). By the end of No Use For A Name's performance, everyone's soaked with sweat and I'm determined to watch NOFX from the side where the crowd will be much calmer.
While they're setting up, I tie my shoelace which had come undone during No Use For A Name's set. It was too dangerous to kneel down and tie it at the time it happened. I would have been trampled for sure. I had expected the crowd to loosen up a little between bands, but everyone held their ground and I had to squeeze my way over to the side by the wall. I was surprised to see an opening on the side and soon found why that spot was available. There's a 2 inch lip there and anyone standing there is forced to stand half on and half off. Not very comfortable, but it sure beats another 75 minutes in the mosh pit.
The crowd goes nuts when the band comes out. El Hefe announces that this is the last show on their tour and this is the drunkest he has played all tour, having downed 5 beers prior to coming on stage. Then he makes a joke about where to get good marijuana, throws his roach into the crowd, and begins playing. For the first three songs, I was pinned and squeezed between people. I was barely able to breathe, like getting a bear hug and unable to do anything about it. It eventually calmed down. I don't know how many songs they played. Punk songs are notoriously short (see Short Music For Short People). I recognized about one third of the songs they played. Though I'm a big fan of the band, they have an enormous library of music to choose from as they've been performing for 25 years.
Good times. Glad I got the shirt. It made a great sweat towel. The worst part is right after the show as we're filing out. Everything slows down, you can feel the fans blowing, and every time someone brushes up against you, you can feel their sweat. Nasty cold sweat.
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