Nonagon were, as usual, great. Despite Tony trying to rewrite their songs on the fly. Twice.
We hung out for a minute, but then left early so I don't think we caught any of the Sinkers.
For Suicide Machines set, Jo and I stayed in the middle almost at the DJ booth. Unbeknownst to me, Metro has a fence in front of the stage now - "almost at the DJ booth" was basically in the pit. So that was fun.
Fishbone played a short set and weren't great by Fishbone standards. So, unbelievably great. Glad I was right by the pit for dancing room for that.
Less Than Jake still leaves me cold. I mean it's horn-driven power-pop/pop-punk/90s-ska, so I should love it. But I do not. We left early.
Stopped to by swag on the way out. Got Fishbone's new record (!), but Bite Me Bambi weren't around - I settled for picking up 2 Suicide Machine records (one for each of us - we have yet to decide whose is whose). I ordered the BMB record when I got home from the internet machine.
Drove up with Jo. Liked openers Something To Do so much that we bought some records. Jo liked Rodeo Boys; I appreciated them (they did seem like swell folks), but I wasn't that into them. Catbite killed it. Closed with Sound System.
Jo and I walked to the show. We got sausages at Wurst Behavior first, so we missed the first band. The sausages were good, but too expensive for regular visits.
A Tuesday night show?!? Outrageous.
Of course it was fun. Never heard of the openers and at first they weren't my jam. Then they found a groove I liked (provided the perfect soundtrack to the black and white horror of The Invisible Man on the TV). I bought the record.
Nonagon had fun, and it showed.
Ricky Warwick opened. Apparently he's the singer for Thin Lizzy now. Anyway, he played a solo acoustic set. Bill described him as an Irish Billy Bragg. Which was pretty accurate, but he wasn't nearly that political (if at all). He closed with Ace of Spades, so that was cool.
Stiff Little Fingers killed it. Were they old? Yes. Did they play loud and fast? Yes and yes. Opener Suspect Device set the tone. I think they played their songs faster live (which seems normal for young bands - but this was no young band).
I had stabbing pains in the abdomen which finally overcame me halfway through Barbed Wire Love (which opened the encore). I heard that and closer Alternative Ulster gripping the railing trying to remain upright by the bathroom downstairs. It sounded good anyway. Was it just brutal gas? Kidney Stones? Something more nefarious? Only time will tell.
I eschewed the lakefront ride, and biked straight home. The sky opened up five minutes after I got in, so I guess I made the right call.
