Showtime! – When I originally decided I was going to do Route 66, I had planned doing maybe May or September. Then I was online, I saw a post “Goldfinger, Suicide Machines, The Vandals – August 22 – Tickets on sale Firday”. I thought what a lineup, I haven’t seen Vandals in 15 years – they rarely tour outside Southern Cali anymore. So I pull the trigger and buy a ticket. This gets me to LA and can by my jumping-off point for Route 66, I planned this trip around this show.
Next, I have to tell one more story about photographing this show. It goes back to seeing Suicide Machines in Portland about 2 years ago. I was there as a fan enjoying the show, I had a seat along the wall near the stage and only had my pocket Sony camera. During Suicide Machines set, I noticed their guitarist Justin has a red around his eye. I think I didn’t think he was wearing eye shadow earlier. The red started to grow and I thought, “Oh shit, he busted his eye open”. I pull out my camera and get a shot, blood covering his face. Next day I send him the photo on Instagram. He was excited and said the band wondered if someone had got a shot of it happening.
Fast forward to later last year, I was seeing SM again with MxPx in Seattle, I jokingly messaged Justin “Good to see no busted eyes this time.” He tell me I should have told him I was going to the show and he would have gotten me taken care of and to message him next time they came to Portland. I’m not one to take artist up on these offer, but since I was going to be in LA I figure take the chance and ask about a photo pass. So I reached out a couple weeks ago and Justin helped me out. Now not am I seeing three of my favorite bands, I’m taking photos. If this was all this show was I would have been excited.
But this show was so much more, a night of surprises. I get to the venue and park, I have some time before doors open and walk down to Hollywood and Vine to see some stars on the Walk of Fame. Then, after a moment of uncertainty with my photo pass – it was cleared up and I’m in the venue. The Hollywood Palladium is a beautiful, large place. Not really a bad spot in the venue.
The first surprise was from opener Sullvn, when they brought out Dicky Barrett of The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, to sing The Impression That I Get. Then Aaron Barrett of Reel Big Fish comes out to sing along too!
While waiting between sets I’m talking with another photographer and he asked if I knew Smelly of NoFx was drumming for The Vandals tonight. I was like wow, no I assumed Josh Freese was busy touring with NIN but didn’t think about a replacement. So now I get the feeling this will be a special night.
The Suicide Machine set was amazing; they are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Destruction by Definition and played the entire album in full. Just another special treat for the night.
The moments kept coming as The Vandals as mentioned, had NoFx’s drummer with them; they covered Moron Bros with him. I was beyond excited to see The Vandals again, singing along to all their staples. I always figured that if I wanted to see them again it would be a trip down here for their annual Christmas show. I walked by Joe Escalante while leaving merch and told him how excited I was and that they sounded great.
Goldfinger saved the best surprises. I caught the setlist before they came out, I saw two names that got me excited: “Linoleum (Hefe)” and “Sell Out (Aaron)”. I was buzzing seeing this, they were going to cover NoFx and Reel Big Fish with members of the bands. Wow how could this night get any better?! Well the band comes out stage, dressed in a black suit, with a bright orange bass is how. Because that would be none other than Mike Herrera of MxPx playing bass with them. This show was everything a 14-year-old could have imagined what a show would be like in California playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater.
The end of the set is where the special guests were coming, I was still buzzing because I knew what no one else around me knew. I loved seeing their excitement as El Hefe came out for a couple songs, then Aaron Barrett playing Sell Out and Superman with Goldfinger.
By the time I got back to my hotel, all the adrenaline from the show wore off and I was absolutely exhausted from the Punk/Ska dream of a show I was just at. It was an emotional experience I will never forget. Tomorrow I’m catching up on photos and going to Santa Monica Pier in the evening. Getting things ready for Route 66 to start on Monday.
