SUICIDAL TENDENCIES TOP DREAM LINEUP

Suicidal Tendencies, Sick Of It All, D.R.I., Walking The Dead - Best Buy Theater, NYC - 4-20-13

Review and Photos by Deborah J. Draisin

For those of us who came of age at the apex of the hardcore/crossover era , this was a dream lineup: D.R.I., Sick of it All, Suicidal Tendencies, and Waking the Dead.
This show was reminiscent of the good ol’ days of being underage, having your folks drop you off discreetly across the street from L’Amours East, and trying to find people who look old enough to buy you drinks.

I remember having older friends who followed bands like Suicidal, C.O.C., Nuclear Assault and Biohazard, but I was too young to fully appreciate the scene in Queens while it was fresh.


Walking The Dead


If you had been at the Best Buy Theater this past weekend though, it was as if the years had melted away, and fifteen year old Deb had gotten hold of a fake ID and a back door.
This was a four hour extravaganza, starting with openers Waking the Dead, the phoenix rising out of the ashes of ex-Suicidal’s Mike Clark’s old band, No Mercy, who did a great job of getting the early birds fired up with a bruising set full of energy and confidence. I think they even opened up a small pit before they wrapped up what would turn out to be the shortest set of the night. It actually went by a bit too quickly for me. I could’ve done with another jam from them.

Next up was D.R.I. – hard to imagine them ever being second opener, but it didn’t feel
like that; it just felt like a party. I hadn’t yet had the honor of seeing this band live, and they did not disappoint. They were engaging and fun, and the fans knew every word. It felt victorious, seeing them up there, so much so that they actually pulled out an encore – a rarity for openers. No one wanted to see them go, and they didn’t want to go either. It was awesome as hell.


Sick Of It All

After D.R.I. left the stage, Sick of it All, a band I’ve seen open for The Bouncing Souls numerous times, hit with fire. Their sets are always energetic and their crowds are always nuts, but nothing like this. They were nothing short of spectacular. The Kollers were hypnotic and the place reached a fever pitch in a matter of minutes. Seeing this band in their element was an experience worth having, and I was stoked to be able to sing along.


Suicidal Tendencies


Finally, the headliners took over, and boy, did they take over. Mike Muir is absolutely poetic (check out JB’s epic interview with him under separate cover.) He’s inspirational, the band is powerful, their chemistry undeniable. The set was flawless from top to bottom and the pit was ridiculous. As fans of multiple generations snapped photos, pumped their fists and surfed with their arms outstretched, I knew I was witnessing magic. There is no doubt in my mind that this band earned their thirty years and counting. With a brand new album under their belt and the same rebellious attitude that their fans have come to love and respect from them, Suicidal Tendencies has definitely left their permanent mark.
It was a killer show, and I was honored to bear witness. If this lineup is hitting your town, you do not want to miss it.

Check out upcoming dates and find links to download the new jams here http://www.suicidaltendencies.com/


More Photos: