Photos By Seth Johnson

Many moons ago (back in 2003 if memory serves me correct) when I was still hitting up every and any punk and/or metal show I could get my hands on, I had a chance to catch second wave hardcore punks The Exploited play in Orlando. For whatever reason, the opportunity to see them that night slipped from said hands of mine, and they have since remained on my list of “bands that got away.” All these years later, I can finally say I’ve scratched them off that list now.

However, a lot has changed in those twenty plus years since then, and I no longer really fit in the “angry young man” category I was lumped in at the time, nor do I honestly align much these days with the politics typically associated with punk (life experience will do that to you). So I wasn’t sure how I’d feel going into this past week’s recent show at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand, FL with Exploited, Total Chaos, and Tarah Who? on Thursday, October 3.

My fears were quickly put to rest within minutes after entering the venue though – this time with long-time associate and friend of the Rewind It Magazine family, Seth Johnson by my side to handle photography duties again – when we were greeted with a warm welcome by Exploited guitarist Steve Campbell.

Not long after this encounter, a brief interaction with Tarah Who? singer/guitarist Tarah G. Carpenter also presented itself. Having been the band that put Rewind It on the guest list and overall reason we were essentially there to cover things that night in the first place, I expressed my gratitude and wished her a great show.

Tarah Who? performing at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand, FL on 10/3/24 (photo by Seth Johnson).

The quartet took the stage just before dawn as the crowd was still piling in for the evening. After a brief recorded spoken intro, the group blistered into their set that included the likes of “Sirens,” “Grown Up,” “Army of Women,” “Bitchcraft,” Pantomath,” “Ache,” “Linger,” “Dimples,” and “Burn This Shithole Down.”

The author Jesse Striewski (left) with Tarah Who?’s Tarah G. Carpenter before the night’s proceedings (photo by Seth Johnson).

The only band on the bill that night I had previously seen before was Total Chaos, first at Warped Tour way back in 2002, and then again at an Orlando show opening for Fear in 2009, where their set was famously cut short due to an unruly crowd that simply could not behave themselves (leaving Fear another band still on the old bucket list of mine).

Needless to say their lineup had changed considerably since each of those shows, with sole original member/singer Rob Chaos and longtime guitarist Shawn Smash remaining the only two members still intact from those days. But I could tell right at the onset with new tracks like opener “War is a Racket” the band likely just wouldn’t hold the same effect on me as they once may have.

Longtime personal favorite of mine “Babylon” may have helped pique some interest in me, though the rest of the set – which included “Squatters Song,” “Pledge of Defiance,” “Punk No Die,” “Running with the Youth,” “Street Punx,” “Police Rat,” and the anthemic closer “Riot City,” all had mixed results for me to say the least. Still, if nothing else it was a nice trip down memory lane I suppose.

Total Chaos performing at Cafe DaVinci in DeLand, FL on 10/3/24 (photo by Seth Johnson).

And lastly, Scottish imports The Exploited, lead by trusty mohawked frontman Wattie Buchan (and with new drummer Garry GMan Sullivan, formerly of Cro-Mags and The B-52’s, in tow behind him) finally made their way to the stage (and to much applause), coming out swinging hard with “Let’s Start a War (Said Maggie One Day)” before launching into an onslaught of punk staples that included “Fightback,” “Dogs of War,” “The Massacre,” “UK 82,” “Chaos Is My Life,” and a personal favorite of mine, “Alternative.”

“Noise Annoys” followed before an intense rendition of “Troops of Tomorrow” (personally I prefer the more apocalyptic feel of the original album version myself though), which then lead to the likes of “Never Sell Out,” “I Believe in Anarchy,” “Holiday in the Sun,” “Rival Leaders,” “Beat the Bastards,” “Cop Cars,” “Fuck the System,” “Porno Slut,” “Army Life,” and “USA,” which all kept the momentum going smoothly.

As if this was all not enough, the band then returned and invited fans onstage for a healthy dose of “Sex & Violence” before finally calling it a night with the one-two punch of “Punks Not Dead” and “Was It Me.” After all these years, was it worth the wait? Perhaps, though there was at least one or two tracks I felt were left out I would’ve liked to have heard. And if this now works out to be the only time I ever see The Exploited, I think I’ll live just fine with that.

The Radolescents at Shovelhead Lounge on 1/3/2020 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Seth Johnson

It’s been a minute or two since the last time I made it to a really good (or “rad”), old school punk show, especially one that represented as many sub-genres as the recent Radolescents show I caught at the Shovelhead Lounge this past Friday, January 3.

For those who don’t already know, The Radolescents are made up of former members of classic Orange County, CA punk outfit The Adolescents (who are still active to this day as well), centering around core members Rikk Agnew (guitar), and Casey Royer (drums), who also shared time together in such legendary punk acts as D.I. and Social Distortion. The two have also enlisted Agnew’s nephew, Frank Agnew, Jr. (also the son of former Adolescents guitarist, Frank) on vocals, and original Adolescents guitarist John O’Donovan (who was briefly a member of the band during their inaugural period back in 1980). But before I get to their set, there was a host of other bands who played beforehand in support.

Orlando’s own Grave Return opened the show with much enthusiasm. Their slightly-snotty sound was reminiscent of early punk acts such as The Dead Boys, noticeable on tracks like “Night Visions.” It’s clear these guys should be around for awhile.

Tommy Frenzy’s Hard Drive were next up in line. Originally hailing from the New York punk scene of the mid/late ’70s, Frenzy’s set list consisted of classics from his time fronting the Tuff Darts, as well as brand new numbers off his latest release on Violent Breed Records, You Yeah You. Backed by the husband and wife rhythm section of Roger (bass) and Suzy Lamoureux (drums), Tommy & co. ripped through a set of tracks that included “”That Girl is Stupid,” “Hottest Thing,” “Don’t Play Shy,” “She’s Dead,” “Phone Booth Man,” “Businessman,” and “Here Comes Trouble” (among others).

Hard Drive bassist Roger then pulled double-duty, performing next with the more hardcore-influenced local act Swift Knuckle Solution. Aside from regular members Tony Marks (drums/vocals), and Lance White (guitar), Roger was also joined by guitarist and former Suburban Lockdown band mate Mike Roberts. The guys plowed relentlessly through tracks like “Spinning Sides,” “Loss of Control,” and “One Wrong Step” before making way for Radolescents tour mates The Hajj.

I must admit, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from The Hajj. But as soon as they started their set, I totally got it. This two piece act, lead by brothers Freddie and Phil Al-Hajj, played more laid back, ska-influenced jams. It was clear by the time they finished their set they had left an undeniable impression on the central, FL crowd.

And finally, The Radolescents finished off the night, running through their 1981 self-titled debut album (a.k.a. the “blue” album) in its entirety. From the album’s lead off track “I Hate Children” to album closer “Creatures,” every track got its due, with classics such as “Who is Who,” “Kids of the Black Hole,” “No Way,” and “Amoeba” of course receiving the highest praise. The band then played the first two tracks from the Welcome to Realty EP, including the title track and “Losing Battle,” before rather unceremoniously ending their set.

Still, the band sounded as spot on as can be, and every note played felt like it was right off the records themselves. I’ve actually seen the “other” version of The Adolescents live before (back in 2013), then-consisting of vocalist Tony Reflex and bassist Steve Soto (rest in peace). But I think this version of the band not only sounded tighter than that one, it somehow felt even more authentic (especially now without Soto remaining in that band). Those in attendance last Friday night were lucky enough to witness a night of some epic, old school punk. Truly a trip down memory lane that I’m glad I took.

Rewind It Mag’s Jesse Striewski (right) and Seth Johnson (left) with Radolescents/Former D.I./Social Distortion/45 Grave guitarist Rikk Agnew after the show.

D.R.I. at Bombshell’s Tavern on 12/10/17 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Seth Johnson

Crossover thrash legends D.R.I. (a.k.a. Dirty Rotten Imbeciles) recently blew through Orlando’s Bombshell’s Tavern on Sunday, December 10, taking zero prisoners in the process.

Local horror punks Disfunction kicked off the night with a fury. After beginning their set with the theme from the TV show “Tales From the Crypt,” they went into some of their own tracks such as “Til Death” and “More Than Meets the Eye.” Vocalist Josh Whitman thrashed about on both stage and floor with an endless amount of energy seldom seen these days.

Another one of Orlando’s own, Sift Knuckle Solution, were up next, and commanded the crowd’s attention with their brand of old-school punk. Songs like “Ruby Red,” “Stalker,” and “Money, Power, Greed” got the room moving even more, and a cover of the Misfits’ “Death Comes Ripping” (with Disfunction’s Josh on guest vocals) topped off their set.

D.R.I. tour mates Kaustik took over next, and showed no mercy with their brutal mix of groove/thrash metal. “Scars of Violence” and “In Bastards we Trust” were just a couple that stuck out, while other highlights included D.R.I. drummer Walter “Monsta” Ryan sitting in for an Agnostic Front cover, and Kaustik’s guitarists joining in on the action on the floor during closing track “Reign in Ruin.”

Finally, D.R.I. took over with a nearly two hour set which covered their entire 30-plus year career. “Hooked,” “I’d Rather Be Sleeping,” “Mad Man,” “Violent Pacification,” “Slumlord,” “Dead in a Ditch,” “Abduction,” “Acid Rain,” and “Syringes in the Sandbox” were just a few that got things going before they segued into newer tracks like “Against Me” and “As Seen on TV.” After a very brief (and very Spinal Tap-ish) break that saw vocalist Kurt Brecht exit stage in order to move the band’s van, the guys got back to business with more classics like “All For Nothing,” “Suit and Tie Guy,” “Beneath the Wheel,” “I Don’t Need Society,” and “The Five Year Plan.” By the time D.R.I. left the stage, they had completely annihilated what was left of the exhausted crowd, thus confirming their ability to still bang some heads this far into their existence.