Photos By Jacob Striewski

Before I fully get into the sheer insanity of this past Sunday night’s FEAR show at the second annual Space Coast Rumble in Titusville, FL, I first have to give a little back story of the years that actually lead up to it, and just how much it really meant to me on a personal level.

Like many before me, FEAR are one of those gateway punk bands I grew up listening to and loving, and have always wanted to cross them off my list of bands to see live. But alas, there have been many, MANY false starts prior.

The first time I had the chance to see the band back in the late ’90s/early ’00s, I was still in my teens with limited independence, and for whatever reason, I missed them (I believe my ride at the time may have bailed on me). That was strike one.

Then a few years later in either 2003 or ’04, a friend offered me to go with them to see FEAR in Orlando, but I declined due to having just gotten a new puppy at the time that I did not want to leave home alone just yet (strike two). I’m not complaining though – that puppy ended up being my best friend for many years until she passed on in 2018 (I still miss you dearly, Kaya).

Then in 2009, I was still within my first year or so of music Journalism when it finally happened – FEAR was coming to Orlando again (if memory serves correct to a venue no longer there called the Black Box Collective), and I was actually approved to COVER THEIR SHOW! (Complete with a plus-one on the guest list and all!) But midway through openers Total Chaos’ set, the police had finally had enough of the unruly crowd and shut things down before things ended in a riot. I was devastated.

Fast forward all these years later to late 2024, and longtime acquaintance of mine Tony from the band Swift Knuckle Solution informs me at a recent Exploited show that his band will be opening for FEAR at an annual event called Space Coast Rumble in Titusville. I knew I had to be there for it finally, and after some communications between the show’s promoter and the band’s management, Rewind It Magazine were approved to cover said show, and just in the nick of time.

I could hardly contain my excitement walking up to the event with my son and photographer Jacob the day of – especially when to our surprise, there was FEAR founder and frontman Lee Ving himself, grabbing a coffee with current bassist Amos Cook at a joint called Saints and Sippers (great coffee too by the way – and apparently even ran by Dee Snider’s nephew, Brett!). We exchanged pleasantries and even took photos with Ving, and just like that, all those years of waiting instantly became worth it before even hearing the band play a single note on stage.

Rewind It’s Jacob (left) and Jesse Striewski with FEAR frontman Lee Ving in front of Saints and Sippers Coffee on Sunday, 12/8/24 (Photo by FEAR bassist Amos Cook).

This quickly lead to some brief small talk “backstage” with the guys, including short exchanges with drummer Spit Stix, and an even shorter interaction with (and I had no idea of it at the time) Municipal Waste frontman Tony Foresta, who I’m definitely regretting not speaking to further. (I knew he looked familiar, too!)

By this time though we had already missed many of the opening bands of the day, including even Swift Knuckle Solution (Vicious Dreams were on stage by the time we had arrived, and with everything else going on around then I can’t really give them an honest assessment of their set). Thankfully we were still able to at least catch up with the guys in the band for a few regardless of this though.

Rewind It’s Jesse Striewski (right) with the guys from Swift Knuckle Solution shortly after their set in Titusville, FL on 12/8/24. (Photo by Jacob Striewski).

Psychobilly act The Strikers from San Diego, CA were up right before FEAR’s set, and gave it their all as they amped up the crowd for the main event, with a cover of Slayer’s “Raining Blood” being the biggest standout of the night for them (never expected to hear that one on an upright bass!).

And then it finally happened – Lee Ving and FEAR took stage with a fury, opening with “The Mouth Don’t Stop (The Trouble with Women Is),” “Do Me Some Damage,” and “Foreign Policy.” But no sooner than it had started, my heart sank – the sound went out due to technical difficulties. Could this really be happening again? Was there some sort of curse preventing me from actually seeing FEAR perform an entire set?

FEAR guitarist Eric Razo and drummer Spit Stix perform in Titusville, FL on 12/8/24. (Photo by Jacob Striewski.)

Some banter between band and fans kept things going before the issues were resolved and they thankfully got back to business with “Bomb the Russians,” “Let’s Have a War,” and “No More Nothing” before it happened AGAIN – the power went out once more. By this point I was really growing concerned that this truly could be it.

But once more, things returned to normal (and this time permanently), the group coming back stronger than ever with a cover of Bob Seger’s “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man,” followed in rapid fire succession by “Responsibilities,” “Fuck You Let’s Rodeo,” “Ugly as You,” “Gimme Some Action,” “Hey,” “We Destroy the Family,” and “We Just Love the Little Girls.”

After a little “Fresh Flesh” and Ving critiquing his own lyrics, the band went into a brief impromptu version of the Christmas classic “Let it Snow” before breaking out the big guns in the form of “I Love Livin’ in the City,” “Beef Bologna,” “New York’s Alright If You Like Saxophones,” “Have a Beer with Fear,” “More Beer,” and “I Don’t Care About You.”

FEAR performing at the Space Coast Rumble in Titusville, FL on 12/8/24. (Photo by Jacob Striewski).

And while this seemed to signal the end of the band’s set, they still had a couple more up their sleeves with “Fuck Christmas” (more than appropriate for the season we’re currently in) and “Disconnected” before taking their final bows.

Some quick “thank you’s” with bassist Cook (who by the end of the night was probably tired of seeing our faces – can’t thank him enough for his and the rest of the bands’ hospitality throughout the evening though) and guitarist Eric Razo put the icing on the cake for the already exceptional evening, and my son and I walked away with another shared memory we’ll take with us for the rest of our lives.

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.