The Circle Jerks, Municipal Waste, et Negative Approach

"Wild in the Streets" is the perfect way to describe a Circle Jerks concert. These guys have been the embodiment of hardcore punk since they started in 1979. Lead singer Keith Morris brought the band to the masses, and have influenced countless acts since their inception.

Despite several break ups due to volatility between band members and Morris, they keep reuniting from time to time to go on tour and give a throw back to the early days of punk rock.I was fortunate enough to catch the band during their last stint on tour before their 2010 hiatus.

Despite their age, Morris and the crew played the smallish venue with all the heart and soul that you would expect from the Jerks. The raucous crowd was lovely and in a constant state of motion from the pit to the side stage.

The band enthusiastically regurgitated most of their classics like "Deny Everything" (arguably one of the most respected and iconic songs in the genre) to "Live Fast Die Young" to some of their lesser known songs like "Sinking Ship". Despite being on tour off and on for several decades, The Circle Jerks never cease to amaze in their live shows. Hopefully the band will reunite again, and give many people who have been influenced by them to see them one more time (or for the first time).

Municipal Waste was a beast of a show. To get to see these guys play live was brutal and insane. Coming out of the south, these guys are thrash gods.
From the moment they hop on the stage, the crowd is already anticipating the destruction of the beautiful silence. The tension is in the air massive, and the audience is ready to begin their mosh pit and enjoy the crazy music.
When the band finally gets out on the stage, they are prepared to get this crowd hyped up and they do not disappoint. Within seconds, the band is unleashing thrash riffs of doom and a circle pit starts from the moment the first guitar gallop rings through the air. The riffs flying from the guitarist's axe are angry and full of aggression and angst. The bassist does an amazing job to keep up with these riffs and slaps down a huge aura of speed and aggression as well. The front man of the band Tony Foresta makes short work of any anticipation that anybody had and begins his wild vocal style. He yells and screams like an angry drill sergeant and the tone is fantastic.
This band really shreds together and put on a great live show.

There aren’t many bands that formed in 1981 that are still playing the hardcore, punk scene, and playing it so well. However, Negative Approach still manages to slay every single time they take to the stage.
Having always played the seedy underbelly kind of venues, they aren’t used to performing in front of a huge attendance, but this doesn’t put them off their stride. Front man John Brannon is always able to deliver the hits his distinctive tone, which has arguably become one of the most powerful voices in the genre. Shortly after forming, in 1982 Negative Approach disbanded and moved on to other projects. The band then reformed in 2006 and tends to tour every now and then – dragging in a loyal following.
These guys play your quintessential punk gig; with an intimate crowd that live for the music and come for the hard-hitting performance - they aren’t let down either. The band roll out their old tunes, such as ‘Nothing’ and ‘Ready to Fight’, tracks played at blistering pace with that “let’s go out and break something” attitude which people have so easily associated with the hardcore genre.
Negative Approach have been on the scene for such a long time now that they have definitely achieved ‘legendary’ status, expect their reign to continue, in order to prove the point that, contrary to belief, punk ISN’T dead.