Left Coasters Punk the House of Blues "Los Angeles is all about having parties right?" Not usually, Mike. But tonight, at least this night, the Left Coast Punksters, MxPx, were welcomed for their sold out performance at the House of Blues with a reception reminiscent of a house party with an all-night permit. A roar of screams from stage diving fans turned what was a warm summer Sunday night, into a hot, frenetic frenzy. And in Los Angeles, frenzies just don’t happen. But Mike Herrera, bassist and lead vocalist, ensured that not one fan sat idly - as some LA fans love to do - but jumping up and down throughout their one-hour set including to the song, "Party, My House, Be There." This, from their latest release, mxpx, slowly going the way of the buffalo. Herrera, donning black T-shirt, jean pants highlighted by a wide, white belt, and sporting tattoos galore, had no problem in sharing the stage with his adoring fans. Tidal waves of surfing fanatics crashed on to him and sang along to every tune. Not one missed a beat. As if on queue, the only crowd silence lend itself for the lyric, "You’ve got what I need..." Explosive, grinding guitar and rapid-fire drumbeats followed and put to rest any doubt that this was just another ordinary show. Formerly known as Magnified Plaid, MxPx turned this venue into unadulterated mayhem; digesting the sheer energy that this crowd radiated and blasted it out of their speakers in perfect harmony.
With superb performances by Yuri Ruley on skins and Tom Wisniewski backing on vocals and guitar, their succinct melodies expressed with the radio friendly hit, "I’m OK, You’re OK," offer complexity and simplicity in one: "You tell me nothing’s wrong/Seems like I’ve been gone oh so long/Nothing seems to have changed/Yet the familiar things seem so strange." Fast, Hard and Loud. That’s MxPx and more. But the best thing
about them, they’ve all just turned 21 and their vision has never swayed, "In
high school, this teacher told us to make five year plans and we said we wanted to live
with some friends, play in a band and tour," says the boyishly handsome, Tom.
"She said, ohh, you want to be a loser, huh? And, I just laughed," he added,
"I saw her in the mall recently, and I just ignored her!" Hey teach, ‘Ain’t life a bitch!?’ Just before this amazing show, VOX spoke to Yuri and Tom, about bitchy teachers, bitchin shows and life in a little town in Washington. Check it out. |
