Punk rock show at the SOMA. How appropriate. Let me start by stating: I had never actually heard either the Bouncing Souls nor Lagwagon previous to this night. Now before all you punk-or-die high school losers start slagging me for not being on the Punk rock wagon enough to hear these before, let’s just all except the reality that we all can’t be as cool as you and there will always be a giant handful of awesome bands that for one reason or another will escape each of us. I know many people who will immediately jump into fits of praise over either of these bands (this is Southern California after all) and I am familiar that both (especially Lagwagon) have developed a history in the region amongst followers of all that is punk. Bouncing Souls have released a number of releases on Epitaph (most recently “Tie One On”) and Lagwagon has a catalog of 5 full lengths on Fat Wreck Chords. Combine this with the general punk mentality of SoCal and it was not surprising that this show was filled to capacity and sold out by the time the Bouncing Souls took the stage.

I was to do an interview with Lagwagon (apprehensively since I wasn’t familiar with their work) so my first destination was the Lagwagon dressing room. I boldly walked in and just kind of announced to a room full of about 15 people “Hey - I’m here to do an interview with Lagwagon”. Blank stares. Uncomfortable silence. “Can anyone point me in the right direction to talk to someone from Lagwagon”. More blank stares and uncomfortable silence (is my fly open or something?) I turned and looked at the guy closest to me crouched on the floor. “Can you point me to someone in Lagwagon?” I humbly inquired. “I’m in Lagwagon” he says. (sheeesh). This was bass player Jesse and although nice in his confusion, scrambled to process my request (apparently their label neglected to let them know I was coming). He agreed to do an interview after their set. I said no problem but past experience has taught me post-show interviews are difficult due to the artists general mindset after they play a show. They’re tired, hungry, schmoozing and generally rowdy and hard to corner. By the way, this is exactly what happened after the show so no Lagwagon interview for you rabid fans. There was an opening band called “All Systems Go”.

I caught a few songs. Nothing remarkable but not terrible either. I only saw like three songs so a review would be uninformed. They didn’t have much of a stage presence though. The Bouncing Souls were the first band I saw from start to finish. Heavily pimped by some friends of mine - I was set for some impressive punk rock of sorts. Sporting one of those Kangaroo beanies (like Samuel Jackson always wears) and multi-colored striped walking cane, the singer strolled out to a swell of cheers.

The packed SOMA seemed eager to receive what the Bouncing Souls had to deliver. I will state again I have never heard their music before this so this is all a first live impression. I heard a sort of harmony thick Social D / Bad Religion style punk. Basic chops, plenty of speed, quick breaks and changes and sing-a-long choruses (with that whoa - hoa - ooh stuff). They had energy (especially the tuff-ass looking bassplayer) and even though I had a hard time hearing the singer - the crowd was singing damn near every word back at them so I caught a lot of the lyrics.

The singer is kind of a dork who did like a bad Charlie Chaplin swagger with his cane and continually tried to flip his beanie in the air and catch it on the end of his cane (unsuccessfully) - that is when he wasnt mugging for the video camera girl that kept running around the stage. Although they werent bad, I wasnt half as impressed as the crowd. Maybe recognition brings out more of the Bouncing Souls charm. At best, Id say they were an above average punk-type band playing upbeat lighthearted pop-hooked but cookie-cutter songs (with a sense of humor - hey they named an album The Good, The Bad and The Argyle).

The set included a guest singer in the form of a cute girl that switched off vocal lines on a tune about him trying to pick her up and her pretty much telling him to get lost. That was the most interesting song they did all night. The rest just washed right off me. I hoped the evening would pick up a notch with the Lagwagon set (again me personally - the sold out crowd LOVED the Bouncing Souls). My wish was granted. I hate trying to review something I havent heard, but damn - these guys were pretty fun. Both guitarists spend about as much time in the air as on the ground. Jesse the bassplayer (we met earlier) stumbles about the stage making faces at the crowd and plays a mean bass that is showcased in little intros and breaks in typical punk rock structures.

The singer sort of reminded me of the Unwritten Law singer in presence and performance (he actually way out-rocks the UL singer in presence) and his small stature is kind of comical when he is placed against their monstrously tall guitarist who launches himself in the air to almost every big break. Very melodic SoCal type punk ala most Fat Wreck Chords bands. Wish I had heard of these guys before.

A lot of the songs had a really crafted feel - meaning the breaks and changes and progressions were complex so as to avoid the basic chord strumming most of their contemporaries fall right into. Lagwagon are still a melodic punk band - make no mistake, they fall squarely into that genre - but I think would rise to the top in comparisons. I kept getting the feeling I should have heard these guys before. The crowd was a sea of body-surfing, smiling and pogo-ing mesh of kids that (unlike me) knew every damn song within the first few chords. After awhile, their approach started to seem a bit used for every song - but such is the case with any band that is easily defined within its genre. So its one of those you either buy into it or dont. And in the case of Lagwagon - I bought into it, heartily. The energy, melodies, breaks and overall execution should please anyone who likes punk rock in all its different shades. Recommended and enjoyable - even though not necessarily groundbreaking. (And I didnt even know what I was listening to - so I maintain the right to change any of the above opinions - nayaaaaa).