bluno.orgoccasionally fully formed thoughts by bernie mcginn

When it comes to music, I am a jaded old codjer. It’s true. I am looking for new music all the time, but damn if I haven’t found anything that captivates me and generates the enthusiasim that I found when I first started seeing live music, and playing in bands around 1983. Punk rock changed my life, to quote D. Boon.
Anyone who knows me would probably tell you that I am not particularly nostalgic – sentimental, sure – but, you won’t be catching me going on about the good old days (much). But, when I saw that the Avengers were scheduled to play a small club in San Francisco called Cafe du Nord, I didn’t try to hide my excitement. Their ‘pink record’ was definitely a part of the forming of my punk rock consciousness, and has remained a part of essential listening ever since.

Seeing the band in their hometown (and my newly adopted one) made the event the first not-to-miss show of 2006.

SO not-to-miss, in fact, that I got to the club really really early, afraid that there would be a line around the block and that the last ticket sold would go to the person in front of me. I wasn’t going to let that happen. I had been waiting twenty-plus years to see this band. I knew I would be thrilled to hear the songs even if I could tell the band weren’t firing on all cylinders – or worse, doing reunion shows to pay some bills.

I didn’t care. It was The Avengers, and I was going to be directly in front of the stage, soaking it all in.

I rode the scooter to the club the mile and a half through the crisp San Francisco night, paid the cover and walked into a surprisingly empty club. It gave me a chance to people watch – merch girl, bartender, scenesters old and young, guy with ‘Terveet Kadet’ painted on his jacket. It’s funny going from knowing everyone at shows to knowing no one. It’s good, actually.

Openers Satisfaction were ok, in a Weezer meets Cheap Trick kind of way – plus their keyboard player had a Zappa look going on. Talented musicians, but they lost me half way through. The Sermon had a good trashy garage rock sound and questionable use of a theremin. Plenty of energy, but lost me 1/3 of the way into their set.

So as The Sermon closed their set I made my way to the front of the stage to patiently wait for the Avengers. I had to laugh that they closed the stage curtain for their set-up, not sure if it was a good or bad sign. I guess when you’ve waited 20+ years to see an artist perform, you tend to overanalyze things.

The now full club gathered in the band room and when the band started, the place lit up.

For good reason, too. They were exceptional. Perfectly loud, extremely tight, full of energy, and pulling no punches – starting with “We are the One”, and “Thin White line”. I had a smile on my face from ear-to-ear. I had to apologize between songs to the guy next to me – i kept stomping on his foot. He didn’t care.

The set was pretty relentless from there on out. A group of young punk women made their way up front. Penelope shared the mic with them during a few chorus’. The crowd up front was pushing and seething, barely able to contain its energy.

All in all brilliant.

Luckily, it seems they are playing out more and more. I’ll be at the next show.

Photographic proof!