Agent 51, Pivit, Arm the Angels, Critical Me - Canes July 5th 2008 From the minute I heard about it, I knew this was going to be a great show.  Besides being a long-time Agent 51 fan, I was stoked about seeing Pivit, Arm the Angels, and Critical Me.  This was a special night for San Diego Punk fans, especially those who grew up in the scene and experienced the birth and growth of bands like Pivit and Agent 51.

Critical Me opened the show with a high-energy, fast-paced style.  Cole and I grabbed a couple of beers and watched the show.  I had never seen Critical Me before, and I was impressed with their ability to stir excitement in the crowd.   Even though the night was early and the bar was still beginning to fill up, the band got the crowd moving and had a good amount of people singing along to their favorite songs.

After a short break, Cole and I went for a refill and got ready for Arm the Angels.  I had seen Arm the Angels a couple of years ago (back when they were 51 Guns).  I had bought their album, loved it, and listened to it over and over.  As great as their old stuff was, I was anxious to hear some of their new songs.  We grabbed a spot near the front left by one of the guitarists.  Everything they played captured that raw punk sound in a catchy, energetic way.  Their lead singer interacted with the crowd, and by this time the bar had really filled up.  They really raised the energy in the room, and everyone seemed to love the music.  Most of the songs they played were from their new album – Haunt this Town.  I picked up a copy and can’t wait to listen to it. 

Agent 51 came next.  What a classic San Diego punk band!  It has been quite some time since I last saw them play live, but I’ve never stopped listening to their music.  They are truly one of my absolute favorites, and I was pumped when they came on stage.  They blew the crowd away immediately by playing some of their most well-known songs.  They played a good mixture of music from all three of their albums – Red Alert, Just Keep Runnin’, and The Red & The Black.  The crowd was drawn to the music right away and stayed that way during the entire set.  They played with passion, and their countless fans in the audience were grateful.  The crowd was singing along for nearly every song.   I couldn’t get enough, and I was happy that they played a long set that included many of their classics – Screamin’ For Justice, Homecoming Queen, I Believe, and more.

Even with all the great performances that came earlier in the night, nothing could have prepared the audience for Pivit.  It was late, and you would think that the crowd would be getting tired, but Pivit was so stirring and exceptional in their performance that the people in the bar seemed even more energized than before.  The place was packed, and the pit got moving almost immediately.  Cole and I were at the front near the lead guitarist.  Every song was great, and many of them were crowd favorites.  Even with a relatively long set-list, everyone wanted more.  Despite persistent insistence from the audience for an encore, the band unfortunately had to call it a night.  Everyone seemed to leave happy, with the words of their favorite Pivit songs still on their lips.

All in all, I couldn’t have asked for more from a San Diego punk show.  It was a fantastic array of talent, and many members of the audience had grown up listening to favorite songs from these bands.  Having the opportunity to witness these classics on stage was a dream come true. 

-Adam