Wasted Youth: Live At The Doll Hut

I had been waiting 45 years to see Wasted Youth live and my wait finally culminated with this incredible show at the long-standing Doll Hut in Anaheim. Somehow, I missed seeing the band back in the early 1980s even though I was going to shows almost every weekend. The current incarnation of Wasted Youth is 50% The Dickies with drummer extraordinaire Adam Gomez, and bassist Eddie Tatar. Original guitarist Chett Lehrer, who was also in Red Kross, brought the band back into existence, choosing the youngster Nigel Berk as vocalist. This show was better than I had hoped it would be. The Doll Hut is a historic, gritty roadhouse bar right next to the 5 Freeway in Anaheim and it is almost exactly like it was the last time I went there to see Smut Peddlers about 20 years ago. The only difference is now there is a larger outdoor stage to compliment the tiny, postage stamp sized stage inside. The outdoor area is delightfully disorganized with a stack of old wood here, a broken pallet over there, there’s a broken plastic table on its side next to the wall, and the ground is lovely dirt and crumbly asphalt. It is a perfect punk rock habitat.

I was bummed out to have missed CFA, because I like that band, and they just happen to be from the City of Rialto, which is very near my home. It is a two-man unit consisting of the brothers Adrian and Ariel Otero, who produce high-energy punk rock that is flavored with blues, funk, and a hint of Mexican banda. Go check them out on the YouTube thing. You’re welcome. Zero Given (I assume the name implies Zero Fucks Given), was on the tiny indoor stage when we arrived. Immediately, my head was nodding along with tempo-matching approval. My notes read: “Solid. Punchy. Loud and fast. Bass driven.” It wasn’t all fast because there were some mid-tempo tunes in the set that showcased the band members skill and versatility. It was gritty and melodic. Good stuff. Check ‘em out. 

Then, I was happily astonished to discover High Volta on the larger outdoor stage. It was the band’s 2^nd live show since its inception. My Melvins-loving grunge/metal persona emerged, and I was soon moving forward to the edge of the stage in rapt amazement. The sound was succulent punk-fuzz with a glistening metal edge. Both the bass and guitar had a wonderfully dirty and gritty tone. Guitarist Michelle Balderrama is a beast with her instrument, and her gruff vocals grind to the soul. Her angry cat solos are full of high pitched howls and wavering wah pedal. Bassist Rob Simundson is casually focused and plays like his instrument is part of his body. His bass lines are not particularly complicated, but he puts every note exactly where it needs to go. Drummer Justin McGrath is powerful and precise whether the band is shredding in high gear or churning out the slow sludge metal. Both Michelle and Rob get extra points for their super-cool skateboard deck pedal effects setups. Rob seems to be at every show I go to and he also performs in the zany and great punk band known as The Clowns. Hi Volta is now one of my favorite bands and I cannot wait to see them again.

We stayed in the outside area for One In The Chamber. They were okay musically, but the gargling hot gravel style of vocals puts me off. I guess a lot of people like that sort of thing, but not me. I tried to focus on the impressive musicianship and rad riffs, but the vocals rubbed me the wrong way. The audience seemed to like it okay with a few old guys slam dancing in the tiny space between the bar and the diminutive stage. Despite my annoyance, I could very much relate to the message conveyed by the song, “You’re Fucking Stupid.” I feel this way about other people on a daily basis.

Was somebody playing on the outside stage? I don’t know, because the huge sound of angry guitars, phenomenal bass lines and incredible drumming of Right Hand Men kept me riveted in place. I was reminded of Aggression at times because of the intense energy and frequent shredding metal solos. I complimented guitarist and vocalist Buster on his brand-new and quite fashionable Wasted Youth T-shirt. He told me he spray painted that logo San Pedro when he was a kid. This band has been around since around 2008 and frequently plays in the Southern California area. I had heard of the band but never experienced it live until that day and I was both pleased and impressed. John the bassist is the most animated of the group and the man looks like he was born to play his instrument. 2nd guitarist Rich melted my face a few times with his blistering leads. Thanks dude! I found a video of the song Wolves on YouTube that was filmed at this show. I was standing right next to the guy who filmed it. Go check that out and experience Right Hand Men when you get the chance.

The next band of the evening was Weaponized and I really enjoyed their brand of vato-inspired thrash/metal. The strange thing is that I was put off by the grindcore vocals when I listened to the Hell on Earth album on YouTube. Vocalist Johnny Salas did not do that during this impressive set. Instead, he sang with angry, and gruff power which sounded much better. I was often reminded of another Mexican-American thrash/metal band known as Sick Sense. Some guy next to me stopped headbanging for a moment to tell me: “These guys are like Pantera!” I was thinking more like Excel. The audience was thinking more like SLAM! Cathy needed to cross the danger zone after using the toilet, so the huge and friendly security guy made the slam dancers stop for a few moments. I was stunned to see all of them actually oblige, and some of them gave her some friendly pats on the back while the band continued to jam. The mayhem continued once she crossed. These vatos are down ese.

I could hear Carpit jamming inside so I hurried over there because I have heard a lot of good things about this band. I heard right. Carpit fits the OC punk rock mold (even though they are from Long Beach) in the same vein as Pennywise and Ignite. As the band’s bio says: “Bringing you punk rock done right.” It’s loud, fast, melodic, and often lends itself to sing-along choruses. I did not catch the song titles, but they sounded uplifting, determined, and sincere. These guys make some good ol’ straightforward, crunchy punk rock that hits like a friendly fist. 

Somewhere in this mix I thoroughly enjoyed Neighborhood Watch on the tiny indoor stage. I just now realized I have absolutely no notes for this band’s set. That means I was entirely engrossed with enjoying the band. Neighborhood Watch on cassette tape fueled many intense skateboard sessions for my friends and me back in the early 1980s. Founding member Mark Conway is still on the guitar, and young buck Josh Mee is on vocals. Along with Brian Fortenberry on bass (since 2007), and Bob Zertuche on drums, Neighborhood Watch transported me back to my early days of skatepunk contempt of authority and teenage frustration. After their ripping set, Josh told me that he knows he missed out on the early years of punk rock (that I remember so well), but he is glad to be part of it now, and stoked to be opening for the legendary Wasted Youth. 

I was giddy with excitement as I watched the band members of Wasted Youth set up their gear. I asked Adam how much time he had to learn the songs. He said he had three weeks to learn them all. Somebody from the Wasted Youth crew gifted Cathy with a Wasted Youth patch. Guitarist Chett Lehrer is the only original member, but that is enough to make present-day Wasted Youth valid. He was very meticulous about setting up all the equipment and having the sound mix correct. Nigel Burk handles the vocal duties like a champ. He was the perfect choice to sing and shout the lyrics for the songs, most of which were written before he was born. Nigel was previously in the bands Carsex, Unknown Animals, and Live Nudes. He has a comfortable stage presence that seamlessly alternates between conversational casual, and feral intensity.

Once again, the notebook goes blank as sonic immersion becomes complete. The outside stage area became packed with fans both young and old pressing forward against the knee-high performance platform. Reagan’s In suddenly exploded from the speakers and the crowd immediately went wild. Within five seconds, one of the large speakers on a tripod was knocked over onto a woman who then fell against me. As I tried to help her up while others righted the speaker, somebody inadvertently kicked me directly on the ball of my right ankle. (It hurt for three weeks.) All this was a perfect start for the resurrection of one of the greatest old school punk bands in Los Angeles punk rock history. You’re a Jerk, followed without any pause, and I mentally dedicated it to whoever clocked my ankle. We were treated to the entire Reagan’s In album and spared us the overdone metal of Black Daze. Chett and the boys are not content to rest on the laurels of past accomplishments, so some new music was also on the agenda. I am pretty sure Voices, and Hard to Explain were new tunes that sounded just as wonderful and intense as the old stuff.

I managed to get one good photo of Chett and Nigel, so I moved to the other side of the stage to get some photos of Eddie and Adam. Then, tragedy struck. My dependable little Nikon Sure Shot digital camera fell apart in my hands when I tried to change the battery. The battery housing disintegrated and there was no hope of putting it back together. Instead, I moved further toward the back of the stage to where I was about 4 feet away from Adam Gomez as he flawlessly and intensely pounded his drums. I leaned forward and smiled as I thought: “This is the kid that used to come to my skateboard shop when he was 12-years-old, and look at him now. Playing in Wasted Youth, The Dickies, and sometimes with Adolescents and DI. I almost died last October from five massive heart attacks, but here I am today, enjoying life to the fullest at a Wasted Youth show at The Doll Hut. This is great!”

Problem Child was played second to last, and I savored every second of Eddie’s flawless rendering of the classic bass lines of that tune. You can probably hear that introductory bass riff in your mind right now. Fuck Authority closed the set to much wild abandon and gleeful shouts of approval. No encore. That was enough. I scored Adam’s set list (Problem Child was moved to later in the set.) Afterward, as Eddie was putting his bass into its case, I told him: “I have waited 45 years to hear “Problem Child” live, and it was even better because you played it.” He stopped for a moment, put his fist to his chest and said: “Thank you, I really appreciate that.” You can see some great multi-camera video from this show courtesy of Broke Videos on YouTube like the one above of Punk for a Day, and many more.