Live Review: Bad Religion Rocks the OC

Bad Religion is an institution when it comes to punk rock coming out of southern California. Formed in the late 1980's, the group combines powerful blasts of early punk rock with lyrics that scream and shout of personal and political responsibility. The group is in their third decade and to celebrate and say thanks to the area that gave birth to the might BR, the band has mounted a multiple date tour of all of the House of Blues clubs in Southern California. Each HOB audience will be treated to a special theme. On night two at the Anaheim House of Blues the audience was treated to only songs that the band recorded in the 90's.

Detroit's own Hi-Fi Handgrenades got things off to a raucous start with their brand of melodic, introspective punk rock. They were followed by the wilder and less tuneful punk act The Briggs. After a short break Bad Religion hit the stage to the thunderous applause of the audience. The most striking aspect of the audience is how the band has seemed to bring each generation of fans along for their masterful punk rock ride. The band wasted no time hitting the crowd with their brand of lighting quick, rock manifestos. The group is often cited as saving the punk rock scene in southern California and it is easy to see why. The band hit their stride on stage going through tunes such as "A Walk", "Infected" and "21st Century Digital Boy". The crowd exploded however when lead vocalist Greg Graffin led the crowd in a rendition of the tune "Los Angeles is Burning". With this being an election year the sense of ugency in the bands lyrics has a new sense of purpose. The band wears its political heart on it's sleeve and unlike Rage Against The Machine, it is short on sloganeering and long on filling their full throttle rock music with the ideas of depth and debate

Lead vocalist Graffin, makes for an impressive and unassuming frontman as the band provides the power for his lyrical diatribes. Graffin will assume his duties as a social science professor at UCLA this spring which will limit the bands touring potential. If you are in need of a soundtrack to the up coming elections this fall, try and catch the next round of Bad Religion shows coming up soon.