Deep out in the desert of Cabazon, Calif., there is a musical oasis for concertgoers. Key Club Morongo is a beautiful, three-story nightclub that hosts some of the hottest acts in music. On Oct. 9, a near-capacity crowd gathered in the circular showroom to witness punk legend Rancid.
The guys from Oakland-based quartet The Matches opened the night. Their experimental pop-punk seemed like an odd match up with a punk band like Rancid, but they have a fan in Rancid front man Tim Armstrong. Armstrong produced a track off the band’s newest record “Decomposer” and was happy to have the band open.
Most of The Matches eight-song set came off that new release. “Salty Eyes,” “Sunburn vs. the Rhino Virus,” “Shoot Me In The Smile” and “Didi (My Doe, Pt. 2) opened the set. The band also played Armstrong-produced “You (Don’t) Know Me,” FUSE single “Papercut Skin,” “What Katie Said” and the old favorite “Sick Little Suicide.”
The crowd didn’t seem too into the music, but respected the band as performers. It respectfully let the band finish its set, and sent it off with a round of applause.
Huntington Beach locals T.S.O.L. was up next. This old school punk band has been playing music longer than most of the people in the crowd have been alive, but still has what it takes to get the crowd going wild.
With its latest release “Who’s Screwing Who?” the band played hit after hit from its 25 year career. It ended the set with favorite “Code Blue,” but the crowd chanted for more.
It was easy to get lost exploring the illuminated corners of the club, but as soon as Rancid hit the stage, everyone found their way to the pit.
With over 150 songs to choose from, Rancid chose a good mix of songs from its six full-length albums. With many tracks under three minutes and a full headliner time slot, the band played over 20 songs drawing heavily from earlier records “…And Out Come The Wolves” and “Let’s Go.”
Popular single “Time Bomb” was played very early in a set that included “Rejected,” “Side Kick,” “Olympia, Wa.,” “The 11th Hour,” “Roots Radicals,” “She’s Automatic,” “Journey to the End of the East Bay,” “Indestructible” and “Fall Back Down.” Rancid closed out the night with “Ruby Soho.”
The band also gave audience members a treat when it covered “Knowledge” and “Unity” from Armstrong and bassist Matt Freeman’s former ska band Operation Ivy.
With the band on hiatus for most of 2004 and 2005 to work on side projects, it would have been understandable for members to have to become reacquainted with the music. Not for these guys.
Even though Armstrong will be turning 40 this year, he showed no sign of fatigue during the long set. He belted every gruff note effortlessly. Guitarist Lars Frederiksen assisted Armstrong with vocals while not missing a note on the guitar. Freeman and drummer Brett Reed showed the rhythm section of the band was just as talented.
It’s easy to see why Rancid has been around for so many years. It’s music is powerful and catchy, and the huge following it has earned sings and dances along loyally. The mosh pit was so large at times that it took up the entire dance floor, leaving refugees clinging to the bars or fleeing to the upper levels.
The show made for an amazing night in the presence of some of punk rock’s most talented musicians. With Rancid slated for a new studio album to be released in 2007, rest assured that young punk bands will still have excellent role models to look up to for a long time.
