30 years. Nearly one third of a century. A timespan long enough for many things like careers, mortgages, relationships, marriages and even lives to be conceived and developed, and in many cases ended at the end of that period. The 30 year mark is a true test of one's endurance and stamina. It is the pivotal point of any existence, the point of no return; when faced with this life-altering decision, one might say, "with so many years under my belt, I have seen and done it all. Now, do I call it a day here or continue the fight?" For the members of Los Angeles' Bad Religion, they have chosen not to call it a day and are forging onward to write and perform the most intelligent and thought-provoking punk rock known to modern American culture. They continue their legacy of touring the U.S., prominently displaying their punk anthology that has shaped the lives of millions of American youths, and their performance last night at the Fillmore in Denver, CO was no exception.
As the night went on, the Bouncing Souls found their way to "bounce" onto stage, leading into their set with "Highway Kings," which ignited a circle pit that spanned across the entire floor. The Jersey quartet, nearly as old as Bad Religion, kept the momentum going at an almost non-stop rate with the anthems "Sing Along Forever", "Hopeless Romantic", and the Warped Tour favorite "East Coast, F*ck You!", as well as old memorable tunes like "Say Anything." Singer Greg Attonito, dressed in a white shirt and a red necktie, kept the audiences attention with a few intimate sing-alongs at the front of the stage, while guitarist Pete Steinkopf, bassist Brian Kienlen, and drummer Michael McDermott created a wall of sheer punk rock sound that shook the room. The band ended their set with the uplifting tunes "True Believers" and "Here We Go," making a blissful conclusion that would transition seamlessly into another brutal force that was yet to take the stage...
It was 10:30pm. The lights quickly dimmed above the chandeliers of the Fillmore, followed by a dramatic symphonic arrangement of "Pomp and Circumstance" that blarred over the PA system. A Tour de Force had entered the building, bringing with them 30 years of strength and experience. Behind the amps and the trapset shone a neon green light, illuminating a 20 foot banner with the name "Bad Religion" in giant letters, immediately commencing an uproar of lifted spirits and applause. To get things started, the band opened with the fast and furious favorites "Do What You Want", "Sinister Rouge", and "We're Only Going to Die." Clearly, the band had not lost any of their energy or stamina, even with singer Greg Graffin announcing how old they really were. The band continued their enduring set with classics from the Epitaph era to include "I Want to Conquer the World" and "21st Century Digital Boy." Also featured was a selection of songs from their latest record The Dissent of Man, which included the emotionally crafted "The Resist Stance" and the strenuous "Wrong Way Kids," a homage to BR's California roots.
Although Mr. Brett (Guerwitz) did not grace the stage with his guitar presence for this show, guitarists Greg Hetson and Brian Baker were able to deliver driving riffs and standout solos throughout. Bassist Jay Bentley not only churned out deep melodic bass lines, but he also provided strong backing vocals for several songs, despite his out-of-breath rap vocals during "Let Them Eat War." Brooks Wackerman, formerly of Suicidal Tendencies fame, provided extra support to BR's stunning assault with his machine gun double bass drum blasts. As with all BR performances, Greg Graffin did not fail to strike the nerves of the 1000+ audience with his politically charged, analytical, PhD educated lyrics as well as hilarious comments in between songs. And just when everyone thought the night was over after the ending of "American Jesus," the symphonic overture played once more, giving light to a new banner over the stage of the famous BR "Cross" logo, which could only mean one thing...(shutter!) encore! Though many "real" punks might have called this a sellout move, it only resulted into continued chaos enjoyed by all. The band hammered out 1992's "Generator," followed by the evangelical radio hit "Sorrow." Of course, no BR show could have been complete without the classic stomper "F*ck Armageddon...This Is Hell," which triumphantly ended the show for the night.
Looking back on the illustrious night at the Fillmore, one thing is for sure: Bad Religion are here to stay, and will continue to influence the hearts and minds of punks and musicians of all styles alike. There appears to be nothing that will stop them in their quest. Age is not a factor for these guys, for age is only a state of mind. The fact that for 30 years their music has been known, heard, and respected by kids around the world speaks volumes. However, no human can resist the natural tendency of physical aging, and perhaps this is the only thing that might prove to slow BR down. It seems that many other bands of their generation are sticking by their side through the long haul; Glenn Danzig was playing next door at the Ogden on the same night! No matter how long it will last, punk is clearly not dead (not yet, at least), and the men of Bad Religion are living proof of that claim.