DO THEY OWE USA LIVING?
Steve Ignorant in Los Angeles-All Photos by dickslaughter.com
The Steve Ignorant Band is set to bring the raw and unapologetic energy of CRASS to Mexico and the United States in a mini-tour this May. The tour will kick off on May 4th and 5th in Mexico City at the PUNKYTUD Festival. The band will then move to San Francisco, California, on May 8th to perform at the Great American Music Hall, followed by a performance at the Glass House in Pomona, California, on May 9th. From May 10th through the 12th, Steve will serve as a tour guide at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas. The band's last US date will be at the mammoth NO VALUES Festival on June 8th, also in Pomona, California. The Steve Ignorant Band will play alongside legendary performers such as Iggy Pop, Social Distortion, the original Misfits, the Adolescents, the Damned, and the Jesus Lizard to name just a few.
Steve in Vegas many years ago-all photos dickslaughter.com
Last September, the Steve Ignorant Band toured the East Coast and I was lucky enough to attend two truly unforgettable shows. They were passionate, explosive displays of the profound influence and power of CRASS that proved it’s lost none of its relevance or intensity over the years.
The Steve Ignorant Band gave a very emotional performance in New York- All photos ©dickslaughter.com
The supporting bands for both shows were ALL TORN UP, a hardcore political punk band from New York, and The HIRS Collective, a queer punk musical collective from Philadelphia. Both bands delivered stellar performances while hosting Steve and Company on their home turf.
The first show I attended took place at the newly renovated Middle East in Brooklyn, New York, and was completely sold out. The Middle East is a standard tried-and-true punk venue with a very good sound system and a large stage. The crowd was diverse, consisting of people of all ages and backgrounds, including hipsters, crust punks, and even a few parents with their adult children. Throughout the performance, the front row was predominantly occupied by women, a fact that did not go unnoticed by Steve, who remarked on how wonderful it was to perform songs from "Penis Envy" for such an appreciative audience.
The Ignorant Band did not disappoint, flawlessly delivering Crass classics like "Banned from the Roxy," "Securicor," and "Shaved Woman," staying true to Crass's original sound while adding their own unique flair. Pete Wilson's guitar work was blistering, Peter Rawlinson's basslines pulsed through the venue, and Jay Bangnall's drums pounded like a war march, all complementing the impassioned vocals of Carol Hodge and Steve Ignorant himself.
The concert reached its climax with "Bloody Revolutions" - an anthem of defiance that encapsulates the spirit of CRASS. The crowd erupted into a frenzy of ecstatic energy, and the venue seemed ready to burst at the seams. Steve and Carol, both drenched in sweat, gave it their all, and the band played with a ferocity that left an indelible mark on everyone in attendance.
The next night was a bit different, held at the Ukrainian American Citizens' Association hall, aka the Ukie Club, in the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia. While the crowd was smaller than in Brooklyn, people seemed more friendly and eager to strike up conversations. I met Jake, who had driven from Virginia with his daughter Linda. He introduced her to CRASS when she was 13, and now, at 28, she shared how the music, art, and message had profoundly influenced her as a person, artist, and parent. I heard similar stories throughout the evening.
All Torn Up and The HIRS Collective set the stage for the Steve Ignorant Band. The Ukie Club's stage was small, but the performance was not. Steve and Carol would repeatedly come off the stage onto a set of speakers they used as an wobbly extension. The band blasted out a similar set to the night before, but this evening felt far more intimate—there was a lot more crying and less slam dancing than the night before and again, it was the women holding the front.
As the final notes faded away, it was clear that this was not just a concert; it was a powerful reminder of the enduring power of whatever CRASS was or is and its capacity to inspire and unite. The Steve Ignorant Band's tribute is more than just nostalgia; it is a celebration of an artistic and musical legacy that refuses to die.
Don’t miss your chance to see the Steve Ignorant Band performthe songs of CRASS in Mexico and the USA. My sources say the band’s very expensive work visa is set to expire and they will not be back to the States in the foreseeable future.
May 4th & 5th in Mexico City, Mexico, at the PUNKYTUD Festival
May 8th in San Francisco, California, at the Great American Music Hall
May 9th in Pomona, California, at the Glass House
May 10th-12th Las Vegas, Nevada, at the PUNK ROCK MUSEUM
June 8th in Pomona California, at the NO VALUES Festival
Congratulations to Johnny ESP for winning the "Write the Headline for the Steve Igs Article" contest on my Facebook page with his entry, "Do They Owe USA LIVING?”
or catch the band at Rebellion 2024
Carol Hodge performing with the Steve Ignorant Band in Philadelphia-All Photos ©dickslaughter.com
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