Concert Review: No Age Benefit Show at The Echoplex

Not only are No Age two rad guys who play fast,loud, and addicting music, but they are also compassionate human beings. Last Sunday, they helped put a benefit show together for their close friend with cancer (who has no health insurance). Although I admit I was getting antsy for their performance at the end of the night, the long roster of supportive bands they had had gathered together was impressive and endearing.

Doors had opened at 4 PM but the benefit show had started at 6 PM. It was a long night to wait alone in the very spacious Echoplex. However, the opening bands encouraged the audience to get involved and move closer to the stage. Highlights of the night were bands, The Tyde, Modern Memory, and The Movies.

Between my smoke breaks, I made sure to get back inside the venue between the bands transitioning on stage as well. For they had a raffle going on. One ticket was included in your generous entry fee and donation of $12. Extra raffle tickets were $3 and all the profits went straight to the dear Michelle Bigler. The prizes were awesome too. Some of the amazing ones were a GPS system worth $800, an American Apparel bag stuffed with more American Apparel items, and a $300 certificate to a tattoo parlor. I won none, but kept in mind that my money went to a very good cause.

As the night finally came to a close, No Age took the stage. What I loved the most about their stage presence was that they looked like two average looking guys and when you watch them play, you come to realize they really are. These were two average guys who just cared about a friend in need.

I noticed that the front of Dean’s drum set had “Joel” spelled out in duct tape. The explanation given to us right before they played their first song told us that Joel was Dean’s brother and he also had cancer. Emphasizing the fact that no one should have to go through this terrible experience alone, he thanked the audience for being a part of something that helped someone cope. Then… the rock music began to flood our eardrums.

It was my first time being extremely close to the stage during a No Age show. I was practically giddy with excitement. The sound was definitely amazing but the best part of being so close was that instead of having the ability to see every single movement of Dean’s drumming or Randy’s guitar riffs, I saw a blur on both ends. This duo played music with such amazing speed, it was hard to believe that their music was actually a cohesive collaborative sound. If that’s not impressive, I don’t know what is.

After they played my newest favorite song, “Teen Creeps,” the two joked around on stage for bit. Dean even asked who won the tattoo parlor certificate. (Some nerd who looked like he would definitely die without a single tattoo on his body apparently won it. Just my luck.) However, aside from small chit chat and banters on the side, Dean and Randy truly kicked ass with a sound and rhythm they can keep calling their own.

All those supporting bands I had to listen to, all those raffle prizes I didn’t win, all the cigarettes I had outside when I wasn’t aimlessly wandering around inside to keep myself occupied, all of that – was worth being next to the stage with a sea of No Age fans behind me while they nearly made me deaf with great music.

Photo by looserecord.com