20 Years Ago Today at Mission Records

Look at that lineup! Imagine those three bands on a hot summer afternoon in a tiny room like Mission Records! I don't think I need to tell you that this show was amazing! This was one of LUDICRA's earliest shows.

20 Years Ago Today at the Stork Club

ASUNDER guitarist Seth Baker and EXITWOUND vocalist Melanie Chevarria tied the knot and threw one helluva a show for their wedding reception. LIKE FLIES ON FLESH came back and ruled it again! I believe this was one of ASUNDER's first shows, if not their very first. How many of you have a copy of the ASUNDER/LIKE FLIES ON FLESH split LP? EXITWOUND called it quits shortly after this show because their drummer Ross was due to move to Belgium, in which he would form SKEW WHIFF with ex-members of HIATUS and UNHINGED. They would return a couple years later with new drummer Jon Stanley. I still can't believe a show this good took place at the fucking Stork Club.

20 Years Ago Today at Kimo's

All three of these bands are kinda forgotten footnotes now, but they each had an interesting approach. SANGRE AMADO was part of the early San Francisco black metal scene that spawned bands like WEAKLING and LUDICRA. Their songs sounded like they were written and recorded in the abyss itself! BRAINBLOODVOLUME was a short-lived sludge outfit with a pedigree that includes bands like AMBER ASYLUM, ARTIMUS PYLE, LAUDANUM, NO STATIK, REINA AVEJA, and WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. I always enjoyed them live and wish they had issued a proper recording. MURDER TAKES NO HOLIDAY was like the next chapter in the heavy Oakland metal/punk sound; too bad they never released any recordings either. Things would probably be much different if these bands existed now.

20 Years Ago Today at 924 Gilman Street

DYSTOPIA did a one-time reunion with their original vocalist Dan Kaufman (who was also in SHIVA), playing a bunch of songs off their split LP with EMBITTERED. LIKE FLIES ON FLESH were amazing. Their name is screwed up on the flyer because the guy who booked the show insisted that "Likes Flies on Flesh" was the correct name. The show almost got shut down by the Berkeley PD when a huge fight broke out between the cops and random drunk crustys.

20 Years Ago Today at 379 40th Street

Gotta love the flyer poking fun at the Y2K hysteria that never panned out. I don't think I was at this show, but who remembers the epic metal monstrosity that was LIKE FLIES ON FLESH? They damn near blew DYSTOPIA off the stage at Gilman a couple nights later! Who was INDEX FOR POTENTIAL SUICIDE? Good name, if nothing else. JENNY PICCOLO was decent emo-gone-grind; some people used to say that they sounded like what would happen if the LOCUST were nice people. Ouch!