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 924 Gilman Street

This is quite a solid lineup on paper. Unfortunately, every band canceled except for DAMAD and BRAINBLOODVOLUME. GOOD CLEAN FUN was the most infuriating cancellation. They dropped off the show at the last minute, opting to play in San Francisco with CAVE IN and the NERVE AGENTS that night instead. Of course, this took place after they had made a big deal out of begging Gilman Street and Ken Sanderson to be included on the show. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? and CRISPUS ATTUCKS wound up filling in and that was fine, but how great would this show have been had everyone come through?

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 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!