2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

Veteran punk outfit The Spits playing at The Garage in Ventura, California.  

My new drummer friend Bryan takes me to another show.  Best live band going, he says.  Bryan is a drummer and he is correct.

Self proclaimed space age mutant punk rockers, The Spits are what real live guitar music is all about.  They are demented, out of control, and they absolutely smash it.

We drove up from LA at 300mph with minutes to spare before this bone-shaking band of nutters took to the stage.  I was already drunk and primed for some loud music.  With these kinds of outings I like to pop the cheap 50mm 1.8 "Nifty Fifty" on the compact Canon 6D and have it over my shoulder and under my coat.  This means pretty much fixed to me: I'm not going to lose it, I can swing it up for a picture when I want, and I can still get involved and enjoy the band.  I want the pictures but I rarely want the distraction of the camera in order to take them.

The Garage is one of those sketchy dive bars you see in movies, and it is a brilliantly appropriate setting for this kind of quick and loud rock & roll.  The guy on the door looks like an extra from Sons of Anarchy.  The pool table is bent and stained.  There's a broken Rolling Rock neon sign dangling off the wall.  The makeshift stage is making the best out of a dank corner, and the only light source is a pair of gloomy red fluorescent strips on the ceiling.

I dial down to f2, crank the ISO up to 5000 and a fairly slow shutter speed.  I'm deliberately underexposing because sharp red highlights like this can easily blow.  Plus I like those spooky detail-less tones of red and black; it suits the mood as the band hammer out two minute tracks of feral robot fuzz punk.  I really get into it and throw myself around with 30 other kids for a bit.

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

The band come out with paper bags taped to their heads, but those are soon torn off as the temperature rises

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

The drummer likes to set fire to his cymbals multiple times

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

There's Bryan, in the front row, showing some love with teeth and fists

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

There's Bryan again... endorphins rushing

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

And Bryan again

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

This is not Bryan, but I think he loves The Spits nearly as much... just look at the wonder in his eyes

2014 The Spits at The Garage Ventura 23 Oct2014 Ventura, USA. Punk band The Spits playing at The Garage, 23 Oct

"Fucking thank you and goodnight"

The Spits' eponymously titled fifth album is out now on In The Red Records.  I strongly urge you to check them out on the remainder of their tour.  Their grunting thug punk with creepy weirdo synth is brilliant and should not be missed if thats your variety.

24/10 - Los Globos, LA

25/10 - Beach Goth Festival, Santa Ana

26/10 - Soda Bar, San Diego

27/10 - Strangers Beer Bar, El Centro