Circle Jerks causes massive circle-pits in San Diego

Sometimes, the stars align just right. September 5th was one of those nights, when everything clicked: the venue, the bands, and the crowd all came together for something truly special at The Observatory in North Park, San Diego.

If you’ve never been to The Observatory, you’re missing out. This place gets it right in every way that matters. The floor is big, but tonight, it was absolutely packed with bodies pressed tight together. But even in a sardine can, the sight lines are perfect, no matter where you stand. And the sound? Chef’s kiss. Plus, there’s something about older venues that just have character… you can feel the history in the walls.

But what really impressed me is how management and security handled the show.

Hardcore shows can get wild and some venues freak out about it. Not these guys. They let the hardcore show be a hardcore show. Crowd-surfers flew overhead all night and not once did I see security rough anyone up for it. That takes understanding and respect for the scene, and major props to them for getting it right!

Negative Approach kicked things off and, holy hell, they came to destroy. These guys are considered one of the hardest of hardcore bands, and within the first 30 seconds, you know exactly why. John Brannon is still the absolute king of hardcore frontmen; the dude doesn’t need fancy moves or gimmicks — just a scowl that could melt steel. Ron Sakowski was a beast on bass, laying down the foundation that let everything else explode on top. And Harold Richardson on guitar? Total old-school hardcore move, spending most of the set with his back to the crowd in a wide stance, facing his amps. If you’re not familiar with hardcore tradition, that’s not being rude to the audience — it’s survival. When fans are climbing onstage for gang vocals or launching themselves into the pit, sometimes you need to protect your gear and yourself.

I’ll be honest: I’ve loved Gorilla Biscuits for years, but somehow never caught them live. Life gets in the way, schedules don’t line up, you know how it is. But after this show, I’m kicking myself for every missed opportunity.

DAMN. That’s really all I can say. DAMN.

I’ve seen hundreds of punk and hardcore shows over the years, but Gorilla Biscuits delivered one of the absolute best performances I’ve ever witnessed. Period. Civ is the ultimate frontman: he’s got raw power and aggression, but also this natural charisma that would work on any stage anywhere. He spent the whole night connecting with fans, jumping down to the rail so people could scream their favorite lyrics back at him. Yeah, he joked a few times about the barricade (which is pretty unusual for hardcore shows, since it creates distance between band and crowd), but it didn’t stop him from making that connection happen.

And their setlist was absolutely stacked. They hit all the classics — “Start Today”, “New Direction”, “High Hopes” — plus some deeper cuts that had the hardcore kids losing their minds. When they covered Minor Threat‘s “Minor Threat,” the place went absolutely insane. And that Civ cover “Do Something”? Perfect choice.

Here’s how good they were: I liked the show so much that I drove to Garden Grove two nights later to see them again. When’s the last time a show was so good, you immediately bought tickets to see it again?

Okay, dumb question. Most of you have done that. 

Then came the headliners — LA hardcore royalty Circle Jerks. Keith, Greg, Zander, and Joey took the stage and these guys came to work. A Circle Jerks show is exactly what hardcore should be: no BS, no fluff, just pure punk energy delivered straight to your face. They played a massive set covering their entire catalog, mixing the hits everyone wanted to hear with deeper cuts that showed their range.

Keith Morris being Keith Morris is always entertaining. The man has never been afraid to speak his mind and that’s exactly why we love him. He’s as punk as it gets, so if you’re easily offended by punk attitudes and politics, maybe hardcore shows aren’t for you. During the set, he got into some political topics and, when someone in the crowd tried to argue back, Keith shut them down from the stage. Pro tip — don’t try to out-punk Keith Morris. You will lose.

Beyond the banter, the music was absolutely incredible. They ripped through a massive 30-song set that was like a masterclass in hardcore punk history. Opening with “Deny Everything” and “Letterbomb”, they hit classic after classic: “Beverly Hills”, “When the Shit Hits the Fan”, “Wild in the Streets” (that Garland Jeffreys cover that’s become a Circle Jerks signature), “Live Fast Die Young”, and “Wasted.”

The real treat came when they dove into some Black Flag covers, paying homage to Keith’s roots with “Depression”, “Fix Me”, “Revenge”, and “Nervous Breakdown” before closing with “Question Authority”, the perfect end to a night that celebrated everything punk stands for.

Some nights everything just works.

The venue was perfect, the sound was dialed in, and three of the most important bands in hardcore history all brought their A-game. From Negative Approach’s brutal opening assault to Gorilla Biscuits’ masterclass in crowd connection to Circle Jerks’ reminder of why they’re legends, this was hardcore punk at its absolute finest.

If you love live music, any kind of live music, you owe it to yourself to catch these bands when they roll through your town. This is what rock n’ roll is supposed to feel like — dangerous, exciting, and absolutely essential. These guys are still out there proving that age is just a number when you’ve got the songs and the passion to back it up. Sometimes, you leave a show thinking it was pretty good. Sometimes, you leave knowing you just witnessed something special. September 5th at The Observatory was definitely the latter.

Photography by Shane Pase

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