Suicidal Tendencies @ El Teatro Flores by @superunknon

It’s Great to Be Young and Crazy! And Young at Heart.

    

Last night, I finally checked off one of the many bands I missed seeing in the '90s from my list. With some bands, I can't indulge myself, either because they've disbanded, someone passed away, or they’ll never tour here. But that’s not the case with Suicidal Tendencies, a crossover band (a blend of punk and thrash) formed in the western part of California in the early '80s.

Spawned from the creative mind of Cyco Mike Muir, a charismatic frontman who, despite the passing of time, maintains an unchanged style. He is the only original member remaining, leading the band through numerous lineup changes and breaks for various reasons. Today, they are more relevant than ever, with music that was ahead of its time and has now become a timeless classic. They don’t stop for a second on stage and generate an unparalleled energy that connects with the audience.

One of the guitars is fiercely handled by Dan Pleasants, who started in Infectious Grooves and has been by Cyco Mike's side since the '90s.

The other guitar is played by Ben Weinman, former guitarist of The Dillinger Escape Plan, a guy who may look harmless but is crazier than a goat. He isn’t afraid to hang from the ceiling (which he did), climb onto an amp (which he did), or be held up by roadies and the audience to shred a riff above the crowd (and yes... he did that too).

The setlist was packed with classics, starting with an extra-long version of *You Can’t Bring Me Down*, *War Inside My Head*, the iconic *How Will I Laugh Tomorrow*, among others. The most recent song were *Cyco Vision* and *Freedumb*  from 1999, but they didn’t play anything from *Art of Rebellion*, and the brilliant *Institutionalized* was also left out. Maybe next time.

On bass, a 20-year-old named Ty Trujillo, bearing the illustrious surname of the current Metallica bassist and former ST member. It's clear he was born with the genetics and a bass in hand, as he owned the four-stringed instrument, especially during *Send Me Your Money* and *Possessed to Skate*. Before that song, Mike asked who among the crowd skated, who did BMX, who surfed, and who performed brain surgery, getting the same "ehhh" response from the crowd.

I can’t forget the drums, destroyed by the beast Jay Weinberg (former Slipknot). It seems like he's been there for years, perfectly fitting in despite only joining ST a year ago.

The audience lived up to the occasion, filling the theater (which filled up quickly), and giving it their all. I decided to watch from the balcony because I wasn’t up for getting crushed in the mosh pit, where I witnessed epic battles, mosh pits, spirals, and crowd surfing. Fans from all generations, metal girls, and older bald, gray-haired guys who dared to mingle with the younger ones.

At one point, Pleasants asked for a wall of death; they misunderstood and gave back a vortex that was just as wild.

Mike was super chatty as usual (in English, of course). He shared how his house had burned down, that his family was okay, but he chose to come to the South American tour to be with his “other family.” He seemed deeply moved and emotional, apologizing for taking so long to return to Buenos Aires and promising to come back soon with more material. Hopefully, this will lead to a visit from Infectious Grooves, as four ST members are part of IG. That would be another band to tick off my "never thought they'd come" list.

 

The night ended with a bunch of fans storming the stage, first chosen by hand, then it turned into a free-for-all. Almost 50 people were up there, mere inches from their idols, shouting along to *Pledge Your Allegiance* and chanting ST, ST.

“Sing to say something.” That’s the message I’m taking away, echoed by the opening band, Hueso. I wasn’t a big fan of their set, but respect for their message. The crowd seemed to enjoy it too, as it sparked the wildfire that Suicidal Tendencies unleashed soon after.

Suicidal Tendencies @ El Teatro Flores 2024-11-08 by @superunknon

Qué lindo es ser joven demente! Y joven de mente. Ayer por la noche pude sacarme una de las tantas ganas de ver bandas que me perdí en los 90s. Con algunas no puedo darme el lujo, porque se desmembraron, se murió alguno, o nunca van a bajar. Pero no es el caso de Suicidal Tendencies, agrupación crossover (cruza entre el punk y el thrash) formada en la zona oeste, en California en los early 80s.  

Salida del genio creativo de Cyco Mike Muir, un loco lindo que hace las veces de frontman y que por más que pasa el tiempo, mantiene un estilo inalterable. Él es único integrante que sigue desde el inicio, a lo largo de múltiples cambios de formación y compases de espera por diversos motivos. Ahora están más vigentes que nunca, con una música adelantada a su época en su momento y hoy devenida en clásico de clásicos. No paran un segundo en el escenario y generan una energía única de conexión con el público.

Una de las guitarras es rabiosamente manejada por Dan Pleasants, que arrancó en Infectious Grooves y acompaña a Cyco Mike desde los 90s.

La otra viola es de Ben Weinman, ex violero de The Dillinger Escape Plan, un tipo que tiene cara de bueno pero está más loco que una cabra, no le teme a colgarse del techo (lo hizo), subirse a un amp (lo hizo), o ser sostenido por los plomos y el público para arrancar un riff sobre la marea humana (y si...lo hizo).

El repertorio estuvo lleno de clásicos, arrancó con una versión extra large de "You can´t bring me down", "War inside my head",  el temazo "How will I laugh tomorrow"  entre otros.  Los tema más recientes fueron Cyco Vision y Freedumb de 1999, pero no tocaron nada de Art of Rebellion y el genial "Institutionalized" también quedó afuera. Seguramente para la próxima.

En el bajo, un joven de 20 añitos llamado Ty Trujillo,  apellido ilustre del actual bajista de Metállica y ex miembro de ST. Se nota que nació con la genética y el bajo debajo del brazo. Porque hizo lo que quiso con el instrumento de cuatro cuerdas. Sobre todo en Send me your money y Possesed to Skate. Previo a ese tema Mike preguntó quiénes hacían skate, quienes bmx, quienes surf y quienes cirugía cerebral, consiguiendo la misma respuesta ehhh de la monada. 

Me falta la bata, destrozada por el animal de Jay Weinberg (Ex Slipknot). Parece que estuvo ahí por años y se amoldó perfectamente. Hace solo uno que está con ST.

El público estuvo a la altura de las circunstancias, teatro lleno (se llenó de golpe), agitando a más no poder. Yo decidí mirar desde el balcón porque no me dio para romperme en el mosh y pude presenciar, cual circo romano, batallas épicas, moshpits, espirales, crowd surfing. Público de todas las generaciones, minitas del mental, viejos pelados y canosos que se animan al roce con los más pendejos.

En un momento Pleasants pidió una Wall of death, no le entendieron y les devolvieron un vórtice que también estuvo salvaje,

Mike estuvo re parlanchín como es su costumbre (en inglés obviamente). Contó cómo su casa se había quemado, su familia estaba bien, pero el optó por venir a la gira de Sudamérica para estar con su "otra familia". Se lo vió muy afectado y emocionado, pidiendo disculpas por haber demorado tanto en volver a Buenos Aires, prometiendo volver pronto con mucho material. Ojalá que decante en una visita de Infectious Grooves, cuatro integrantes de ST forman parte de IG. Sería tachar otra banda de las que "no pensé que vendrían".

El final de fiesta estuvo dado por la subida al escenario de una bocha de fans, elegidos al principio a dedo y después se fue todo al carajo. Casi 50 personas viendo a centímetros de sus ídolos  "Pledge your allegiance" y coreando las iniciales ST, ST.

"Cantar para decir algo", me quedo con ese mensaje, compartido por la banda soporte que fue Hueso. No me gustó mucho lo que hicieron, pero vayan mis respeto por el mensaje y al público parece que si, porque sirvió para prender la chispa del incendio que generó Suicidal poco tiempo después.

Living Colour @ El Teatro Flores - Buenos Aires 17th October 2024 - by @superunknon

                                            Photo by  @mtsrey10 Ig

I'm 50 now, started using glasses to read small print. I’ve got a torn meniscus, which I regularly rub with arnica creme.

I bike a lot and listen to even more music. I’ve got no hair left, so I shave it because it’s practical and I fancy it.

There’s quite a difference between this and the 19-year-old who was at Obras ‘93, jumping and sweating like a maniac. That guy whose ticket disintegrated from all the sweat, sticking it back together with tape.

You know what hasn’t changed? Having Living Colour right in front of me, on stage, giving their best. Always In sync with a mixed crowd— consisting mainly of longtime rockers, tons of musicians, and people who know their stuff.

Because LC deserve playing in packed arenas, headlining festivals, getting tons of credit for being rock n roll legends. They’re a four-headed musical beast that bond together incredibly well, like a Voltron. Their chemistry is intact, and their songs are unique and unrepeatable. They tear them apart and rebuild them at will, toying with the solos, lenght of the songs, vocal interpretations. Oh and a little observation: THEY’RE ALL OVER 60!

Sorry, if I didn’t introduce them properly. This band, formed in NYC in the late '80s, is made up of Corey Glover, Vernon Reid, Doug Wimbish, and Will Calhoun. And they played last night at Teatro Flores, my first time there, but definitely not my last.

Let me start from the beginning. Only for them, for my history growing up with the band and how much I relate to their music, I got myself a Meet & Greet. And totally worth the ride.

I went full-on groupie mode. If they had made me an indecent proposal, I would have thought about it twice.

I arrived early; the event organizers told us that it would start at 5 PM. When I got there, they told us Corey wasn’t around yet, and we’d get to “meet and greet” them after soundcheck. Needless to say, hearing them rehearse while I was outside was amazing,  they sounded like they were in the street or the gig had already started. And I couldn’t wait to get inside.

There were five of us waiting for the M&G, all awesome people who share the same love for the greatest band in music history. No complaints or suggestions accepted—this is MY band.

Finally, they let us in, the band awaited, sitting at a table like judges on X Factor, ready to sign the stuff we brought and listen to our stories. Vernon loved my tattoo and even took a picture of it. The rest of the guys were super chill, humble, and really cool. We all took an individual group photo with the band, quick stop at the merch table, grabbed a liter of Fernet when the bar opened, and were allowed to enter the venue, feeling like World Champions.

Being front row at a concert is something I’d never experienced before. I never arrive that early. My backpack worked like an airbag against the crowd constantly pushing and moshing—a lot more intense than when LC played at Groove a few years ago.

After that, we sat down, finished on our Fernets,  shared anecdotes, common ground, and experiences—all with Living Colour as the main topic. Then, as we stood up and the lights dimmed, Andrea Julia Álvarez took the stage. I’d never listened to her before, and she really surprised me. She’s got a solid power trio, an impeccable voice, and hits those drums like there will be no tomorrow. I really enjoyed it—definitely approved.

The main course was served at 9:05 PM, as a photographer told me (I thought she was hitting on me, I'd have loved if she did). They emerge while John Williams' Imperial March started to play. Corey looked flawless, Vernon had these bright yellow sneakers with the radioactive symbol, his signature CBGBs shirt, Wimbish rocking a mirrored shirt and his stylish hat, and Will smiling and peaceful, just the calm before the storm he would unleash.

Once they hit the stage, it was pure ecstasy. They whipped out their massive musical talent and smacked us in the face with it from every angle.

The setlist took us on a journey through their first three albums (the best ones). I’m going to focus on what they did play, not what they didn’t because, honestly, I’d love to hear them play Stain (my favorite album) in its entirety (and they did play quite a few songs from it, so no complaints here).

Not in this exact order, this is the SetList: Sacred Ground (a gem), Funny Vibe (my personal favorite), Glamour Boys, Bi, Flying (with two guitar solos and a bass solo, an extended play of love and sorrow), Ignorance is Bliss, Desperate People, Never Satisfied, Times Up, Type, Cult of Personality, a medley by Wimbish with funky tunes like White Lines (and others I didn’t catch), Open Letter (with that mind-blowing intro they always deliver, and Corey just a foot away, doing whatever he wants with his voice). A beastly solo from Will (with all his gadgets, tribal rhythms, and samples), Ausländer, Love Rears Its Ugly Head.

And as if that wasn’t enough, they did Should I Stay or Should I Go in the encore. And everyone sang along with Corey at the end, shouting, “What’s your favorite color? LIVING COLOUR.”. The crowd was at it best, surely making the band perform at its peak, although they'd be exhausted reaching the final Southamerican tour leg. 

It flew by, but it had everything. I want them to come back. Incredible, unforgettable. Thank you!

PS: It’s going to be tough going to another gig after this with such a high bar.