Descendents. Union Hall. Edmonton. May 7 2017.
Following an epic 7-1 win by the Edmonton Oilers over Disney Dudes the Anaheim Ducks, on home ice, it was only fitting that the human version of Milo Aukerman greeted the crowd with chants of; “Ducks Suck.” Gentlemanly and more than gracious too, considering Descendents are fresh in from SoCal.
Even though he was kind of an after thought to the original ’78 line up, Aukerman has become the poster boy for this now middle aged chunk of punk. A veritable caricature of himself, to pass him in the street you’d likely think he was a coder, or some king of science nerd. You’d be spot on in that thought…In a former life Aukerman gained a doctorate in Biology…
You only have to avert your eyes toward the floor, and bear witness to his (slightly aromatic) Converse, flanked by sport socks, hairy legs, and long shorts, to confirm what you suspected…this man is a PUNK!
Of course, many forget that Aukerman descended later, and that we also need to mention founding member Bill Stevenson (drums) and Stephen Egerton (guitar) and Karl Alvarez (bass) who both joined the band in 1987.
When fifty percent of your crowd is younger than the age of your band, you might think that they are just at the show for shits and giggles. Not so with this crowd, it would seem. There were no Paris Hiltons in this crowd. These grimy gobbers were as loud as the band, amplified every word that our cartoon singer was eliminating, and were as physical as they were loud. The steamy pong of beer soaked sweat was a really apparent addition to the atmosphere. 
About to head to Europe on another leg of the Hypercaffium Spazzinate tour, these “barely’ tattooed and considerably normal looking middle aged blokes, don’t particularly exude punk in a Jay Adams (RIP) or Fat Mike manner, but they sure appear to have tapped into the psyche of both their peers and their respective semen. They say what they mean and they mean what they scream, and those around them suck it up like a slightly mildewy, been left in a warm and damp bathroom for too long, sponge.
Headbangerwoman sometimes doesn’t really get it when it comes to punk, but we also are fucked if we’ll judge those who do, and on this musical occasion, as with many before it, and likely for a good many years to come, the crowd appears to give us the review we are looking for, without us having to review at all.
Edmonton fan Tony Carey, who was still in the crowd at 21.15, WAY after Headbangerwoman.com had left the building, reported that the show right now was: Fuckin’ sick!!!!!! OK Tony, we’ll give that to you, and hope you weren’t the recipient of too much gozz and toppled beer.
Headbangerwoman. KG May 8 2014
Photography by Karen Graham. No use without consent.
Turn It Up To Twelve 