Starting their 30-minute set at 8 PM was the band perhaps most metalheads were waiting for, Northern California death metal/grindcore group Exhumed. The Matt Harvey-fronted outfit enjoys a tremendous fan-following in the LA area and for good reason, as LA has most never experienced a bad Exhumed show. With the brutal, deadly precision of the musicians in the band and the theatrics that typify any Exhumed live performance, the band was at the peak of their powers and lived up to the big occasion with a fantastic set. They played a variety of tunes even within this short duration, going all the way back to their very first album, and instigated the fastest, most violent mosh pits of the evening. There is no denying that the three bands that followed them justifed their billing, but Exhumed’s LA fans would undoubtedly have loved to see them get a higher slot and play a longer set here, and will eagerly await the band’s return to these parts.
It was down to the final three bands, and by this time, the Regent was so packed and crowded that the security staff deemed it necessary to stop allowing people to exit and re-enter the venue. Some folks had clearly not paced themselves smartly enough, and as evident from the scenes in the men’s room, couldn’t hold their liquor. This state of affairs set the scene perfectly for the next band, New York street punk/hardcore punk quartet The Casualties.
Believe it or not, this band has been reviewed and interviewed several times on this website before, as in the recent past they’ve often found themselves on metal tours, and on lineups with bands like GWAR and Toxic Holocaust. The average attendee here for the likes of Brujeria, Repulsion and Exhumed may have wondered where and how The Casualties would fit in, but they absolutely did, and put on a really stellar show which was an apt representation of the stature and reputation they’ve accrued since their 1990 inception. Singer Jorge Herrera bathed himself in beer and fronted the show excellently, while guitarist Jake Kolatis, bassist Rick Lopez and drummer Marc Eggers all did a mighty fine job as well. The tightness and precision in their performance was undeniable, and playing a set full of their best songs as well as a Ramones cover, The Casualties once again showed why they should be every metalhead’s favorite street punk band.
The main support slot was graced by none other than LA legends Repulsion. With guitarist Matt Olivo being one of the men behind putting this event together, Repulsion is the only band to have been part of both editions of Show Your Scars and they should very well be on every subsequent edition too, because it makes perfect sense for them to make this their only hometown show every year. They played a 40-minute set on this occasion which was just about ideal, and justifiably enough, they were many attendees’ favorite band of this lineup. The longstanding duo of Matt Olivo and vocalist/bassist Scott Carlson, along with drummer Chris Moore, put forth a truly crushing performance, and this was nothing short of grind at its very best. They played a good chunk of their own tunes and also a cover of Venom’s ‘Schizo’, as the crowd loved every moment of it and moshed their skulls out. Repulsion ruled supreme, and quite fittingly, were the best band of this festival.
Lastly, the stage was clear for headliners Brujeria to deliver the goods with their brand of deathgrind. It had been a long, exhausting day so far with eight bands having already played, so as expected, many bodies and minds were tired to the point of surrender, and in most cases, wallets were also drained. But the hour-long Brujeria set was not short on action, as the room was still almost completely packed and attendees, the Spanish-speaking metalheads and grindcore/hardcore punk fans in particular, were having a blast, provoked and energized by what the band played and said on stage. Brujeria have maintained a sizable fanbase over the years, even through periods of inactivity, and now that they’re back as a fully active band with their first new album in no less than 16 years, their fans have come out in large numbers, as evident from this turnout. It wouldn’t be a surprise if they sell out every show on this tour, and they definitely put on a show that deserves as much.
Overall, the second annual Show Your Scars fest was an overwhelming success for all involved, and treated LA concertgoers to a wildly diverse and flawlessly powerful lineup of great bands, most of whom gave it their all on stage. Here’s hoping for this glorious congregation of extreme music to bring many more such events in future years.
Check out the remaining dates of Brujeria’s tour with The Casualties and Pinata Protest on our Bands On Tour page.
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