Last night I ventured into Oakland to witness Lucky Dragons, The Fresh & Onlys and No Age at the New Parish. This was my first time in Oakland and my first time seeing any of these bands, but the experience I had vaguely reminded me of the shows I used to go to when I was younger…in the best and worst of ways.

To start it off, the show began an hour and a half behind schedule. It gave more kids time to show up and it didn’t take very long at all for the place to be wall to wall. I guess there were some sound difficulties from the artist the previous night blowing out the speakers. But regardless we all stood around with our Pabsts awaiting somewhat patiently. Lucky Dragons, a SoCal ambient experimental/trance artist was first up. From my table ever so conveniently seated next to the bar, all I could see was people hovering over a small space in front of the stage. Randomly colored lights started spewing across the faces of those standing the closest and one very, very, very long track began to play and didn’t stop playing. In fact that one song was his whole performance. I imagine its what an acid trip would feel like if you were sitting and watching the visualization effects on you Windows Media Player, which I suppose could be enjoyable if you’re into that sort of thing.

The Fresh & Onlys took the stage next. Let me be the first to say, never judge a band by their members’ outward appearances. When I first saw them, I couldn’t imagine them making anything I would ever be interested in. But to my surprise, they were kind of like the Bad News Bears of the show last night. Their set was amazing. Their music is like a mixture of 80′s goth rock with extensive rockabilly bass riffs and a dash of beach rock. And the fact that the lead singer sounds like a deeper Joey Ramone was the cherry on top of my “this band is pretty awesome” cupcake. The crowd was hella (sorry, the Norcal is getting to me already!) into it and so was I.

We all knew No Age was up next, so we all rushed to the stage to get a good spot. Two of the cutest little awkward gentleman take their place on stage and started making the loudest, most awesome clashing of instruments I’ve ever heard live. Some bands are better on studio albums than in live performances but No Age I’d say is the opposite. The random looping of shots on the screen behind them, mixed with the volume, mixed with the fast-paced pounding of the drums created riot music for the 2010 generation. A culmination of punk, experimental and indie all came together to form the best case of chaos.

Someone started a mosh pit and from then on the whole bar smelled like body odor and band aids, a smell that takes me back to those days of being 16 and being crammed in small venues to watch hardcore bands and hardcore dance. Oh, the memories. Furiously we all pounded into one another and for some reason with No Age’s music it worked well enough to not spark a fight. Dean Spunt (drummer, lead vox) was screaming into the microphone but was still hard to hear over the sound of the instruments. Those of us in front were crammed up against the stage with loud mouths shouting lyrics and pumping fists (not in the Jersey Shore sort of way) all around us. Their song “Fever Dreaming” incited the most excitement out of us all. Crowd surfing, skanking, booty shaking. You name it, it was happening. And it was glorious.

Despite the incredibly overwhelming stench, the being shoved and tossed about like a ragdoll, and STILL hearing feedback in my ears, I’d say it was definitely worth it. I grew a new found appreciation for a band I kind of like while being introduced to some new music. That line up, especially the last two, is worth checking out. Go to No Age’s Myspace for tour dates.