January 16th - The Warehouse - Santa Ana, CA

The show was a lot of fun. We played first, then CCD, Joe’s Garage, The Outsiders, and then finally, JFA. It ruled. There was some technical difficulties with the PA right when we were about to play, so we just stood around for about 30 minutes. Apparently the mixer blew a fuse 4 times. Fuck.

Here’s a review from BigWheelMagazine.com:

Located in a dark and seemingly desolate area, it is an unsuspecting and perfect place for a punk rock venue of this sort. The Piratical Warehouse has made its home in a warehouse/business type of district in Santa Ana, where JFA, The Outsiders, Joe’s Garage, CCD, and Media Blitz played last night.
The venue includes its own range of territory that provides parking specifically for the warehouse, which is often a hassle to face at other venues. It is also huge and vast, an upgraded and far superior version of The Clinic, a former venue in Santa Ana that attempted to maintain its location among warehouses, but failed.
The show began at 8, and Media Blitz was first to play. During Media Blitz’ set, The Piratical Warehouse was filling up its first share of people, and the mass was rather large. Media Blitz did not fail to provide the audience awesomely raw music, and the audience did not fail to show their manifestation of the awesomely raw music. At the end of the set, lead singer Jason Schwartz compromised with a few members of the audience, and stated that the next time Media Blitz played, he would perform wearing booty shorts or a speedo.
When CCD played next, the members of the band were dressed and painted in yellow and black, appearing like a squad of men in combat, bumblebee edition. CCD’s set was enjoyable, and by this time, the Warehouse had a larger mass of people, and the pit was getting started and going. CCD got the crowd fired up for the night, clearly seen by the audience’s response and the action in the pit.
Joe’s Garage was third, and were very impressive during their set. Joe’s Garage had a great sound, and a female who knew her stuff well, representing for all the females last night. The pit was hectic, people were showing their spirit in the music, and overall, Joe’s Garage played a great set.
The Outsiders preceded JFA, but very well could have been the headlining band. The end of the night was nearing, but The Outsiders rendered music that was talented, exciting, and fun to pit to. The band shared JFA’s bassist, and played a set worth the night.
Jody Foster’s Army took the stage with an eager and anxious crowd, overwhelmed and beyond ready to indulge in the music. Upon hearing the band’s first song, the crowd became chaotic and bewildered, and a large amount of people flocked to the front of the stage jumping on one another hoping to grab hold of the microphone and sing or scream their brains out.
When JFA played "Beach Blanket Bongout", the crowd was at their peak of the music craze, and the pit was packed and fast, while the front of the stage was packed and swarmed with stage divers and crowd surfers. Upon playing "Charlie Brown", the crowd slowed down and danced in the pit, but it was not the last time JFA would play a fun and catchy song for the audience. JFA covered War’s "Lowrider", an odd but comical song to perform at a punk rock show. The crowd embraced the song and sang along the entire time with cheers. JFA finished shortly after twelve, and though no encore was given, people had satisfied looks on their faces, and left the venue feeling fulfilled.
 The Piratical Warehouse is an awesome venue, and it’s off to a successful and prominent start. While fairly new, there is tremendous potential for the venue, and it is already a favorite on my list. The show it provided last night was amazing, and many people agreed that the JFA show at the Piratical Warehouse exceeded their expectations. We have a new and refreshing venue within our reach again, so take advantage of future shows that will be booked at this location, and support the rise of a place that will no doubt hold new thrills, new nights, and new memories for all.

January 3rd - Mexican Cultural Center - Santa Ana, CA

This show was fucking awesome. As far as I know this was the first Media Blitz headlining show and it did not disappoint. We played with SM, Sonic Session, RSO, and Thought Process. People trickled in throughout the night and supposedly there was over 115 people who paid to get in. This show was a benefit for Iraqi orphans and we were able to raise around $250 for them, so that was cool.

Here’s a review from BigWheelMagazine.com:

The artists village in Downtown Santa Ana is an area known to locals as a territory made up of art galleries, hip bars, restaurants, and modern hippies and hipsters. Saturday January 3rd provided a different scenario for Santa Ana’s artists village, when the Mexican Cultural Center organized a Punk show in which the proceeds would go towards Iraqi orphans.
The Mexican Cultural Center is a small venue that frequently hosts benefit shows for important humanitarian causes such as world hunger and third world needs. The show was organized by volunteer Noor Aljawad, with the help of other volunteers at the Cultural Center. The bands set to play consisted of SM, Sonic Session, RSO, Thought Process, and Media Blitz.
A five dollar donation was required for entrance, and upon arrival, a crowd of people waited near the entrance to go in, while many others sat on the curb or waited across the street while they collected the funds from one another to go in. The show began shortly after 9, and the first band to go up was SM.
Being the first band to play, SM provided a small crowd but generated a first good taste of action in the pit. After SM, Sonic Session played a short set but continued the action of the night that SM commenced. More people began to pack the small venue, more people began to crowd the pit, and Sonic Session played a good set that was demonstrated by the participation of the audience.
By the time Costa Mesa natives RSO took the stage, the Cultural Center was full, sweaty, and humid. The band prompted good vibes off the audience, who indulged in the music by conducting a fast paced pit.
As the night began to reach its end, Thought Process made its way to play, but not on the stage. Thought Process set up their equipment on the floor right in front of the stage, and while it was seemingly risky due to the chaotic crowd running around too near the equipment, Thought Process made it through without a single mishap. Thought Process put on a really great set, they were personally one of my favorites of the night. Thought Process had a sound that was composed of a raw 80s hardcore feel. The band prompted one of the better pits of the night, and not a single individual failed to show their satisfaction in the band’s music.
Lastly, Media Blitz. Every previous Media Blitz show I have ever attended has consisted of the same thing: Brutal fast paced intensely packed pits, and an impressive performance. The Cultural Center’s show was no different; As soon as Media Blitz played their first song, the entire crowd rushed in and began the most hectic pit of the night. In fact, when Media Blitz covered Black Flag’s "Rise Above", the pit got so out of control, that several people flew into the drummer and his drum set, halting the show temporarily. Media Blitz ended the show with Beastie Boys’ "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)." The Beastie Boys song generated eager enthusiasm from the crowd, as they all sang along and danced to the song. An individual in crutches even made his way into the pit for the cover, and he danced the best he could with his broken foot.
When the show was over, people continued to wait around hoping for an encore from Media Blitz, but unfortunately the show was over for good. The members from Thought Process and Media Blitz hung out outside the venue interacting with people after the show’s end. The events of the night were over a little before midnight, but most people were so exhausted from the intense pits, that they headed home to recover from their battle wounds. The show never pertained a dull moment, and was exciting to both observer and participant.
Orange County Punks took over the artists village for a night, but let’s hope it won’t be the last time the Punks conquer the urban area and give it a taste of loud, IN YOUR FACE music and attitude again.


-Stephanie M.-
Big Wheel music scene reporter