The Kids, Live at Zebulon (12/15/23)

Live show review

TLDR: Catch The Kids if they come to your town.

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Nico and I went out last Friday to the Zebulon to see a live punk show. The Kids, one of her favorites, are a Belgian punk band from the ‘70s. Sound-wise, they’re harder than the Kinks but not quite as unleashed as the Stooges; a band with a solid garage-rock base and an early punk tempo. They initially broke up in the mid-’80s, but have been back in several iterations. But a live show in the US is a rare one indeed, so it is not to be missed.

The Kids. Look, I’m not a photographer. I really just wanted to take a picture as quickly as possible and enjoy the show. It was a really dark venue, I’m surprised the pic came out at all. “Use a flash” you say? Nah. As someone who’s been onstage, I hate the flash from the crowd.

There’s a lot of nostalgia in touring punk right now. Bands like The Misfits play arena venues and every punk festival boasts headliners that draw out-of-state audience members. And yeah, I guess it’s better to see the Circle Jerks at a stadium if you never got the chance to see them at a skating rink in St. Louis in 1988 than to not see them at all. But it’s not the same as a small venue where the sound really fills the space, like you’re sitting inside a giant speaker.

But there’s a certain sliver of elder punk bands that are still small enough to play the local venues but also have the draw to pack the place out. For getting the experience that it was “back in the day” this is the best bet. The Kids are a great example of a band with a loyal following, tons of experience, and enough tried-and-true songs to pack out a set list from drumstick-countoffs to goodnights. There’s not many people who will wander into this kind of show on curiosity, but more than enough who know every song that will be played to recreate an ‘80s punk atmosphere.

The Kids played Zebulon, and I’m horrible at guessing numbers of people, but the show was packed out. The crowd was great, and even the pit that formed a violent swirl managed to contain itself rather well.

What was odd was that they went on at 9pm. Nico said this was normal for the venue. Why? Is it because it’s aimed at old punks who can’t stay up late anymore? Or is it just that they can sell out early, clear the music lovers from the place by 10pm, and then accommodate a second crowd of LA hipsters who don’t leave their house until the clock hits double digits?

One big nod to the Zebulon: Free earplugs were available at the door. I can’t bear to lose one percent more of my hearing. I already have tinnitus. I don’t go to a show without earplugs. But there was a time, before I gave a shit, that I would wear them if they were around and not otherwise. Oops.

Check out the YouTube links to two of their songs and see if you like their garage-rock/early punk sounds, and support your local punk bands! They’re old, they need the money!

Quick Rick’s Review

We stopped by Rick’s on the walk back to the car. I got a patty melt to go for EIGHT DOLLARS. Rick’s food is a cut above regular fast food but at fast food prices. Sure, you can go to a diner but a patty melt these days will run you about $16 before tip. Look, it’s not great but it’s exactly what you pay for. I still haven’t tried their infamous spaghetti, though.