Fishbone, Primus highlight Rock For Choice Benefit
Security at the Palladium tightens in light of abortion clinic
shootings
By Gaby Mora
Daily Bruin Staff
The biggest joke of the night, as music fans filed into the
Hollywood Palladium Saturday with tickets that read "Roe v. Wade,"
was, "I want my money back if this ‘Roe’ band doesn’t show up."
Protecting women’s constitutional rights to have safe abortions,
however, is no joke to the Feminist Majority, the nation’s largest
abortion clinic support group which sponsored this year’s benefit
concert, Rock for Choice.
Started by the female heavy metal band, L7, in 1991, Rock for
Choice has featured such supporting bands as Nirvana, Pearl Jam,
Porno for Pyros and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
On the anniversary of the famous 1973 court case that
established abortion rights, an array of alternative bands again
showed their support of the controversial cause.
Among the abortion rights groups were Primus, Fishbone, No
Doubt, Face to Face, Possum Dixom, Weapon of Choice, Geraldine
Fibbers and Stone Fox. And though the young crowd was there
primarily for the three biggest bands, coordinators of the event
appreciate any support they can gain from people of all ages.
"It was one of the smoothest run shows we’ve ever had," says
Michel Cicero, Rock for Choice coordinator. "We registered a lot of
voters and got a lot of petition signatures."
The Palladium has always had the tightest security in Hollywood,
with event staff ready to confiscate everything from semi automatic
weapons to gum. But due to the December 30 shooting at two abortion
clinics in Brookline, Mass., the caution seemed a haunting reminder
of the five people who were injured, and especially of the two
receptionists who were killed.
Two large scrolls were filled with signatures sending regards to
the families of both victims. And though the shootings were
thousands of miles away, Cicero notes that this is indeed a threat
in Southern California.
"There is currently a doctor being targeted in Riverside, and we
just had someone arrested in the Van Nuys area for saying he was
sent by God to stop abortions.
"We need to bring attention to the fact that abortion rights are
still in jeopardy," continues Cicero, "A lot of kids aren’t aware
of the terrorist climate, and since they can’t vote they can at
least help to raise money for the cause."
If politics and violence didn’t get fans attention, Primus’ bass
driven angst certainly rallied the large crowd into a mass of mosh
and chants. After asking the crowd if they, "want to hear some of
the old shit," and having an enthusiastic response, Primus did just
that with "Here Come the Bastards," "Pudding Time" and "Is it
Luck."
The crowd chanted "Here They Come" in unison, and Angelo Moore,
lead singer of Fishbone, stepped in with a horn solo.
Performing with his own band, Moore stole the show. Though the
group has moved away from their ska-motivated melodies into a
heavier, guitar driven sound, Moore still balances the pace with
his harmonious voice and incorporation of a variety of
instruments.
And the mohawk-donning lead singer has a stage presence that is
unmatchable. As he jumped from speaker to speaker and into the
crowd, he never missed a note and managed to somehow continue the
songs without getting entangled in the microphone cord. "Donuts,
Cigarettes and Coffee" was the most popular set, though the
creative group could have presented a less monotonous and varied
demonstration of their talent.
Anaheim based, No Doubt delivered an illuminating performance.
Led by Gwen Steffani, the ska outfit took full advantage of their
lead singer’s raw talent and moved through horn accented songs with
energetic flow. It quickly became clear why fans immediately fall
in love with Steffani’s genuine candor.
"Let’s Get Back," "Brand New Day" and "Trapped in a Box" were
some of the old favorites the group performed, though they also
added to the set a good amount of new material. In between songs,
Steffani announced that if she were to become pregnant right now
she would keep the baby because she personally does not believe in
abortions, but she acknowledged the right for every woman to make
that choice on her own. It was an intelligent statement, and
stacked high against the other group leaders who were content in
simply mentioning that it was a "worthy cause."
Face to Face looked like Greenday on steroids, but held balanced
melodies against the hard-driven punk undertones. Weapon of Choice,
obviously trying to ride on Fishbone’s coat tails, with not nearly
half the talent, were not impressive. And considering the event
focused on a primarily female issue, the gyrating, skinny freak
girl was an offensive prop.
By all accounts, the $20 were well spent for the cause and for a
good musical lineup.
MUSIC: Rock for Choice benefit. Saturday, Jan. 21 at the
Hollywood Palladium.