Photo Credit: Rei Nishimoto

Turbonegro came out on fire as part of the dual Scandinavian rockers bill, as they threw down the gauntlet early and never looked back. The Norwegian punk rockers, now led by British frontman Tony Sylvester (aka Duke of Nothing), kept the crowd on its feet and the energy up high with his one liners in between songs referencing Los Angeles as ‘evil” (“City of Satan”) and drug innuendos referencing neighboring city of Fullerton and finding Social Distortion mainman Mike Ness. But the highlights of their set list included their rendition of the Dire Straits classic “Money for Nothing” along with the set closer “I Got Erection,” with the crowd chanting along with every word.

Photo Credit: Rei Nishimoto

Photo Credit: Rei Nishimoto

Swedish veteran hardcore punkers Refused managed to rile up the sold out venue with their angst driven sound and kept the energy on high all throughout their set. Frontman Dennis Lyxzen led the assault with his anger driven stylings, while the crowd eagerly screamed along word for word, as if their lives depended on what he was saying. Beginning with “Elektra,” off of their forthcoming album Freedom, and then diving head into “The Shape of Punk to Come” and “The Refused Party Program,” (off of The Shape of Punk to Come) as well other long time favorites triggered the crowd to respond with the crowd jumping along with the band and crowdsurfers tossed around alongside the occasional appearance by Lyxzen throughout the evening in the pit.

Refused. Photo Credit: Rei Nishimoto

While this is Refused’s official return to the music scene after a couple of brief reunion runs and with a new album about to drop, they showed that they have hardly lost a step. While longtime fans may debate over the validity over whether their new material stands up to their past, tonight’s show hardly shows any signs of them missing a step. If Swedish punk were missing any of their heroes, Refused is definitely up for the challenge to fill the void. Plus one thing is for sure – unlike their song, Refused are anything but dead.

Dennis Lyxzen of Refused. Photo Credit: Rei Nishimoto

Refused. Photo Credit: Rei Nishimoto

Set List

Elektra
The Shape of Punk to Come
The Refused Party Program
Rather Be Dead
Summerholidays vs. Punkroutine
Françafrique
The Deadly Rhythm
Dawkins Christ
Coup d’état
Hook, Line and Sinker
Refused Are Fucking Dead
Liberation Frequency
Tannhäuser / Derivè

Encore:
New Noise
Worms of the Senses / Faculties of the Skull

By Rei Nishimoto