DRI live 9/05/24
Live at the Jewel Music Venue in Manchester, New Hampshire, USA *September 5th 2024*
There are a few bands in my life that have had a huge influence on me since I was young and into adulthood. DRI, which stands for “Dirty Rotten Imbeciles”, has been one of those such bands for me. I have been a fan of their music since I was thirteen years old! I first heard the 1987’s Crossover record and then proceeded to geek out on 1985’s Dealing With It and the 1983’s Dirty Rotten LP. I was into the thrash metal scene back then (early Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer,etc.) and DRI was introduced to me from a good friend’s older brother. The music was heavy but much faster, especially the Dirty Rotten LP and Dealing With It. It ultimately introduced me to hardcore and punk rock music. DRI progressed into more metal with the Crossover record and the releases that followed: 1988’s Four Of A Kind, 1989’s Thrash Zone, 1992’s Definition, and finally 1995’s Full Speed Ahead. However, because of the hybrid of heavy metal and hardcore music, the “crossover” genre was created, including other bands like Cryptic Slaughter, Corrosion Of Conformity, SOD, and Excel. I was fortunate enough to see the band perform live on several occasions throughout the years, the last time nearly ten years ago! However, my musical interests have grown in time to where it is now, with the bands featured in this blog but I will never forget my roots. DRI was a very important band for me in discovering hardcore and punk rock music. I also discovered death metal and grindcore music as a result of DRI and bands like them, and became involved in playing in bands myself.
So once I found out that DRI was playing in Manchester (less than thirty minutes away from where I live) I couldn’t resist the opportunity to see them live again. DRI has been playing for over forty years now! They originally formed in 1982. Despite not releasing new material since 2016’s EP, titled But Wait…There’s More!, the band continues to tour extensively. This show was part of a two year long tour schedule that the band was embarking on. The only two original band members that carries on the torch of DRI are vocalist Kurt Brecht and guitarist Spike Cassidy. The current bassist is Greg Orr (ex-Attitude Adjustment). Long time drummer Rob Rampy did not play at this show. I can’t remember the name of the fill in.
I arrived at the club about fifteen minutes before DRI was about to play. They were setting up and I proceeded to go right to the front of the stage. There was a decent crowd there for a Thursday night. It consisted of mostly older people, like myself, who were probably longtime fans too. I timed my arrival perfectly because I had no interest in seeing the opening bands (no offense to them.) But I was only there to see the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles and didn’t really listen to that style of music much anymore. I was a little reluctant about being there, to be honest. I wasn’t sure I would be into the music like I once was. I hadn’t listened to DRI’s records in quite some time and wasn’t into the scene like I once was.
However, once DRI hit the stage and started playing, my doubts quickly vanished. They were incredible! They performed a blistering set of classics from all of their releases. The venue allowed the band to play a ninety minute set which was fantastic. I was getting goosebumps from some of the songs and realized that I was still really into the music. Guitarist Spike Cassidy looked like he aged a bit, sporting a long gray and white beard, but played like a pro. His style of guitar playing is unique and he was on point. Vocalist Kurt Brecht looked like he hadn’t aged one bit. He still had long dark hair with a trimmed beard showing no signs of white hair at all. His voice sounded exactly like it is supposed to and his energy was great also. Bassist Greg Orr destroyed also and played those songs with conviction and justice. The drummer also did a great job and kept the music on time throughout.
DRI played a varied set of songs like: “Snap”, “I’d Rather Be Sleeping”, “Yes Ma’am”, “The Explorer”, “How To Act”, “Karma”, “Commuter Man”, “Arguments Then War”, “Couch Slouch”, “Mad Man”, “Nursing Home Blues”, “Violent Pacification”, “Who Am I”, and “I Don’t Need Society” from the first two records. From the Crossover album, they played “Coffin”, “Probation”, and the closer, “Five Year Plan”. I was pleasantly surprised to hear “Think For Yourself”, and the trio of back to back songs of “Slumlord Doesn’t Care”, “Dead In A Ditch”, and “Suit And Tie Guy”, from Four Of A Kind. The band played “Thrash Hard”, “Abduction”, and “Beneath The Wheel” from Thrash Zone. The only song they played from the Definition record was “Acid Rain”. Finally, from the Full Speed Ahead record, they played “I’m The Liar”, “Wages Of Sin”, and “Syringes In The Sandbox”. I think I covered the majority of the songs from what I remembered. I must say, the hour and a half set went by fast.
I’m so glad that I decided to go see DRI. It was very nostalgic and I felt like a teenager again. The mosh pit was kind of a joke, which I’m not complaining about. I was at the very front hovering over some floor monitors, so I felt safe from any potential thrashing. The only downside was that I was right next to some annoying drunk dude who was yelling gibberish between songs. He was harmless though. Also, I thankfully remembered to bring some earplugs with me in which I wore the entire time. The high frequencies of the guitars were super loud and my ears were thanking me for those plugs. I am hoping to be able to see DRI live again, maybe at their 50th year anniversary. I have been a fan of this band for about thirty seven years now. It’s hard to fathom that reality but, long live the Dirty Rotten Imbeciles.
