THE NIGHT STUFF
Show to bring in the noise, bring in the punk

By Derek Paiva
Advertiser Entertainment Writer

The Southern California power-punk quintet Strung Out last played for Punk On A Rock in 2001.

Honolulu City Lights downtown. Shopping and more dinners at Ala Moana Center's food court than in the past 11 months combined. Christmas parties every weekend. Punk On A Rock.

Because music heard during the holiday season — with the exception of that groovy new Jethro Tull Christmas CD — shouldn't all come piped in like consumer nerve gas via in-store speaker systems, there's the annual Punk On A Rock live band fest at Pipeline Cafe. The promoters of the event have brought in the noise and brought in the punk for four years — and three Decembers — now, each outing featuring four semi-known visiting bands.

Punk On A Rock hasn't always been pretty (One Man Army and Anti-Flag need not accept another invite). But it has offered moments of near-blissed-out punk nirvana (Guttermouth, Youth Brigade and Bouncing Souls are always welcome).

Here's a look at Saturday's 2003 lineup:

Strung Out: The SoCal power punk quintet is a Punk On A Rock veteran, having last headlined the fest in 2001. Counting bands such as Bad Religion and the Descendants as influences, Strung Out's sonic assault is lifted by unexpectedly strong melodical, lyrical and instrumental prowess.

The Suicide Machines: With its entertaining melding of power- and ska-punk stylings, this Detroit foursome has secured opening gigs for acts as diverse as Rancid and the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. And bonus board stickers for composing a track with the chant, "(Blank) security and (blank) the cops. I'm gonna skate just where I want" as a chorus.

No Motiv: From Vagrant (the same indie label feeding the tortured souls of Dashboard Confessional and The Get-Up Kids), this SoCal quartet fuses emo lyricism with three-chord pop-punk. So-so stuff. But I'll give any record label continuing to offer shelter to The Replacements' Paul Westerberg a break.

Stereotyperider: With a sound more front-loaded with visceral, guitar-driven hardcore rock than shades of pop-punk, this Phoenix-based foursome is an interesting choice to open Punk On A Rock. Still, I'd advise not skipping 'em just because they're on stage early.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8005.

Punk On A Rock 2003

With: Strung Out, The Suicide Machines, No Motiv, Stereotyperider.

Where: Pipeline Cafe.

When: Doors open 4 p.m. Saturday.

Cover: $17.50.

All ages?: Yes.

For more information: 589-1999, or www.punkonarock.com.

Punk on a Rock's past: Guttermouth, Swingin' Utters, Youth Brigade, The Line, Strung Out, Bouncing Souls, Anti-Flag, One Man Army, Drowning Adam.

If you like ... NOFX, try Strung Out ... Rancid and Less Than Jake, try The Suicide Machines ... Juliana Theory, try No Motiv ... The Alkaline Trio, try Stereotyperider.

Other Punk on a Rock band performances this week: Stereotyperider, 9 p.m. today, Tabu Nightclub, $5.

Hardcore punk in 2004: The Vandals, Jan. 14 at Pipeline Cafe.

Night notes ...

A trio of weekend events and parties celebrating hip-hop culture kicks off tonight with 120Z. Assassins Spray Can Exhibit, a showcase of art by aerosol artists out of Hawai'i and California from 8 p.m.-midnight at The Armory Hip-Hop Outlet, 1012 Pi'ikoi St., Suite103. The Underground Professionals Tour 2003 brings national MCs, DJs & B-Boys from Emanon and Icons to UH-Manoa's Hemenway Theatre, 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday, for $13 door, $10 advance. On Sunday, performances by Creed Chameleon and Audible Lab Rats will headline the Third Annual B-Boy Reunion at the UH Campus Center Ballroom from 2 to 8 p.m. There's no cover for B-Boy Reunion, but a donation of at least three cans of Spam, Tulip luncheon meat or corned beef will be required for entry. The potted meat will benefit the Hawaii Foodbank.

Wave Waikiki's Ultimate Dance Competition 2 launches three weeks of Monday contests this week with multiple rounds embracing a diversity of dance styles. Winners move on to a final Jan. 5 competition with a $1,000 cash prize.