To all you punk enthusiasts, a band like Bad Religion needs no introduction. To all you casual music fans, just know this: 27 years of socially conscious melodic punk rock. Along with Black Flag, Circle Jerks, and Adolescents, Bad Religion is one of the most influential bands in the genre.

While English hardcore punk exports Gallows were listed to play, they were not part of the Dallas date (I never found out why). L.A.-based The Briggs did however provide a solid 45-minute set of Clash-inspired punk. At times, you could almost hear singers Joey and Jason LaRocca invoking a Joe Strummer-meets-Tim Armstrong quality. The Briggs are a great band on Side One Dummy Records; all you fans of The Clash, The Buzzcocks, and Rancid should give them a listen.

I've seen Bad Religion on their stints as headliners on the Vans Warped Tour, but I don?t really count those shows due to the short sets and blistering heat. I wanted to catch them in an intimate club setting. At the start of the show, the crowd looked a bit thin, but by the time BR came out, the venue was filled and ready to go. As the band jumped right into their classic ?F*** Armageddon, This is Hell,? frontman (and college professor) Greg Graffin looked a bit like that uncle you see at family gatherings who everyone thinks is crazy but you find what he has to say and how it says it fascinating.

Even though guitarist Brett Gurewitz was missing from the lineup (he?s back in L.A. running Epitaph Records, BR?s home label) it was quite honestly not noticeable. Guitarists Brian Baker and Greg Hetson proved again that while there are no extremely long solos, nor a ton of effects in the music, that doesn?t mean it's not carefully crafted and delivered. Hetson jumped around the stage as if he were an eighteen year old kid with his first guitar.

Maintaining the rhythm section were bassist Jay Bentley and drummer Brooks Wackerman. They kept the driving beats and explosive tempos at a steady pace as BR went through a more than 20-song set. The songs were fast and precise, with BR delving deep into their vast catalog for songs such as ?Come Join Us? from The Grey Race and ?Social Suicide? from The Empire Strikes First. Also included were ?I Want To Conquer The World? from No Control and ?New Dark Ages? from their latest album, New Maps of Hell.

While I didn?t get to stay for the full set, I was glad to hear songs that I wouldn?t get to hear in a setting like the Vans Warped Tour. Bad Religion proved why, after 27 years of doing what they do, they are one of the few bands you must see live to truly appreciate.

Overall: If you call yourself a fan of punk rock, be it new or old school, it is a must to catch Bad Religion live, as they will show you how it's all properly done. The music is loud and fast and what they have to say is as relevant as it was 27 years ago.

[Blogcritics]