Set It Straight's Final Show

Now, you might be thinking, “I thought Set It Straight already had a ‘last show’ over a month ago?” And you’d be right. But, I think it might have been more of a “we’re announcing we’re breaking up soon” show. I didn’t go to that one. But, I was able to go to the real last show in Petaluma with 10 other bands. Quite literally, it was insane; over 800 people, two broken arms, a concussion and, trust me, plenty of stage dives.

    With a line wrapped around the building, the Phoenix Theatre looked more like the set from an ‘80s movie like Thrashin’ than real life. It was controlled chaos, but like controlling a pitbull right before a basement dogfight in Tijuana. When I got in, thanks to the reluctant and stressed doorman, there was already a band playing in the lobby area, it might have been Shook Ones, but I can‘t be sure. As soon as one band stopped, another would immediately set up and start. I didn’t dare get close enough to see what sort of shenanigans were happening in the half enclosed, 30-foot by 20-foot room. I later saw the photos depicting a sea of crowd surfing kids. You couldn’t tell who was in the band and who was just singing along.

    I was really only there to see four of the 11 bands; Allegiance, Life Long Tragedy, Final Fight and Set It Straight. Half the bands that played that night played the lobby area. The first on the main stage was Sabertooth Zombie, who played fast and fucking loud. The bass player looked like his head might pop right off if he stomped any harder. What was really frightening was he looked like the nicest dude in the world when he wasn’t playing.

    Killing the Dream played just as well even after vocalist Eli Horner was swarmed by close to 30 kids who had clambered up on stage for their last song. He disappeared into the pile of people for close to 30 seconds during the sing-along. When the stagehands disbanded the group, he was just lying on his back panting, exhausted. After an announcement stating shit was getting out of hand, Allegiance was set and ready. They never disappoint when John Eightclip tells the crowd, “Fuck you if you don’t like me.” It was somewhat bittersweet as they announced they would only be playing five more shows before breaking up, as well.

    Seeing the members of Final Fight in Velcro sandals and short shorts gave the impression they’d be playing some mellow, Grateful Dead crap. But their bearded, shoeless frontman proved otherwise as well as their bodybuilding drummer, who also sings. Things mellowed out after word about the broken arms and concussion got around. For a while, at least. Life Long Tragedy played a heavy, if not short set, and I’m positive their guitar player has killed someone. He raged the whole time, not so much singing along, just sort of yelling at the top of his lungs as he stared at the kids in the audience, taunting them.

    Throughout the night, every band that played praised Set It Straight for everything they’ve done throughout the years. And it wasn’t just because they were breaking up; they really are some of the best dudes around. I almost couldn’t believe the reaction they got from the crowd.

    Set It Straight played one of the best shows I’ve seen and shit got out of control again during their last song. It felt like the stage was going to buckle under the pressure as what seemed like half the audience climbed onstage and surrounded vocalist Harry Petty and pushed Ben Paulsen and Curt Baer back behind the drums. You could tell that the stagehands were getting pissed, but there wasn’t really anything they could do. It was all in good fun, anyway.



    All in all, it was a ridiculous show that I’m glad I didn’t miss, even if it meant driving two-and-a-half hours, eating some terrible diner food and being stressed the whole way back as we drove through fog so thick we couldn’t see 10 feet ahead. It was worth it. R.I.P. SIS.

See more photos from the show at the Synthesis blog.

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