January 10–17, 2002

music picks|rock/pop

The Circle Jerks

A leading light of the Cali hardcore scene in the early ’80s, The Circle Jerks were a supergroup of sorts, uniting vocalist Keith Morris (Black Flag), guitarist Greg Hetson (Redd Kross) and, later, drummer Chuck Biscuits (DOA, Black Flag). Their first album, Group Sex, ripped through 14 songs in less than 16 minutes, mixing open-throttle punk rawk with a searing sense of humor. Their appearance in the underground film Repo Man, and on the soundtrack exposed a whole new army of fans to irreverent classics "When the Shit Hits the Fan," and "Coup d’Etat." Whether deconstructing schlock classics like "Afternoon Delight" and "Love Will Keep Us Together," or burnishing lightning licks and humorously offensive lyrics, the band’s furious attack and nonstop attitude offered a blueprint for American hardcore. After splitting in 1990, the band returned in the wake of the Nirvana-led punk explosion, releasing Oddities, Abnormalities and Curiosities in 1995, but blew apart in the middle of that tour. So it remained until May of last year, when they reunited for a gig in L.A., followed by a monthlong tour in August. No label, no new album, just classic punk, from a band that revolutionized the form.

Sat., Jan. 12, doors open at 7 p.m., $15, with Mest, Trocadero, 10th and Arch sts., 215-922-LIVE.