The Dickies Old Enough To Know Better, Too Old To Care
Leonard Graves Phillips and Eddie Tatar the Dickies—Photo by John Greenwood
Having been a Bay Area, California, resident for over 30 years now and being a punk rock "lifer" since 1978 in the UK. There are not many punk venues around the Bay that I have not been acquainted with. Before this show at The Ivy Room on San Pablo in Albany, I was totally convinced I had been to this venue somewhere in my often quite blurred past. Right up to the point when we were parking the truck up outside. And what was left of my brain cells was going, "Nope, not familiar with any of this, Big Guy." Which, in some of the states my not-too-distant past has found me in, would not be an automatic disqualifier. However, as the evening would soon uncover. I was absolutely full of crap (not for the first time), and I had never been in this venue before in my life! So, what a delight presented itself here! An old "brand new to me" venue to discover. The first thing of note while conversing with the very friendly and cheerful doorperson outside on the sidewalk was that the merch table was outside on the sidewalk also. Which, like an idiot, I forgot to take a photo of in my conversations with the delightful door staff. Obviously, it foretold that this was going to be a small venue inside. We all know the usual jam-up around merch tables; what a great way to relieve the congestion inside the venue. Also, it gave the awaiting punters something to occupy their time with while waiting for the doors to open. LIKE IT! A great idea to put the merch on the sidewalk with the guest list greeter. I had never come across this before, and it rather dashes the political propaganda of crime-ridden East Bay streets.
The East Brothers—Photo by John Greenwood
This venue has apparently been known as The Ivy Room since 1942, mainly as a blues, rockabilly, and country venue.
In more recent times it has had a life with a more eclectic mix of artists. Since it was taken over by Lani Torres and Summer Jager in 2015, they have gone on to restore The Ivy Room into one of the East Bay's liveliest music venues and its place as an all-inclusive heartbeat in the local community. Torres' extensive and highly credentialed experience around live music comes from previous employment at the legendary CBGB's and the Bowery Ballroom, Another Planet Entertainment, and San Francisco's Independent. Jager also worked at several reputable Bay Area venues, including The Warfield, The Regency, 111 Minna, and The Fox Theatre.
Inside, it is a small venue covering only 2,000 square feet. Divided into two rooms, one housing the wall-length wooden old-style saloon bar and the other a small stage. But small and mighty packs quite a punch, as I found out as the night unfurled.
The first to command the stage tonight is a local two-piece outfit consisting of Artemis Jones (guitar and vocals) and Kerry Stamps (drums) and going by the name of Supersonic Symbiotic. Describing themselves as "punk curious," they create a strangely haphazard atmosphere that certainly drew me in and entertained me with their commitment. They provoked a gentle hint of Swell Maps/ TV Personalities, although only slight, and I am sure it is a coincidence; they are by no means a tribute or copyist band. I would be more than happy to see them again; it was a very emotional performance by Artemis and tight drumming from Kerry. Moving along, we had more East Bay locals, The East Brothers, who were just about to go off on an East Coast tour. Very boisterous display of Ramones/Stooges-type shirt-off hard-rocking punk. They have a great track and video, "I'm Goin'," which I would recommend. Amazing bass player too.
I was unfamiliar with the next band to enter the fray. Blunt Force Karma from San Francisco. Not to be confused with the Chicago death metal band of the same name. Consisting of Koda Black, Ryan Krebs, Chris Rekker & The Mighty Zoran. They absolutely threw themselves into this performance with everything they had. The song "Fucked Up" had the whole place in a frenzy; you can look them up on ReverbNation, I suggest you make yourself acquainted if you don't already know about them. They had the whole building perfectly on point for this stage of the evening.
Stan Lee of the Dickies—Photo by John GreenWood
And of course the main attraction was the incredibly amazing, unshrinkable, and unsinkable Dickies. Part of the punk rock folklore since year zero, hailing out of the San Fernando Valley in 1977. Playing what singer Leonard Graves Phillips aptly describes as "Autism Rock." They replaced the Sex Pistols on A&M when Mr. Rotten and the boys got too hot for the label to handle. The first California punk band to appear on network TV and the first California punk band to sign to a major label (A&M).
Leonard Graves Phillips of the Dickies—Photo by John GreenWood
The lists can go on and on. The Dickies have been there, done that, and worn the T-shirt out. Here on this night they were live and loud and blowing the doors off the Ivy Room in a masterful display of The Best of The Dickies. And the assembled audience just adored them for it. Beer, chairs, tables, bodies, and anything else not nailed down were flying in appreciation of this iconic punk rock band. They are one of the few that have continuously withstood all the music business, touring, and tests of time have thrown at them. And they are still going strong according to what was witnessed on this night. Stan Lee is as menacing of a guitar axeman as ever, wielding his guitar like a Texas Chainsaw, about ready to cut you in half. Together with Leonard's uniquely captivating delivery, they are the stuff of legends, as impressive as they are historic, and as historic as they are impressive. They have a string of West Coast live dates lined up for Fall/Winter 2025/26, as well as a new recording of the massively popular movie theme "Killer Clowns From Outer Space" on colored vinyl backed with earlier works "Give It Back" & "Silent Night."
(Editor's note) In case you didn’t know, The Dickies and the Adolescents pass drummer extraordinaire Adam Gomez back and forth like a doobie.
The Dickies have been confirmed for Rebellion Festivals.
Dickies merch and treasures can be plundered at Thedickies.com
Too poor or cheap to buy a T-shirt? We get it.
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