Manic Hispanic has always proudly represented the people of Orange County. As such, for Cinco de Mayo weekend you know the Latino hooligans had to do something special.
This year that meant taking over both rooms at the Observatory for an all-star blowout.
Lng/SHT provided a nice change from the evening of punk rock that followed. The Spanish rap singer out of Mexico City started the evening in the Constellation Room. He had a really nice set of hip hop en Espańol that got the crowd grooving, a calm before the storm so to speak.
A fair-size crowd gathered in the main room for Bloodstains. Not only are they locals from Santa Ana who have established a popular local following, but their live set is impressive. The back bone of the band is Miles Gretsky whose rapid-fire drumming and fills were off the charts.
Cesar Marin proved quite the entertaining frontman, giving his all on songs like “Public Hanging” and “Social Suicide.” The band closed with “Combat Shock.”
Back in the Constellation Room was San Diego’s The Plagues, bringing a sound and attitude reminiscent of ‘80s OC and British punk. Led by famed tattoo artist Chris Bevier, the band opened up with “Girl Reaction” and “Don’t Tell Me.” Playing loud, fast music they elicited some of the first mosh pits that evening, closing with “Hector” and “Suicide.”
Left Alone immediately got the main room bumping, with a skank pit that saw the biggest energy from the evening thus far. They opened with fan favorites “Sad Story” and “Hate the Day,” and lead singer-guitarist Elvis Cortez was playing double-duty as he is also lead guitarist for Manic Hispanic.
They welcomed Lng/SHT – who co-wrote a song on their new album – to rap during that song’s bridge. They also played a new track entitled “Weekend,” which Cortez explained was off of their upcoming album, before closing with “Mile High.”
Southern California legendary punk band, Shattered Faith headlined the Constellation Room, opening with “The Verdict.
Shattered Faith has its roots as far back as Orange County punk goes, playing alongside bands like The Vandals and Social Distortion. Led by Spencer Bartsch, who sang with a Johnny Rotten-like snarl, the band closed out their set with the popular “Born to You.”
There was a real shift in the mood as Orange County legends the Adolescents took over the main stage. All of the old and new school hardcore punks came out and showed up in droves at the most vicious set of the night.
They opened with “L.A. Girl” but by the second song, “Monolith at the Mountlake Terrace,” a brutal pit ignited and would not burn out until the band’s very last note.
Lead singer Tony Reflex looked and sounded fierce as ever, spitting out every word as fans clamored for more.
Punk icon Brad Logan (formerly of F-Minus and Leftöver Crack) has been with the band since 2018 and provided the back beat along with Death by Stereo drummer Mike Cambra firing with expert timing and technique.
But, as hard and aggressive as the band was giving it out, the fans were giving it right back creating a nasty pit with flinging elbows and bodies flying about as the band hit them with “Escape From Planet Fuck,” “Rip it Up” and “Welcome to Reality” singing along to every word.
By the time the band launched into “Amoeba,” truly one of the most iconic punk rock songs of all time, the crowd somehow exploded even larger, swallowing up nearly the entire crowd on the floor. Finally, when the venue could take no more, the band closed with “Kids of the Black Hole,” evoking one last wild pit to end their set.
As Manic Hispanic took the stage, co-lead singer Louie Perez III said, “Your favorite paisas have arrived” and the band launched into their rendition of Black Flag’s “Wasted.”
They played “Mas Chingones,” their take on the Bouncing Souls’ “True Believers,” featuring lead vocals from Efrem Schulz, donned in a serape, black gloves and Locs shades.
Perez announced, “I live in Orange County but I was born in East Los Angeles” and the boys played “East L.A.” a take on the X classic.
They played “Barrio Hero” as Perez went down to the barricade to sing into the crowd, which co-lead singer Gilbert “Dreamer” Pichardo used as an opportunity to launch off Perez and front flip onto the crowd, as both men began crowd surfing.
They paid tribute to Rancid with “Rudy Cholo” and dedicated “Naranjo” to the “tonto” in the White House.
Schulz pointed to Steve Soto’s sister who was in the audience. Soto, of course, the founding bassist of the band, as well as Adolescents and Agent Orange passed away in 2018.
Schulz dedicated “Mexican Girl” to both Soto and original Manic lead singer “Gabby” (Mike Gaborno, who passed in 2017).
Perez welcomed Social Distortion guitarist Jonny “2 Bags” Wickersham to do their rendition of his band’s song entitled “Mommy’s Little Cholo.”
It was so cool to see the legend himself shredding on the song’s famous guitar riff. Guitarist Cortez kicked off the final song of the night, a rendition of Rancid’s “Timebomb” entitled, “Paisa” that saw a huge skank pit break out to close out the evening.
It just wouldn’t be a Cinco de Mayo weekend in Southern California without Manic Hispanic.
