Live at the House of Blues Anaheim
September 24th, 2025 Review by Kevin Gomez
I really can’t stress enough how strong the anticipation was for Dance Hall Crashers (DHC) Saturday.
I’ve been to more sold-out shows at the House of Blues Anaheim than I can count, but this just felt different. I got in line at 6:50 p.m., 10 minutes before doors opened, and the line was already winding around the entire Anaheim City Walk plaza.
Anaheim, California
I haven’t seen a crowd line up that long and that early since Green Day’s last-minute show here in 2023. So then I thought, “Well, let me get a shirt before the show starts so I can just enjoy the concert.” Only to be greeted with a line for merch that wrapped around the side of the building and went out the door into the smoking patio. The longest line I’ve ever seen there. These fans were ready for some ska.
Fortunately, first up for the night was the legendary Hepcat. Before their performance a screen in front of the stage flashed old Hepcat flyers and promo videos. As the band took the stage, the house lights turned on to reveal the huge gathering packed into the House of Blues leading singer Alex Désert to exclaim, “Holy shit!”
The band led with “The Region” with the apt lyrics, “It’s good to be home, there’s no place like home.” They followed up with “I Can’t Wait,” then slowed things down with the laid back, bass-heavy, almost bluesy, “Nigel” before “Alone Again.”
Playing lead guitar was Aggrolites lead vocalist and guitarist, Jesse Wagner, who perfectly captured Hepcat’s ska sound. Désert said their first tour across America was with none other than the Dance Hall Crashers, so when he got the call to open for them he excitedly told them, “Yes! Let’s go!” Keyboardist Deston Berry took lead vocals for a cover of Desmond Decker’s “Shing-a-Ling.” Trumpet player Kincaid Smith took over falsetto vocals on “The Loser.”
Wanger put down the guitar and took center stage to sing co-lead vocals with Désert on “Relation.”
After a stirring performance Wagner said, “Make some noise for Mr. Greg Lee!”
Founding member and co-lead vocalist, the iconic Greg Lee passed away last year from a brain aneurysm followed by cardiac arrest at 53.
While the world still mourns his loss, Hepcat continue playing on in his memory bringing the same joy that Lee and the others brought for the last three decades.
The band closed on the perfectly titled “Leavin’” after which Désert thanked the crowd and said, “Big up to Greg Lee!” earning a huge ovation.
Dance Hall Crashers jumped out with “Go” and “Make Her Purr,” playing just their fourth show in two decades, including a few months ago at the Long Beach stop of the Vans Warped Tour, which I am thrilled I witnessed. So many friends and family came out to support the ska act from North Cali Saturday, including NOFX drummer Erik “Smelly” Sandin, former bandmate with DHC co-lead singer Karina Deniké. Also in attendance were most of the original lineup of Save Ferris, Half Past Two, and Codename: Rocky.
Co-lead singer Elyse Rogers said, “We are the Dance Hall Crashers from Berkeley, California. Fun fact: I grew up here in Anaheim.” As I mentioned, the band had only played three times since the early 2000s but both Deniké and Rogers sound incredible, as does the rest of the band. If you squinted your eyes, you’d swear we were back in 1997 at the original Anaheim House of Blues location in Downtown Disney.
“Triple Track” was one of the faster songs they opened with featuring a great guitar solo from Jason Hammon. Deniké had a fantastic vocal solo on “Mr. Blue.” For the next song, Deniké asked, “Alright, old fuckers, wanna dance some more?” and the band kicked into “Othello.” Deniké dedicated “Cat Fight” to all the women out there, but really to everyone, “because they try to separate you, some people get off on that shit. But we’re all about coming together!” Rogers said, “This is the only love song we’ve ever written. It’s called ‘All Mine.’”
Deniké said, “When we wrote this song, we were young and bitter. But, now we’re old and bitter – that’s the way it goes” and they launched into the angry “Enough.” All night long, Deniké was excellent at hyping the crowd up and getting them dancing and on their feet. But nothing compared to when they hit “Lost Again” and waves of fans were bouncing up in the air on 30-something, and in my case, 40-something knees. It was a beautiful thing to watch. Deniké requested a circle pit and was greeted with two competing pits for the ska-punk “We Owe.”
The band’s first show back was at Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. As Rogers mentioned, that was supposed to be the only reunion show back. “But you guys spoke up and we listened. You made this happen.” “And now, here we are,” Deniké added.
A crowd of 1,500 fans filled in on backing vocals for the “whoa ohs” on “Don’t Wanna Behave.” For the encore they played “Buried Alive” and “Over Again.” Deniké’s vocal range on “Can’t Stand Me” was really impressive. Rogers commented that she liked the circle pit on that last song “because it was bouncy.” They played the cheerful “He Wants Me Back,” which got a huge reaction, and they closed a memorable night for the books with “DHC.”
I think even the band themselves underestimated just how beloved their legacy was and how much they had been missed, but they certainly found out Saturday night.
SHOW PHOTO GALLERY
by Todd Markel Rock Images
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SID 250925 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
