By Rob Fulton
©Copyright 2008 SDAM.com/Rob Fulton

Costa Mesa - After sound check I could tell the band was more tuned in for this show than others. The band seemed focused tonight. Whether they were focused in on the gig or away from the smell of piss and beer was beyond me. I just knew that night was different from the rest. The band was playing O.C. which meant that it was time to deliver. For those of you who play across county lines as often as these five do, you symphathize. Ten-thirty approaches and Trent grabs the mic. More importantly, though, he grabbed his audience. Calling for all to get off their asses and draw near, the time had come for something powerful - Done! Always led in by Squirrel on drums, we got hit with a dose of good ol' fashioned punkrock. This let everyone in the crowd know that "no, were not here to play your momma and daddy's tunes." But they were more than just punk rock music. They just used that to break the ice - with a sledge hammer. Always partial to diversity, I was wondering how in the hell this band was going to appeal to the girl in the corner, who is still figuring out how to fit in to a garden of snakes and rakes. So they gave us funky riffs, bluesy riffs and, yes, STP. Borrowing from the great Stone Temple Pilots, Distemper unleashed "Crackerman" with megaphone and all. I thought to myself "damn, that was pretty good." Which was saying a lot considering the comparison to the last great grunge-era band still playing. What was important though, is that all around me I found an audience that was dying to be led. Led by some rock and roll, but also led by a show which actually entertained those whom came to be entertained. Not just grandstanding around like some fools waiting for a contract. These five were just having fun, playing what they loved, in front of people they loved, just for the hell of it like kids on the playground. But who are these guys? Well, Justin Karg lets you know who he is. With his bass he'll find you, then dump sound on you. Wes Doesn't even look for you, beacuse on the lead guitar, you look for him. Sometimes the guys just lost themselves in the moment and when they did, Joey would hold them together. He plays rythem and knows where they were, are and where they wanted to go. Squirrel, what do you say about this drummer, other than he'd probably just go into a mad, fast, hour long solo if the band would let him. He reminds me of a caged animal, a caged squirrel I guess. Definately not one of those 'let me sit here and hold a beat' kind of drummers. He's more of a 'I'm going to just beat the country western right out of you' kind of drummers. Then we come to Trent, who seems to grow with every performance. He has stage presence, which is rare at alot of thses venues, and tools to back up his shit. I left the Tiki that Saturday night with a feeling that I'll see this five again. Don't take my word for it, though, go see for yourselves. You'll see them headlining, that's for sure, but only the truly lucky get to see them play with crazy Abel. Find out more about Dis-Tem-Per