Piss N' Blood
On the Rox, Hollywood
By Lucky
(SugarBuzz Hollywood)
Photos by Ginger
SugarBuzz Magazine
I have been waiting for quite a while to catch Piss N’ Blood live. They mainly have been gigging in Orange County, Long Beach and other surrounding areas, Hollywood shows have been few and far between and somehow I keep missing them. Not this time fuckers.
Blazing straight from the mundane I hit Hollywood hard and fast and immediately ran into Piss N’ Blood front man Ron Anger on the street and spreading the word. Ron’s got stories and many hit home. That’s because we both grew up in an era where going to places like The Whisky, Starwood, and 
Madam Wong’s subjected you to bear witness to historic events that changed the musical landscape of L.A. and beyond forever, as well as having a permanent effect on ones psyche. The Germs, X, Fear, Black Flag, Social Distortion, The Bags. Then punk really became dangerous with the introduction of the hardcore mentality. When clubs either banned acts from their stages, or just shut down completely. People stopped going cause it was no fun getting your ass kicked. The scene turned grim. Only difference is I rolled out of bed to get there, and Ron traveled up from Orange County.
On the Rox is the once private bar above The Roxy, where Heidi Fleiss use to set up shop, Mick Jagger and Charlie Sheen use to hang regular, and where I spent many a Thursday night spinning tunes while doing a heavy grind. Walking back inside after quite a few years kind of kicked off the jones. They have installed a stage and set up lights, but other than that the place still looked exactly the same as if time has stood still. And yes, there are plenty of ghosts.
Piss N’ Blood are a blend of ’77 and Orange County, if you know what I mean. They play tough with hooks and power. A potential for danger exists at their shows 
which reeks with intrigue. Their fan base consists of a wide variety of humanoids, as Ron put it “all are welcome, when you start excluding people; you are the ones whom end up excluded”. They give it their all at every show, and they want you to give it your all too, at their shows and in your thing called life.
Kicking our asses from the get go Piss N’ Blood lambasted with “New Breed”. Conformity is not an option; they are not buying what you’re selling. Start thinking man! Expressionless but non-lackadaisical attitude and on the spot delivery from Cam, Mike and Parker (what you want from street thugs!?!) seems to accentuate Ron’s scorn. He’s pissed off for Christ’s sakes.
Firing up “24 Hour Machine”, the band churned like a meat grinder run amok. Destroying stereotypes and sale pitches worldwide, Ron’s venomous verbatim slaughtered the lamb and triggered the tiger in each and every one of us.
Ron Anger is volatile, a false complacent façade and a three sixty out lash all in a blink of an eye. Flailing his arms in a sporadic spasm, he slammed his fingers into the air conditioning vent on a way to low ceiling. He squeezed his fingers, half in surprise and half in horror. Part of me was hoping he was gushing blood and would proceed to smear it all over himself. That’s Entertainment.
A wakeup call to arms was next
in the duck and cover of incoming “Piss N’ Blood”. A kaleidoscope of nuclear proliferation, greed for oil, war mongering and the Patriot Act all rolled into a nicely lambasted lament. The bands fined tuned performance reflected major chemistry among the players; they are all on the same page.
I really was able to relate to “Beautiful Losers”, as I am sure most of you Shugsters would. Outcasts subjected to ridicule by those that seek to divert attention from the real issue, their own insecurities and limitations. Yeah they secretly want to be you. Combining Ramones rampage and Pistol pride, Piss N’ Blood was a full force to be reckoned.
It should be etched in stone that “Treason” is the anthem for the now. Frantic fan fair and poignant pageantry propel into this absolute punk rock ageless classic that stands with the best of all time. It seemed that Piss N’ Blood felt a tad frustrated as they feed off extreme and the club size was a stymie, I’m talking volume. Take a chill sound man. Ron got even as he stuck his microphone into the Marshall cab during Cam’s solo surreys with ear shattering results.
Hard hitting “G.I. Junkie” shone a new light on the war in Afghanistan. Dope fields aplenty and now U.S. instant access. Ulterior motives indeed. Things dried
up a tad after Vietnam, and now a new pipe line has been tapped. Suffering the brunt are our men and women in fatigues. Piss N’ Blood’s songs are geared for a response and make you think, sometimes with surprising self reflections. Those with blinders may think twice.
“Manic Trigger” could bring back the pogo as the herky jerky stimulated the youthful “Punk Rock Movie” in us all. Parker’s tribal taunt on the tom toms brought out the hedonistic boomtown ferocity of Mike Betancourt’s barrage of bass. Cam’s guitar radiated Strummer and Jones influence in possible unintentional homage.
Bringing it all crashing down was closer “Opium Lover”, a sordid tale of addiction and denial of junkies worldwide. Three minutes of truth or consequences that shouldn’t be taken with a spoonful of sugar. The “until death do you part” lyric showcased a stark reality and an unhappy certainty.
Piss N’ Blood are heading back into the studio this month to finish up their much anticipated first full length release. It will be fucking monumental when we can get our hands on that. In the mean time, go to the links below where you can see and hear Piss N’ Blood do their thing.
