Scream and Scream Again: In his 2001 book American Hardcore, author Steven Blush said of DC band Scream, "Scream was one of the most impressive outfits of the HC era. Unlike many of their contemporaries, Scream had a singer who could actually sing, and the band could actually play."

Based on their set at Zebulon on Friday night, that still holds true today. According to that same book, the band eventually dissolved because of bassist Skeeter Thompson's drug habit. The drummer at the time, one Dave Grohl, would make his way to Seattle to join Nirvana, while the brothers Stahl (singer Pete and guitarist Franz) would form Wool. Franz would later join Grohl's Foo Fighters for a couple of years. And now things have come full circle and Scream is back.

At Zebulon, Thompson didn't only look fit and healthy, but he was playing immaculately. It was such a treat to see him and Franz Stahl trading licks like it was '81 again. Thompson is one of punk's great bass players, surely a massive influence on many who followed.

Founding member and drummer Kent Stax sadly died after a battle with metastatic cancer just this past September, and he's left a big hole. Jerry Busher (Fugazi) fill it as best he, or anyone, can. Busher is a DC HC vet too - he knows what he's doing.

Meanwhile, British guitarist Gizz Butt (perhaps best know for his stint in prime-era Prodigy but everyone should also be familiar with his bands the English Dogs, The More I See, and Janus Stark) takes the second guitarist spot for this tour and, naturally, does a superb job. L.A. was the first date on this tour, but you wouldn't know it. They might say different, but it sounded tight.



The setlist offered everything hardcore fans (pun intended) would want to hear, including "A No Money Down" from 1985's sophomore This Side Up, and a riotous "Fight/American Justice" from the debut Still Screaming.

More important, however, is the fact that they looked like they were having a great time playing these old songs again. Thompson and Butt offered each other wide grins throughout, and Pete Stahl found himself down in the crowd, literally in our faces, at regular intervals.

And the Los Angeles crowd was ready. Pumped up by some great openers, notably fellow DC HC band Soulside, and with Amen's Casey Chaos and RATM's Zack de la Rocha in attendance, this felt like a hardcore love-in. The Stahl's have lived in this city for a few years now, so it's kind of a hometown gig. But they make it clear that Scream is and always will be very much a DC band.

It all ended way too soon, but it does feel good to know that Scream is back.

Scream and Scream Again: Go to zebulon.la for more info.

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