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Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades Season 2 2010’s

“Decades Season 2- 2010s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, June 26^th, 2021

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bad Religion wrapped up Season 2 of their “Decades” streaming series on June 26^th from the Roxy Theater in West Hollywood. Broadcast exclusively via NoCapshows.com the final episode of season 2 followed the same format as the previous three shows which featured sets containing deep cuts and rarely performed songs from each decade of the bands career. Songs from the bands three 2010’s era releases (“The Dissent of Man”, “True North”, “Age of Unreason”) would be the focus of this evenings performance.

Veteran punk purveyors Bad Religion brought a close Season 2 of their “Decades” streaming series on June 26^th with an impressive and upbeat 14 song set of 2010’s era BR material. The evenings performance featured the live debut of six different songs along with a handful of other songs some of which have not appeared live since 2010. Kicking of the night was the fast paced, guitar fueled “Past is Dead” from the album “Truth North”. The song set the evenings pace and instantly while show casing the tight knit guitar tandem of Brian Baker and Mike Dimkich. The nights first live debut would follow as the band performed the title track off their most recent studio release “Age of Unreason”. With a song this powerful I cannot believe it never made its way on to the set during the bands last outing pre-covid. Other debuts from the night’s performance included “Hello Cruel World”, “Big Black Dog”, “In Their Heart Is Right”, “Downfall” and “What Tomorrow Brings”. Despite all of these songs being newer to the BR catalog the band really showed their music prowess as each number came off as very well-rehearsed almost as if these songs have been being played day in and day out for years. Closing out the night was the song “Cyanide” from the 2010’s “The Dissent of Man”. Despite the songs ominous title, the performance was very enjoyable as it offered an added level of instrumentation courtesy of Senses Fail’s Gavin Caswell who sat in on pedal steel guitar for this song giving the closing moments of “Decades Season 2” an almost Eagles like sound and feel.

Bad Religion once again delivers with a unique and safe concert experience that fans can enjoy from the safety of their homes. The 60-minute runtime felt like just the right amount time to give viewers a quick break from their normal day and return them feeling good and recharged. No matter if you tuned in just for this show or have caught all the previous performances you really get your money’s worth as the band delivered across every performance. If you missed any of the shows I believe they will be still available to stream through the end of June at Nocapshows.com If you are waiting to see the band live an in-person have no fear as on 6/24 the band announced their rescheduled 40^th Anniversary co-headlining tour with Alkaline Trio and special guests War on Women will kick off on October 15^th in Riverside California. Very Cool! For more information on the tour head over to badreligion.com

Set List:

1.) Past is Dead

2.) Age of Unreason

3.) Nothing to Dismay

4.) Hello Cruel World

5.) Big Black Dog

6.) In Their Hearts Is Right

7.) The Profane Rights of Man

8.) Won’t Somebody

9.) Downfall

10.) Meeting of the Minds

11.) The Devil in Stitches

12.) Dept. of False Hope

13.) What Tomorrow Brings

14.) Cyanide

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: 2, 2010s, bad, concert, decades, religion, ...

ALKALINE TRIO & BAD RELIGION ANNOUNCE RESCHEDULED CO-HEADLINING NORTH AMERICAN TOUR

Preeminent Los Angeles punk band Bad Religion and Chicago cult rock heroes Alkaline Trio announce their rescheduled North American co-headlining tour. Originally meant to take place in the Spring of 2020, the rescheduled tour will now kick off October 15 in Riverside, CA and wrap November 26 in Los Angeles, CA. Tickets will go on sale Friday, June 25 at 10am local time.

“Bad Religion was one of my first loves,” says Alkaline Trio co-lead vocalist/guitarist Matt Skiba. “I remember exactly where I was the first time I heard Suffer. They are one of the very reasons I started playing punk rock music and continue to today. This tour is going to be epic on many levels. We’ve done Warped Tour and Festival shows many times over the years but this will be the first time it’s just us and I couldn’t be more thrilled!”

“This tour is special;” explains Bad Religion co-songwriter and lead singer Greg Graffin, “not only are we celebrating the return of live music, but we get to do it with Alkaline Trio, who are such a great band, really excited about this!”

TOUR DATES
10/15        Riverside, CA              Riverside Municipal Auditorium
10/16        Las Vegas, NV            Brooklyn Bowl
10/17        Tempe, AZ                  The Marquee Theatre
10/19        Austin, TX                   Stubb’s Waller Creek Amphitheater
10/20        Dallas, TX                   Gas Monkey Live!
10/22        Atlanta, GA                 Tabernacle
10/23        St Petersburg, FL       Jannus Live!
10/24        Orlando, FL                 Hard Rock Café
10/26        Charlotte, NC              The Fillmore
10/27        Norfolk, VA                 The NorVA
10/29        New York, NY             Hammerstein Ballroom
10/30        Silver Spring, MD       The Fillmore
10/31        Asbury Park, NJ         Convention Hall
11/3          Richmond, VA             The National
11/5          Buffalo, NY                 Buffalo Riverworks
11/6          Worcester, MA            The Palladium
11/7          Philadelphia, PA         The Met
11/9          Pittsburgh, PA             Stage AE
11/10        Columbus, OH            EXPRESS LIVE! – Indoor Music Hall
11/12        Detroit, MI                   The Fillmore
11/13        Chicago, IL                  Radius
11/14        Milwaukee, WI            Eagles Ballroom
11/16        Saint Paul, MN           Palace Theatre
11/17        Saint Louis, MO          The Pageant
11/19        Denver, CO                 The Fillmore
11/20        Salt Lake City, UT      The Union
11/22        Seattle, WA                 Showbox SoDo
11/23        Portland, OR               Roseland Theatre
11/24        San Francisco, CA     The Masonic
11/26        Los Angeles, CA         Hollywood Palladium

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Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades Season 2 1980’s”

“Decades Season 2- 1980s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, June 5^th, 2021

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4.5 out of 5 stars

Bad Religion kicked off Season 2 of their “Decades” series on June 5^th from the Roxy Theater in West Hollywood. Broadcast exclusively via NoCapshows.com its the first of four episodes which will feature deep cuts and rarely performed songs. Like season 1 each episode of season 2 will focus on a specific era of the bands 40+ year career. Up first was the 1980’s which pulled songs from four different releases (“How Could Hell Be Any Worse?”, “Into the Unknown”, “Suffer” and “No Control”) some of which have not been performed live in over 30 years.

Capitalizing on the success of the first four “Decades” live streams veteran punk purveyors Bad Religion are back with a brand-new set of shows which take fans deeper down the BR rabbit hole. Though the format and look of “Decades Season 2” is very similar to that of season 1 the setlists could not be any more different. Over the course of 60 minutes Vocalist Greg Graffin and company took viewers deep into the group’s massive song archives to revisit some of the bands lesser performed tracks from the groups first four studio releases. Prior to the show starting I was skeptical as to how the set was going to go as it was being touted as having completely different songs with no repeats from the subsequent performances. How were we going to watch a Bad Religion show and not hear songs like “Infected”, “Sorrow” and “21^st Century Digital Boy”? Could the rarities fill in for these long-time staples which have had fans coming out on droves since their release? Well, right off the bat any fears I had about the set not living up to the standard Bad Religion always puts forth were quickly put to bed as the band ripped through tracks like “Voice of God is Government”, “Doing Time” and, “Damned to Be Free” all of which have been absent from live performances since 2008. The band even dipped in to “Against the Grain” (yes, it was technically released in 1990) to perform the Brett Gurewitz penned track “Walk Away” for its first time ever! Pretty cool from a fan’s perspective for sure. Easily my favorite performances of the night were two songs pulled from the widely panned 1983 release “Into the Unknown”. The somber “…You Give Up” set the stage nicely for the keyboard fueled “It’s Only Over When..” which came complete with a key slide that would bring Rick Wakeman to his knees and one that had me cracking up for the next few seconds. This combined with some comedic interview Segway’s really made for a good watch.

Clocking in at around 60 minutes Bad Religion’s “Decades” gives you what you want as a fan and then lets you get back to your day. With lives shows slowly starting to happen across the country and around the world there is undoubtably still some skepticism around if things will be safe. The latest virtual offering from Bad Religion alleviates those worries and offers a fun, enjoyable concert performance which you can watch any time and, from wherever you are comfortable. With three more shows coming in season 2 and the option to be able to go back and re-watch season 1 Greg, Mike, Brian, Jamie and Jay have you covered until you are ready to get back out there and see them face to face.

Set List:

1.) Voice of God is Government

2.) Politics

3.) Yesterday

4.) Delirium of Disorder

5.) Billy

6.) Sometimes It Feels Like…

7.) …You Give Up

8.) It’s Only Over When

9.) What Can You Do?

10.) Part II (The Numbers Game)

11.) Part III

12.) Part IV (The Index Fossil)

13.) Land of Competition

14.) Doing Time

15.) Damned to Be Free

16.) I Want Something More

17.) Turn on the Light

18.) When?

19.) Walk Away

20.) Sanity

21.) Faith in God

22.) Pessimistic Lines

23.) Progress

To watch Season 1 and 2 of Bad Religion “Decades” visit Nocapshows.com here

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: 1980s, 2, bad, concert, decades, religion, ...

BAD RELIGION TO RELEASE A SECOND SEASON OF DECADES A FOUR-PART STREAMING SERIES

TICKETS ON SALE MAY 18, 2021 12 PM (PST)

FIRST EPISODE, THE 80’S, TO PREMIERE JUNE 5, 2021 2 PM (PST)

VIA NO CAP SHOWS

Bad Religion is releasing the second season of their wildly popular streaming event, Decades. Bad Religion singer Greg Graffin says, “We were blown away by the enthusiasm of our fans surrounding our first streaming event last year. We realized that we had only touched on a couple of songs from each album during Decades: Season One. We wondered if we could dig a bit deeper into our catalog and do it again. Many of these songs have never been performed on stage. Some of them are timeless fan favorites. A few, we may never attempt to play ever again! But all of them show the diverse and even experimental nature of Bad Religion‘s repertoire over the years”. All four episodes of Decades: Season Two will include a live performance set filmed at The Roxy in Hollywood, California, candid interviews with all current band members, and behind-the-scenes footage of the band as they rehearsed. Bad Religion will participate in an accompanying live chat during the premiere of each episode. Tickets and merchandise are available for sale on the Decades: Season NoCap Shows page.

The ’80s – Bad Religion performs songs from their albums How Could Hell Be Any Worse, Into The Unknown, Suffer, No Control and Against The Grain (yes, it was released in 1990 but, fuck it, we do what we want). Expanded exclusive interviews with band members and crew. Even more and fly on the wall rehearsal footage and behind the curtain shenanigans.

The ’90’s – Bad Religion performs songs from Generator, Recipe For Hate, Stranger Than Fiction, The Gray Race, and No Substance. Exclusive interviews with band members and crew.

The ’00s – Bad Religion performs songs from The New America, The Process of Belief, The Empire Strikes First, and New Maps of Hell. The band discusses the evolution of their sound.

The ’10s – Bad Religion performs songs from The Dissent of Man, True North, and Age Of Unreason. The Covid-19 pandemic cut short their plans to tour in support of The Age Of Unreason. Many of the songs included are being performed outside of the studio for the first and possibly last time.

No Cap Shows will host Decades: Season Two; a four-episode package will sell for $40, individual episodes are available for $15. Tickets for Decades: Season Two will go on sale Tuesday, May 18, at noon PST. Episodes will remain up for sale and viewing till July 31st at midnight PST.

Decades: Season 2 episodes will premiere at 2:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.

June 5th: Bad Religion, the ’80s

June 12th: Bad Religion, the ’90s

June 19th: Bad Religion, the ’00s

June 26th: Bad Religion, the ’10s

4 Decades 4 Episodes $40 bucks

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BAD RELIGION SHARE “EMANCIPATION OF THE MIND”

Preeminent Los Angeles band Bad Religion have just released “Emancipation Of The Mind,” an outtake from the band’s critically acclaimed 2019 album Age Of Unreason. The track’s upbeat messaging calls for reason and open-mindedness as a new administration is welcomed into the White House today. Bad Religion have always advocated for humanism, reason, and individualism, which has never been more essential.

“I think the song really is a celebration of enlightenment values that can be cultivated through enthusiastic learning and open-mindedness,” says co-songwriter and vocalist Greg Graffin. “So often we’re told what to think. But learning how to think (as opposed to learning what to think) is a true feeling of emancipation from the constraints of indoctrination that are so commonplace in our society.”

LISTEN TO “EMANCIPATION OF THE MIND”

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Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades- 2010’s”

“Decades- 2010’s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, January 2^nd, 2021

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4 out of 5 stars

Bad Religion wrapped up their “Decades” concert series on Saturday, January 2^nd live from the Roxy Theater located in West Hollywood. This was the bands fourth online streaming concerts celebrating Bad Religion’s forty years of making music. Each performance featured a full set from four different decades of the bands career (80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, 2010’s). Newly record live performances combined with exclusive interviews and behind the scenes access gave fans an immersive experience which could be enjoyed all from the safety of your home.

For the fourth and final concert on the “Decades” series Bad Religion performed tracks from the most recent decade (2010-2019) with a set list consisting of tracks from 2010’s “The Dissent of Man”, 2013’s “True North” and the bands newest release 2019’s “Age of Unreason”. Much like the three previous shows the performance kicked off with a video montage of scattered images and sounds depicting events from the evening’s specific decade which gave way to a black velvet curtain which was slowly raised to once again reveal the punk rock pundits. Starting the set was the anthemic “Wrong Way Kids” followed by two personal favorites “True North” and “My Sanity”. The band looked great and, was very tight musically as they performed rarities such as “Crisis Time”, “Land of Endless Greed” and “Robin Hood in Reverse” a song what hadn’t been performed live since 2016. The fast paced 16 song set concluded with “Changing Tide” (a first since 2015) the live debut of “Candidate” and the in your face “Fuck You”. Then almost as it had begun the velvet curtain was lowered and the “Decade’s” concert series came to a close.

Though this was certainly the shortest of the four concerts, Bad Religion still offered an enjoyable break from the craziness we all continue to deal with on a daily basis. Comedic behind the scenes footage and interview with the bands newest members’ guitarist Mike Dimkich and drummer Jamie Miller were welcome additions as were those provided by vocalist Greg Graffin, bassist Jay Bentley and guitarist Brian Baker. Sure nothing beats seeing the band in a jam packed, sweaty venue (we hope those opportunities return sooner than later) but until then these types of shows are great opportunities for fans to support their favorite bands and interact with other fans and in this case the band as well (the band was on hand during all four concerts via a live chat room). For those who have not checked out these performances we highly recommend you do so quickly as they will only be available through mid January.

Set List:

1.) Wrong Way Kids

2.) True North

3.) My Sanity

4.) Crisis Time

5.) Do the Paranoid Style

6.) Land of Endless Greed

7.) Robin Hood in Reverse

8,) Chaos From Within

9.) Dharma and the Bomb

10.) Lose Your Head

11.) The Resist Stance

12.) Only Rain

13.) End of History

14.) Changing Tide

15.) Candidate

16.) Fuck You

Tickets and Event Merchandise for Bad Religion’s “Decade” Concert Series can be purchased HERE.

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Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades- 2000’s”

“Decades- 2000’s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, December 26^th, 2020

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4 out of 5 stars

Bad Religion continued with their “Decades” concert series on Saturday December 26^th live from the Roxy Theater located in West Hollywood. This was the third of four online streaming concerts to celebrate the bands forty years of making music with each performance featuring a full set from four different decades of the bands career (80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, 2010’s). Newly record live performances combined with exclusive interviews and behind the scenes access give fans an immersive experience which they can enjoy from the safety of their own homes.

For concert three in the “Decades” series Bad Religion jumped back to the decade of Y2K and Windows ME to perform material compiled from “The New America” (2000), “The Process of Belief” (2002), “The Empire Strikes First” (2004) and “New Maps of Hell” (2007). The set despite clocking in at just under 60 minutes featured the live debut of “Let It Burn” along with performances of “Epiphany” and ”Beyond Electric Dreams” both of which have been absent from live shows since 2015. Also included in the evenings set were long time staples “Los Angeles is Burning”, “Supersonic” and “New Dark Ages” before closing out the night with “Bored and Extremely Dangerous” (a song not performed live since 2008) and probably the bands biggest song of this era “Sorrow” certainly did not disappoint. The performances like with the previous two shows were mixed in between behind the scenes footage and insightful interviews with the members sharing memories of different experiences from the decade. This certainly added to the overall presentation and gave the show a nice steady flow. To enhance the experience for fans even further the band was again on hand interacting with fans via a live chat which occurred throughout the entire show.

Despite clocking in at just under 60 minutes along with a few different sound inconsistencies “Decades- 2000’s” at first look/listen might not seem to be the strongest presentation we have seen thus for however the performance, like previous shows still was visually and for the most part sonically superior to other bands using this same type of model. Bad Religion week after week continue to provide enjoyable viewing/listening experiences proving that an old dog can learn new tricks as the bands quick grasp on virtual concerts is one to commended. The final performance of “Decades” is scheduled for Saturday, January 2^nd and will feature songs from 2010-2019. All previous shows can be streamed here via NoCap.com. We definitely recommend you check them out!

Set List:

1.) Social Suicide

2.) Los Angeles Is Burning

3.) Dearly Beloved

4.) Let It Burn

5.) Epiphany

6.) Supersonic

7.) Prove It

8,) Can’t Stop It

9.) Overture

10.) Sinister Rouge

11.) Let Them Eat War

12.) The Defense

13.) 52 Seconds

14.) Heroes & Martyrs

15.) New America

16.) New Dark Ages

17.) Beyond Electric Dreams

18.) Bored and Extremely Dangerous

19.) Sorrow

Tickets and Event Merchandise for Bad Religion’s “Decade” Concert Series can be purchased HERE.

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Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades- 1990’s”

“Decades- 1990’s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, December 19th, 2020

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 5 out of 5 stars

Punk mainstays Bad Religion performed their second “Decades” concert on Saturday December 19th live from the famous Roxy Theater located in West Hollywood. The second of four online streaming concerts to celebrate the bands forty years of making music featured a full set of 90’s era material from the band who began their storied career in the early 1980’s. Newly recorded live performances combined with exclusive interviews and behind the scenes access gave fans an immersive experience which could be enjoyed all from the safety of their own homes.

Streaming events have quickly become the new way for bands to reach their fans during the ever present COVID-19 Pandemic. Bad Religion have taken that model and done something unique with it by offering fans four different shows which showcase four different eras of music from the bands catalog. “Decades- 1990’s” transported viewers back to one of the most productive periods in the band’s history. The evenings 19 song setlist was compiled from the era’s six studio releases (Against the Grain, Generator, Recipe for Hate, Stranger than Fiction, The Grey Race and No Substance). Tracks like “Come Join Us”, “Them and Us” and “All Fantastic Images” a song not performed live since 1999 kicked off the energetic evening and paved the way for songs like “Recipe for Hate”, “Faith Alone” and “Generator”. Vocalist Greg Graffin helmed the controls like a consummate professional while the bands newest member drummer Jamie Miller provided an unwavering backbeat that kept the shows pace upbeat and energetic. Other highlights from the night included performances of “A Walk”, “21 Century (Digital Boy)”, “American Jesus” before closing out the set with “Punk Rock Song”

Bad Religion continues to show that an old dog can learn new tricks. The “Decades- 1990’s” concert is a shining example of that statement as the shows stunning visual and audio presentation pickup where the 80’s show left off before taking fans even further down the BR rabbit hole. The show’s longer run-time was a welcome addition and the new interviews and outtakes continue to provide entertaining interludes between songs. Bad Religion is raising the bar week after with these performances making them something you don’t want to miss. With still two more shows remaining we can’t wait to see what’s next!

Set List:

Come Join Us
Also Stranger Than Fiction
The Streets of America
Them and Us
All Fantastic Images
Modern Man
Struck a Nerve
Infected
Recipe for Hate
Faith Alone
No Direction
Generator
Against the Grain
A Walk
Flat Earth Society
God Song
21st Century (Digital Boy)
American Jesus
Punk Rock Song

Tickets and Event Merchandise for Bad Religion’s “Decade” Concert Series can be purchased HERE.

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Concert Review: Bad Religion “Decades- 1980’s”

“Decades- 1980’s”

Bad Religion

Saturday, December 12^th, 2020

The Roxy, Hollywood, California/NoCapshows.com

Our score 4.5 out of 5 stars

Punk veterans Bad Religion kicked off their “Decades” concert series on Saturday December 12^th live from the famous Roxy Theater located in West Hollywood. The first of four online streaming concerts to celebrate the bands forty years of making music will feature full sets from four different decades of the bands career (80’s, 90’s, 2000’s, 2010’s). Newly record live performances combined with exclusive interviews and behind the scenes access give fans an immersive experience which they can enjoy from the safety of their own homes.

With live performances on hold for the foreseeable future streaming events has quickly become the new “normal” for bands to connect with audiences during the on-going Pandemic caused by COVID-19. Bad Religion is the latest group to join in and the band has nailed it right out of the gate! “Decades- 1980’s” took viewers back to the bands humble beginnings and featured a robust 21 song set list made up of songs pulled from the bands first 4 releases. (“How Could Hell Be Any Worse”, “Into The Unknown”, “Suffer” and “No Control”) In between staple BR songs like “No Control”, “Give You Nothing” and “You” viewers were treated to lesser played songs like “Latch Key Kids” and “In The Night” both of which have been absent from live shows for more than 10 years. Also featured in the set was the song “The Dichotomy” from the bands second release “Into the Unknown” an album initially not well received by fans due to its drastic stylistic shift, The band started performing this song live during the 2019 “Age of Unreason” tour and it was great to see it included as it certainly a part of the bands history. Mixed in between the live performances are behind the scenes footage and insightful interviews with the members talking about different experiences from the decade. This really added to the overall presentation and gave the show a nice flow. If that wasn’t enough the band was actually present and interacting with fans via a live chat which occurred throughout the entire show. How cool is that!?

Though the show clocked in at just under 60 minutes the overall look and impressive sound more than made up for the shorter runtime. Bad Religion has laid a solid foundation while not only setting the bar extremely high for the remaining three concerts. We highly recommend you check them out!

Set List:

1.) Bad Religion

2.) We’re Only Gonna Die

3.) You Are (the Government)

4.) Changes of Ideas

5.) Latch Key Kids

6.) Henchmen

7.) Suffer

8,) In the Night

9.) No Control

10.) Automatic man

11.) Along the Way

12.) Big Bang

13.) Best of You

14.) The Dichotomy

15.) Give You Nothing

16.) You

17.) Do What You Want

18.) I Want to Conquer the World

19.) Forbidden Beats

20.) 1000 More Fools

21. Fuck Armageddon… This is Hell

Tickets and Event Merchandise for Bad Religion’s “Decade” Concert Series can be purchased HERE.

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Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Music Tagged With: bad, concert, decades, religion, review

BAD RELIGION CELEBRATE 40-YEARS BY RELEASING STREAMING SERIES “DECADES”

TICKETS ON SALE DECEMBER 1, 2020 12 PM (PST)

FIRST EPISODE, THE 80’S, TO PREMIERE DECEMBER 12, 2020 2 PM (PST)VIA NOCAP

Bad Religion celebrates their forty years of making music with Decades; a four-episode online streaming event captured live at The Roxy Theatre in Hollywood, California. The band felt it important to commemorate the conclusion of 2020 as a strange moment in history when they reached that 40-year milestone. The celebratory episodes will include live performance footage, exclusive interviews, and a peek at their rehearsals leading up to the taping of Decades. Singer & co-songwriter Greg Graffin discussed their motivation, “I can speak for the whole band when I say that we were so disappointed to not be able to tour this year. It is our fans and all those concerts we play each year that provide the life-force of Bad Religion. Decades allows new fans as well as those who were there at the beginning to get a rich overview of our entire career and witness the changes in songwriting and performance styles at each stage of our evolution.“ Bad Religion will participate in an accompanying live chat during the premiere of each episode. Show specific merchandise will be available for sale on the DecadesNoCap Shows page.

The ’80s – Bad Religion performs songs from How Could Hell Be Any Worse, Suffer, and No Control. They discuss what it was like being young punks in a world of Pacman, Reaganomics, and Televangelism.

The ’90’s – Bad Religion performs songs from Against The Grain, Generator, Recipe For Hate, Stranger Than Fiction, The Gray Race, and No Substance. This decade cemented their position as one of the most influential and prolific bands of our time, but it didn’t come easy or without cost; the band discusses the growing pains and lessons learned.

The ’00s – Bad Religion performs songs from The New America, The Process of Belief, The Empire Strikes First, and New Maps of Hell. Returning home and charging forward into a new millennium, Bad Religion continued to awe with their prowess, releasing some of their most beloved material to date.

The ’10s – Bad Religion performs songs from The Dissent of Man, True North, and Age Of Unreason. The Covid-19 pandemic cut short their plans to tour in support of The Age Of Unreason and are now performing material never seen live before. The band discusses the gratitude they live with every day looking back on 40 years of being Bad Religion and the legacy they are still actively creating.

No Caps Shows will host Decades; a four-episode package will sell for $40, individual episodes may be purchased for $15. Tickets for Decades will go on sale Tuesday, December 1 at noon PST. Episodes will remain up for sale and viewing through the conclusion of the series and available until 12 AM PST on January 5th.

Decades episodes will premiere at 2:00 PM Pacific Standard Time.

December 12th: Bad Religion, the ’80s

December 19th : Bad Religion, the ’90s

December 26th: Bad Religion, the ’00s

January 2nd: Bad Religion, the ’10s

4 Decades 4 Episodes $40 bucksBadreligion.nocapshows.com#BadReligionDecades #BR40 #BRDecades

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BAD RELIGION RELEASE NEW TRACK “WHAT ARE WE STANDING FOR”

Preeminent Los Angeles band Bad Religion have just released “What Are We Standing For,” an outtake from the band’s critically acclaimed 2019 album Age Of Unreason. The song is one of support and compassion for professional athletes, and others, whom have taken a knee to protest police brutality and racism. Bad Religion have always advocated for humanism, reason, and individualism, which in our current political climate is a message that has never been more essential.

“In this time of tribal nationalism, dissent, as a form of political speech, is vital to democracy,” says co-songwriter and guitarist Brett Gurewitz.

LISTEN TO “WHAT ARE WE STANDING FOR”

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BAD RELIGION SHARE “LOSE YOUR HEAD (DEMO VERSION)”

“Lose Your Head” is a fan favorite from Bad Religion’s critically acclaimed 2019 album Age of Unreason. Today, the band is releasing a demo version of the song, with a faster tempo and alternate lyrics, that provides a unique glimpse into the band’s creative process.

Co-songwriters Brett Gurewitz and Greg Graffin developed this version of the song at Gurewitz’ home studio in Pasadena California. When producer Carlos de la Garza was brought on board, he suggested trying a slower version. The band liked both versions equally so, when they entered Sunset Sound to record Age of Unreason, they decided to work on basic tracks for both and choose later. It was a close call but ultimately the band chose the slow version which is the one they completed.

This demo version is the result of taking previously unreleased rhythm tracks from the Sunset Sound sessions and combining them with the original home demo recordings to bring the fast version of the song to life.

Longtime fans will enjoy this rare look into the evolution of a Bad Religion song.

LISTEN TO “LOSE YOUR HEAD (DEMO VERSION)”

ABOUT BAD RELIGION
Bad Religion, formed in 1980 in the suburbs of Los Angeles, has become synonymous with intelligent and provocative West Coast punk rock and are considered one of the most influential and important bands in the genre. Bad Religion has continually pushed social boundaries and questioned authority and beliefs armed only with propulsive guitars, charging drumbeats, thoughtful lyrics and an undying will to inspire and provoke anyone who will listen.

The band’s critically acclaimed 17th studio album Age of Unreason offers a fiery and intensely relevant musical response to the times, with songs that address a myriad of socio-political maladies, including conspiracy theories, racist rallies, Trump’s election, the erosion of the middle class, alternative facts and more. There is a stylistic consistency to the band’s iconic and influential sound – hard fast beats, big hooks and rousing choruses, yet each new song remains distinctive, utilizing composition, melody and lyrics to deliver a unique narrative consistent with the band’s longstanding humanist worldview.

Last month, Bad Religionreleased their autobiography, DO WHAT YOU WANT: The Story of Bad Religion, written with their full cooperation and support. It reveals the ups and downs of the band’s 40-year career, from their beginnings as teenagers experimenting in a San Fernando Valley garage dubbed “The Hell Hole” to headlining major music festivals around the world. The book predominantly features the four principal voices of Bad Religion in a hybrid oral history/narrative format: Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley, and Brian Baker. It also includes rare photos and never-before-seen material from their archives.

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: bad, demo, lose, religion, share, version, ...

Book Review: “Do What You Want: The Story of Bad Religion”

“Do What You Want: The Bad Religion Story”

Author: Bad Religion w/ Jim Ruland
Hachette Books
Hardcover: 336 pages

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

From their beginnings as teenagers experimenting in a San Fernando Valley garage to headlining major music festivals around the world Bad Religion has been bringing anthemic punk rock to the masses since 1982. “Do What You Want: The Bad Religion Story” tells the whole story of Bad Religion’s 40-year career in irreverent style and detail.

Over the course of the books 336 pages author Jim Ruland and Bad Religion members Greg Graffin, Jay Bentley, Brian Baker and Brett Gurewitz among others take readers on an explorative narrative of the bands career the likes of which we have never seen nor read. From the earliest meetings of transplanted Wisconsinite Greg Graffin and his long time song writing partner Brett Gurewitz and on up through the release of the band’s most recent 2019 studio album “Age of Unreason” the book serves as a up to date document which leaves no stone unturned. Personally I enjoyed the chapters recounting the creation of albums like “Suffer”, “Stranger Than Fiction” and the often forgotten “Into The Unknown” an album which we learn was nearly the end of Bad Religion all together. Included amongst the 27 chapters are a collection of photos from all different eras of the bands career along with early show flyers and magazine covers. Needless to say very cool!

“Do What You Want: The Bad Religion Story” is not just another warts and all band biography. Fans of the band will certainly enjoy hearing the full history of the band which until now has never completely been shared. If you are looking for another tale of the cliché sex, drugs and rock n roll then this is not the book for you. Yes those topics are talked about however not to the extent other books of similar format have. Instead the focus (as it should be) is on the members themselves and their sheer determination to make great music. No matter if you are a casual listener or the most diehard BR fan “Do What You Want: The Bad Religion Story” is an enjoyable read which keeps you turning the pages chapter after chapter.

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Filed Under: Book Reviews, Books Tagged With: bad, book, religion, review, story

BAD RELIGION RECREATES CLASSIC TRACK AS SYMPHONIC PLEA FOR REASON “FAITH ALONE 2020”

Acclaimed Los Angeles band Bad Religion have just released a radically reimagined version of their 1990 humanist anthem “Faith Alone.” The re-recording uses an uncharacteristic orchestral arrangement to further accentuate the song’s remarkably relevant lyrics. It is a philosophy Bad Religion have extolled since their very formation and has inspired songs like “The Answer,” “Atheist Peace,” and “American Jesus” that rail against religious hypocrisy and anti-intellectualism.

While the original “Faith Alone” was delivered as a propulsive guitar fueled punk track on the band’s album Against The Grain, the new interpretation begins with singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin’s plaintive vocals accompanied on acoustic piano, before building to an unabashedly symphonic crescendo complete with sophisticated string arrangement. The result is a startling sonic departure from the band’s patented melodic punk sound and only serves to emphasize the song’s emotional power and intensely relevant message that, in times like these, “faith alone won’t sustain us anymore.”

LISTEN TO “FAITH ALONE 2020”

As the band’s singer and co-songwriter Greg Graffin explains, “I have always written songs on piano. Some of our earliest songs were written on my mom’s piano. I’ve been home a lot and so I started recording a bunch of our songs that way. Brett (Gurewitz) thought ‘Faith Alone’ was particularly relevant for this moment. For me, it exemplifies what’s special about the band, which is that we write songs that go to the spiritual and intellectual aspects of human existence.”

The recording of the song was done remotely. Graffin’s initial vocal and piano tracks augmented by the band’s co-songwriter Brett Gurewitz who added additional instrumentation including guitar. The strings were added by Stevie Blacke (Beck, Lady Gaga, Garbage) and the drums played by Bad Religion drummer Jamie Miller while producer Carlos de la Garza added additional production and a mix.

Gurewitz explains, “I think the message of ‘Faith Alone’ really resonates with everything that’s happening right now. Racial injustice, Trump, the COVID pandemic, the rejection of science, none of these things can be solved by burying our heads in the sand. We’ve always believed problems can be solved through reason and action, not faith and prayer. It’s what we’ve been writing about since the band started.”

With this release, Bad Religion have added yet one more powerful work to an already formidable canon of intellectually provocative protest songs. Since forming as leather clad intellectual teens amidst the raucous Southern California punk scene, the group has served as unflinching advocates for reason and humanism. It is a message that has never been more necessary.

Greg M. Epstein, Humanist Chaplain at both Harvard and MIT, as well as the NY Times best-selling author of ‘Good Without God’, offers, “If I could take the frustration, grief, longing, and moral outrage rattling around in my brain these past few months and somehow turn it all into a single rock track that could help me stay human in this mess, that track would be ‘Faith Alone’ by Bad Religion. Sure, it’s a stylistic departure for one of the greatest punk bands of all time. But the message is as true to the band’s core ethic as anything in their decades-long catalog. It might just be the anthem we need to maintain our faith—not in religion, but in each other—as we try to get through the rest of this year.”

ABOUT BAD RELIGION
Bad Religion, formed in 1980 in the suburbs of Los Angeles, has become synonymous with intelligent and provocative West Coast punk rock and are considered one of the most influential and important bands in the genre. Bad Religion has continually pushed social boundaries and questioned authority and beliefs armed only with propulsive guitars, charging drumbeats, thoughtful lyrics and an undying will to inspire and provoke anyone who will listen.

The band’s critically acclaimed 17th studio album Age of Unreason offers a fiery and intensely relevant musical response to the times, with songs that address a myriad of socio-political maladies, including conspiracy theories, racist rallies, Trump’s election, the erosion of the middle class, alternative facts and more. There is a stylistic consistency to the band’s iconic and influential sound – hard fast beats, big hooks and rousing choruses, yet each new song remains distinctive, utilizing composition, melody and lyrics to deliver a unique narrative consistent with the band’s longstanding humanist worldview.

On August 18, Bad Religion will release their autobiography, DO WHAT YOU WANT: The Story of Bad Religion, written with their full cooperation and support. It reveals the ups and downs of the band’s 40-year career, from their beginnings as teenagers experimenting in a San Fernando Valley garage dubbed “The Hell Hole” to headlining major music festivals around the world. The book predominantly features the four principal voices of Bad Religion in a hybrid oral history/narrative format: Greg Graffin, Brett Gurewitz, Jay Bentley, and Brian Baker. It also includes rare photos and never-before-seen material from their archives.

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Filed Under: Music, Music Headlines Tagged With: 2020, bad, classic, faith, plea, reason, ...

Film Review: “Bad Boys for Life”

BAD BOYS FOR LIFE
Starring: Will Smith, Martin Lawrence and Joe Pantoliano
Directed by: Adil and Billal
Rated: R
Running time: 2 hrs 3 mins
Sony Pictures

Riggs and Murtaugh. Carter and Lee. Tango and Cash.

The law enforcement teams above are some of the most beloved in film history. Another powerhouse was the team of Miami-based cops named Mike Lowrey and Marcus Burnett. Starting with 1995’s “Bad Boys” and continuing with the 2003 sequel “Bad Boys 2,” the two blazed their way across the screen with flashy cars and blazing guns. It’s been awhile, but Lowrexy (Smith) and Burnett (Lawrence) are back…and it’s a welcome return.

It’s an ordinary day at the women’s prison. In the laundry, the inmates do their best to fold and stack. However, one inmate (Kate del Castillo) is motionless, staring off as if she was in a trance. When she’s approached she suddenly springs to life. The carnage that follows is horrific.

Meanwhile, in Miami, Detectives Lowery and Burnett are speeding through the streets in Lowery’s Porsche. Their destination: the local hospital, where Burnett’s daughter is about to give birth. The new grandchild causes Burnett to rethink his future and soon he informs Lowery and their captain (the always great Joe Pantoliano) that he is going to retire. But when you’re a “bad boy” do you ever really retire?

Moving at an almost breakneck speed, “Bad Boys for Life” plays on screen like a live action version of “Grand Theft Auto.” The pace is fast, yet the plot never feels rushed. Smith and Lawrence have great chemistry together and their playful banter feels natural. They are assisted by strong supporting turns from Paola Nunez and rapper DJ Khaled, who does well in a small role. And for fans of the original, keep your eyes open for a cameo from “Bad Boys” director Michael Bay. If you wanted a movie poster or or canvas print American Sign Letters can do it for you.

The production values are outstanding, with all of the light and color of Miami on display. And I don’t know what cops in Miami make but Lowery seems quite comfortable in his penthouse pad and speedy Porsche. All in all, a fine return to the screen for Lowrey and Burnett. Now whatcha’ gonna do ‘til they come back for you?

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Filed Under: Film Reviews Tagged With: bad, boys, film, life, review

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