Since their sophomore, and best known, album Shocked in 2005, Feisty Piranhas have been making a splash (forgive me for the pun) in their local Southern California music scene. The band has earned their share of awards, and have opened for acts such as Blue Oyster Cult and The Misfits, it’s a wonder that they’re not getting nearly s much recognition as deserved. It would seem that, for most bands this early in the game, that a live release would be a bit unusual. But for these guys, Live in SoCal is just an example of the amount of talent present on stage, and not just in studio.
Upon first listen to Live in SoCal, other than some crowd noise that was present in the intro track and in transitions, I could barely tell it was live. “Blind,” which makes it’s debut on The End, contains just as much, if not more energy as the studio release.
For me, this was an interesting way to be introduced to a band. In the same breath, I can admit that it’s probably the best way to be introduced to the band. It features selections from the last few releases, giving a new listener a well rounded taste of what Feisty Piranha’s are about. I mean, you get a touch of the band’s hip-hop side in “24,” which has a rapped verse over a nicely dirty, although dark, guitar backing, with a much more punk chorus and second chorus. You also get a touch of the band’s softer side in tracks like “A Better Day” and “Alone,” although the latter features a touch of what might sound to some like a little bit of ska punk.
The first song that literally blew me away was “Do You Know.” From the opening chords, to the later solo work (which, even I’ll admit, is incredible), to the overall style of the song, I could’ve sworn it could’ve been by the likes of the Bad Religion. Which is by all means a compliment.
If there’s one thing I’ve got to point out on the album, it’s gotta be the punk-reggae cover of “3 Little Birds” originally by Bob Marley. I absolutely loved this inclusion in the set. Not only does it fit into the set musically, but the song’s message is already perfect with the vibe Feisty Piranhas seem to give off.
The longest song in the set is “The End,” clocking in at over eleven minutes. And at first I wasn’t really sure what to expect. What I heard was more or less NOFX’s The Decline meets a certain Floyd-like psychedelia. The song is literally a musical journey of sorts. It makes a number of changes that me writing about it can’t describe exactly, and that it’s something listeners would have to hear for themselves. It also impresses me that this was also performed live, which for a song of that length, is commendable.
With Live in SoCal comes the live DVD The End, not to be confused with the studio effort of the same name. Which is best suited for those who just simply can’t get enough of this band’s excellent live chemistry throughout, so much so that you really have to see it as well as hear it. Obviously you can’t replace being at a gig, but this is the next best thing.
The Feisty Piranhas are, without a doubt, deserving of every award they’ve received. From the ability to sound as good live as in studio, to the commendable amount of chemistry this band has, not least of which is because of the father-son involvement. In any case, this is an excellent release for anyone who appreciates this type of music. Perfect for anyone who wants to experience this band in any way. Really good stuff here.
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