“What the fuck people?  It’s a fuckin’ Monday night.  Don’t you people have jobs?  Or school?  Or something. . .”  The crowd howls in a drunken roar and raise up their bottles of beer and roach clips in acknowledgement.  Hey Geoff, I think you got your answer.  Besides man, you should know, stoners don’t have real jobs.  (Now after that being said, everyone reading this can put down their bongs and exhale.)

 I’ve seen many San Diego bands perform but one of the few bands to actually capture the true San Diego spirit is a band out of Santa Cruz—The Expendables.  Every beach punk, ska-nik, skater kid, surf dog, and your run-of-the-mill pothead sang along to every lyric of every song—which is surprisingly good memory considering the cloud of purple haze emanating from the floor.  Weed references aside, it was an amazing show.  The melodic grooves of the band (Ryan Demars, bass; Raul Bianchi, guitar) match with the smooth alto voices of Geoff Weers (guitar and vocals) and Adam Patterson (drums and vocals) was the perfect combination rolled up like a fat Cheech & Chong blunt and a Mrs. Field’s cookie.  Oops, again, weed references aside, these guys commanded the stage.  Starting out the box with “Down, Down, Down” off of their self-titled 2007 release, got the listeners bobbing their heads in waves to the ska-hop.  But don’t mistaken them for just a straight reggae-ska band.  The fast paced, board-in-your-face song “War Cry” stirred up the pit for all skater-metalheads to thrash to.  But the crème de la crème was the touching love song dedicated to all those celebrating their 420th anniversary that night, “Bowl for Two.”  Ah, needless to say, it was a big hit with the crowd (sorry, boss, I had to get one more weed reference in there). In all honesty, it was my first time seeing and hearing The Expendables. . .and it won’t be the last.  Note to Slightly Stoopid, thumbs up on signing them to your label.  But fair warning, The Expendables may just take over your scene.

Post Script:  Sorry ganja enthusiasts, Canes Bar & Grill does not allow marijuana on the property.

Post Post Script:  Kids, don’t do drugs!  You’ll end up with a worthless college degree and the only gig that’ll take you is writing concert reviews online (ha, just kidding boss. . .I’m clean. . .today).