Thursday, the ninth of March, Volcom entertainment hosted yet another successful skaterock night. A time and place where Orange and LA County bands can strum their stuff and entertain the finest street and vert skaters.

The air was filled with the musk of Orange County as the first band, The Third Degree, played comprised of Reed Black playing bass guitar, Kevin Panter on drums and Jason Hampton wailing the guitar. The bleeding sounds crept through the warehouse, where a few hundred spectators watched anxiously for flying skateboards and bodies from the vert ramp right next to the stage. The second band of the evening was a group of older punk rockers going by the name of the Smut Peddlers. The Peddlers were comprised of Julie on drums, while John, Gish and Roger were filling the rest of the rhythm, and vocal sections.

Underground events like this have been going on for the last 20 years with little or no media attention for various unknown secret reasons. Now that corporate America has sunk their teeth into the xtreme subculture, bigger events can be touring cities throughout the world, e.g. Vans Warped Tour. Skaterock night was more comfortable for the general onlookers who dont bother with the hustle and bustle of mainstream America. It is a time when you get to mingle with the bands, skateboarders and subculture at a more personable level. Its definitely more enlightening to see things up close and catch the real source of energy.

The subculture of Orange County will not be found anywhere else in the world due to the small eclectic variety of diversified beach cultures of punkers, skaters, rockers, grease monkeys, construction workers, musicians, poets, derelicts, hippies, rave children etc. Basically any stereotype the media produces is found here plus more.

Skaterock night is a perfect escape for the youth culture in the Orange County area. The chances of a police encounter are far and few between, allowing the music/skate culture to thrive. I had a chance to speak with a few global nomads who agree that, here behind the orange curtain, there is a rare cultural blend of somewhat coherent life form.

One for instance, named Roman, stated that after growing up in Hollywood and traveling across the globe, he found that LA has a semi lackluster energy flow compared even to Orange County. Los Angeles is very spread out, making it very difficult for concentrations of culture for the younger generations to feed on.

Another face in the crowd, by the name of Mailman, who lives in France, frequently visits Orange County and rarely Los Angeles. LA seems to be a bit burnt out, and the flame in OC is very young, making it easier to create an organic scene...whereas LA has it's lines predetermined and people expect a certain type of turnout, big names, big marketing, big crowds. People should start looking beyond the marketing and hype that is being thrown at them and start something of their own.

As amazing as it may be, the bands, spectators and skateboarders managed to escape the night free of any major physical or psychological damage. Other than an occasional circuit breaker blowing due to the tremendous power surge of the bands, we had a great time.

The Third Degree appeared courtesy of IndecisionRecords.com