After 20 years most things change … most things. Thankfully, Bad Religion hasn’t changed all that much. Sure, there have been a few member changes, a few sound tweaks, but overall, the band doesn’t sound all that different now than they did in 1982.
Bad Religion brought the sound of longevity to Orange County on Easter Sunday. By the end of their opening song (Suffer) a crowd-surfer floated upside down toward the stage — only his feet could be seen, then he disappeared. I knew it was going to be a good show.
The band blasted through nearly 30 songs in a 90 minute set. Singer Greg Graffin belted out his usual lyrics packed with social and political commentary.
And if Bad Religion on Easter Sunday sounds sacrilegious, how about a mid-show pageant? The Fourth Annual Bad Religion Easter Pageant presented a battle between Jebus (that’s right, an obscure reference for Simpson’s fans) and the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny won and bassist Jay Bentley played the remainder of the show in his bunny outfit.
By the end of the night, the adrenaline filled music left fans sweaty and out of breath, and still, they asked for more.
They’ll get more. Bad Religion shows no signs of waning. They continue to tour. They continue to put out music that has built a steady fan base for the last 20 years. And if the Easter Show at the Grove in Anaheim is any indication of what’s to come, then they’ll be doing the same thing for another 20 years.
by Brian Barsuglia
