An excited buzz filled the air outside of Ragin’ Records on Feb. 21, as people of all ages waited for local punk bands Disorderly Conduct and Blazed to take the stage.
The minute the clock turned to 6:30 p.m. audience members flooded into the record store, nestling into the closest spot they could manage. Within seconds the room was filled with chatter amongst a sea of heads, scored against classic Title Fight riffs as Disorderly Conduct guitarist Diego Romo warmed up.
Front man, guitarist and self-proclaimed stand-up comedian Charlie Crash warmed up the crowd with some jokes.
“What do you call an alligator detective?” Crash asked. “An INVESTI-gator,” he finished.
With the ice officially broken and audio levels set, it was time for the audience to get what they showed up for. What followed was a raw display of punk rock evocative of classic acts, with face-melting distortion and growling bass lines. Backing up the band was drummer Dave McFly, whose savage rhythm led the methodic chaos.
Crash was a force of nature, making the most out of the cramped corner of the store. The lack of space wasn’t enough to contain him as he thrashed around, pouring unfiltered aggression into the microphone.
“It was pretty small, but the good thing about Fresno is that they make the most out of whatever situation,” Crash said. “It was small, but it was awesome.”
Disorderly Conduct’s setlist consisted of their two released songs, an electrifying cover of “Subliminal” by Suicidal Tendencies and some teaser tracks of the band’s upcoming self-titled EP, set for release on March 1.
After an explosive finish with a performance of their song “Death to Enemy,” it was time for Blazed to make their entrance.
Whereas Disordly’s sound got the crowd amped up, Blazed brought a more melodic, but just as energetic, feel. Invited to the show by Crash, Blazed treated the audience to some new songs from their EP “Swallow,” which had just released that day.
“It’s [the EP] definitely a lot different from what we’re used to playing and what we’re used to writing,” said Joshua Piper, guitarist and vocalist for Blazed. “But that’s the goal, to change it up and hopefully write music that resonates with everybody.
What stood out about Blazed’s performance was its refinery. Each member fit perfectly into the larger unit, fulfilling their roles without overshadowing the others. That being said, Piper really completed the presentation, with shrieking guitar riffs that pierced the wave of sound.
Although Blazed undoubtedly brings a fresh, modern sound, there’s a clear tinge of inspiration from iconic post-hardcore bands that gives listeners a delightful sense of familiarity.
“They remind me very much of Title Fight,” said Victor Walker, an attendee. “This is my Title Fight.”
Ragin’ Records served as the perfect venue for a show of this nature. Having the walls lined with vinyls of the greats while listening to some up-and-comers brought a magic that only a show like this can provide. Despite the small venue, the crowd was courteous and respectful of the space.
The room was filled with music lovers from all walks of life, from punk veterans to fresh meat.
“The vibes were really cool when I came in, and everyone was super nice,” said first-time show-goer Sarah Chavez. “It was really cool to be able to watch it from afar, and the music was super loud which was nice.”
With the release of “Swallow,” and Disorderly Conduct’s EP just around the corner, these two bands are undoubtedly major players to look out for in the Fresno ever-growing music scene.
“Every single face I saw in the audience I’ve seen before,” McFly said. “It’s just so cool to be able to play in a place where I can say ‘Hey, I know that guy,’ or ‘Hey I know that girl.’ That’s what keeps me going.”
