91X Wrex the Halls

Surely Night 2 of 91X’s Wrex the Halls is a step up from the previous night, when all Hell broke loose in the parking lot from people waiting in lines to get into the venue. Kudos to the station and the Valley View Casino Center for getting their heads together and making things move much more smoothly on Sunday night. The Domino stage set up in the parking lot featured some cool bands and kept people entertained and engrossed while 91X broadcasted live and interviewed bands on the bill.
The mix of music this second evening was also a lot less trendier than the first and certainly more old school. New and upcoming Mutemath from New Orleans opened the show first and got the crowd warmed up in the pit. Next up: one of my favorites, Everlast, who gave a very moving, heartfelt set and then commiserated with everyone out there going through hard times. Rapper DMC took to the stage and did his DJ-​flavored thing. Give 91X props for inserting this rap and DJ infused music into the mix, although I noticed lots of people making it time for a bathroom break or beer run.
Pennywise played so LOUD that I yearned for some earplugs. Could be I was just sitting right next to the amps but I thought their overblown set was obnoxious and full of expletives. Not my cup of tea. Switchfoot continues to blow minds with some awesome lighting and powerful music. The band has had some good radio hits they played but also threw in covers of the Beastie Boy’s «Sabotage» and Jane’s Addiction’s «Been Caught Stealing.» Awesome!
My heart thrilled, after not being able to get into the 2 sold-​out HOB shows Social Distortion played earlier this year, that I was finally getting the chance to experience the great Social D! This band is like the elder statesmen (not meant in a pejorative way) of punk rock. Social D played in a highly efficient manner yet managed to convey passion and punk! I was happy to finally enjoy the Orange County punksters in person!
What can you say about those Poway frat boys (and Fontana drummer) known as Blink 182? Of course «they brought their A-​game,» as Christy Taylor said. They confidently played as head-​liners and the pit in front of the stage literally erupted. It was entertaining to watch bras thrown at Blink and hear the immature comments and potty-​mouthed banter between Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge. The overgrown fans of the band were surely in Blink heaven this night. It was a great performance for sure.
Despite the «technical» difficulties of the first evening of WREX THE HALLS, it is obvious that the station and venue were able to learn from their mistakes and move forward. There is no shame in having bottle-​necking going on; it is what you do after the fiasco that matters. I feel that 91X should bring back The Naked and Famous and Airborne Toxic Event-​the 2 bands that most fans stuck in the Saturday line missed-​and put on a FREE MAKE-​UP show. It is better that the station make amends and quite trying to run from the responsibility here. Despite them NOT putting me on will-​call so I could review the show, per the instructions of Ernie Hahn-​Valley View Casino Center owner and manager-​and some other stupid stuff this radio station does, the 2^nd night was totally rockin. Though not perfect, the 2^nd Night of WREX THE HALLS was pretty solidly and impressively EPIC MUSIC!