Foxboro Hot Tubs at Alex’s Bar in LB - Best rock show EVER? Yes.

Wednesday night, while my wonderful wife was unfortunately stuck at Open House night at her school, I went on a little adventure. I hit one of my old haunts, Alex’s Bar in Long Beach, for an evening with Reverend Strychnine Twitch and friends (more commonly known as the Foxboro Hot Tubs - also known as “the guys from Green Day plus their touring bandmates in a not-so-super-secret side project”). I’m convinced that this was the best rock show I have ever attended.

The night started out with Girls With Guns, a super punky chick band that embraced the punk ethos of old. They were loud, fast, brash and rude, and just went on stage to have a good drunken time. I have read some complaints about them, but they are very good at what they do - rocking balls off and not giving a fuck. They rocked the place, and had a great time doing it.

The second opening act was the Mystic Knights of the Cobra, another band that rocked the house and had a great time doing it. I immediately loved the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo reference, and the band was pretty darn good. With killingly catchy songs like “El Camino” (featuring the lyrics “The front is like a car, the back is like a truck, the front is where we kiss, the back is where we…”) and others (not to mention the two attractive female lead singers), MKOTC are a sight to behold. They obviously enjoyed their opening spot for Foxboro, and had a blast warming up the crowd.

After MKOTC, I was hanging out at the bar with my new friend Dave, when all of a sudden we both catch something from the corner of our eyes. Turns out that five feet away from us right behind the bar, Tr&eacure; Cool is mixing himself a drink. We both admitted to being pathetically star struck. Yes, it’s embarrassing, but sometimes 32 year olds have to succumb to their inner little girl.

Once the band went on stage, things got straight loco. Billy J… ahemThe Reverend Strychnine Twich, rather… entered the venue over the crowd on top of a surf board carried by some burly security guys. It was pretty amazing. Actually the really amazing part is that The Rev managed not to knock his head on the low ceiling. But it was a killer entrance.

The Hot Tubs rocked the crowd for almost an hour and a half. I think it’s safe to say that everyone there - the band, the crowd, and even the bartenders and security guards - had the time of their lives. At least three times (and I think more) throughout the night, the Reverend invited the crowd up on stage to dance and party with the band. Amazingly, even with thirty people on that tiny stage with them, they still kept the music going and sounded great.

I don’t think the band even knows what their future plans are, but if you ever get the opportunity to see the Foxboro Hot Tubs, I would highly recommend it.

I personally can’t think of a rock show that I have been to that could top this one. It was an opportunity that comes along once in a lifetime, and I feel very lucky to have been a part of it. Thanks for a great show, FBHT!