We live in a land where surf rock was pioneered, where "Apache" is not a hip-hop song, and where Dick Dale is still a king.  At the same time, Tacoma is home to hardcore bands such as Zeke (forget what Seattle tries to tell you) and South 11^th - bands that relentlessly approach take-no-prisoners music with fists held high. 

These two worlds met Saturday night at Hell's Kitchen, as SoCal's Agent Orange headlined a near sold-out show. 

Opening for Agent Orange were local bands Victor Cutoff, the Dirty Birds, Broken Oars and South 11^th.  Victor Cutoff and the Dirty Birds had solid sets getting the crowd warmed up for Broken Oars' debut show with new drummer "Stubs."  This was the best Broken Oars set I have seen yet.  The band was spot on, inspiring circle pits and bloody noses with their anthemic sing-along Tacoma-pride street punk. 

Tacoma natives South 11^th took the stage after Broken Oars.  I had never seen South11^th before Saturday, and as I watched the band all I kept thinking was, "These guys are a perfect blend between Minor Threat and early Pantera." Then, much to my pleasure, the band covered "Seein' Red." Be sure to check the split South 11^th did with the now defunct Sarah Connor. 

Mike Palm, lead singer of Agent Orange, was pumped to be playing the new Hell's Kitchen location, saying, "The Avenue has changed, but all the same great Tacoma faces are here, and that's what we love coming back to." 

Agent Orange formed in Orange County in 1979, blending the guitar influences of Dick Dale with the aggression of the Ramones.  On Saturday night at Hell's Kitchen Laramie Dean joined the band as they tore through an hour of earsplitting surf rock, both old and new.  It was great to hear pretty much all of the gems off of Living in Darkness.  The new stuff was good, too - leaning a bit more towards the Ventures than the Lewd. But, hey, what can you expect they're getting old? 

Laramie thought it was a blast to play in the home of the Ventures; "Its just really cool to be playing in the town where some of the most influential surf music was written," he told the crowd. 

Agent Orange put on a hell of a show, respectfully paying homage to a city of their heroes.