Goldfinger had them surfing the crowd and singing along at SOMA
On Saturday March 1st legendary LA punk rockers Goldfinger played an amazing high energy show at SOMA San Diego. The band, which somewhat shockingly celebrated it’s 30th Anniversary last year, has been well known throughout Southern California and in San Diego since the late 90’s when they were part of the SoCal punk and ska music explosion. The surging crowd at SOMA was packed in tight on this cold night to sing along and raise their fists to their favorite old punk songs.
It’s always amazing to see the age mix at some of these 90’s punk shows, with grey haired parents and grandparents hoisting little kids onto their shoulders, both generations singing along. This show saw tons of kids of all ages having a blast, including plenty of insane crowd surfers who made it all the way from the back of Soma’s flat and expansive room, to the front of their very shallow pit. Goldfinger knows how to put on a show that feels like a party, and it’s great to see that they haven’t lost all of the silliness and crazy concert antics they are famous for.
Singer/Guitarist John Feldmann has been the sole constant member of Golfinger since the formation of the band in 1994. The other members include Charlie Paulson (guitar), Simon Williams (bass), Philip Sneed (guitar), Mike Herrera (bass), and Nick Gross (drums). The band was a blast to watch live with the guitar players spinning around, and constantly grabbing air. Bassist Mike Herrera, also from MxPx, was an absolute ball of energy whipping his bass around on stage. Feldman, who was rocking a sharp suit and an even sharper looking Schecter guitar, was on fire this evening, absolutely giving his all to the performance. Drummer Nick Gross was a powerhouse, slamming his drums hard with some solid punk rock beats. Also along for the ride for this show was a fantastic horn section featuring members of the band Reel Big Fish including Dan Regan, John “Johnny Christmas” Christianson, and Matt Appleton.
Highlights of the eighteen song set list included classics like “Superman” and “Miles Away” along with the last song, which was of course Goldfinger’s most enduring anthem, the Nena cover “99 Red Balloons.” This was such a nostalgic show with so many families in attendance, it was a really special atmosphere, and everyone was singing these classic songs along together. From the large contingent of family and friends lining the stage, to all the familiar faces in the crowd, this show felt more like a family reunion than just another punk rock show.
