I have a confession to make, and I’m not particularly proud of it, especially now. Until Thursday night, I had never seen Dirty Heads live.
I know. Clearly, I’ve been missing out. When I got the call to cover KROQ’s private Dirty Heads show at Morongo Casino Resort & Spa in Cabazon, I was happy to take the assignment. I’m an old-head punk guy at heart, but I also grew up on a steady diet of ‘80s alternative music courtesy of KROQ and personalities like Richard Blade, Jed the Fish, Swedish Egil, and of course Kevin and Bean.
While punk remains my first love, I’ve always enjoyed reggae and bands like Sublime and 311, so Dirty Heads weren’t outside my musical wheelhouse – I just hadn’t gotten around to seeing them, but that was about to change. KROQ put together one hell of an evening, and I was about to discover what makes Dirty Heads so special.
The show took place in Morongo’s ballroom, a terrific setting for a private concert. Plenty of space, good sightlines, and all the advantages of being inside a casino. Food, drinks, gambling, and a great concert? Works for me. When doors opened at 7:45 p.m., something immediately caught my attention.
Damn near everyone was wearing Dirty Heads merchandise. This wasn’t a room full of casual radio listeners who happened to score tickets. These people were serious fans. And then there was the dude dressed as Sloth from “The Goonies.” More on him shortly.
As I chatted with people around me, something strange kept happening. Almost everyone somehow figured out this was my first Dirty Heads show. Nobody could explain how they knew. The response was usually some variation of, “We can just tell.”
The fans were incredibly welcoming. Several were genuinely excited to share my first Dirty Heads experience with me. They told me about the band, their favorite shows, and what I could expect.
Then, out came KROQ’s Postmaster Johnny to introduce the band and the crowd lost its mind!
Once Dirty Heads hit the stage, I understood. Holy shit! What a show! I’m not exaggerating when I say this was one of the best live performances I’ve attended in a very long time.
The music was fantastic. The band was tight, energetic, and clearly having a blast. Their blend of reggae, hip-hop, alternative rock, and Southern California attitude translated beautifully to the stage.
But what really made the night special was the relationship between the band and its audience. These fans are something else. I’ve attended more concerts than I could possibly count, from tiny punk clubs to massive stadium productions, and Dirty Heads have cultivated one of the most enthusiastic audiences I’ve encountered.
They sang every word. LOUDLY. They screamed, danced, raised their hands, and responded to practically everything happening onstage. And the band gave it right back.
From “Burn Slow” and “Heavy Water” through “Rescue Me,” “My Sweet Summer,” and “Lay Me Down,” the energy never dipped. “Life’s Been Good,” “That’s All I Need,” and “Vacation” kept the ballroom moving, while the band’s easygoing stage presence made the evening feel more like a gathering of friends than a conventional concert.
Which brings me back to Sloth (AKA Mathew). The fan dressed as the lovable “Goonies” character who drove from Lemoore, near Fresno, and arrived at 9 a.m. to be first in line.
Having seen Dirty Heads 17 times, he was determined to claim his usual spot up front.
He explained that the band recognized him from previous shows and would jokingly give him a hard time whenever he appeared in costume. Well, Thursday night, he hit the jackpot.
The band brought him onstage and let him sing part of a song!
Watching someone who had spent the entire day waiting to see his favorite band suddenly standing up there performing with them was priceless. He was absolutely over the moon.
And that moment probably tells you more about Dirty Heads and their fans than anything else I could write. There was another wonderfully ridiculous interruption when someone tossed a pack of football trading cards onto the stage.
Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell eagerly tore into the pack and started inspecting his new acquisitions.
For a moment, he thought he’d scored a rare insert card, only to discover it was a blank card with a security tag. His disappointment was hilarious.
Jared “Dirty J” Watson eventually teased him about returning to the music, then offered his own request: he’d be perfectly happy if someone brought him a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Just another spontaneous moment that showed how comfortable these guys are with their audience.
By the encore, featuring “Soundboy Killa” and “Medusa,” the crowd was still going full throttle. Even after the band left the stage, a recorded remix kept pumping through the ballroom. Security eventually had the unenviable task of clearing the room.
Nobody wanted to leave. Not because they expected another encore. They were simply enjoying themselves, talking, laughing, and sharing the experience with people who clearly loved being there. And did I mention how loud these fans were? My ears were ringing afterward, and it wasn’t just from the PA.
Dirty Heads are a terrific live band, but they’ve also built something that goes well beyond the music. Their fans genuinely feel like part of a community, and after spending an evening among them, I understand why.
KROQ deserves tremendous credit for bringing this experience to its listeners. I’ve been a fan of the station for decades, and nights like this are a reminder of what radio can accomplish when it brings musicians and audiences together. And to the Dirty Heads fans who welcomed the clueless old punk guy at the front of the stage, thanks for making the evening even better.
I was right. I had no idea what I was walking into. I do now. The next time Dirty Heads come through Southern California, I’ll be there. Press credentials or not. Consider me a convert.
