While growing up, you get introduced to music and all of it is new to you. You can fall in love with it, or it may not be your thing. You may love the music, but since you’re still young you only hear the song or band in passing, and may never get a chance to really save that memory. The song or band is then lost to the sands of time as it fades from your memory. That is, until one day you are shuffling music on Spotify, and you hear a familiar tune. It can re-awaken memories you didn’t know you had and take you right back to your childhood. One of those bands for me was Porno for Pyros. I saw that they had announced a farewell tour, and though I didn’t currently listen to them, something deep in my mind had a fondness associated with this name. After looking them up, I rediscovered music I hadn’t heard in literal decades. I couldn’t miss my chance to sing a long with music I found so much enjoyment from when I was younger. Coming to the Observatory in Santa Ana to start off their Horns, Thorns, and Halos Farewell Tour and bringing with them Tigercub and Glossy. I was ready to relive my childhood.

Opening the night was a band known as Glossy. As these three stepped on to stage, the audience had no idea what to expect, but Glossy was there to play some punk rock loud and blast it right into our faces. Opening with “Sleep Sacrifice,” the lead singer and guitarist was nearly throwing a tantrum as he sang into the mic. All the while creating a distorted mess of guitar licks that still carried a melody to them. The drummer kept the pocket grooving while the bassist seemed to be the most cool, calm, and collected person on stage as she just vibed to the music. Sadly, I could not find the band members names, but their music came pre-loaded with a fat tone of groove. Playing songs like “Sinaloa,” “5th Loko,” “Drop the Ball,” “Substance Abuse,” “Up and Up,” “MDMA,” “Didn’t Plan to Stick Around,” and ending with “Emily.” Glossy was a fun way to start the night.

Up next was a band from Brighton, UK called Tigercub. This trio was helmed by guitarist and vocalist Jamie Stephen Hall who towered over his stacked cabinet of amps. So much so a fan shouted out “How fucking tall are you!” I imagine he gets that often. Opening with the song “Swoon” you could hear the fuzz radiating out of Jamie’s guitar. As bassist and backing vocalist Jimi Wheelwright joined in to sing the harmonies, Tigercub could be felt channeling the power of the band Muse. Complimenting them with tone and style, Tigercub has the finesse to write big stadium anthems. None of the members could be contained on stage either, as Jimi was constantly wriggling his body around the stage while playing. Drummer James Allix elevated his playing with high energy style coming down on his kit with emphasis. The music also had such different movements to it. You never felt like you were listening to the same song over and over again with different lyrics. Tigercub’s music had layers, tempo changes, and James handled the push and pulling that the flow of the music brought with it. Gifting us songs like “Dark Below,” “Dopamine,” “Control,” “Show Me My Maker,” “Beauty,” “Play My Favourite Song,” “The Perfume of Decay,” “Shadowgraph,” and ending with “Stop Beating on My Heart (Like a Bass Drum).” I’ve seen the name Tigercub before, but after this show I am now keeping a closer eye on the evolution of this band as I know they are going places.

Finally, it was time to see the band we would be bidding farewell to, Porno for Pyros. The venue was illuminated as the members walked on stage. You can hear the passion in the cheers and cries as vocalist Perry Farrell specifically walked out. This was my first time seeing Farrell live, and when he started to sing their opening song “Meija,” I was awe-struck with just how powerful of a voice this man has. Farrell can belt and sustain his vocals with such power that he pulls the microphone over a foot away from his face, and yet his voice still carries and can be heard by every single person in the crowd. It also lets him emote with vigor through the lyrics of each song. But Farrell isn’t a one man show, and the rest of the band has their moments to shine. Guitarist Peter DiStefano handles the style of the band dressed in a 3 piece suit and shredding on his axe all at the same time. Drummer Stephen Perkins is a multifaceted percussionist as he handles the different styles that Porno for Pyros blends. From playing in the pocket, to an alternative rock style, bleeding into funk metal, and grooving with a psychedelic vibe. Bassist Mike Watt appears to have injured himself as he was relegated to a seat while slappin’ the bass. But that seat could not confine his energy, as he was bouncing with the rhythm of each song. Dressed in a vibrant yellow shirt and tie, he had the charisma and energy of SpongeBob. Playing songs like “Wishing Well,” “Sadness,” “Agua,” “Tahitian Moon,” “Porpoise Moon,” “Porno for Pyros,” “Pets,” “Good God’s://Urge!,” “Blood Rag,” “Little Me,” “Orgasm,” “100 Ways,” “Cursed Female,” “Cursed Male,” and ending with a two song encore of “Hey Gypsy Boy,” and “Bad Shit.” Porno for Pyros crafted their setlist to create a melody that moved with an energy that ebb and flowed, but never gave the audience a chance to lose interest in what they were experiencing.

Porno for Pyros isn’t a band name I feel you hear talked about all that often. But the sold out crowd at the Observatory was filled with die hard fans that have been with Perry and the boys for the long run. Getting to hear so many of these songs live, I rediscovered songs that I haven’t heard since my childhood. I also developed such an appreciate for Farrell as a vocalist. He’s always had an instantly identifiable and standout voice, but finally experiencing it firsthand was a trip I’m glad I got to go on. This was just the first stop of their farewell tour, and I highly recommend anyone and everyone to make sure they catch a show before Porno for Pyros are gone for good.