D Generation at The Wonder Bar, Asbury Park, NJ 9-15-11 Back in the early/mid 90s I went to the Birch Hill a lot. For those too young or not from NJ, the Birch Hill was a dive bar that was a big part of the central NJ scene up until it’s closure in the early 2000s. So many bands played there either on their way up (among them were the Goo Goo Dolls, Korn, Marilyn Manson, all before they had broken big), or on their way down (way too many washed up hair bands to name here). They also had a lot of up and coming local bands playing, and it seemed almost every show I went to for a few years had D Generation on the bill. There are plenty of bands I ended up accidentally seeing over and over again in the 90’s on a bill with another band I was going to see, but the only one I ever got excited about was D Generation. There was something about their glam punk rock that was always a blast. Like a what if the New York Dolls had continued making music in the 90s (of course now with their reunion we know for sure new NY Dolls music is awesome). When I heard D Generation was reuniting I was cautiously excited. I wanted to let loose and be full on excited, but let’s be honest, how many bands reunite each year that should never have. Be it that they reunited for money, trying to relive something they can no longer live up to, etc., reunions are often bad. Add in that Jesse Malin has gone on to fame and acclaim as a solo artist, and I had my suspicions that this might not work. I am happy to report that my fear was for naught, D Generation well exceeded my highest expectations and put on a rock show every bit as good (possibly better) than they did back in the 90s. D Generation came out and kicked right into “degenerated” instantly getting the crowd engrossed. What fascinated me most, was how much fun it looked like the band was having. This was definitely not a band that reunited for money. I’m pretty sure they reunited because they missed playing together. They certainly did make up for lost time with this not so secret warm up gig for their New York City shows this weekend. Their hour long set was pretty much non-stop rock, with little to no talking in between songs. It was energetic, sweaty, and rock in it’s purest form. Even Jesse walking through the crowd and getting up on the bar and doing a parody of an incident Jim Morrison once famously got arrested for, which could have easily came off looking silly, felt appropriately part of the show. Long story short, if D Generation’s reunion tour is coming anywhere near where you live, I urge you to go. This is the real deal, not a vain attempt to reclaim their youth, or cash in on their past. -Lazlo www.dgeneration.us Photos by Lazlo (click on photo see full size)