Brett Callwood
Zeros at Zebulon: In March 2022, we reviewed another Zeros at the Whisky for this very publication. That’s the purple-haired glam rock version of the band with this name. There’s also a UK punk band from the ’70s, and there are probably more.
It’s taken this long for us to review the L.A. pioneering punk band but we got here in the end. This Zeros played their first show on a bill with the Germs (also playing their first show) and the Weirdos. They’re very much a part of Los Angeles punk history, often referred to as L.A.’s Ramones.
We interviewed frontman Javier Escovedo last week, and he said that, “There’s a bunch of bands called the Zeros. There’s one in the Midwest, like in Chicago. They kind of get a lot of attention. In ’77. There was an English band called the Zeros. And actually, when we finally toured England a few years ago, the guy wrote to me and said he was gonna come on his show, but I don’t think he made it.”
He also told us of this Zebulon show that, “We’re practicing hard and getting ready. We’re excited. You know, there seems to be a lot of excitement about this show, a lot of stuff online that has surprised me.”
After a lively set by fellow locals the Uni Boys, a packed crowd gave the Zeros a hero’s welcome as they made their way onto the Zebulon stage. It was the weekend between Christmas and New Year, which can be a bit of a limbo period for concerts, so this Zeros show was an absolute godsend.
They played every song you’d want to hear from them, and Cliff Roman of the Weirdos joined them for a run through one of their best known songs, “Wimp.”
“Don’t Push Me Around” and “Beat Your Heart Out” are further highlights, though the set is full of them. The band’s surfy, melodic punk set is as enjoyable as it is infectious, and the cover of the Standells’ “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White” is magnificent.
It seems to be the case that there will always be a fascination with the classic L.A. punks. From X to Black Flag, Redd Kross to the Germs, people continue to rediscover the originals with enthusiasm. Not every band rose to those heights but there are plenty, like the Dils, the Deadbeats and the Zeros, that command a degree of fascination. This gig showcased why it’s still worth Zeroing in.
Zeros at Zebulon: Visit zebulon.la for more info.
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