I Just Read About That…

[ATTENDED: August 14, 2026] Ciʀcle JƎʀᴋs

Circle Jerks are a legendary punk band.  They’ve been around since 1979 with various lineup changes and hiatuses. They more or less finished in 2011, but then started playing again in 2019 and have come to Philly every two years since then.  I thought about seeing them at the TLA in April playing with Gorilla Biscuits.  But we were out of town.

So when this event came up, I was really intrigued.  The band are in the movie Repo Man–playing a lounge version of themselves.  And the current bassist Zander Schloss was a main character in the movie.  And here they were–playing some songs, doing a Q&A about the movie and then showing the movie.  I’ve seen the movie a few times but haven’t watched it in a long time.  So I asked my brother-in-law if he wanted to go and he said YES, but then couldn’t make it.  So I asked my son and he said sure.

I don’t think he knew any Circle Jerks music, but he had heard of them.  And he had never seen the movie.

I waited till the day before the show to buy a ticket because I wanted to be in an area where there weren’t many people. I wound up getting the back row and it was pretty perfect for Keswick–you’re up ice and high and can see over the heads below you.  And the venue is small enough that the back row is only 34 rows back.

The band’s gear was set up and then someone came out singing the Feelin’ 7Up song.  I had totally forgotten that that’s how Zander Schloss’ character in the movie is introduced.  So he is singing the song and a guy in a tuxedo tells him to stop singing, man. Why so tense, guy?

Then the band launched into the song Repo Man and the man in the tux sang the song.   The man was Repo Man director Alex Cox.  He sang the song and left the stage.

Then Keith Morris came out on stage and the band launched into a barrage of songs totaling about 5 minutes. And I liked that security allowed anyone who wanted to to rush the stage (it’s not like any of us old people were going to cause too much trouble).  Although one person did climb in stage and dance around (and then slowly climbed back down off the stage).

I am not a huge Circle Jerks fan by any stretch.  I have a couple of their albums, but (ironically) I was more into Black Flag.  And yet, I know how iconic they are.  And I really enjoyed telling my son that after they played those five songs (with no real pauses between them) that they had played anywhere from 4 to 8 songs then. He was delighted.  Especially since he knows how much I like long songs (but I also really like short ones too).

After the group of five songs Keith Morris talked to us a bit.  He was political immediately, which was great.  He immediately started talking about how they were trying to use up our social security and how much he counted on it–he was 70 years old.  Which I couldn’t believe.  He sounded great!  I mean, he’s not exactly a great singer, but he still had the energy and anger that fueled those songs.

After a few minutes of talking (and Zander giving him a hard time), they launched into another chunk of songs.  There was a pause for a proper information of When the Shit Hits the Fan (as seen in the movie) which was followed by the comparatively epic Under the Gun (almost 3 minutes long).

The band was great as well.

So, my ignorance of the Circle Jerks was most evident when I looked up more information about the band members.  I had NO IDEA that Keith Morris was a founding member of Black Flag (even though I have the compilation with him singing).  I also had no idea that Greg Hetson, who I know of as a member of Bad Religion (1984-2013) was a founding member of the Circle Jerks (and the only other person (along with Keith Morris) who has never left the band–even while in Bad Religion).  Zander Schloss has been with the Jerks since 1984 (their third album) and hasn’t (really) left since even though he has played with a million other people over the years.  Their drummer was the only new person.  Joey Castillo has been playing with them since 2019.  And they played fast, loud & heavy.

I knew their second album was called Wild in the Streets, but I had no idea the song was a cover (it’s not immediately recognizable as the original).  Keith also told us that the song I, I & I was written by the guys from The Flesh Eaters (an early punk band that I don’t know AT ALL, even though half of X was in the band, Jesus, I need to brush up on my history).

Then they played a few Black Flag songs.  Which I was puzzled by (until I looked it up).  I thought Wasted sounded different–the version I know is sung differently).  Overall, they played 9 (of 14) songs from Group Sex.  I guess it’s embarrassing that the Jerks’ album I own is Wonderful (they played one song from it), but so what.

They played for about an hour–Keith said he would have talked a lot more if they had more time (they played about 6 more songs when they played at TLA last year–all of about 10 minutes of music!).

When the set was over, they cleared the stage and had a bit of a break.  And then Zander, Keith and Alex Cox came out and answered questions.  I was SHOCKED at how talkative everyone was in the back (where we were). It was so bad that the guys on stage told people to shut up (and they didn’t).  The questions were vaguely interesting and it was fun learning a little behind the scenes stuff.  But since I wasn’t a huge fan of the movie, it was all just vaguely interesting.

Then came the movie and it was really fun watching it with a bunch of people who liked it.  The funny parts were funnier with a roomful of laughter.  It was a long night and I think my son and I both flagged a bit but we enjoyed the show and the movie and I like to  think he won’t forget the night (even without any merch).

SETLIST

1. Feelin’ 7UP ([unknown] cover) (Zander Schloss entering stage; 7UP commercial jingle from the 80’s)
2. Repo Man (Iggy Pop cover) (Alex Cox singing with Circle Jerks backing)
3. Deny Everything ♥ [26 seconds]
4. Letterbomb ≡ [1:11]
5. In Your Eyes ‰ [41 seconds]
6. Back Against the Wall ♥ [1:32]
7. Behind the Door ♥ [1:23]
8. I Just Want Some Skank ♥ [1:09]
9. Beverly Hills ♥ [1:02]
10. When the Shit Hits the Fan ‰ [2:34]
11. Under the Gun ‰ [2:56]
12. Coup d’état ‰ [1:59]
13. Moral Majority ≡ [55 seconds]
14. Don’t Care ♥ [35 seconds]
15. Live Fast Die Young ♥ [1:33]
16. Wild in the Streets (Garland Jeffreys cover) ≡ [2:34]
17. I, I & I Ö [2:18]
18. Beat Me Senseless ∀ [1:57]
19. World Up My Ass ♥ [1:14]
20. Wasted (Black Flag cover) ⊗ [51 seconds]
21. Revenge (Black Flag cover) ♠ [59 seconds]
22. Nervous Breakdown (Black Flag cover) ⊗ [2:07]
23. What’s Your Problem ♥ [57 second]
24. Question Authority ≡ [2:00]

    During Q&A Encore

25. When the Shit Hits the Fan (Acoustic) ‰

∀ VI (1987)
Ö Wönderful (1985)
‰ Golden Shower of Hits (1983)
≡ Wild in the Streets (1982)
♥  Group Sex (1980)

BLACK FLAG
⊗ Nervous Breakdown single (1979)
♠ Jealous Again (1980)
⇓ Damaged (1981)

When they played TLA, bold one weren’t played for us.

1. Deny Everything
2. Letterbomb
3. In Your Eyes
4. Stars and Stripes ≡ [1:39]
5. Back Against the Wall
6. Behind the Door
7. I Just Want Some Skank
8. Beverly Hills
9. When the Shit Hits the Fan
10. Under the Gun
11. Paid Vacation ♥ [1:27]
12. Coup d’état
13. Moral Majority
14. Don’t Care
15. Live Fast Die Young
16. Junk Mail ‰ [1:20]
17. Parade of the Horribles ‰ [1:30]
18. Wild in the Streets (Garland Jeffreys cover
19. I, I & I
20. Leave Me Alone ≡ [1:19]
21. I Don’t ∀
22. Beat Me Senseless
23. World Up My Ass
24. Wasted
25. Red Tape ♥ [56 seconds]
26. Depression ⇓ (Black Flag cover) [2:28]
27. Fix Me ⊗ (Black Flag cover) [55 seconds]
28. Revenge (Black Flag cover)
29. Nervous Breakdown (Black Flag cover)
30. What’s Your Problem
31. Question Authority