On Saturday, March 9, Bad Religion brought their True North tour to San Diego’s SOMA.

Opening up the night was local band The Frights, filling in for a cancelled Against Me! who were forced to leave the tour due to issues with their drummer. The Frights were actually an amazing replacement and an unexpected surprise, winning over the sold-out SOMA crowd. The self-described surf-punk band is something to watch out for, and they play around town frequently.

Rochester, New York’s Polar Bear Club took the middle slot of the night, and played a solid set of punk tunes. Their singer Jimmy Stadt had an amazing presence, commanding the stage even as the crowd grew increasingly restless waiting for Bad Religion.

Bad Religion are on tour supporting their new record (also called True North), which was just released in January of this year. The album is actually the legendary punk band’s highest charting album in its 34-year career.

Similarly, the band showed no signs of slowing down onstage. The long set was full of hits like “Sorrow,” “Los Angeles Is Burning,” and “American Jesus,” as well as many songs from the new record like the deftly tilted single “Fuck You” (not a Cee Lo Green cover). The veteran act seemed to have a lot of fun playing the material, and so did the many longtime (and new) fans in the audience.

Photos – Bad Religion at SOMA

Polar Bear Club

The Frights