Home Grown Celebrates 30 Years of “That’s Business” with Energetic Chain Reaction Show
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A resurgence for the Orange County pop-punk band culminated in a special one-night performance at the iconic chain Reaction,marking the 30th anniversary of their debut album,”That’s Business.” The show wasn’t just a concert; it was a celebration of a band, a venue, and a shared history for a devoted fanbase.
A Return to Roots
It’s a good year for live music when familiar venues like Chain Reaction are thriving,and even better when bands like Home Grown are back in the spotlight. This milestone event. The band has experienced a notable revival in recent months,becoming more active than they have been in almost two decades.
“That’s Business” – A ska Punk Time Capsule
Released three decades ago, “That’s Business” remains a defining document of Home Grown’s sound in the mid-1990s.Described as a “ska punk album…written by a young band learning the ropes and finding their voice,” the record still resonates with fans. The band appropriately chose Chain Reaction to commemorate the anniversary, offering a unique opportunity to revisit the album in its entirety.
A Night of Pop-Punk Nostalgia
The evening featured support from fellow 90s pop-punk acts.Overlap,a three-piece band contemporary to Home Grown,opened the show with an energetic thirty-minute set. Despite a relatively short career, Overlap managed to showcase a strong catalog of songs, and according to one observer, they were “a good choice for a band that probably didn’t get their due when they were active.” Following Overlap, Mercy Music from Las Vegas took the stage, delivering a performance characterized by “palm-muted guitars, bass lines that actually move around the neck,” and a driving punk rock energy.
A Full Album Performance and a Hint of Farewell
Home Grown didn’t just play the hits; they performed every song from “That’s Business,” including tracks that haven’t aged as gracefully. The band cleverly engaged the audience, allowing them to take the lead on less-favored lyrics. Songs like “hearing Song,” “Face in the Crowd,” and “Get A Job” were highlights, alongside the perennial fan favorite, “Surfer Girl.” The show also served as a potential farewell to certain tracks, such as “One Night Stand,” “Impotency,” and “Worthless,” though the crowd’s excited response to songs like “Ubotherme,” “wanna-Be,” and “SFLB” might give the band pause.
The setlist extended beyond “That’s Business,” featuring a trio of songs from their subsequent albums: “nowhere Slow” from Act Your Age and “Kiss Me,” “Diss Me,” and “You’re Not Alone” from King of Pop.
A Positive Vibe and a Generational Connection
The atmosphere at Chain Reaction was described as “super positive,” with a crowd largely comprised of longtime fans and a surprising number of younger attendees brought by their parents. The band has been candid about the possibility of this being a final chapter, acknowledging that, like their audience, they have evolved. If this is indeed the end of an era for some of the songs from “That’s Business,” Home Grown delivered a fitting tribute, playing for a room full of fans at the venue where they built their legacy. It was a reunion for many, and a celebration for all.
Video credit to Rock Show Videos
