Adolescents Pursuit

Now in their forties, the members of veteran Orange County punk band the Adolescents still find meaning in their old songs. "I went through this jaded period, where I thought no one was listening to what we were saying," says bassist Steve Soto, looking back on old faves like "Amoeba" and "Kids of the Black Hole." "But if there's five people not shopping at Wal-Mart instead of three, we've done something."

On OC Confidential, their first album of new material in 17 years, the middle-aged Adolescents somehow manage to sound like pissed-off teenagers. "We're still on the outside looking in," says Soto. "We laid the blueprint for a lot of the aggressive guitar stuff that goes on now. And we're still coming up with songs we like playing." Last year's CD features three original members, including Soto (who went on to form Agent Orange) and guitarist Rikk Agnew (an original member of Social Distortion). A couple of reunion concerts celebrating their 25th anniversary initially brought them back together. "A lot of kids don't give a shit about Good Charlotte," says Soto. "Those kids have been turning up at our shows. We were surprised to see that. We were expecting rooms full of 40-year-old men."
Thu., Aug. 3, 7:30 p.m.