Hoobastank rocks KROQ free show

By Michelle V. Gonzales
Daily Bruin Contributor

A free concert in Hawthorne with no riots?

Last Saturday newcomers Hoobastank, the rock band from
Calabasas, and long-time punkers Unwritten Law rocked the local
KROQ (106.7 FM) crowd with a free concert under the overcast sky at
the Best Buy parking lot in Hawthorne.

KROQ DJs, including Kevin and Bean, Adam Carolla and Dr. Drew,
Sluggo, Stryker and Tammi Heidi signed calendars for hundreds of
listeners. Profits from the sales of the calendar will go towards
several charities including the American Red Cross.

The local alternative radio station KROQ offered the free show
to promote the release of the KROQ 2002 calendar and new music CD
this past Saturday.

The crowd got a taste of Hoobastank’s new album as well as
a live rendition of its radio favorite single “Crawling in
the Dark.”

Unwritten Law played a set that included radio-worn song
“Cailin” with a special appearance by the
singer’s little inspiration, his daughter Cailin. The band
also played crowd favorites “Harmonic” and
“Lonesome” in addition to songs from its upcoming
album.

Security measures were tight at the KROQ Calendar and Free Show
on Saturday to prevent any mishaps from occurring again.

During a Sept. 3 KROQ free show in Hollywood featuring local
hard rockers System of a Down, 10,000 fans showed up, overwhelming
the security measures that had been set up in anticipation of a
crowd of only 4,000. Fans misunderstood the early cancellation of
the show by the fire marshal and frustration ensued in the crowd,
leading to looting and rioting as well as the mass fleeing of
people from the area.

Hoobastank’s self-titled debut album off Island Records
arrives in stores Nov. 20 followed by a record release show at the
House of Blues in Hollywood on the 21st. Unwritten Law plans to
release its new album, “Elva,” in January of 2002 and
is currently on tour in Australia.