Avail - Fireside Bowl Chicago IL 1996

[@HermanWaldorf]

they did melodic punk rock in their own peculiar way. Still a pleasure to listen to these songs in 2024.

[@krisfox8964]

So good... I remember they toured through Florida with Hot Water Music and I skipped a week of my senior year of high school and followed them through 7 dates in FL, AL, and ended in New Orleans. A surreal experience for a 17-year-old high school kid not yet out of the house. Before AVAIL, music was music and fun. AVAIL's music had a profound impact on me, especially at that time in my life. They forever transformed the role music would have in my life. Watching this video brings all of this back and their music is every bit as powerful now as it was then. Thanks a lot, simple312.

[@adamwhatley4710]

That was the first time I saw HWM at the Night Owl in Pensacola. Lifechanging moment.

[@MDStarfish]

I caught the Descendents CD. It was Everything Sucks. I can’t believe I just watched that happen 25 years later. Very surreal. Thank you.

[@herbparsley6860]

Lol...lucky you! I found this while searching to catch a glimpse of my youthful self at a fireside bowl show. 😂 No luck yet , but so cool you have that memory captured here in 2021 for all of posterity

[@johnbrat544]

That’s so rad

[@xsteevox]

In 1996 they seemed old to me, and now they look like kids.

[@joedoubleyouem5873]

watching this makes me grateful for 8 times I was fortunate enough to see them, and ache for the absolute bliss I felt every time. being completely lost in their sound and would lose my shit. such a great band. although I miss them dearly, I respect the way they left, just kinda faded away. Tim's solo stuff is a great continuation for someone advancing in age and trying to hold on to those old punk rock ideals.

[@TheKnivingComplex]

you did a service to history documenting this, I was at this show, So many good local bands are lost to history as we didnt have youtube, filesharing was still underground, thanks for giving me back a memory. YOu Rock!

[@MathinColor]

KZbin gold here. Shows like this are what this platform is all about. Thanks for posting.

[@badbadtomorrow]

I'm from RVA and Avail was hands down the best live band (maybe hose.got.cable.) thank you for posting my youth.

[@herbparsley6860]

Truth

[@Furnitureisfree34]

I love reading these comments and knowing there are still people out there that get "That feeling" when watching this video.

[@jimbothompson6540]

96 was my favorite year, the most 90s time of all, best of times for me

[@getphysicalsilver613]

Loved the mid 90s - in no small part due to this band!

[@SimonB.]

one of the best live bands ever

[@boilingpaul]

I clicked the"thumbs up" icon....mostly because KZbin doesn't offer an "I fucking love this" button.....just sayin'

[@NorthCascades]

Man if only i had a time machine. I'd see these guys and 88 Fingers Louie at this venue in a heartbeat

[@reidellis1988]

One of the best bands I ever had the pleasure to see. Thanks.

[@infamystar]

dude I luv u for posting this. one of my all time favorite bands. and now I feel so old...

[@herbparsley6860]

Such good quality video for '96 ...!

[@mikej1471]

Thank you so much for posting this dude. You are a god among men.

[@reidellis1988]

Best tour out of the 7 or 8 that I saw. Man these times were the best times of my life! Hands down one of the best bands you could ever hope to see.

[@simonhead666]

I played there with in a band from Winnipeg MB called Red Fisher in the summer of 1994. we opened for Braid. or at least that's what I remember.. The place seemed very fresh as people were still bowling. what a great history for Punk Rock and Chicago!!

[@chuckelator]

I've seen Tim Barry solo close to 10 times now, and he's amazing.. the only thing missing is me actually seeing Avail (my favorite punk/hardcore band), which, sadly, I don't think I'll ever see, and can at least live it somewhat through videos like this. Thank you so much for posting, this is amazing.

[@kilakr13]

Audio isn't half bad. Thanks for this bro !!!

[@aaronfox7414]

I'm 47 and that was fucking rad! Fucking love AVAIL!

[@karmakollapse]

Great set, thanks for uploading the video. Hope that guy made it back to Denver.

[@1thess523]

I am listening to 4 AM Friday as i wait for my daughter to get out of school so i thought I'd check out some Avail videos, i am surprised at the clarity of this video because most of the vids of bands i see the cameras all seem to be made by the same bad company, if we only had today's camera technology back then!

[@simple312]

thanks, I've also noticed there are one or two ppl reposting other peoples videos from the fireside with out permission. specifically - kzbin.info - reposted 2 of my videos, avail and citizen fish. so would guess he didn't shoot/get permission to post any of the fireside videos he has.

[@jasonpalivoda8413]

holy crap. huge thanks for this. never got to see them live, but follow tim barry these days. seconding the opinion of the chap who lamented the lack of the "fucking love this" option. would love to see some avail reunion shows.

[@joshua1935]

I was 16 when this recorded and I listened to Avail at the same time also.

[@ericfresh]

I was there! Miss the bands but at least we can still roll.

[@voodooidol2369]

A good friend of mine started Avail in Reston, VA. I used to see them in the shittiest little holes in the VA Beach/Norfolk area in the late 80s/early 90s. RICHMOND NAKED CORE!!!!!!

[@nyxhc88]

man, first time i saw avail was with gwar in dc..old 930 club 1992....and the goateed guy in this video did stage security and punched me in the face becase he thought i was trying to climb n stage with gwar. he appologized afterwards and gave me a free t shirt. made me a fan for life!!!

[@mattyp3400]

Why Does this sound better nineteen years ago then anything I try to record on my shitty cell phone

[@groverasylum9626]

+mattyp3400 this bowling alley sounded like an opera hall

[@mikekristin7201]

@@groverasylum9626 I truly believe fireside should be in the same conversation as cbgb. The epicenter of the Chicago punk season. Think of the amazing bands that played here as young kids who made it big. There will never be anything like it. I will admit I'm a bit younger so it was about 1999 until I was coming around. Some of the most fun I have had in my life.

[@northjames8180]

These guys are legendary

[@muertosfineskulls]

I was at this show. You can see my hands during "Tuning" doing that weird hand thing along with Beau...

[@Shart_Circuit]

i have this same show recorded on my camcorder, i bet i was standing about two feet from you. haha. it feels like yesterday. this is wild.

[@Barrett619]

The avail reunion is cool but I really feel bad for anyone who wasn’t around to experience them back in the mid-late 90’s

[@STEVE-MOWZER]

These were way better times.

[@reidellis1988]

Kids without iPhone's. Man I miss that.

[@danielc.6640]

ok bOOMER

[@AcidRavelEffect]

these days... those CPWs... Wander right into a concert.

[@reidellis1988]

@@danielc.6640 hey dipshit. I'm 53, and not a fuckin boomer.

[@musicsupervisor]

84-88 was my golden era but Avail had the goods no matter

[@bonezjustice2242]

I was there. Rob 4-Squares . Thank you.

[@ericfresh]

bonez justice I remember you guys! Were you from Elgin or St. Charles? I knew one of the dudes in your band but i'm blanking on his name. He was friends with Kevin. Damn it's been a long time.

[@bonezjustice2242]

Nice. You are correct sir . Jason , Nate, Pete, Mike , CJ , were all names at one time or another.

[@ericfresh]

Cool to run into you guys online. Had a bunch of friends from STC I I saw a bunch of your shows :>

[@groverasylum9626]

+bonez justice I was at this show too. I can still smell it *eww- I also remember you guys. John Emerson was also a big fan :)

[@shortstuffstumpleson]

I love how you hear a kid in the beginning say, "I heard they suck live". I wonder where his jaw ended up when he heard them instantly sound like their record, LIVE. I had a great chance to see these guys during this era in an absolute shit theater Pioneer Square Theater?) off of Pioneer Square downtown Seattle. Murder City Devils opened for them (right around when they started getting big heads). I also have an old VHS of Murder City Devils' second ever show at a community center on Bainbridge Island. I was drumming for one of the opening bands at the time, The Retards. I really need to post that video, it's a pretty rad little documentation of mid 90's punk scene - just like this is. Cool vid. These guys tore it up back then.And it's funny how the band looks so young to me now when they may as well been my parents age to me back then.

[@yesfratbknowin1631]

so underrated fukin sic band always offered something a little different

[@mbendlin]

Great show

[@christianmatts_bk]

i didn’t add chapters. not sure how they were added or how the chapters names were generated

[@timothyandrewnielsen]

Holy shit they're good.

[@watthead]

Maybe its because I'm 34 now, but I miss 90s HC.

[@alexanderednie6185]

RVAs finest

[@bandrathy]

Wish I never knew blonde guy jumping around was hype guy. Way funnier just thinking it was some crazy guy who took his shirt off stealing their water and got up on stage and the band just didn’t care

[@simple312]

the dvd i mad (from hi8) says 11/12/96

[@valeriodilena5503]

Does anybody know where I can find a live version of '25 years'? I think it's my favorite Avail's

[@christianmatts_bk]

please look at earlier comments

[@TasteLikeMota]

"i heard they suck live" nofx

[@simple312]

yeah, the audio isnt balanced. sorry.

[@TWM2975]

What was the date on this show? Thank you.

[@benjimanscott727]

@simple312 was that the Avail / Citizen Fish show?

[@simple312]

Yeah. I also posted the citizen fish show I recorded. (or thought I did)

[@benjimanscott727]

Nice.

[@simple312]

not sure the exact date

[@mattfreidin2284]

was this nov 12, '96 by any chance?

[@simple312]

I think so, citizen fish also played. I also posted the cf set and i have that date in the description of the video.

[@simple312]

sorry for the epicly late reply. I clearly dont check comments here much.

[@actuallynotsteve]

Is this the same show as VMLive?

[@simple312]

? dont think so.

[@amta-kypresidentjeffbutler2889]

4 people have terrible taste in music.

[@bandrathy]

I don't get it. What is the goatee guys purpose? Is he a roast that just wanted to hype up the band on stage?

[@jblanken08]

Yes, Beau Beau was like a hype man/backup singer/roady.

[@bandrathy]

+jblanken08 ahh ok I gotcha. Well if that's his job, he def is good at it. Even watching this through KZbin, makes things so at more energetic/entertaining. At first, I thought it was just some random guy who jumped up on stage and was swiping their water lol.

[@twointhepinkoneinthestink]

Sideshow Bob lit