Guardian Angel of San Jose

This weekend Laura and I are heading to San Diego to watch my friends in Agent 51 play their CD release show for their recently released album, “Age of Validation”. They play on Friday at the Belly Up in Solano Beach, just north of San Diego.

“Age of Validation” is fantastic! Every song is solid full of hooks, catchy lyrics, and killer harmonies. It’s been on repeat for the past 7 weeks! Personally, the song “Guardian Angel of San Jose” is my favorite. I’ll share more about that later in this post. First, how did I meet Agent 51?

I met Agent 51 in 1999 when we played shows with them in San Francisco and San Jose. They contacted me in the fall of 1998 to see if I could help them with shows in the San Jose area. They are from Poway and were trying to put a small tour together. I didn’t know about them before that first phone call. It wasn’t unusual for bands to call me about shows as I was always putting on shows to help local and touring bands. Without hearing their music, I wanted to support them because I knew how hard was to find shows in new places. When their manager Rob sent me their album, “Red Alert”, I was blown away. Such a catchy punk album. Their passion came through like a firing rocket! Hook after hook! I knew I had to get these guys a show so I could see them play.

My friend Kyle Sasse came through for a show for Agent 51 when the San Jose clubs wouldn’t help. The month before, Kyle had just put on his first house show when I needed to book GOB (yes, the Canadian band). It was a fun show. A month later, Agent 51 and Boy Kicks Girl were playing in Kyle’s small living room. The show was recorded by Kyle and shared with the bands. A tiny portion from that January 10, 1999 recording can be heard on the new Agent 51 album when Agent 51 dedicates a song to Kyle at the start of “Guardian Angel of San Jose”.

In 1999 and 2000, Agent 51 and Boy Kicks Girl would share the stage together 11 times – Club Cocodrie (San Francisco), Chemical Free Zone (Campbell), Fatty Mocha (Merced), Coronado Teen Center (San Diego), Camden Teen Center (San Jose), Cactus Club (San Jose), The Shop (Sonoma), Elks Lodge (Poway), Brookdale Lodge (Brookdale), and Kyle’s House twice. After Boy Kicks Girl disbanded, I continued to put on shows. I had Agent 51, along with many of my favorite bands, play the last show I promoted in San Jose on May 12, 2001.

Back to “Guardian Angel of San Jose”. Kyle was an early supporter of Boy Kicks Girl and huge supporter of Agent 51. From that first show in the late 90’s, Agent 51 was one Kyle’s favorites. He truly believed in their music and drive. Kyle passed away in 2016, much too young to die. When I heard Agent 51 was putting together a new album, I requested if they could write a song about Kyle. They were all for it!

When Chris wrote the song, it wasn’t guaranteed that it would be on the album. Only after recording and hearing how it sounded did it make the final 15 songs to be released. Earlier this year, Chris shared with me the almost final mix of “Guardian Angel of San Jose”. That first listen brought tears to my eyes. It was a fitting tribute to a human to generous with time and his friendship. The song’s lyrics capture who is Kyle was and what he meant to many of us in our small music scene. I don’t know the writing process that the band went through, but they created a fantastic song fitting for a beautiful tribute to Kyle.

I look forward to singing loudly with Agent 51 this Friday as they belt, “Guardian Angel of San Jose”!

Guardian Angel of San Jose

At 555 Washington, we’d gather near and far
Kyle, oh the generous soul, our fearless punk rock star
With stories of old, and a laugh that could ignite
In the alleyways of San Jose, we’d toast him every night

Kyle, we raise a pint, in honor of your name
Through the streets of Evergreen, your spirit will remain
We sing to aye old glory with a cheer that lifts the night
You’ll always be remembered, in the city’s neon lights

It was frozen hell outside just like the cold nose of a dog
You welcomed us all in right where the music kept us warm
Moshpits, busted walls – amps shook the halls and every room
For every shattered piece of glass, your broken heart renewed

Too-rah-loo-rah-laye!
Too-rah-loo-rah-laye!
Quiet legends, storied days

Oh we remember sunny mornings
With the legend by our side
Then underneath the city lights
Where memories burn like fire

Too-rah-loo-rah-laye!
Too-rah-loo-rah-laye!
Quiet legends, storied days

Now that brittle house stands quiet and all the echoes gone
But still your faded memory plays on and on and on
A cold beer for a dinner, hardwood floor for a bed
Kyle always gave a smile, never counting the bread

Kyle, we raise a pint, in honor of your name
Through the streets of Evergreen, your spirit will remain
We sing to aye old glory with a cheer that lifts the night
You’ll always be remembered, in the city’s neon lights

Kyle, we raise our pint, in honor of your name
Through the streets of Evergreen your spirit will remain
You didn’t want the fortune
And you didn’t need the fame
Say a prayer for The Guardian Angel of San Jose

Agent 51 is:
Chris Armes – Lead Guitar/Vocals
Eric Davis – Guitar/Backing Vocals
Greg Schneider – Bass/Backing Vocals
Mike Hell – Drums

A few photos/flyers from shows that Boy Kicks Girl and Agent 51 played together in 1999 and 2001.