Above, It'll Grow Back. At Front, The Independents.

Some celebrated election night at swank restaurants. Some watched the returns at home with family.

And some just beat the living crap out of each other.

That's how classic hardcore and punk fans marked election night at the Blackwater Cafe in Stockton. A rare weekday capacity crowd turned out to see The Independents, The Blameshifters and It'll Grow Back.

Fans were treated to a show that recalled Stockton's punk roots. The music was honest and aggressive: There were no breakdowns, no guitar solos and none of the posturing that comes with what the kids are calling hardcore today.

Those who didn't make it to the cafe until after Obama's victory speech (including this reviewer) were able to catch the last few songs by The Independents. The South Carolina act added a melodic twist to their hard-edged sound, closing the set with covers of Danzig's "Mother" and The Ramones' "Blitzkreig Bop." Fans ate it up, two-stepping and throwing each other around in the pit.

The Independents were followed by Fresno's It'll Grow Back, a no-nonsense hardcore band with a great stage presence. Singer Famous Whitewater, aka Joshua, aka Calamari Jones (depending on which MySpace cpage you believe) flailed about with fans and got the crowd psyched to close the night.

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