Girl at the Rock Shows

Vegas is a very overwhelming kind of spot. From the lights to the sounds and all the way to the smells, there’s just so much going on here and it’s easy to get blinded by the lights both literally and figuratively. Thankfully for me, there’s a place that I can go when I’m here to get away from the chaos and feel like I’m back at home and that place is Punk Rock Bowling. This amazing music and bowling festival has been a go-to for me for years. Although I’m not an OG who has been going all twenty-five years, it has become a staple of my year for the past few and I was beyond honored to have the opportunity to cover their 25th year. That year started off with a bang on Saturday.

Unfortunately, I was a bit delayed getting into the festival just due to the sheer number of people who come out to this thing. The long lines meant I missed Revolt Chix and Terror Attack but did make it into the festival grounds in time to see Kentucky-based Shitfire. I was instantly in love with this band and they were a great way to kick off the festival. Their sound was punk but with a slight lean into something a bit more hardcore leaning. Although it was super super hot and sunny, their sound was more than enough to get a small pit going and give me the first taste of the excitement that comes with this festival.

After a short walk over to the mainstage, it was time for Bullshit Detector. It was the vocals of this band that really stood out to me. They were harsh and gritty and served with a side dish of intimidation. Those vocals matched with the intensity of this band’s instrumentation led to a powerful set that reminded me a bit of Bad Religion but with a bit more rage behind it.

I have been listening to some playlists featuring the acts performing at Punk Rock Bowling this year and had found some new gems that I was super stoked to experience live. Maid of Ace was one of those bands and they didn’t let me down. This group of sisters from Hastings, England were giving me old-school punk vibes in the vein of The Distillers but with a fresh twist. They sped through their quick set giving the audience everything they could while leaving us all wanting so much more. This is a band I hope to see soon in the Twin Cities.

CIVIC just announced a show at First Avenue back home in Minneapolis, Minnesota and, after seeing them on Saturday, I am clearing my schedule to make sure I can catch them back home. This band had a unique sound to them. I felt like, out of all of the bands that I saw on Saturday, their sound was the most intentional in a way. They played with space and silence in their songs in a way that I didn’t hear other bands do it and it absolutely caught my attention even though I had to retreat back to the shade tent about half way through their set to avoid passing out due to the heat of the day.

I know I just saw Lambrini Girls at First Avenue a couple of weeks ago but that didn’t mean I wasn’t super excited to see them again on Saturday. I feel like I really won having seen this band at a more intimate space than at this festival because there was just something a bit more poignant about their set at First Avenue when compared to what happened at this festival but that doesn’t mean I didn’t love every moment of their angsty set. Vocalist Phoebe Lunny was up to her usual antics and spent some time down in the audience creating a perfect mess of chaos throughout the crowd.

Up next was Upchuck. I’ll be honest, I knew nothing about this band but, after the set, I want to know everything about them. They were intense but there was something so fun and full of heart about their set at the same time. I was a bit confused with how the set started with one vocalist but, about half way through, that vocalist seemingly disappeared and gave way to a new one that brought a whole different vibe to the set. It took my friends and I a second to realize that this “new” singer was actually the drummer. I loved how this band had two very different sides to them yet, the creativity and talent in this band made it feel like a cohesive set. Again, Upchuck is one of those bands that I want to see more of and is absolutely on my radar now.

Hardcore legends Youth Brigade were up next on the smaller “street” stage that is situated just a few yards from the mainstage where I had just seen Upchuck. The crowd was huge by the time my friends and I made it over to their set so I wasn’t able to get super close to the stage but that didn’t mean I didn’t feel the passion that this band was giving off. This band has been doing their thing since 1980, and it was clear that they still have that fire that fuels their passion and the following to back it up.

I feel like I have seen The Adicts before but maybe I’m wrong on that. Either way, their set on Saturday blew me away. There was a sense of theatrics to their time on the mainstage. Maybe I’m only saying that because of the outfits and the cape that vocalist Keith “Monkey” Warren was wearing as he took the stage but, regardless, there was a little razzle-dazzle to this set that just highlighted the perfection that they brought to the stage. Like Youth Brigade, The Adicts are a staple in the scene having been around since 1977 and it was an honor to see them doing their thing.

Never did I ever thing I would see the godfathers of the Oi! scene live but, up next was Cockney Rejects. Their 1980 song “Oi, Oi, Oi” was the inspiration for the name of the “Oi!” music genre. I know that’s not the most popular subgenre of punk out there but it’s one that I love so to see such a legendary band from this side of the punk world was a dream come true. Their set, although it seemed to move super fast, was full of legendary and classic hits. Although vocalist Jeff Geggus is the only remaining original member, this band was super tight and it was a true honor to be able to cross them off of my bucket list.

Power Trip brought the metal to the festival on Saturday. I honestly wasn’t sure how their thrashy sound was going to fit into a primarily punk leaning festival but it quickly became clear that people were excited and ready for this Texas-based band. With hair whipping every which way on stage, Power Trip stormed through their set with a sense of perfection and intensity and proved that this festival is so much more than just punk music– it’s just good music. Out of all of the metal-leaning bands that could have been on this festival, I sure am glad that Power Trip was chosen.

Full disclosure– out of all of the bands that performed on Saturday, I was most excited for The Bouncing Souls. Their sound just hits me every time, and I feel like I don’t get to see them perform enough (but, really, is there even a number that would be “enough” for me when it comes to this band?). Their fast and light-hearted songs soared through the air as the audience turned into a mess of flying limbs and drinks. The Bouncing Souls have many iconic songs that led to many sing-a-longs. Although there were plenty of other bands that played and plenty of other songs that had everyone else around me singing along, there was something special about when it happened with The Bouncing Souls making it a highlight of day one of the festival for me.

Closing out day one of the festival was the one and only Cock Sparrer. I’ll be honest, this is a band I know very little about but I quickly understood why they were the headliners of Saturday and why the grounds in front of the mainstage were so packed. Formed in 1972, Cock Sparrer really paved the way for punk and Oi! bands back in the day. Their sound is influential and they are a band that is covered often (which probably explains why some of their songs sounded slightly familiar). Their set felt understated for the legends that they are but it was the perfect way to close out the first night of Punk Rock Bowling.

And so concludes day one of Punk Rock Bowling. Although I feel like I’m still trying to recover, it’s time to get ready for day two. Are you out here? Come find me! I’ll be the Midwestern ginger seeking refuge in the shade tent when not getting roasted by this unforgiving sun and heat as I try and snap some pictures and enjoy the crap out of the magic that is this amazing festival.

Cheers to day two!