Missed PRB this year? Check out Fight To Unite
Lambrini Girls commanding the crowd at Punk Rock Bowling 2025. photo by kim moenich
It was with a great deal of sadness that so many of us read the Stern brothers’ post last October, letting us know that “unexpected [life] challenges” had lead them to the difficult decision to cancel Punk Rock Bowling 2026. PRB has long been a place that many of us go not just to see our favorite bands, but also to see our favorite punk rock family. I can always count on seeing my friend Scott, whom I first met there back in like 2018 or so; my friend Amber, whom I met there around the same time; my friend Sean, whom I actually know from Dropkicks shows in Boston but who always goes to PRB; and the list goes on and on. One of my favorite humans, Wayne, is the head of security, and I always look forward to getting a huge hug from him each year. So it was a massive letdown to know those reunions would be put on hold.
Spiritual Cramp absolutely crushed it at Punk Rock Bowling 2025. photo by kim moenich
But a few months ago, the folks at PRB decided they couldn’t go an entire year without doing some good in the world, so they announced “Fight To Unite," a two-day anti-fascist festival in downtown Los Angeles where a portion of the proceeds will go to Siempre Unidos LA. The initial announcement for the show stated, “Immigrant communities are under attack. We’re gathering to raise funds for organizations doing direct support, advocacy, and legal work on the ground. Music. Community. Solidarity.” PRB said that they’ve grown weary of just standing by as immigrant families are being torn apart, so they want to organize and donate money to directly help the groups providing aid on the ground.
And they couldn’t have picked a better lineup of bands to do so. Friday’s headliner, Lambrini Girls are very well known for the anti-fascist, anti-homophobic, anti-sexist, etc, lyrics, and for their very punk, very “f__k you” attitude. I honestly did not know a ton about them going into their performance at last year’s PRB, but they quickly made a massive fan out of me. Other acts that day include LA-based Generacion Suicida, a truly old school punk band who started in a garage in South Central, and still sing their songs only in Spanish, staying true to their motto: “Musica del barrio para el barrio”. Many of the bands playing on Friday are PRB veterans, like Doll Riot, Surfbort, Madam Bombs, Mess, and Spiritual Cramp.
Day two, while still part of “Fight to Unite," is also a celebration of 35 years of Fat Wreck Chords, the record label created by Fat Mike Burkett and his wife, Erin. Current and former Fat Wreck bands will be performing, and many of them are also past performers at Punk Rock Bowling. Dillinger Four played their first PRB in 2007, and Teenage Bottlerocket played their first one in 2010. The Codefendant also has Fat Mike as a sometimes member, so it’s my secret hope that he might make a surprise appearance!
Teenage Bottlerocket always brings the party. photo by kim moenich
A portion of every ticket sold goes to the Los Angeles branch of Siempre Unidos. From their website:
Siempre Unidos LA is a community-powered nonprofit organization committed to supporting immigrant families torn apart by ICE raids and deportations in Los Angeles. We provide food, emergency support, legal referrals, and community care to those most vulnerable. Our mission is rooted in love, unity, and justice—because no one should face crisis alone.
This grassroots organization is on the ground in LA providing hands-on support to immigrants who are being tortured by this administration. Shawn Stern, one of the founders of Punk Rock Bowling (along with his brother and bandmate, Mark), has said that one of the main reasons they did not hold PRB this year was the political climate and how difficult it was for bands trying to get into our country and for immigrants currently living here. So when he decided to create Fight To Unite, Shawn wanted to make a real difference in the community he calls home. Helping Siempre Unidos is one of the best ways I can think of to do that. I attended the first No Kings rally in LA, and I saw firsthand the brutality being committed there. I can think of no better way to fight back than to have a badass, all-ages punk rock show, where my money goes to help those I’m fighting for.
Shawn Stern, always standing on the right side of history. photo by kim moenich
It feels good when people you’ve supported for most of your life prove that they are still the good guys. In a scene where I’ve increasingly heard nothing but silence, the Stern brothers continue to be a light in a sea of darkness.
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