With giant puppets, garage rock, flying beavers, and Iggy Pop proving that 79 is no obstacle to stealing the entire weekend. Dee Ratchet gives us the scoop on Mosswood Meltdown with photos by John Greenwood and Dick Slaughter, taking you inside an unforgettable Day One.

Mosswood Meltdown: Oakland's Weirdest Family Reunion

Mosswood Meltdown transforms a city park into a punk playground where nostalgia collides with discovery, cult film brilliance crashes headfirst into garage rock chaos, and everyone is invited to embrace their wonderfully filthy inner monster. And it all starts with a killer preshow, proving the weekend's glorious weirdness begins long before the festival gates officially open.

In Spite of everything the modern music industry has become, Mosswood Meltdown remains a fiercely independent celebration of punk, art, and outsider culture. With performances from Pavement, Iggy Pop, Bikini Kill, Otoboke Beaver, The Dead Milkmen, and more, plus John Waters, Peaches Christ's Punk Pride, and a weekend built on community instead of corporate sponsorship. Mosswood consistently proves that the underground is where the real magic happens. Featuring photos by Dick Slaughter with new previously un-released photos of Iggy Pop and Bikini Kill,

Doll Fest is going international. Volume III hits Mexico City before Volume II even opens the doors in Oakland. Don’t worry about the order; just get there.