We Are Family Youth Brigade, BYo, and PRB
From basement shows to Vegas takeovers, the Stern brothers keep punk in the family
Shawn and Mark Stern of Youth Brigade - ©dickslaughter.com
If you were lucky enough to attend the Youth Brigade, Pistol Grip, Knuckleheadz Band, and Bad Ass show at the Teragram Ballroom in seedy-ass downtown Los Angeles last Sunday, you already know this is going to be a glowing review from start to finish. So I’ll try to keep it (sort of) brief, especially since I’m stuffing in this year’s new Shawn Stern interview—where we finally get some clarity on what really happened with the Mummies. Because let’s be honest, we all know we can trust Trent’s version.
Its a family reunion with Adam, Shawn, and Mark Stern of Youth Brigade - ©dickslaughter.com
I arrived at the Teragram Ballroom in beautiful downtown Los Angeles just in time to hear the tail end of Bad Ass. A bit sad for me, as I’ve seen them several times and they always deliver an incredible set. The band is fronted by two lead singers—one male, one female—with a driving, relentless sound that makes you want to run in counterclockwise circles and slam into your friends. They’re also extremely photogenic, as you can see in the photo below, which they nearly died posing for after I had them assemble in the middle of the street to take it.
Bad Ass in the road - ©dickslaughter.com
Next up were In Spite Magazine favorites—our heroes in black and green—the KnuckleHeadz Band. If you're a promoter or venue booker, putting the KnuckleHeadz on the bill is always a smart move. Why? First off, the band is fucking great: fun, loud, and abrasive hardcore that’s perfect to dance to—ideal for any gig. But the real kicker is the Punk Rock Fight Club. When the KnuckleHeadz play, their crew shows up and packs the room, turning every show into a full-blown spectacle. We're talking sing-alongs, pit-wide chaos, punks crowd-surfing on boogie boards, silly string, and the occasional flying hamburger during their smash hit single “Fuck McDonald’s.” For the band and the club, it’s just another typical Sunday night, and once again, they did not disappoint. The Lads will be making their third consecutive appearance at this year’s Rebellion Festivals, where they have worked their way from the introductory stage to appearing this year on the main stage in the Empress Ballroom.
Following that beautiful mess and keeping up the energy was no easy task, but Pistol Grip pulled it off. Although they've been around since 1997, this was my first time seeing them and I have to say, I was impressed. Not just with their flawless set and tight musicianship, which kept the momentum going, but also with lead singer Stax's crowd control skills. His bouncing instincts came in handy a few times during Youth Brigade’s set, when a couple of overzealous fans spent a little too much time on stage or decided to audition as the new lead singer of Youth Brigade. I’ll definitely make a point to catch Pistol Grip again at this year’s Rebellion Festivals—and you should too.
If Stax of Pistol Grip asks me to get off stage, I am getting the hell off of there - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
Now it was time for the main event: Youth Brigade. It’s been at least five years since all three Stern brothers have played a show together, and the last time I saw them was at Punk Rock Bowling—the annual festival and punk pilgrimage that Shawn and Mark Stern founded, now celebrating its 25th year. Originally launched in 1999 as a bowling tournament with a few punk bands, it has since grown into a full-blown takeover of downtown Las Vegas, with pool parties, poker games, bowling tournaments, and incredible club shows. It’s arguably the best festival in the U.S., known for showcasing legacy acts alongside emerging artists and often giving bands from overseas a reason to tour the States. I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been: it’s truly the best reason to visit Sin City.
Mark Stern of Youth Brigade - ©dickslaughter.com
But on with the show. The set kicked off with a short film underscoring the simple truth that it’s a good thing if Nazis are dead. As the screen faded to black, the band launched into “Violence,” and the whole place erupted. Between songs, Shawn would joke about their age—saying things like, “This next one was written before you were born”—but the motherfucker delivers a set like he’s still in his twenties. Non-stop energy from both the band and the crowd.
Shawn and Mark Stern with fan - ©dickslaughter.com
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: whether it’s the Ashtons, the Agnews, the Jacksons, or the Sterns, brothers have something other bands don’t. Maybe it’s timing or brotherly intuition, but they absolutely killed it, even with fans constantly jumping on and off the stage. They kept the momentum going and hit all the classics, including (but not limited to) “Spies for Life,” “It’s Not Like That Anymore,” “Sick,” and “Did You Wanna Die?” They closed the set not with an invasion, but an invitation, ending very appropriately with “Sink With California.” And for a moment or two, I honestly thought the stage might actually sink. It was a truly enchanted evening, and I’m glad I made the trek downtown (and paid a hobo twenty bucks to watch my van).
John Carey of Youth Brigade - ©dickslaughter.com
Youth Brigade’s Los Angeles appearance was a powerful reminder of why they remain essential and why the Stern brothers’ chemistry on stage still hits like few others can. If you missed the Teragram, don’t worry: the band will return to their home turf at Punk Rock Bowling’s 25th anniversary. Catch them Saturday at 5:25 PM on the Monster Street Party Stage.
Trust me, you don’t want to be late.
Now for the answer to the question we have been waiting for.
Trent Mummy and his uncle’s antique can - ©dickslaughter.com
Dick: What the hell happened with The Mummies?
Shawn: We invite them every year; they feign interest, and yet for one reason or another they say, Sorry, next year.
Dick: You lucked out; they are notoriously hard to work with, and they really smell bad. I was hoping for a pool party so they would get a bath.
Shawn. If you say so, I’ve never met them.
Dick: Oh, I say so! He had to sleep in my van for a few days behind Whiskey Pete because his BO was so bad his mom wouldn’t let him stay in the room with us. I still haven’t gotten the mummy stank out of there. Trent also said you said they were not punk enough to play?
Shawn : I don’t know Trent, so I refute that story. They’re pretty punk because they are wrapped up in used bandages on stage. That must be really, really sweaty.
Dick: Indeed. Hence the BO. I noticed when the idea first came up, they wanted to do it for a room and buffet, but ever since they played with Sharon Crow, they've become very concerned with money. She really has been a terrible influence on Trent since they hooked up. Oh well, Bootsy can just play without them.
Who are you most excited for this year?
Shawn: Bad Nerves, Lambrini Girls, Civic, and Nobro are new bands that I’m excited to see. I’ve never seen Peter Hook, and The Light; they’ll be doing Joy Division, so that should be fantastic. Gang of Four and their final tour will be great. It’s always fun to see Cock Sparrer and Social Distortion too.
Dick: Yeah, Social Distortion. First time in twenty-five years? Was there an issue or just timing?
Shawn: It’s always timing, and finally the stars aligned.
Dick: Do you think it's okay to spend 4500 dollars on a couch and still be punk?
Social Distortion makes their first PRB appearance. Monday on the Main Stage at 9:15 PM.- ©dickslaughter.com
Shawn: I think if you like the couch and you've got the money, there’s something to be said about a comfortable couch potato.
Dick: Do you think it will be resort fees that finally kill punk rock?
Shawn: Trump "resort fees," absolutely.
Dick: By the way, congratulations on 25 years of incredible accomplishments. What are a few moments or milestones that pop into your mind? anything you are most proud of or would like people to know about.
Looks pretty young in this shot - ©dickslaughter.com
Shawn: The fact that we’ve always managed to pull this off year after year is in and of itself shocking to us. DIY is how we’ve always done it, and for us it works. And thank you for the acknowledgment; it’s important for us to hear that people appreciate the party.
Dick: Do you still have Canadian citizenship?
Shawn: Of course, I will never give that up. We are proud to be Canadian.
Dick: Follow-up: Do you tell people you're Canadian now when you're overseas? I do.
Shawn: Absolutely, I was born in Canada and will always “identify” as Canadian.
Dick: Follow up If Trump starts a war with Canada, what side are you on?
Shawn: Now that’s a silly question.
It is not easy to get a shot of Shaw without a mic in his face, so I am showing them off. - ©dickslaughter.com
Dick: You won’t think it is a silly question when we are cellmates in El Salvador. PRB started as a bowling tournament with mostly friends and family. Did you just start growing immediately, or did you struggle in the beginning?
Shawn: It’s never been a struggle; it always just grew naturally like a tree in a forest.
Dick: Did you envision PRB growing to the scale it's become, and do you want it to get any bigger ?
Shawn: We never had a plan; it just sort of happens. Same with Youth Brigade and BYO.
Dick: Do you work on the festival year-round?
Shawn: Pretty much.
Dick: Don't you think it's time you and the Adolescents changed the names of your bands?
Shawn: Yeah, we’re the Over the Hill Brigade, Old Brigade, Geriatric Brigade
I think he knows that guy - ©dickslaughter.com
Dick: After that show in LA, Over the Hill Brigade won’t work. What's the main whiny comment that you see or hear about PRB that you think is unfair or not true?
Shawn: Most of the complaints are specific about the bands playing, bands people want to see, or bands they don’t want to see. It’s usually someone having a bad day that complains, and our community typically calls them out. PRB is definitely a reflection of the music we like, and 99% of the people appreciate that. We can’t please everyone, but there are over 150 bands, and we work hard to help the new/younger bands to give them the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd of people that are open to their music and ideas. And if it’s not for you, guess what, you can put on your own festival instead of bitching.
Dick: What’s changed the most — and what’s stayed the same — about the festival over the years?
Shawn: It has grown, but the community has stayed very open and welcoming. And that’s what makes it such a great festival for me.
Dick:Any funny behind-the-scenes stories from past PRBs that stand out — stuff the audience never sees?
Shawn? When Iggy Pop played, an “infamous” older musician and sometime actor came, as he is apparently friends with Iggy. He sat in the backstage area in a chair, by himself, and didn’t talk to anyone, even when people tried to talk to him because they liked his band/music. He just sat there silent, stoic, and aloof. It was super weird.
I wonder who he means. - Image by Rob Otart
Dick: You’ve played PRB multiple times — is it different performing at your own festival versus being on the road?
Shawn: It’s not “different” from other shows because we’ve been promoters since back in the ’80s as well, and we played. It’s just a bit stressful cause we have to deal with the promoter part, but we’re better at that now.
Dick: Is there anything in today’s punk scene that really excites you — musically, politically, or otherwise?
Shawn: I’m excited and happy to see all these new bands over the past years. I thought when Trump was first elected there would be this explosion of young people protesting and starting bands like we had in reaction to Reagan here and Thatcher in the UK, but it didn’t happen. It really took Covid, and I guess kids were bored and started bands. But now this second Trump abomination is upon us, and it’s great that so many new bands are coming together, writing songs, and playing shows. It gives me hope in a very difficult time!
Dick: Thanks for taking the time to talk with me—and for everything you do with PRB and B.Y.O. I hope both are still going strong in another 25 years. I’ll talk to Trent about playing the 50th.
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By the time this is published, PRB may be sold out—but you should come to Vegas anyway. There are events and parties all over town, including official and unofficial club shows and happenings at the Punk Rock Museum. There is a guided tour with Smelly of NOFX, a shit ton of bands, and—most importantly—a meet and greet with Daniel Kohn and Nate Jefferson, the “authors” of the just-released, best (and only) book ever written on the impact of Orange County Punk on the world and vice versa: Tearing Down the Orange Curtain: How Punk Rock Brought Orange County to the World. It even includes a few photos by yours truly. They’ll be joined by Jonny 2 Bags—and maybe OC punk legend in his own mind Richard Smith. Be there or be square: Sunday, May 25, 3:30 PM, at the festival at the Punk Rock Museum.
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