Punk Rock Bowling Turns 25 and We’re Still Alive
Social Distortion: Making their PRB debut, Orange County’s favorite son will be closing PRB on Monday - ©dickslaughter.com
Punk Rock Bowling celebrates its 25th anniversary this Memorial Day Weekend, May 24–26, 2025, at the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center. What began as a punk show at a bowling alley has evolved into an annual punk pilgrimage and family reunion. Across 4 days—there are pool parties, club shows, bowling, poker tournaments, so much MORE—PRB is still a place where you can catch the band that ruined your life and the one that might tomorrow. This year's lineup features a mix of legendary acts and emerging up-and-comers.
Cock Sparrer will be making their last appearance at PRB - ©dickslaughter.com
This is just the main festival lineup and doesn’t include club shows, pool parties, or surprises. Day One will mark the last PRB appearance of the mighty Cock Sparrer. Power Trip and The Adicts are guaranteed to put on great shows. New to me are Upchuck, Civic, and Bullshit Detector, who replaced, Violencia, who had visa issues, but check them out — they all sound great — and Terror Attack, which are Las Vegas and In Spite Magazine favorites. On the Monster Street Stage are the always-great Bouncing Souls and the legendary Cockney Rejects. The Stern brothers, PRB founders, will take the stage in Youth Brigade. All-female and from the UK, The Lambrini Girls—who killed at Rebellion Festivals last year — and the also all-female, four-sister Maid of Ace are making the trip from the UK as well. Kentucky’s Shitfire looks like fun, and from San Diego, the also all-female Revolt Chix round out a solid first day.
Peter Hook & the Light will play the songs of Joy Division. - ©dickslaughter.com
Day Two brings more legendary acts and emerging favorites. Headlining is Peter Hook & The Light, delivering a full set of Joy Division classics. Female-fronted ska comes roaring back with The Interrupters. FIDLAR always kills it, and I'm very much looking forward to Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals. Spiritual Cramp and Gen & The Degenerates are going to be insane, and Billy Batts & The Made Men bring their unique sound to PRB. On the Monster Street Stage, Frank Turner offers his heartfelt punk-folk fusion, Gang of Four never disappoints, and Bad Nerves will deliver their power pop-garage-punk style. Codefendants will bring their musical crime wave, and while I don't know much about No Bro yet, I already like the name. Head Cut and Death Tape will kick off the day in the Vegas Sun.
The Damned are always great—not to be missed - ©dickslaughter.com
Day 3, the final day, Social Distortion, after 25 years, finally makes their PRB debut. Keith Morris will play with FLAG — pretty much everyone’s favorite version of Black Flag. The Damned will be there too, now on the 34th round of their “final tour.” There will be “dark folk” with Bridge City Sinners. All-female Bad Waitress adds to what’s shaping up to be strong female representation at PRB this year. The Rifleman describes themselves as Vegas cowboy crust — basically the holy trinity if you ask me. Amigo the Devil headlines the Monster Street Stage with a banjo —can’t get more punk than that. Expect incredible sets from The Pietasters and Riverboat Gamblers. They say there’s never any Leftöver Crack, but we’re getting some along with Angel Du$t. Another great all-female band, Babe Haven, is not to be missed, and Go Bold and another In Spite Magazine favorite, The Barstool Preachers, step in to save the day stepping in for Baboon Show, who also suffer from visa issues.
Cockney Rejects play the Monster Street stage on Saturday. - ©dickslaughter.com
I’ve been covering Punk Rock Bowling for a long time, first with OC Weekly and for a few others as well, and every year I hear the same complaints: “It’s too expensive,” “It’s gone corporate,” and “It’s too hot.” Let me just say this: shut up.
Coachella darling, but never an In Spite Magazine Punk Hunk, Keith Morris will play with FLAG - ©dickslaughter.com
First of all, it’s Las Vegas. Of course it’s going to be hot. Over the years, they’ve added some comforts to help deal with the heat—like fake grass, a large shaded area, and free cold water stations. I’ve even suggested they build a Mr. Burns–style device to block out the sun. Still waiting on that. Wear a hat and sunscreen during the day. It usually cools off by 6pm into a perfect summer evening.
Get ready for confetti with The Adicts - ©dickslaughter.com
‘It is too expensive.’ I don’t think so. A one-day GA pass is $110 plus tax, and you get 14 bands each day on two stages, and you can see them all—that’s less than 10 bucks per band. And there are always solid headliners, and from what I understand, they pay well, and for bands from overseas, it can be the catalyst for a tour. If you're financially challenged, you could probably bum enough change to get into a club show; they’re around 25 dollars or so. Or just do what we did back in the day: show up, stand around, and get drunk in a parking lot. But it's Vegas, so you can get drunk on Fremont and sleep on the floor of a friend’s hotel room for free.
PRB Ska vets The Interrupters - ©dickslaughter.com
Third, the whole “it’s corporate now” thing. Look, I don’t know all the red tape it takes to run a giant event like PRB in Las Vegas. I bet there is a shit ton, and the fact that it has been able to not just survive 25 years but thrive is nothing short of amazing. And you can say it’s not punk or it’s commercial and all about the money, but I ran one of those all-ages, 5-dollars-at-the-door, cops-and-city-hassling-you-all-the-time venues in Orange County for 18 years, and this is better if you are over 25 years old. PRB is still punk enough to book bands like Terror Attack, The Lambrini Girls, and the CoDefendants. That should count for something.
The always charming Codefendants play Sunday - ©dickslaughter.com
It’s not PRB that’s expensive — it’s Las Vegas. Listen to Grandpa: back in the before times, Vegas used to be cheap, and downtown was the cheapest. You could get 99-cent beers and shrimp cocktails, a room at the El Cortez for $19.95, and a prime rib dinner for $9.95. Now it’s $19.95 inside Bugsy’s at the El Cortez— but you have to ask. Not a bad deal for us carnivores. All of this was part of the charm but since the pandemic, Vegas has basically turned into a city that nickel-and-dimes you to death — resort fees, raised prices, charging for stuff that used to be free. Honestly, I think the price hikes hurt Sin City more than they help. Hey Vegas, I gamble much less when I feel ripped off.
The Lambrini Girls at the Rebellion Festivals - ©dickslaughter.com
But I don’t think all that will hurt PRB. What really makes PRB special isn’t the gambling or the depravity — it’s the chance to reconnect with friends and loved ones at least once a year. Incredible bands and a little depravity are just a bonus.
see you in vegas
I will leave with a few photos of fans and fun from last year.
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