Youth Brigade in LA With Pistol Grip, Knuckleheadz, and Bad Ass
Youth Brigade at Punk Rock Bowling - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
This Sunday at the Teregram Ballroom, Youth Brigade—featuring the Stern brothers—will make their only Los Angeles appearance before heading to San Diego for a show at Brick by Brick. Then it’s on to their home stage at the 25th anniversary of the world-famous Punk Rock Bowling & Music Festival, the event they founded in a bowling alley. That has become one of the punk community's most beloved annual events, held on Memorial Day weekend in charming downtown Las Vegas at the events center, just adjunct from the fabulous Fairmont experience
Shawn Stern of Youth Brigade -Photo ©dickslaughter.com
Holding the second spot on the lineup is Pistol Grip. Unfortunately, I’ve never had the chance to photograph them—but thankfully, our friends at the Rebellion Festival were kind enough to let us use the flyer for their upcoming appearance in Blackpool. Pistol Grip has been around since the late ’90s and is a staple in the Southern California punk scene. They blend UK and US influences into a unique sound. From what I can tell, they seem to hate cancer and religion—and honestly, that works just fine for me. Very much looking forward to their set at the Teregram and Rebellion.
Pistol Grip’s Rebellion Flyer
Speaking of Rebellion, joining Youth Brigade are the darlings of the Rebellion Festivals, my brothers in Black and Green, and In Spite Magazine favorites the Knuckleheadz Band. If you’re not aware of the Knuckleheadz by now, you need to get out more. They’ve been playing everywhere from the final NOFX shows to a McDonald’s in South Central and are making their third consecutive appearance at Rebellion this year. But they’re far more than just another hardcore band with fast, profanity-filled lyrics. The Knuckleheadz founded the Punk Rock Fight Club, an organization that now includes hundreds of members promoting healthy living, youth outreach, and community through mixed martial arts and punk rock. They’ve earned countless medals, trophies, and titles in competitions worldwide. Their shows are legendary for turning into beautiful chaos, with fans and club members crowd-surfing on boogie boards and hamburgers flying during their smash hit “Fuck McDonalds.”
KnuckleHeadz Band - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
Opening the show is one of my favorite bands from Southern California—Bad Ass. If you’re unfamiliar, Bad Ass describes themselves as “street punk with a donkey punch that’ll put a smile on your face,” and honestly, that’s a pretty spot-on assessment. I like to think of them as like the Partridge Family of punk—a big extended crew, sometimes touring the world with their kids in tow. Their music hits hard but stays catchy, and their live shows never disappoint, fronted by two longtime lovebirds who trade vocals with ease and have a natural chemistry that brings something special to the stage.
Bad Ass at Backstage Billiards - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
Helen Farber of Bad Ass at Punk Rock Bowling - Photo ©dickslaughter.com
As of this writing, tickets are still available to both Youth Brigade shows and Punk Rock Bowling, but that may change very quickly Get your tickets now!
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