- GOLDFINGER w/ The Aquabats, Unwritten Law, Zebrahead, sullvn
- March 21, 2026 - South Side Ballroom - Dallas, TX
- ©M’Lou Elkins / Skip2Photogrqphy.com
Goldfinger’s stop at South Side Ballroom on March 21, 2026 wasn’t just a show – it was a full-spectrum ska-punk throwback that hit Dallas right in the chest and refused to let up. With Unwritten Law and The Aquabats setting the tone, the night felt like flipping through decades of punk history at high speed, equal parts grit, absurdity, and anthemic singalongs that still hit just as hard now as they did the first time around.
Unwritten Law opened with a set rooted in their early ‘90s San Diego origins, carrying the weight of a long, sometimes messy history that’s somehow sharpened their edge instead of dulling it. Founding drummer Wade Youman and vocalist Scott Russo – still the core of the band – led the charge with a tight run through “Teenage Suicide” and “California Sky,” immediately locking the crowd into their melodic hardcore groove.
Russo’s delivery was steady and raw, while guitarist Chris Lewis turned the stage into his personal launchpad, ripping through the set with a string of high jumps that kept eyes glued to him between riffs.
Check out the Unwritten Law concert photo gallery below:
Bassist Jonny Grill held everything down with a solid, driving low end that kept the songs grounded while the energy around him threatened to lift off. By the time “Seein’ Red” hit – arguably their most recognizable punch from 2001’s Elva – the crowd snapped. The audience didn’t just react, they erupted, shouting every word like it never left their daily rotation. They wrapped things up with “Celebration Song” and “Up All Night,” leaving the room fully dialed in.
Once I saw the setlist for The Aquabats, I knew I was in for some photo pit fun in the form of dodging blow up sharks – and yeah…that’s exactly how it went down.
The lights dropped. The stage filled – first eight Aquabats… then MC Bat Commander strutted out to thunderous applause from the crowd just as they launched into “Shark Fighter!” And suddenly the pit turned into an inflatable war zone. Within seconds, inflatable sharks were flying everywhere. I dodged these sharks in the photo pit with skill and precision, while security gleefully jumped in to toss them back into the crowd like it was part of their job description (honestly, it might’ve been). They were clearly enjoying themselves just as much as anyone else in the room.
The band had teased this show on their Instagram with a spaghetti western vibe video promo – cowboy hats, ponchos, and a warning: “TEXAS. Prepare for a showdown.” And they showed up dressed exactly like that – walking out in full costume like ska-punk outlaws ready to rob a bank made of fun.
“Dallas….do you want pizza?!!!!” They rolled straight into “Pizza Day,” and suddenly inflatable pizza slices joined the mix, bouncing across the pit alongside the sharks. Some fans even crowd surfed on the pizza slices.
“Texas…do you love, love? Then let me see some jazz hands!!! “ And just like that, the entire crowd threw up jazz hands in unison without hesitation.
Their three-piece horn section held down the right side of the stage while the band blasted through “Super Rad,” and “Red Sweater,” keeping the pace relentless but playful. One of the standout moments came when an 11-year-old fan named Beverly was brought onstage for her birthday, with the entire venue singing to her before the band jumped into “Martian Girl.”
Check out The Aquabats concert photo gallery below:
By the time they hit “No Rewind,” MC Bat Commander had everyone locked in, shouting, “everybody dances, everybody…come on !l” and the crowd didn’t need to be told twice. They closed with “Pool Party” and left the stage with a simple request: “Bring us back next year!” Judging by the reaction, this shouldn’t be a hard sell.
If there was any question whether Goldfinger still had it – Dallas got a very loud, very sweaty answer.
Formed in 1993, the LA ska-punk veterans helped ignite the genre’s explosion, and decades later, they’re still delivering the same reckless energy that made them legends. With a Guinness World Record for 385 shows in a single year and a catalog that basically soundtracked an entire generation, Goldfinger hit the South Side Ballroom like they never left. With a fanbase that spans generations, they’re still delivering the same high-impact performances, now sharpened by years of experience. Touring in support of their latest album Nine Lives, they proved quickly that nothing about this band feels tired.
They opened with “Spokesman” and “Get Up,” instantly kicking the room into motion. Frontman John Feldmann was fully engaged from the jump – constantly interacting with the crowd, pacing the stage, and keeping the energy pinned at 100.
Mid-set, they dropped “Here in Your Bedroom” – their biggest hit from 1996 – and the place erupted. It wasn’t just nostalgia, it was muscle memory. Every word screamed back at the stage like it never left rotation.
They kept the momentum rolling with “Get What I Need” and “Tijuana Sunrise,” then slid into a curveball with a cover of The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.” But the real crossover moment came when El Hefe from NOFX joined them for “Open Your Eyes” and stuck around as they tore through “Linoleum,” with Scott Russo jumping in to stack the stage with punk pedigree.
Then came “Mable” into “Superman” – yes, that “Superman,” the one burned into every brain that ever touched Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The second those opening notes hit, it was game over. Pure chaos. Pure joy.
They teased a wall-of-death with a mashup of “Enter Sandman / I’ll Be There for You,” because why not throw Metallica and sitcom nostalgia into the blender?
By the time they hit “Question” and “Miles Away,” the room was already wrecked – but they had one more move.
They closed with their iconic cover of “99 Red Balloons.” And just like that, the entire venue became one massive, bouncing, off-key choir. Arms up. Voices blown out. No one ready for it to end…but knowing it couldn’t end any other way.
Check out the Goldfinger concert photo gallery below:
By the time the lights came up, South Side Ballroom felt like it had been through something bigger than just a concert. Three bands, three distinct identities, all tied together by a shared history and a refusal to let go of what made this music matter in the first place.
This wasn’t just a concert, it was a three-act explosion of punk evolution. Unwritten Law brought the grit and history, The Aquabats turned the room into a cartoon fever dream, and Goldfinger reminded everyone exactly why they’ve never left the conversation.
Dallas showed up. The bands delivered. And somewhere in the chaos, between flying sharks and ska breakdowns, we all got a reminder:
This scene isn’t aging. It’s just getting louder.
CATCH GOLDFINGER ON THE ROAD….
