- REDD KROSS w/ Conan and the Secret Friends
- 3/28/26 - Bad Astronaut - Houston, TX
- ©M’Lou Elkins / Skip2Photography.com
There are full-circle moments, and then there are the kind that feel like the universe scribbled a note to itself decades ago and finally decided to cash it in. March 28, 2026 at Bad Astronaut in Houston was one of those nights.
I drove in from Dallas to film an interview with Redd Kross bandmates and brothers Jeff and Steven McDonald before the show, which already felt surreal on its own. I’ve been listening to Redd Kross for over 32 years. The first time I photographed them was July 8, 1994 in Dallas at what was then called Starplex, now Dos Equis Pavilion, though let’s be honest, it will always be Starplex. I had just turned 21 days earlier, hadn’t moved to Los Angeles yet, and was still very much a kid figuring it all out with a camera in hand. That version of me absolutely showed up in Houston, metaphorically losing her mind and high-fiving present-day me somewhere between load-in and soundcheck.
Before Redd Kross took the stage, Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends kicked things off with the kind of set that doesn’t politely introduce itself, it barges in, rearranges the furniture, and dares you to keep up. Frontman Conan Neutron, wearing a silver sequined blazer that caught every flicker of stage light, bounced and lunged across the stage like standing still was never an option. The band, featuring Duane Deering on bass, Loren Tee on guitar, and Mindee Jorgensen on drums, operates in that sweet spot where noise rock, post-punk, and pure unfiltered attitude collide.
They tore into “Chekhov’s Grift” and “The Commuter” early on, immediately setting a tone that was equal parts brainy and unhinged. Songs like “Quid Pro Quo” and “A Villain of Circumstance” carried a sharp, literate bite, while “Wild Antics” and “Sharks Keep Moving” lived up to their titles in both spirit and execution.
Check out the Conan Neutron and the Secret Friends concert photo gallery below:
Their cover of Lung’s “I’m Nervous” fit seamlessly into the set, less of a detour and more of a natural extension of the band’s wired intensity. Conan never let up, physically or vocally, and by the time they closed with “Chesapeake Ripper,” the room had been fully shaken awake.
Then came Redd Kross, celebrating 45 years of doing exactly whatever they want, which turns out to be the secret to longevity. Currently out on what bassist Steven McDonald calls their Victory Lap Tour, the band has plenty to celebrate. Their documentary directed by Andrew Reich, Born Innocent: The Redd Kross Story, is hitting Blu-ray and streaming platforms, they’re heading out on Little Steven’s Underground Garage Cruise, and they’ve just released a split EP with the Hard-Ons via Cheersquad Records & Tapes featuring three unreleased tracks from each band.
If there were any concerns about Jeff McDonald rejoining the tour after missing earlier dates due to illness, they were erased within seconds. Having only returned the night before in Austin, he hit the stage like he’d never left. No hesitation, no easing back in, just full-throttle Redd Kross.
They opened with “Huge Wonder” and rolled straight into “Stay Away From Downtown” and “Stunt Queen,” immediately locking into that signature blend of glam, punk, and power pop that they’ve been refining since they first emerged out of Hawthorne, California. The entire band stepped out in matching white ensembles splattered with paint drips, a look that felt oddly disorienting in the best way. It had this uncanny mix of vintage and something slightly futuristic, like a throwback that doesn’t fully belong to any one era. Clean, chaotic, familiar, and just off enough to make you do a double take, but still completely right for them.
“Uglier” and “Blow” kept the momentum sharp and punchy before sliding into “Lady in the Front Row,” a longtime favorite that now also lives in a new acoustic form on the recent split release. “Candy Coloured Catastrophe” and “I Take Your Word for It” added more layers to the set, balancing melody with just enough grit to keep things from ever feeling too polished.
At one point, Steven paused to check in with the crowd, asking, “Would you guys say you’re having a rock n roll party?” The answer was immediate and loud. Houston confirmed, yes, this was very much a rock n roll party.
“Annie’s Gone” and “Emanuelle Insane” pushed things further before the band dropped into their cover of “It Won’t Be Long,” giving The Beatles a fuzzed-out, Redd Kross twist that felt both reverent and slightly mischievous. “Neurotica” and “Jimmy’s Fantasy” followed, each landing with the kind of confidence that only comes from decades of playing together without losing the plot.
They closed with “Linda Blair” flowing into “I Want You (She’s So Heavy),” a finale that leaned all the way into their love of rock history while still sounding completely like themselves.
The lineup, rounded out by guitarist Jason Shapiro and drummer Dale Crover, who also pulls double duty with Melvins alongside Steven, was tight, loud, and clearly having a great time. There was no sense nostalgia-for-nostalgia’s-sake. This was a band still fully engaged with what they do, still pushing it forward, still making it feel immediate.
Check out the Redd Kross concert photo gallery below:
There are good shows, and then there are the ones that hit deeper than you expect. The kind that blur time, collapse decades, and remind you exactly why you fell in love with live music in the first place.
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