Lane Daley
With COVID health check requirements implemented and after a 16-month delay that forced several lineup changes, the Punk Rock Bowling festival officially descended upon Las Vegas beginning Friday, September 24th.
This 22nd installment of the festival has been touted as possibly being the festival’s best year yet. Featuring over 40 bands on two separate stages, there’s something to entice everyone.
Kicking off the first day’s festivities, the Monster Energy Stage included sets by Bad Cop/Bad Cop, Pears and The Dwarves, with a stellar close-out performance by Anti-Flag. Main stage action included sets by The Darts, Dillinger Four and Frank Turner, with Descendents closing out the night.
Day 2 on the Monster stage brought stand-out sets by Field Day, Plague Vendor, and The Bronx, while the main stage gave us treats that included Good Riddance, Urethane, Youth Brigade, and Leftover Crack.
The recently reunited Circle Jerks caused the most buzz on Saturday, and they definitely delivered. Playing a 27-song set that included gems “Live Fast Die Young,” “Red Tape,” “Coup D’Etate,” and of course “Question Authority.”
Day 3 started off the festival’s final day with high-energy performances by M.D.C., The Last Gang, and The Murder City Devils, while on the main stage the Lunachicks made their Punk Rock Bowling debut to a packed house. They treated the crowd to a stellar 45-minute set that included fan favorites “Jerk of All Trades” and “Luxury Problems.” Municipal Waste was tasked with closing out the Monster stage and did so with their usual flair.
Finally, the festival’s pièce de résistance took to the main stage. DEVO… The iconic band that many had waited the entire weekend to see. They opened their set with “Don’t Shoot,” and thrilled the crowd with a 14-song set that included hits “That’s Good,” “Whip It,” “Uncontrollable Urge,” and “Freedom of Choice.”
The Punk Rock Bowling organizers may have faced an uphill battle in putting together this festival in the wake of the events of the last year and a half, but in the end they delivered a solid festival that left fans drooling for more.
Check out a few fan-shot videos of some of the performances below.
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