Punk in the Park: An American Road Trip
The second I stepped out of my Uber into the brisk San Francisco air, I had a good feeling about how the night would go. Punks with liberty spikes, neck tattoos, studded chokers, and hastily sewn jacket patches surrounded the legendary Cow Palace. Despite the grounds still being wet from the morning’s heavy downpour, spirits were unmistakably high amongst festival-goers. From kids in flannel shirts to adults aged 70+, the diverse crowd was lively and conversational.
via @descendents on IG
The lineup, of course, was filled to the brim with Punk-rock legends. From Adolescents to Dead Kennedy’s, TSOL to the Vandals, there wasn’t a set I wasn’t excited for. After checking out some of the vintage vendor pop-ups, record store tents, and Punk Rock Saves Lives setup, we made our way to the front of the barricade. What came next, of course, was nothing short of mindblowing.
After (politely) pushing our way to the front, Adolescents took center stage. An electric and high-energy set, the Orange County-based outfit set the tone with twisting guitar leads and vocal performances from the soul. TSOL followed suit, incorporating a unique blend of aggression, melody, dark atmosphere, and emotional vulnerability. Lead vocalist Jack Grisham delivered a standout performance with his distinctively raw and dredgy voice.
After a quick dinner break – which included delicious vegan tofu curry – we returned for the end of the Exploited set. For a band I was less familiar with before the show, I was pleasantly surprised and enthralled. One of the few acts not hailing from California, the Scottish hardcore band clearly delivered the message that “Punk’s Not Dead”. Lead vocalist Wattie Buchan carried all the same energy from the band’s 1979 origins while delivering a confident and controlled stage performance. Blending elements of British Oi! and American Hardcore, the result was a distinctly anthemic, explosive sound. Despite the on-and-off rain throughout the set, dedicated moshers still beamed ear to ear. Exploited successfully converted me from an interested crowd member to an enthusiastic fan.
“That’s Jello Biafra!” declared a fellow festival goer as San Francisco’s finest, Dead Kennedys, took the stage. He excitedly pointed at Ronald “Skip” Greer, the band’s actual lead vocalist. I giggled a little, appreciating the excitement over correcting the enthusiastic attendee. Despite Jello’s long-standing absence, however, the Kennedys were nothing short of fantastic. With original members, East Bay Ray on guitar and Klaus Flouride on bass, the hometown heroes packed a high-voltage joyride through their iconic discography. “Holiday in Cambodia”, “Kill the Poor,” and “Forward to Death” were amongst the standouts, despite Skip joking that, ‘“My doctor told me that, from a medical standpoint, I’m too old for punk rock.” He quickly disproved that sentiment with a galvanic march from backstage to the center of the mosh pit. At this point, I believed that the DKs would end up being my favorite performance of the night.
As the sun began to dip, Vandals followed the thrashing energy of the Kennedys with a lively and colorful number. From a wholesome cover of the Simpletones’ “I Have a Date” to their infamously unserious “My Girlfriend’s Dead”, the Orange County act remained consistent in their upbeat, pulsating delivery. It was impossible not to have fun during their set.
Last, but certainly far from least, the mighty Descendents took the stage. Milo Aukerman – best known as the Milo in the band’s 1982 release “Milo Goes to College” – led the band with his illustrious confidence and stage presence. The singular quartet blasted through their setlist, seemingly churning out a song every minute. Drummer Bill Stevenson’s gloriously tight and fast drumming – paired with Karl Alvarez’ driving basslines – resulted in a sound that demonstrates the band’s prowess of both the past and future of punk music. Dancing, surf-y guitar leads by Stephen Egerton rounded out Descendents’ legendary pop-punk sound. With an hour long set that felt like 10 minutes, the band successfully wrapped the night up in a perfect punk-rock bow.
On top of phenonemal showings from each band, excellent vendors and ample food options made the festival outstanding. Through rain and sunshine, Punk in the Park was a triumphant start to Summer festival season. Until 2025, punks! Stay tuned for more music festival coverage here.
