PENNYWISE/ CIRCLE JERKS/ H20/ MURPHY’S LAW – TOAD’S
Pennywise rolled into town with Circle Jerks, H2O and Murphy’s Law for a stacked night of punk and hardcore, and from the second the first band hit the stage, it was pretty damn obvious this was not going to be a quiet Tuesday night. The lineup brought together four bands with decades of history behind them, and the crowd showed up ready to go.
Murphy’s Law got things moving with their New York hardcore attitude and plenty of energy. And “in your face” was pretty much literal. Jimmy G spent the majority of the set right up on the rail and out in the pit with the crowd. There’s something about watching a band that’s been doing this for decades and still seeing that same in your face spirit onstage, and sometimes right in the middle of the crowd. No bullshit, just punk rock.
Then came H2O, bringing their melodic hardcore sound and turning the room up another notch. The combination of catchy hooks, aggression and pure energy made it impossible for the crowd to stand still for long. They kept the momentum going with a set full of movement and interaction with the crowd, making it clear they came ready to keep the room fired up. There was a great mix of melody and hardcore intensity that fit perfectly into the lineup.
Circle Jerks followed, bringing that old school Southern California hardcore punk energy that helped make them such an important part of the scene. Their set was fast, loud and completely unapologetic. They kept the energy high from start to finish and had the crowd locked in the entire time. There was a rawness to their performance that fit perfectly with the rest of the night, and they kept things moving as the room waited for Pennywise to take the stage.
And then there was Pennywise.
Three decades into their career, they came out swinging and reminded everyone exactly why they’ve become such a huge part of punk rock. From the moment they hit the stage, the crowd was all in, singing along, jumping and sending crowd surfers over the barricade.
There was a constant buzz throughout the room, with fans packed in from the rail to the back, soaking up every minute of the set. Pennywise brought exactly the kind of high energy performance you’d expect from a band with this much history behind them, and they were the perfect way to close out the night.
And honestly? This is exactly the kind of show I love shooting. No standing around politely watching the stage. Just four bands, a room full of people getting into it, and enough energy flying around to keep a photographer on one’s toes.
Punk rock may have been around for decades, but tonight at Toad’s Place, it felt very much alive.
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