2024 Punk In The Park Orlando: Part TWO
David Rodriguez of The Casualties - All photos courtesy of Paul Holstein
If you haven’t read part one of this story, go back and start there (you missed the first seven bands). As Against All Authority was ending, it was approaching 4:15 in the afternoon and 90+ degrees with high humidity. Fortunately, the rain held out, and I was heading over to see one of the most highly anticipated sets of the day – The Casualties.
Rob Rushing of Punk Rock Saves Lives
I stopped by the Punk Rock Saves Lives booth on my way, to chat with founder Rob Rushing and make a quick donation. If you aren’t familiar with Punk Rock Saves Lives, they set up a booth at most big punk festivals and “promote awareness and action on health, equal rights, and human rights.”. They were working to sign someone up to a bone marrow donor’s list when I walked up, and they had free Narcan (which someone said has been needed at shows in the past). They also had all sorts of (also free) first aid items. I applied some of their complementary sunscreen, which I forgot, and then continued on my way. It’s a great cause, donate if you can.
The Casualties were easily the most energetic band on the bill, and they proved that from the first chord. I wasn’t aware that bass player Rick Lopez had left the band, but Doug Wellmon did a great job as his replacement and also had the street punk look. Singer David Rodriguez (also of Starving Wolves and Krum Bums), with his trademark red mohawk, screamed his way through a set of classics that included “We Are All We Have," “Punk Rock Love," "Riot,” and “My Blood, My Life, Always Forward.”. During "Riot," David climbed down into the crowd and orchestrated a “wall of death” (a form of moshing where the audience spits into two sides, running towards each other when the music restarts). The pit was on cement at this show, and the result was more than a few bloody (but also very happy) punk rockers. After their set, they weren’t done yet as they headed over to sign autographs and take photos with fans.
Teenage Bottlerocket, getting ready to take the stage.
Teenage Bottlerocket, back on the second stage, was another band high on my list to see (mainly because they have so many good songs). When I got over there, the band was hanging out side stage talking to fans and taking pictures. I didn’t get a chance to talk to them about disc golf, but I’ve heard that they play while on tour, and there were two courses right behind the venue (one of which I had played the prior day). As always, the crowd went into a frenzy when they took the stage. They opened with “Skate or Die”, and blazed through “Bigger Than Kiss," “Stupid Games," "Bottlerocket," “Blood Bath At Burger King,” “They Call Me Steve," “Fatso Goes Nutzoid,” and "Headbanger.”
Matt Caughthran of The Bronx
I’m most familiar with The Bronx CD “IV”, which contains the song “Heart Attack American”. I’d also seen them a couple times before, including in Detroit as part of NOFX’s “Punk In Drublic” festival. Singer Matt Caughthran has been known to get down into the pit and induce some moshing, and he also plays in a Mariachi band called Mariachi El Bronx. This was a relatively tame show, but they sounded great and they did play “Heart Attack American”.
Johnny "Peebucks" Bonnel of Swingin' Utters
I went too long without listening to Swingin' Utters, it was only a few years ago that I caught them live for the first time at a Punk Rock Bowling club show and realized what I was missing. Singer Johnny “Peebucks” Bonnel is quite a character, flailing his arms and repeatedly hitting himself in the face while he sang. They opened up with “The Librarians Are Hiding Something” and ran through a fairly long set that also included my personal favorite “Pills and Smoke”. Next up was Black Flag, so I headed out a song or two early to grab a $5.00 canned “Liquid Death” water and a tray of tater tots.
Next up, part three (Black Flag, TSOL, Dead Kennedys, The Vandals, and Alkaline Trio). And don’t forget to catch the next iteration of Punk In The Park in San Diego on November 16, 2024. Another round of great bands will be appearing, including The Offspring, Pennywise, Face To Face, and the return of Slaughterhouse.
