N8NOFACE, CODEFENDANTS AND THE KNUCKLEHEADZ DO VEGAS
They don’t call him N8NOFACE for Nothing-All Photos by ©dicslaughter.com
During Punk Rock Bowling weekend, the club shows are often a highlight and this year was no exception. Strongly encouraged to attend one particular club show by some large gentleman in black and green leather battle vests, I found myself in for an unforgettable experience. My brothers, the Knuckleheadz, were playing alongside other Punk Rock fight club associates: N8NOFACE and Codefendants It sounded like the FBI’s most wanted list. It was an offer I could not refuse.
Life goals: find someone who looks at you the way Showtime looks at Tom-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
If you are unfamiliar with the Knuckleheadz, you can read KnuckleHeadz to Rescue or On the Road to Rebellion with the Knuckleheadz here on In Spite Magazine. But for those who are too lazy to click the link, here are the crib notes: the Knuckleheadz are much more than a band; they and their Punk Rock Fight Club serve as an outreach program to at-risk youth, providing fitness training at Knucklehead Martial Arts and also offering a support system to help keep them out of trouble. The club has had great success with many members achieving significant milestones while staying clean and finding employment. Several of them compete in MMA competitions, winning numerous medals, belts, and trophies.
The Knuckleheadz are a double-fronted, double-guitar, obscenity-laden hardcore punk band with catchy and often humorous lyrics. Some of their hits include "Fuck McDonald's," "Fighting Solves Everything," and "Fuck You, I'm Done." Their shows are a mix of mayhem and brotherly love, as their club boasts hundreds of members. Consequently, their performances turn into giant slam pits of camaraderie.
If there's one thing I enjoy about the Knuckleheadz, it's shocking new members who don’t know me by sight. I don’t exactly blend in with my brothers; I look more like a law enforcement officer or someone’s dad. On this evening, as I arrived at the venue, I saw a group of brothers gathered around the band’s merch table. I recognized one and came up behind him, I put my arm around his waist, and said very loudly, “Who the hell let all these Knuckleheadz in here? I thought this was a high-class place.” The looks from the prospects were hilarious. Of course, when he turned around, we had a good laugh.
Fritz-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
I’ll keep their review short as I feel you should witness the Knuckleheadz for yourself. Let’s just say they killed it. They went on first, and though the crowd wasn't at full capacity yet, it was packed with club members. From the first chord, a circle pit erupted, complete with beach balls and boogie boards for crowd surfing. It was a beautiful mess. I talked with a patron who had just seen the Knuckleheadz for the first time, and he remarked, "I haven't been in a pit that good in 20 years."
Don’t miss the KnucKLeheadz at and around this year’s rebellion festivals
THE KNUCKLEHEADZ play Rebellion 16:10-Fri-Aug 2nd, CLUB CASBAH-All photos by ©dickslaughter.com
Next up was a group I was unaware of at the time but was quickly converted into a fan. Codefendants are genuine reflections of our complex era, fusing hip-hop, punk rock, ballads, and possibly something entirely new. They look as though they're headed to court in suits and ties, singing and rapping to pre-recorded beats. Their set was a spectacle from start to finish.
What I enjoyed most about the set was singer Sam King's Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde transformation. I’m not kidding. Partner in Crime Ceschi Ramos comes out and does his thing—he's charismatic, and everyone loves it. But Sam comes out, starting nice, singing smoothly. As the set progresses, something changes. It's like the devil takes over, shifting from punk to rap with a frightening intensity. His appearance seems to transform before your eyes. Or at least, that’s what I witnessed, your honor. My testimony is that Codefendants are guilty of doing something weird that works.
I have since learned that they are being Phil Spector-ed by Fat Mike, but don’t hold that against them; their backstory is great. Get Dead’s vocalist, Sam King, and his “artist cooperative” (AKA graffiti crew) raised funds to support rapper Ceschi Ramos during his incarceration for accepting a shipment of a little weed (100 pounds). This act of solidarity fostered a lasting friendship that inspired their collaboration. Since then, they’ve released several records, including titles such as ‘Crime Wave’ and ‘Prison Camp’ on Fat Records, and are now touring worldwide. Check them out through these links:
codefendantslegalfund.com fatrecords.com.
Maybe I never took a photo of his face, N8NOFACE-All Photos by ©dicslaughter.com
Next up was our headliner, the notorious N8NOFACE. Growing up in Tucson, Arizona, he faced many challenges, including poverty, drug use, and gang influence. He was able to overcome these pitfalls through music. His style is rooted in hip-hop with a punk edge, blending singing, rapping, and screaming to deliver his poetry and stories. It's a bit like Sleaford Mods meets Suicidal Tendencies but with a far more abstract twist.
N8NOFACE-All Photos by ©dicslaughter.com
His songs are often autobiographical, tackling powerful themes like love, desperation, depression, police brutality, opiate addiction, the Mexican drug cartel, and his mortality. As a true street poet, his words are powerful and resonate deeply. This isn't just theater; it's his vision of the experiences he lived through and the strength he found to overcome them.
N8NOFACE-All Photos by ©dicslaughter.com
Although N8's art is often as serious as a heart attack, he possesses a sharp and contagious sense of humor. His online presence is a cornucopia of hilarity, documenting not only his music but many interesting and funny moments from his life, which has undoubtedly changed remarkably since he gained notoriety. Some highlights from the past few weeks include a Rick Roll meme of N8 singing "Never Gonna Give You Up," with a striking and unintended resemblance to Frank Zappa, and a video of him losing a game of Connect Four to Corey Feldman.
You can find N8NOFACE on Three One G Records and N8NOFACE.LA
I’d like to take this opportunity to apologize to Zig Zag, who was also on the bill. Unfortunately, I missed their set because I was hanging out with the club, trying to convince people that every t-shirt purchase saved one at-risk youth. We sold a few.
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