Punk Rock Bowling Day Two
Artist, writer, performer, and lighter thief Dick Lucas- All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
My day started early by Vegas standards, around noon. I had met Dick Lucas, the notorious lighter-stealing stone stacker, painter, and frontman of Citizen Fish, Culture Shock, and The SUBHUMANS, for an interview. We chatted about many topics, which will be broken into different articles. So please watch for the "Dick-on-Dick in Vegas" interviews in the future.
Later in the day, Dick gave an incredible performance with The SUBHUMANS on the PRB Main Stage (more on that in this article) and another even more intense show at the SUBHUMANS' sold-out Club Show at Backstage Billiards with Die Spitz and BADASS.
The SUBHUMANS will be touring everywhere this summer—the US, EU, UK, and at this year’s Rebellion Festival, as well as select dates on the Punk in Drublic Festivals tour. SEE THEM AS MANY TIMES AS YOU CAN.
I didn’t tell them to pose, they did it on their own-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
The second day of the festival is usually very festive, and the punks are all feeling and looking good. One of the benefits of being an early bird is all the free stuff the sponsors give out, though it goes fast. I got a straw hat, like the one on the young lady in the photo above, from someone who called himself Voodoo Ranger, which I think is a beer brand. The hat proved to be very useful throughout Punk Rock Bowling and came in handy at the next big festival as well.
I started the day at Punk Rock Bowling by catching Muertos Heist. The crowd wasn't very big at first, but they were really enthusiastic and were getting the party started. Muertos Heist put on an outstanding set and had more than a few of their own fans singing along. It was a great time, but I had to get going to the main stage for LA Slum Lords.
Getting the party started at PRB-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
One of the great things about PRB is that you can pretty much catch every band—but if you want to be on the rail, you need to show up early (just like the twins in the photo below). When I got to the main stage after grabbing some great coffee from a truck, the LA Slum Lords were already blasting out their first song. Lead singer Patty Hearse made sure to show off her snappy new shorts. Despite the heat, there was a pretty good pit that lasted the whole set. The LA Slum Lords never slowed down: they kept the energy high and the crowd engaged.
The twin boy kings of PRB lived on the main stage rail-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
Then it was back to the party stage for the ska stylings of Philadelphia’s CATBITE. With a name like CATBITE, I figured they had to be good and I was right. The crowd was really into it and the band looked like they were enjoying themselves as well. They sounded great and very tight, like they’d been playing together for years. Their unique sound, capped with the incredible vocal style of Brittany Luna, was refreshing and added a fun energy to the festival atmosphere.
I grabbed some delicious tacos from a different truck (PRB curates some of the finest food trucks from around Vegas for the festival, and the food is excellent) and returned to the main stage for a band I only heard about and was on my must-see list, Los Angeles-based NIIS. When I got to the photo pit, the band was still setting up, and I overheard two gentlemen on the rail commenting on lead singer Mimi SanDoe and bassist Izzy. The comments were a bit dismissive. One that stuck out was "These chicks are too pretty to be punk rock ." As I looked out on the rail and the crowd, I saw a lot of old geezers with judgmental faces. And I thought,
Mimi SanDoe of NIIS at PRB-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
you can’t always judge a book by its cover.
Fans on the rail for NIIS, I love that this guys shirt says Judge-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
Right out of the gate, the whole band just exploded with a driving guitar and perfectly timed rhythm section; it hit us all in the face harder than the sun. Mimi was all over the stage, and you could feel her rage as she paced back and forth like a trapped animal. To me it felt very reminiscent of The Bags and, or in an odd way, Xmal Deutschland, but with much more structure and precision.
There was no slowing down as the crowd grew; the band's energy and the frontwoman's fierceness only intensified. She belted out the lyrics and snarled at the gawkers, captivating the audience, who ate it up. Crushing expectations, the set turned out to be one of the highlights of the festival.
After that amazing set, I headed back to Monster Street for some old-schoolers from Austria, the Cosmic Psychos. They have been around since the eighties and are always great. I must admit, when I was watching the band prepare themselves for their set, I thought they might also be a little too pretty for punk rock. But I was also wrong—they killed and never slowed down to take a breath as their guitarist, Robbie Addington, chain-smoked his way through the whole set.
Then it was time for a band I was very much looking forward to seeing: DESTROY BOYS, from Sacramento, California. They seemed to be a favorite of the young punks, with a very big crowd waiting at the main stage. As the band was setting up, a woman from the audience yelled, “We love you, Violet,” and perhaps it was the sun, but it looked to me like guitarist Violet Mayugba blushed just a little.
Violet Mayugba of DESTROY BOYS ay PRB-All Photo by ©dickslaughter.com
DESTROY BOYS had an electrifying set from start to finish. Lead singer Alexia Roditis commanded the stage with a powerful presence and a raw, captivating voice. Midway through the set, Alexia made a special request to the audience, asking them to form a female and non-binary pit, ensuring a safe and inclusive space for everyone to enjoy the music. The response was immediate and positive, with fans eagerly embracing the inclusive spirit of the moment. The band's performance not only showcased their talent but a commitment to creating a welcoming environment for all their fans.
Next up on Monster Street was Snõõper. This was my first time hearing Snõõper, and I have to say I was impressed. Their music was funny and had a smart-ass vibe, blending a garage punk sound with a playful attitude. The energy seemed contagious, and it quickly turned into a party in the crowd. The band's raw sound, paired with their irreverent lyrics, made for an unforgettable and fun performance. It was clear that both the band and the audience were having a blast,
Snõõper at PRB-All Photos ©dickslaughter.com
Back to the main stage for the band at the very top of my list, not because I haven't seen them before but because I have seen them plenty—well over twenty times—the SUBHUMANS, fronted by the possible vegetarian vampire, who survives on coffee, cigarettes, and punk rock instead of blood, Dick Lucas.
Dick Lucas of the SUBHUMANS-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
To say Dick is a legend or an extremely gifted performer barely scratches the surface: Dick possesses a power, or perhaps that power possesses him. All the signs are there; he has not aged since the eighties, and he seems to hypnotize his audience so much that it is almost impossible to look away.
The afternoon performance was nothing short of incredible: minds were blown, lives were changed, and everyone in attendance had an amazing time. I can honestly say I can’t wait to see the SUBHUMANS again at their club show the next night and as many times as possible over the summer.
SUBHUMANS fans. All Photos-©dickslaughter.com
I wanted to get back to the Party Stage in time for another potential vampire lead singer, Arrow de Wilde of Starcrawler. Judging by the crowd, I wasn't the only one with that idea. It was the fullest I had seen on Monster Street all day, the crowd was buzzing in anticipation and from PBR and maybe a little weed (it’s legal now in Las Vegas). Arrow and the band took the stage and wasted no time launching into their set.
From the moment they started playing, Arrow de Wilde’s stage presence was nothing short of terrifying. She seemed to transform into some sort of rock-and-roll monster, commanding the crowd from the first note. The band's sound, a fusion of punk energy and rock theatrics, reverberated through the audience, creating an atmosphere that was both intense and electrifying, As Starcrawler ripped through their set, Arrow would move across the stage with a ferocity and grace that was mesmerizing. Her raw, powerful vocals paired perfectly with the band’s tight, aggressive style. Just an unbelievable set.
Arrow de Wilde of Starcrawler at PRB-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
Back at the main stage, it was time for Rocket from the Crypt. Frontman and man of many pseudonyms, John Reis didn’t miss a beat in declaring that his band was the most punk at the festival, thanks to their choice of black long-sleeve wool matching outfits—a bold move risking heat stroke. Their set was nothing short of phenomenal. These guys have been playing together for a little while, and it shows. Their performance was tight, with each member always on their A-game. John Reis, also known as Speedo, Slasher, and the Swami, commanded the stage with his charismatic presence and relentless energy, proving once again why Rocket from the Crypt remains a staple in the punk rock scene.
Like a ping-pong ball, I was back at Monster Street for another band of punks from Down Under. These lads, The Chats, are a wee bit younger than the Cosmic Psychos, but they pack just as much punch. I've been a fan of The Chats for a while, but this was my first time seeing them live. The experience was everything I hoped for. The boys laid out their set with all the hits, performing in a very professional manner. The crowd seemed to love every minute, dancing and singing along. It’s nice to see the mullet making a comeback.
Eamon Sandwith of the CHATS at PRB-All Photos ©dickslaughter.com
When the sun went down and the temperature became perfect, it was time for the day’s headliner. This band is much more than just a group of brothers, mutants, and world-changing pioneers; they are an institution, a corporation, and a cultural phenomenon that continues to influence and inspire. They are DEVO.
DEVOtees At PRB-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
There was no doubt that the grounds were packed with DEVOtees. An ocean of red energy domes filled the main festival area. Mr. Mothersbaugh and company did not disappoint, delivering a set that consisted of highlights from their half-century-long career. Their performance was a masterclass in showmanship, blending their iconic visuals with their signature sound.
The fans, some dressed in classic DEVO attire, sang along to every song, creating a unified chorus of voices that echoed through downtown Las Vegas, It was the perfect way to end the day, but it wasn’t the end—the fun doesn’t stop at PRB.
Mark Mothersbaugh of DEVO at PRB-All Photos by @dickslaughter.com
I was on my way to see my brothers in Black and Green, The Knuckleheadz, along with the Codefendents and N8NOFACE, at a PRB Club Show. But I’ll save that for another article, as it deserves its own. So watch for that.
DEVO at PRB-All Photos by ©dickslaughter.com
I will leave you with some of my favorite day two photos. If you want to see even more photos from PRB, check out In Spite Magazine's Facebook page.
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