Mike McColgan of Street Dogs, gestures to crowd surfer at Wreck the Halls in Allston, MA
2018 was another great year for documenting the punk rock scene, not just in my adopted city of Chicago. I also spent time shooting shows in my native state of New York, specifically, in my little brother’s borough of Brooklyn. And for the fourth consecutive year, I spent a long mid-December weekend in Boston, MA. For the compilation of my favorite images of 2018, I am again including faves from bands from a wide spectrum of years together and differing levels of public recognition. Quite a few of these images were featured in DS this year. However, as with my faves gallery in 2017, many others were heretofore not featured in any online or hard copy publications. The shows, Weekend Stands; and festivals (such as Wreck the Halls, Motoblot, Punk the Burbs; and Riot Fest) represented were a blast, every last one. Every group included is one more than worth checking out should they hit your town, city or other location where you might find yourself at the same time as them.
Personal Note: A good many of the photos in this selection are of Street Dogs. I have been following them and documenting them coming up on 10 years in March. Those who know me know the only band I place above them as a personal favorite is The Clash. There are numerous reasons for my love of Street Dogs and among those reasons is their showmanship. 2018 presented me with the opportunity to document the band in NYC, Chicago; and in the Boston area. The Chicago images were part of my Riot Fest gallery for DS. They will be playing Punk Rock Bowling this May (which I likely may not make). After that, there are no scheduled shows announced for the foreseeable future. They are among the most fun and exciting bands to shoot. Their shows are always at maximum energy levels and the crowds pretty much never disappoint in matching that energy. So I would like to extend my best wishes to the Michael, Johnny, Lenny, Pete, and Matt; as well as their crews. They and their latest album, “Stand For Something Or Die For Nothing,” were surely among the best of 2018.
Johnny Rioux (left) and Lenny Lashley of Street Dogs at Wreck the Halls
Ben Roy of SPELLS may be one of Those Who Can’t on television but when it comes to getting a crowd going, he is definitely one of those who can.
Street Dogs’ Mike McColgan pulled me up on stage at Brooklyn Bazaar to get a shot of the crowd. I have documented band from various places on the sides and in the back of stages. However, getting the right up at the front P.O.V. of most of the band members certainly is eye-opening
Triumph Ace and helmet sporting the Ace Cafe London logo at Motoblot
The Queers perform at Punk the Burbs 2
Peter Mittler of The Bollweevils at Chop Shop Chicago
Ken Fitzner of The Bollweevils at Chop Shop in Chicago
Dr. Daryl Wilson of The Bollweevils gets high…on punk. Pete Mumford and Ken Fitzner also pictured.
A photographer shoot images of Street Dogs at Brooklyn Bazaar in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY
Pete Sosa of Street Dogs at Wreck the Halls #SadPeteSosa? Nah, just a quiet moment in the beautiful chaos.
Stickfight! perform at Liar’s Club Halloween show
The Run Around at Punk the Burbs 2
Stage invader during Street Dogs at Wreck the Halls
Ben Roy of SPELLS at Wicker Park Fest in Chicago
Pussy Riot at Riot Fest
Off With Their Heads at Wicker Park Fest
Nuns of Brixton at Motoblot in Chicago
Nate Leinfelder of Noi!se at Wreck the Halls in Allston, MA
Bill Stephens of Naked Raygun
Jeff Pezzati of Naked Raygun
Nikki Beller of Mystery Actions at Punk the Burbs 2
Mike McColgan of Street Dogs amid the crowd at Riot Fest
Street Dogs’ Johnny Rioux with his wife Melissa Rioux, on stage at Wreck the Halls
Lenny Lashley of Street Dogs at Wreck the Halls in Allston, MA
Legendary Shack Shakers’ JD Wilkes bends over backward for the Motoblot crowd
Matt Hensley of Flogging Molly on the squeezebox at Riot Fest in Chicago, IL
The Queers headlined Punk the Burbs 2
Scott Brooks of Avenues at Punk The Burbs 2
Trever Keith of Face to Face at Riot Fest in Chicago
Caitlin Rose of Bumsy and the Moochers performs at Punk the Burbs 2. Rose is one of the co-organizers of the fest taking place in the suburbs outside of Chicago
Rubber soles meet Bouncing Souls. Pete Steinkopf of Bouncing Souls has great taste in shoes.
Poli Van Dam of The Bombpops has fun at Riot Fest in Chicago
Todd Pott of Apocalypse Hoboken becomes one with the band’s fans at Chop Shop in Chicago
Alkaline Trejo during Alkaline Trio at Riot Fest
Tony Reflex leads Adolescents at Riot Fest. The band hung a large banner with the name Soto in place of the group name as a tribute to their late bandmate Steve Soto.
Larry Damore of Pegboy is surrounded by fans at Cobra Lounge in Chicago. The band performed at this fundraiser for another small Chicago venue.
Steev MF Custer and Devin Morris of Death and Memphis perform during their set at Brauerhouse Lombard.
Juan Avalos of Size 5’s jumps, for joy perhaps, as the band performs at Brauerhouse Lombard.
Benny NoGood of Benny and the No-Goods pours emotion into his performance during the band’s set at Brauerhouse Lombard.
Off With Their Heads perform at Brauerhouse Lombard
1916 gave a rollicking performance at this year’s Wreck the Halls
Denis Buckley of 88 Fingers Louie sits this one in, continuing to sing at the band’s show at Chop Shop Chicago
And finally, one of my faves I did not take. From left: Johnny Rioux, Matt Pruitt, Lenny Lashley, Pete Sosa, yours truly, and Mike McColgan. Thanks for all the great times! It’s been a blast documenting you all and I so wish I could make PRB this May in Las Vegas! Best Wishes!! Photo by Mark Korich
Swedish melodic-punks 
Punk/alt-rock legends 
Punk legends 
Atlanta three-piece 
Chicago based emo-punks 
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