The Slackers, NYC legends, returned to Reggies for the band’s annual Slackfest. Dying Scene was on the floor for The Slackers’ night 2 performance. The Slackers, founded in 1991, remain as compelling as ever. Lead singer, keyboardist, harmonica player, guitarist, and Bronx native Vic Ruggiero’s thick New York accent is most apparent when he breaks […]
The Slackers, NYC legends, returned to Reggies for the band’s annual Slackfest. Dying Scene was on the floor for The Slackers’ night 2 performance.
The Slackers, founded in 1991, remain as compelling as ever. Lead singer, keyboardist, harmonica player, guitarist, and Bronx native Vic Ruggiero’s thick New York accent is most apparent when he breaks from singing to tell stories. These mini-monologues can be about the music itself, some anecdote about hanging out in NYC, or just a chance to declare “Fuck Ice.” Of course, that last statement was met with roars of approval, as Chicago has been, for months, besieged by the Department of Homeland Security’s fascistic crackdown on immigrants and US citizens alike.
The band is composed of top-notch veteran musicians. I was especially keen on the saxophone wizardry of Dave Hillyard, as I, for a few of my kid years, played the alto sax. When Ruggiero spoke of AI never being able to replicate the beauty of the saxophone he was absolutely right. Hillyard creates pure musical poetry with his saxophone.
But The Slackers is not a two-man crew. Marcus Geard – aka “Bass Man In White” – plays his electric bass as if it were a stand-up bass, propped on a chair bearing “I [heart image] NY.” On this night, he was actually a man in black but oozed his signature cool.
Guitar player Nugent often posts up a bit behind Ruggiero. Though he can sometimes be visually obscured, his playing never is.
Drummer Ara Babajian provides the muscular and steady backbeat for The Slackers. Motoring the band from the back of the stage, his presence and talent is undeniable.
And finally, there is trombonist Glen Pine who, at times, shares vocals with Ruggiero. Pine is also the one Slacker most in motion throughout the band’s set. Sporting a blue ruffled shirt, dancing, getting close to the crowd at the stage front, and with his expressive visage, Pine’s outgoing personality looms large.
As for the music, it was a generous set, with 20 songs. The band drove through the tunes, including “I Still Love You,” “Don’t Let The Sunlight Fool Ya,” “The Whole World Was On It,” “I’ll Stay Away”, “Sarah,” and “International War Criminal.”
The Slackers also covered terrific versions of The Skatalites’ “Christine Keller,” and Sam Cooke’s “Cupid.”
The Slackers members showed their appreciation for Reggies and Chicago, and the crowd returned the love. For a good portion of the fans in attendance, Slackfest is one of the first events to annually be penciled into their calendars. The show was reliably entertaining, and yet each time The Slackers perform, it feels transformative and never seems rote. In troubled times, the humanity of music and the musicians is a hug to the heart and balm for the soul. It also helps that Vic, Glen, Jay, Ara, Dave, and Marcus also seem to be a group of gentlemen with whom sharing drinks would lead to a long evening of funny, poignant, and wild stories. They seem like a good hang. Their shows always are.
Legendary Milwaukee folk punk group Violent Femmes made its annual stop in Chicago recently. This time, The Salt Shed hosted the band’s sold-out stop on its “Grasp and Reach For a Leg of Hope” tour. It was a fun night filled with classic tunes and good vibes. Violent Femmes had this night all to its […]
Legendary Milwaukee folk punk group Violent Femmes made its annual stop in Chicago recently. This time, The Salt Shed hosted the band’s sold-out stop on its “Grasp and Reach For a Leg of Hope” tour. It was a fun night filled with classic tunes and good vibes.
Violent Femmes had this night all to its quirky own and made quite the entrance. Singer, guitar, banjo and violin player Gordon Gano entered on stage, but his bandmates marched in from the back of the crowd. Kicking the set off with “Olinguito” set the tone for a night of the band’s trademark whimsy. If you are not familiar with the word in that song title, Olinguito is the name of an Andes-dwelling member of the raccoon family.
Along with Gano, Violent Femmes is composed of bass player/multi-instrumentalist Brian Ritchie, John Sparrow on drums and percussion (a Weber grill being part of his setup) and Blaise Garza on the saxophone, including the gigantic contrabass saxophone, and flute.
While the audience appeared to skew older, people who have likely followed the band from the start, there were also quite a few younger fans in the crowd. I met two sets of fans in their 20s, one from Los Angeles and one from Texas with another thing in common. These fans have followed the band across the country, catching multiple shows on this tour. The thing with fans of the Violent Femmes is they truly are the very definition of diehard fans. And on this night, per usual they were heartily rewarded for this.
The rousing 22 tune set included the biggest hits, including “Blister in the Sun,” “Kiss Off,” “Gone Daddy Gone,” “I Held Her in My Arms,” “Add It Up,” “Please Do Not Go,” and their traditional closer, “American Music.” Every one of these tunes sounded like a full venue sing-along as the crowd amplified each and every lyric.
The set list also included “Prove My Love,” “Waiting for the Bus,” “Country Death Song,” “For All Those Who Love,” “Jesus Walking on the Water,” “Good Feeling,” and “Betrayal,” among others.
Violent Femmes shows are always reliably joyful experiences. This show was no exception. It was apparent per usual, that the band was having as big a blast as its fans in the crowd were having.
The show also undoubtedly kicked off a weekend of good vibes for many in the crowd. The day after this show, the second “No Kings” march took place worldwide. An estimated 7 million people peacefully marched to oppose the encroaching authoritarianism and to declare there shall be no kings ruling the United States. I imagine quite a few of those fans rocking out to the Violent Femmes also laced up their shoes and hit the streets the next day, joining fellow citizens to push back on the fascist policies presently being instituted by carried out by the Executive Branch and its allies in Congress.
I have been fortunate enough to document several Violent Femmes shows in recent years. Hoping this continues for years to come. If you have never had a chance to catch them, I recommend you do so at your very next opportunity.
Riot Fest, celebrating its 20th year in 2025, is most publicly about the bands on stage. But so often, the much more compelling stories are found on the grounds of the music festival’s home in Douglass Park. Here are a few of those stories. Love and Heartbreak at the Riot Fest Wedding Chapel Olivia Beck […]
Riot Fest, celebrating its 20th year in 2025, is most publicly about the bands on stage. But so often, the much more compelling stories are found on the grounds of the music festival’s home in Douglass Park. Here are a few of those stories.
Love and Heartbreak at the Riot Fest Wedding Chapel
Olivia Beck married her husband, David Martin Beck, [03.11.1982 -12.14.2023] at the Riot Fest Wedding Chapel in 2022. The following year, her husband was tragically killed in a confrontation in his apartment building. This year, Beck paid tribute to him by scattering some of his ashes beside and in front of the wedding chapel. She also left a framed photo of her husband. Being a young widow with a child is challenging, but Beck is determined to carry the spirit of her husband forward as she knows he would hope for and expect of her.
Olivia: David and I met at this dive bar in San Antonio called the Texan 2. Its the grossest bar ever, and he worked there forever. He made me cry the first time I met and he laughed. I found it funny eventually. He then invited me and my ex over for a game of Magic The Gathering, so we met because we were nerds. This was in 2018.
His favorite bands were Bad Religion,Senses Fail, Rise Against, and Thrice. He was a through-and-through punk, and I loved that. He introduced me to a lot of bands, so we had similar tastes in music. Some of my favorites are NOFX, Bad Religion, and Less Than Jake. I have those on repeat a lot.
Our honeymoon at Riot Fest was EXHAUSTING. It was hot that year, and we walked so much! My veil flew off after we married, and a homeless man caught it. The dude offered it back only if we gave him $20, which David gladly did. The last day, we were ready to start our lives back in our hometown.
When I lost my husband, I was 2 months pregnant. We tried for a year to get pregnant, and so we were extremely ecstatic. My stepdaughter, Ellie, was also excited to be a big sister. When David was murdered, [Shawn Pivonka was charged with murder, but the trial ended with a not guilty verdict] I succumbed to a deep depression and almost attempted suicide. I had to be in the mental hospital for 2 weeks, and honestly, dealing with that mental anguish and witnessing everything was much harder than labor and birth itself. I lost all hope, but I eventually went on to support myself and my unborn baby until I was 9 months pregnant as a bartender.
When we received the verdict (not guilty), it felt like losing David all over again. I rarely ate, and I slept all week. I kept going over all the “what ifs?” “What if I was outside when his life was taken? Could I have done something? Could all of this have been prevented, and we’d be in a timeline where our family is all together as one?”
Spreading his ashes was cathartic. To be honest, I almost didn’t go to Chicago because I didn’t feel strong enough, but I could hear David yelling at me, “YOU SPEND THAT MONEY, GET YOUR ASS UP THERE, BABY!” I was nervous about breaking down and crying, but it actually felt like a weight lifted off my shoulders. People recognized me and gave me their condolences – and these were people I’ve never even met, from all over the world. I was afraid of being alone, but I certainly wasn’t.
This Riot Fest was more than I could ever have asked for. I went in with NO expectations. Last year, I fell in love with someone, the first person I ever had feelings for after losing David. We had such a strong connection that we made plans to go to Riot Fest together. Things didn’t work out, and we had a falling out. Well, as the universe would have it, I ran into him at the festival, and he told me that he had been looking for me and that he’d been missing me every day. We rekindled a close friendship, and we saw all the bands together. He even put me on his shoulders at Green Day, and it was magical. On top of that, I made new friends from NY and California. Everyone seemed drawn to me this year, [Beck had posted in an unofficial Riot Fest-related Facebook group about her plans to spread David’s ashes]. I feel like it was David’s spirit making sure that I was okay and had fun
Brothers in Arms Together Again
Sean Elliot [left, in the above photo, and Robert Taylor] first became friends more than three decades ago as young soldiers in the United States Army. After having lost touch for decades, they reconnected and reunited at Riot Fest. Here is their story:
Sean:I moved a lot as a kid but settled here and went to Downers Grove North with Mike Vinikour[featured in Dying Scene in 2023] joined the army because I didn’t know what else to do with myself. I always had that rebellious streak, so punk just clicked right away with me. I got stationed at Ft Hood, Texas (about an hour from Austin) after training in 1988. There were not a lot of punks in the army or in Texas in the 80s. Rob and I met at the mall in Killeen (just off base) and immediately became great friends, bonding over our love of punk music and culture. We were in Austin every weekend with some other friends.
After I got out, Rob visited me here in Chicago a few times. But it was pre-Internet, and it was easy to lose a number and contact in those days, which is what happened.
On his role as a veteran in today’s political climate and how being punk plays into that:
I’m not sure if being a punk and being a vet is incongruent or not. That’s probably a question for somebody smarter than me. I don’t think it is because I’m patriotic in the fact that I love what this country is supposed to be and should be, and things like that. [For example] My need to be protective. I am overly protective by nature.
Having served definitely plays into who I am as a man. Although, unlike some people, I don’t make it my entire personality. As a punk and a man, I just tried to move through the world with intent. I lead with kindness and try to know. Make as many people smile in a day, or help as many people in a day as I can…A fairly sizable guy who can handle himself. I try to make sure that I always protect those who aren’t as strong and need protection.
What does Sean love most about his friend and brother by service and by choice:
As far as Rob goes, he’s just an awesome human being. Rarely in a bad mood, we kind of see the world the same way. We’ve always been super close and 3 plus decades in between. Then and now didn’t change any of that. That’s my brother till I’m dead, just a smart. Solid, funny friend I could tell anything to. That dude is Downtown Julie Brown kind of down.
Robert: I grew up in a small Kansas farm town nestled between Topeka and Lawrence called Perry, population 900. My dad served 6 years in the Army and loved every minute of it. He was planning on making a career of it, but the Army had become too undisciplined for him, due to the draft and the Vietnam War. He said that the day he saw a Private with his arm around a Lieutenant, he knew that the Army wasn’t for him anymore. It was decided from the day that I was born that I was going into the Army. I grew up hearing “When you’re in the Army…” my entire childhood. I had a good relationship with my dad and I knew that it was important to him that I serve. Also, I wanted to go to college and the Army was just about my only option to make that happen.
Three days after graduating high school, I was being shipped off to Basic Training. After completing my training in 1987, I was sent to Ft. Hood, TX. Summer of 1988, I had just bought a car and was finally getting away from the barracks in the evenings. I spent a lot of time at the mall in Killeen, because that’s what you did as a teen in the 80’s, and that’s where I met Sean. I’ll never forget, I was walking out of a record store and saw another punk! I didn’t know any other punks at Ft. Hood at that time. We immediately gravitated towards each other. We started talking and Sean asked what I bought at the record store. It was Mama’s and the Papa’s greatest hits, not punk at all, but I had grown up listening to them. When I showed Sean, he said, “My mom’s a hippy, I love the Mama’s and the Papa’s!” I knew immediately that we were going to be good friends…!
Sean got out of the Army in the Summer of 1989, and I still had a year left. We kept in touch, and Summer of 1991, I went to Chicago to visit him. I visited him again on NYE 1993/1994. That was the last time that I had seen and spoken to him. Sean had a wife and daughter, and life just got busy. I was terrible about writing and keeping in touch with people. All of my friends at that time had finished school and were getting married and having kids. I switched majors halfway through college and was focusing on finishing school and starting my life.
Time went on, the internet happened, and then social media. I tried for decades to find Sean online. MySpace, Facebook, Google, PeopleSearch…no luck at all. For whatever reason, a year ago, I was doing my monthly search for Sean when his Facebook profile finally appeared!
We had talked about getting together in July but Sean had suggested Riot Fest. I was all in. Seeing Sean after 31 years was amazing! It’s amazing how you can just pick right back up where you left off with someone.
Being in the Army in the late 80s was…interesting. All my life, I had heard that people loved soldiers, that women loved a man in uniform… but none of it was true. Vietnam was still fresh in everyone’s mind, and people near military towns hated you. I don’t blame them, their town is overrun by 18 to 25 year old shitheads…. The punks, especially, did not understand why I was in the Army.
Post-Active Service, Robert thinks about his role as a retired veteran. Cautiously saying:
My role as a vet today, hmmm. With everything that’s going on in this country today, that would take too long to answer. I’m currently a GIS Analyst for a local government, living in the SF Bay Area.
Riot Fest was a blast! I had been to the Denver RF for the Misfits reunion, but never to Chicago. I go to Punk Rock Bowling every year, and many of the West Coast Punk in the Parks, so it was nice to be at a midwest fest!
What is the best thing about Sean? The guy has one of the biggest hearts ever, fierce and loyal! We will absolutely stay in touch, and we’re hoping to make RF an annual event!
A Festival Newbie
Riot Fest has also long been the first music festival and even the first concert for many pint-sized punks. Kacie and her husband, Tim (first names only per request), joined that tradition when they brought their one-year-old daughter Madison to Riot Fest 2025.
Kacie:We are from Las Vegas. Kacie and Madison (daughter), husband is Tim. We loved the festival! It was our very first one, have been wanting to go since we saw the lineup a few years ago but didn’t get a chance to until this year. My favorite sets were Weird Al and Green Day!
We decided to bring her because we want to introduce her to lots of different music and activities. She thrives when we’re out of the house, so it was just natural to bring her along. Also, because she was free lol. My husband prefers more of the bands than I do, but it’s always nice to hear new things.
The only other festival we considered taking her to was When We Were Young, but we would have needed to buy a ticket for her. When we saw the lineup for Riot Fest and that we could bring her for free, we went all in.
She did keep the ear protection on when we were closer to the stages, when she was sleeping, and when we were walking around. But when we sat in the shade at the back of the stages, she wouldn’t keep them on.
Judging by the huge smile on Madison’s face, it won’t be long before she is rocking out at another show and maybe even Riot Fest 2026. Start them young!
My favorite quote related to photojournalism has also long acted as a sort of mission statement or modus operandi as a photojournalist. It comes from the legendary William Albert Allard:
I think the best pictures are often on the edges of any situation, I don’t find photographing the situation nearly as interesting as photographing the edges.
Allard is my inspiration to look for the stories from the grounds and not just on the stages at a festival such as Riot Fest. There are so many stories out there, I wish I could share them all.
The best spot to be on Friday, May 23, 2025 in the p.m. was Reggies Rock Club. It was the place to get your geek on. Geek Punk, that is. Nerf Herder returned to the Chinatown neighborhood adjacent venue. The Santa Barbara faves were joined on the bill by fellow Californians in Diesel Boy, Keep […]
The best spot to be on Friday, May 23, 2025 in the p.m. was Reggies Rock Club. It was the place to get your geek on. Geek Punk, that is. Nerf Herder returned to the Chinatown neighborhood adjacent venue. The Santa Barbara faves were joined on the bill by fellow Californians in Diesel Boy, Keep Flying from the other coast, New York State specifically (and one New Jersey resident), and Capgun Heroes from the night’s host city of Chicago.
Check out what went down and hit the band names to view the galleries on Instagram.
Nerf Herder gets its name from a little old sleeper hit of a sequel called The Empire Strikes Back. Formed out of Santa Barbara, CA in 1994, the band, composed of singer Parry Gripp/guitarist, bass player Ben Pringle, drummer Steve Sherlock, and Linus “Linus of Hollywood” Dotson on guitar, knows how to bring the fun. This evening was no exception. Blasting through a set including “We Opened For Weezer,” “Mr. Spock,” “Pantera Fans,” Nosering Girl,” “Van Halen,” and “Golfshirt.” Nerf Herder also set off something akin to squeals of delight when it performed its theme from the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
The aforementioned fun is a bit of an understatement when it comes Nerf Herder shows. As was the case the last time the band played in the rock club at Reggies, the show was an impressively entertaining one. One difference, however, was the absence of an on-stage Malört tasting. Done once, there is no need to repeat that part of what is now known as the Chicago Handshake.
Oh, and of course, I had to let Parry Gripp in on the fact that I have already been spreading the inspiring joy of his Baby Monkey (Going Backwards on a Pig). The ditty paired with footage of exactly what its title says went immediately viral more than a decade back and spawned numerous takeoffs. I recently played the charming earworm for the three-month-old baby of a close punk rock musician friend. My now 89-year-old mother first introduced me to it roughly a dozen years ago (I was not 3 months old). But whatever our ages, we can all learn from the spirit of that baby monkey as described by Gripp:
“The world has gone insane And you don’t know what is right You’ve got to keep on keepin’ on Get on that pig and hold on tight-ight (Yeah!)“
Santa Rosa, CA’s Diesel Boy self-describes as “underwhelming audiences since 1993.” Whilst modesty is swell and all, that statement is arguably false. During the bill’s penultimate set, the band gave a full-throttle performance. Diesel Boy motored through a set including “Cock Rock,” “Emo Boy,” “A Literary Love Song,” The Finnish Line,” “Melanie Banks Where Can You Be?” “Adria’s Warhol” and “Punk Rock Minivan.” The band capped off its set with an excellent cover of one of my favorite tunes, The Dead Milkmen classic “Punk Rock Girl.” Diesel Boy clearly still has plenty left in its tank.
East Coast-based Keep Flying played Chicago just this past April, and I was immediately looking forward to seeing the group again. That two members live on Long Island, where I was born and raised, and the drummer being a fellow diehard Mets fan, is cool, but only a smidge of why I dig them.
Keep Flyingis infectiously upbeat, and a band whose every member is a winning presence on stage. It was obvious the members were sincere in their excitement to be back in the Windy City.
As for the music, it’s pretty darn good as well. Keep Flying romped through a set list including “High Cholesterol” and “Surviving The Night.” The band also performed “Stormchaser,” “Delusional, and “Death Is The End,” off its 2025 record Time & Tide.
For those in the Chicago area who have now missed two recent chances to get on board with Keep Flying, don’t strike out next time. Hopefully, that next time is sooner than later. The crew’s many Chicago fans would agree. That goes for fans across the country and elsewhere as well.
Capgun Heroes, the hometown band on this night’s bill, once again delivered solidly. Kicking off the show with a bang, the Chicago-based band knows how to engage the crowd.
Capgun Heroes’ rollicking performance was short but potent. The set list, including “Stuck With You,” Back It Up,” “Night Like This,” and “Better Off Alone,” showcased the band’s muscular punk rock.
But the band is not composed merely of good musicians, but also great people. Capgun Heroes plays host to what’s been an annual event, T1 Fest, which raises awareness of and funds to fight for a cure for Type 1 Diabetes. Frontman Joe Capgun has two children with Type 1, so it is an issue close to the hearts of the members of this tight group. The fest always has a terrific lineup. The next T1 Fest is scheduled for April 2026, so keep an eye out for related announcements. Hope to see you there!
Yet another cool evening on State Street. Thanks and Cheers!
Reggies hosted a raucous Sunday triple bill of two veteran bands and a new band composed of punk rock veterans. Riverboat Gamblers was the headliner with The Evictions and Violets in support. Please hit the links in the band names below to check out the Instagram galleries from the show! Riverboat Gamblers, out of Denton, […]
Reggies hosted a raucous Sunday triple bill of two veteran bands and a new band composed of punk rock veterans. Riverboat Gamblers was the headliner with The Evictions and Violets in support. Please hit the links in the band names below to check out the Instagram galleries from the show!
Riverboat Gamblers, out of Denton, Texas, returned to Reggies for another banger of a show.
The set, generous in both quantity and quality, included “Rattle Me Bones,” “The Gamblers Try Their Hand at International Diplomacy,”“Black Nothing of a Cat,” “A Choppy Yet Sincere Apology,” “Don’t Bury Me… I’m Still Not Dead,” “The Art of Getting Fucked,” among others.
It was a rollicking show for a rowdy crowd, or perhaps, vice versa. In any case, it was great to see Riverboat Gamblers back in Chicago again.
Riverboat Gamblers will be in Las Vegas at the end of May as part of Punk Rock Bowling (PRB). If you can’t catch the band at PRB, be on the lookout for the next time it hits the road.
Violets is one of Chicago’s newest punk bands. However, the members are anything but rookies in the Windy City music scene. Composed of members of Naked Raygun, The Methadones, Blood People, the band had played but a handful of shows by the time it hit the stage in the rock room at Reggies.
The excitement for this new crew was palpable. The group was helmed on this night by Aly Jados, from Blood People, on lead vocals and guitar, with Naked Raygun‘s Fritz Doreza on bass and vocals. Bill Stephens on guitar, along with The Methadones‘ drummer Mike Soucy and his bandmate in that group, Simon Lamb, hanging out at the back of the stage area. The quintet was tight and solid as to be expected of a band with such a pedigree. However, there was a freshness and excitement present as well, and it was obvious the band members were having a good time. This vibe was shared by the attendees as well.
“Eras” is a single off the band’s self-titled debut EP, which was released on May 2, 2025.
The Evictions, on Facebook, self-describes itself as “High Power Fuzz Rock from Chicago.” It’s perfectly fitting as the band’s music and the trio’s looks evoke rock star auras. This was especially true of bass player Chris Polish, who spent the whole set in near-perpetual motion, jumping, dropping to the floor, whirling, and doing just about every other move you can imagine. Izzy Price on drums, and vocalist and guitar player Jonny Wator, on guitar, also provided high-spirited performances. The Evictions blasted through its set, which included “Off the Rails,” “Last Call,” “Spotlights,” “Easy,” and “Head on Right” to jump-start a pretty entertaining evening.
As for The Eviction’s near future, Chris Polish revealed to me some of the band’s plans.
“We’re going to start recording an EP in the coming weeks, for fall release, at the Asheton family house (Stooges) in Ann Arbor called 107 Sound.We’re friends with Ron Asheton’s sister, Kathy.“
The near southside part of State Street in Chicago was definitely the place to be for a terrific Sunday evening show. If only all Sunday nights were this fun. Cheers!
Chop Shop in Chicago played host to a dynamic trio of bands: Save Ferris, Keep Flying, and Bumsy and the Moochers. It was a fun night, with both the East and West Coasts and one of the Great Lakes areas represented. This was the first show I documented for 2025 (!!), and I could hardly […]
Chop Shop in Chicago played host to a dynamic trio of bands: Save Ferris, Keep Flying, and Bumsy and the Moochers. It was a fun night, with both the East and West Coasts and one of the Great Lakes areas represented. This was the first show I documented for 2025 (!!), and I could hardly ask for a better starter.
Save Ferris, out of Orange County, California, is celebrating the 30th Anniversary of its founding this year. The band is marking the occasion with new music and new videos including “Get Dancing” which premiered in late April.
Three decades on, and the group is as high-spirited as ever. The raucous set included the aforementioned “Get Dancing,” along with “Do I Even Like You?” “Superspy,” “New Sound,” and “Mistaken.” A terrific encore of two classic covers, The Dead Kennedy’s “Too Drunk To Fuck,” and “Come On Eileen” by Dexy’s Midnight Runners closed out the night.
Save Ferris continues its North American tour through June. The band crosses the Pond to play dates in Europe starting in August.
Keep Flying, from New York, released its most recent album, Time & Tide, this year. Long Island’s John James Ryan Jr. was in perpetual motion, moving from his saxophone to vocals, jumping up and throwing up heart signs. His bandmates matched his energy in their own rights and together.
Keep Flying blasted through a set including “Stormchaser,” “Delusional,” “High Cholesterol,” “Death Is The End,” “Left Behind,” and “Miranda.”
The band is on tour through mid-June and then will be part of a couple of fall music festivals.
For those in the Chicago area who may have missed Keep Flying on this night, a second chance exists sooner rather than later. The band plays in support of Nerfherder at Reggie’s. I’d strongly advise you to check them out for the first time or second time. Or for those who have been to many Keep Flying shows, yet another time.
Witnessing Bumsy and the Moochers kick off this particular Saturday night, it is easy to understand why the band is one of the highly adored Midwest Ska crews. Led by the charismatic lead singer and guitar player Caitlin Edwards, the entire band has an infectious charm. It is a solid group of good friends having a party and inviting the crowd to join in.
And join in the crowd did as Bumsy and the Moochers ripped through a set including “Iowa,” “Not Gonna Have It,” “Police Trucks,” “Please Abduct Me,” and “Cathy Ann.”
I always look forward to documenting Bumsy and the Moochers and hope to do so again soon.
If you like having a good time and dancing alone to the music keep an eye out for shows with Save Ferris, Keep Flying, and Bumsy and the Moochers, whether they share the bills or not.
Punk rock and lizards go well with each other. The Jesus Lizard, and Dead Milkmen’s Big Lizard In My Backyard album are just two examples. For Patrick Kamberos – aka “Pat D Waggon” – reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic creatures are a huge part of his life. Kamberos, along with two of his fellow native […]
Punk rock and lizards go well with each other. The Jesus Lizard, and Dead Milkmen’s Big Lizard In My Backyard album are just two examples.
For Patrick Kamberos – aka “Pat D Waggon” – reptiles, amphibians, and other exotic creatures are a huge part of his life. Kamberos, along with two of his fellow native Chicagoans, Michael and Shay Edelen, run Cold Blooded & Bizarre in Charlotte, NC.
Kamberos regularly returns to Chicago to hang with friends and family in the punk scene there. He’s such a beloved member of the community there that Herb Rosen and Gary Kessler of Liar’s Club even had a birthday message put up on the marquee at the iconic Wiener’s Circle for Kamberos’ 40th earlier this year.
Recently, I had a chance to catch up with Kamberos to discuss work, family and punk rock songs.
Dying Scene (DS): How did you discover your love of reptiles and exotic creatures?
Patrick Kamberos (PK): Starting at a very young age I’ve always had a love and fascination with the natural world. My parents didn’t get me video games as a kid but instead encouraged me to play out in the yard and explore. They were also big fans of road trips; we traveled to 46/50 states. On these trips we’d make frequent stops to visit and explore natural spaces. Although my parents were never personally into cold-blooded creatures, they were always very supportive of my unusual interests. They were always happy to drive me to remote gas stations in the middle of nowhere at night, not for gas, but so that I could hunt for whatever insects or other creatures might be drawn to the bright lights! They also helped me get certified to scuba dive in my youth which helped foster a lifelong passion and my love of the underwater world.
My favorite uncle, Daniel J. Murray (1945-2009), would accompany us on a number of our family trips, both domestic and abroad. He was an avid birder who knew more about winged creatures than most ornithologists. He was like a second dad to me, and also was a major part in fostering my love of the natural world and the creatures within. He was also deathly afraid of snakes!
DS: How did the store and, more importantly, the nonprofit come about, and what does it do?
PK: Our shop, Cold Blooded & Bizarre, was the brainchild of my business partner, Michael Edelen [pictured here with Kamberos]. Mike and I met in college at DePaul University and quickly became best friends. In addition to shooting pool at Delilah’s & hanging out at Liar’s Club, traveling and exploring the natural world was another of the shared interests that made us lifelong friends. After graduating with a business entrepreneurship degree, he soon moved out of Chicago to pursue a job in Charlotte. That job didn’t work out, & his wife suggested doing something involving animals.
I was at a transitional period in my life & when he reached out to me with an idea for an ethical reptile business I was on board 100%! When we first opened the shop we assumed that we would get the occasional owner surrender or rescue animal, but in reality it was SO MUCH MORE. We soon realized that opening a nonprofit would help with all of the rescue/relinquish animals.
DS: What are the best things about these creatures?
PK: The best thing about reptiles, amphibians, & invertebrates, like the punk scene, is that they’re weird and beautifully unique. Most people don’t have a pet snake or a collection of exotic tarantulas. They help people to appreciate the creatures in the natural world beyond their backyard and what they experience in daily life. Learning where our plethora of creepy crawly creatures are native, their habitats, and the perils they face (typically habitat loss, human encroachment, pollution, and invasive animals such as housecats), has broadened my horizons and deepened my interest in protecting places that I hope to visit one day, even if it never happens. All of nature is connected and every living thing plays an important role in sustaining the greater good of the ecosystem as a whole. Another thing to note is that we don’t sell wild caught (aka field collected) animals as that would cause an imbalance in nature around the world. Cold Blooded & Bizarre = CB&B = Captive Bred & Born, meaning that all of the animals that we sell were produced in captivity. In addition to working with a multitude of local breeders & enthusiasts, many of our animals were bred right here in our shop!
The best thing about reptiles, amphibians, & invertebrates, like the punk scene, is that they’re weird and beautifully unique.
DS: Why do they make great pets?
PK: Cold-blooded creatures make great pets for a variety of reasons. Some are low maintenance. Snakes, for instance, only need to eat once a week. Our biggest snakes only need to eat once a month! They’re nondestructive. I’ve never heard of a lizard or frog in an enclosure clawing up the furniture or getting into the trash. Many live in bioactive tanks where everything from the plants to the dirt itself is alive. This type of housing is most akin to the environment where the species’ wild cousins would exist, and the whole enclosure is a living work of art. Exotic pets also help people learn about the natural world in other ways, such as mimicry, aposematic coloration, and camouflage.
**The two-headed corn snake in the picture to the left is named Rock & Roll. It is one of Kamberos’ favorite animals. He added that Rock is the left head in the photo and Roll, the right one.**
DS: What are their most important roles in the ecosystem?
PK: The diversity of life on our planet is integral to the health of the world itself. Most reptiles, amphibians, and invertebrates are not apex predators. They fall somewhere in the middle of the food chain. They help keep certain populations of other creatures in check while simultaneously being food for and sustaining other species. Snakes control rodent populations without the need for toxic chemicals or indiscriminate kill-all’s like glue. Every animal has its place and an important role to carry out to keep our planet healthy and thriving.
DS: What are the biggest myths and misconceptions about reptiles and other creatures you rescue?
PK: Some of the biggest misconceptions about reptiles, snakes in particular, are that they’re dangerous and bloodthirsty creatures that want to hurt people. In reality, snakes, even the venomous species, just want to be left alone. Snakes don’t bite unless they’re cornered & feel threatened. They hope that they go unnoticed by larger and more formidable animals, such as humans, and will flee rather than fight 100% of the time. Sometimes, the direction that they choose to flee is right between someone’s legs, which only adds to their bad reputation and vilification.
DS: Now to humans. In April of 2023 you donated a kidney to your father Ted Kamberos [pictured here with his son]. What was that experience like?
PK: Two years ago, my dad’s health was on the serious decline. His kidneys were functioning at maybe 15% of normal, and he needed help. It turned out that I was a viable match & I didn’t hesitate to agree to give him one of mine. The surgery and recovery period were a bit rough. It was honestly a good bit worse for me than it was for him, but that’s thankfully all over with now.
He’s done so much for me over the years that this was the least I could do to repay all of the love, support, and forgiveness he’s shown me over the course of my life. As much as it sucked initially, I’d do it again if I could. I’m happy to report that today, two years later, he’s doing so much better & his life is basically back to normal.
DS: Of course this is a punk music site, so I have to ask about songs. Do you have a favorite punk or punk-adjacent song related to coldblooded animals?
PK: [chooses Snake Bite Love by Motorhead for the former)That’s a good one. Though I love all the animals & all the punk rock so making a true decision might change daily or hourly.
[For the latter] “Rose Tattoo” by Dropkick Murphys is my favorite song. “Rose Tattoo” is more meaningful to my life. It made my parents understand all my tattoos (that they hate.) Now part of my Irish mom’s [Nora Kamberos] playlist.
Finally, if you are considering getting a reptile for the first time, Kameberos has some recommendations:
What a great read! Punk truly lives in the Age of Reptiles!
As a side note, discovered this article through Pat’s parents today at the bar, I played “Rose Tattoo” on the speakers in honor of their discovery of punk and quiet acceptance of tattoos through their son lol
Mental Health issues affect nearly every, if not every, family and every community. The Punk community is no different. The good news is that there are people within this community doing their level best to improve the lives of those dealing with such issues, working to prevent suicide, and working with the surviving loved ones […]
Mental Health issues affect nearly every, if not every, family and every community. The Punk community is no different. The good news is that there are people within this community doing their level best to improve the lives of those dealing with such issues, working to prevent suicide, and working with the surviving loved ones of those who have taken their own lives.
One such organization is Six Feet Over (SFO). The Michigan-based 501(c)3 non-profit organization was founded in 2012 by Katie Hardy following the suicide of her mother. Hardy has also survived the suicide of eight friends so for her, this is a way forward and her calling.
Its mission statement per the SFO website:
To provide financial and emotional support for survivors of suicide loss and individuals with lived experience of suicide, while engaging in community prevention through mental health education and advocacy to support healthier futures.
The organization’s Administrative Coordinator Laura Lukofsky described how Founder and Executive Director Kate Hardy came to start Six Feet Over,
She began this journey by selling tee shirts at Detroit Punk Rock shows simply to promote awareness and normalize conversations about suicide loss due to her personal experiences, and she wanted to be there for the communities she was/is a part of.
The non-profit does a multitude of things but it is also composed of two major programs. The first is called Suck It! Suicide (SIS).
On its website, SIS describes what it is and its approach,
Suck It! Suicide (SIS) is the outreach program of Six Feet Over, which also does the bulk of the fundraising for Six Feet Over through merchandise sales and in person donations. SIS specializes in community outreach, doing so in unconventional ways and places.
We keep it real. Suicide is a serious issue, but that doesn’t mean we can’t bring laughter and light into our outreach. Our tables are full of hugs, laughs, and sometimes tears—along with merch to help raise funds and keep our mission going strong. Because supporting mental health can be real, raw, and still a good time.
The second major program run by Six Feet Over is called Lemon Aid.
Often overlooked by the general public are the issues, financial and otherwise, faced by survivors of a suicide loss. This is where Lemon Aid, described as “Postvention & Support,” comes in to help. Six Feet Over describes “postvention” this way,
Postvention is the response and services provided following a death by suicide. Postventionincludes working with loss survivors and the larger community to provide debriefing and supportservices, including linking with resources and providing emotional support. We considerpostvention as prevention, as we know that those who are exposed to suicide are at a greater risk for suicide themselves.
The program assists with funeral and memorial services, helps with obtaining granite memorials and headstones as well as urns and caskets, It also assists with bio-cleaning services & others.
The program is presently available in Michigan and Kansas but the organization is working hard to expand it to other states. For those in the aforementioned states, the application and details of its requirements are available on the website.
Funding for Six Feet Over is achieved in several different ways.
In Kansas, the Lemon Aid program is funded by a grant from the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).
In Michigan, funding is done through Donations from the public, state grants, event and program sponsors, and sales merchandise and from fundraising events via Suck It Suicide.
Six Feet Over does crucial work and donations are important to, as Laura Lukofsky told me,
“Keep the doors open” as it were. It’s one of the very few non-profits that all the proceeds go to our mission.
Six Feet Over is doing so much more than can be fully described in a few paragraphs. As Katie Hardy told me,
Beyond our programs Suck It! Suicide (outreach) and Lemon Aid (loss survivor support) we also do a bit of consulting, and a lot of talks and presentations. Our main focus though are the programs. Our foundation is built on knowing our wheelhouse, perfecting the services, keeping up on best practices, listening to those with lived experience to better understand and provide what people are asking for, and maintaining the highest quality and standards we can. People deserve nothing less than the best we can do. Period.
If you can, PLEASE consider donating here. You can also volunteer with SIS, starting by filling out a quick application here.
Six Feet Over can be followed on Facebook and Instagram. Check it out and help them out!
Some of the punk rock community is not standing by idly as the former President – the 34 times convicted felon returned to 1600. FOTUS (felon of the United States) brought his dangerous, incompetent, and hate-spreading MAGA yes men and women in to dismantle civil and human rights, with promises to further whitewash history and […]
Some of the punk rock community is not standing by idly as the former President – the 34 times convicted felon returned to 1600. FOTUS (felon of the United States) brought his dangerous, incompetent, and hate-spreading MAGA yes men and women in to dismantle civil and human rights, with promises to further whitewash history and hurt the poor and vulnerable. So far, he has allowed one un-elected billionaire to throw up Nazi salutes and take control of the federal agencies with a cadre of young racist minions. Project 2025 is being put into effect as we speak.
So in the spirit of Joe Strummer and the Clash, the Specials, and many other railing against British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher, and their American counterparts Dead Kennedys, MDC, and others taking on US President Ronald Reagan, the antifascist mantle is once again being raised. In truth, it never was wholly put down. It’s just being raised higher, more loudly and more frequently. It promises to continue indefinitely, which is a spark of light in the seemingly overwhelming darkness.
Punkerton Records very purposely released “Rock Against Trump Vol 1” on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, which also happened to be MLK Jr. Day. The digital album has 65 tracks from a wide variety of bands, including but not limited to, Blind Adam and the Federal League, Coxey’s Army, Feral Housecats, 77 Lies, Modern, Angst, Recession Proof, and The Boy Detective.
The label posted on its Bandcamp page: Punkerton Records is committed to amplifying voices for civil liberties and human rights. We stand in solidarity with marginalized communities and actively oppose all forms of discrimination and oppression. The election may be over, but our resistance and dedication to justice persist.We proudly support organizations dedicated to defending civil rights and providing essential resources. All profits from Digital sales and future cd sales will be equally divided among these advocacy groups. Organizations we support:ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union,The Innocence Project,Planned Parenthood;PRSL – Punk Rock Saves Lives,Six Feet Over,The Trevor Project
Bouncing Souls
Garden State heroes Bouncing Souls have long been advocating for their community. This year, the band teamed up with Safe Scene NJ, a charity that focuses its work on harm reduction and community education. Per its site:
Through our experience, we have recognized a crucial requirement in our community for initiatives that prioritize harm reduction, establish safe environments, and provide access to vital safety, wellness, and addiction support services. Our dedication lies in advocating for well-being, and nurturing a harm-reducing environment not only in the music scene but also extending beyond it.”
Bouncing Souls and Safe Scene NJ collaborated on a t-shirt (the back of which is pictured above and was designed by School Drugs‘ Josh Jurk) o benefit the organization. In addition, $5.00 from each shirt sale is being donated to the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. While this fundraiser is now closed, the important works of Safe Scene NJ and ACLU NJ continue. Per the latter’s mission statement on its website:
For over 60 years, the ACLU of New Jersey has defended liberty and justice guided by the vision of a fair and equitable New Jersey for all. Our mission is to preserve, advance, and extend the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every New Jerseyan by the state and federal constitutions in courts, in the legislature, and in our communities.
In every facet of our work, we strive to be anti-racist and are actively committed to advancing racial justice in the institutions of New Jersey, for the people of New Jersey. We aim to center the voices and lived experiences of those who historically have not been fully protected by government systems or laws.
Musician Drew Prez is also raising funds for the ACLU. Part of the proceeds from a line of anti-fascist merchandise. There are hoodies and t-shirt stating “Punks Against Fascism” as well as others advising us all to “Kindly Fuck Fascism.”
As the Rock Against Trump Vol 1 album demonstrates there are quite a few bands speaking out against fascism.
There are two bands in particular which have spent the last several years voicing opposition to the encroaching fascism, and the estimated 50,000 Palestinian deaths in Gaza. The first is the aforementioned Blind Adam and The Federal League. It is one of the groups leading the charge in Chicago. Not only are the members speaking out on stage, but they did so in the Palestine solidarity encampments that arose last year on college campuses, including those in the Chicago area. The band has also been very outspoken about police brutality, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities, and a wide variety of related issues.
No Trigger
NoTrigger, out of Worcester, MA, has also been in the forefront when it comes to the cause of a Free Palestine and anti-fascism. No Trigger has also called out veteran punk groups for not speaking out.
Mark Andersen, founder of Positive Force DC, has been fighting in the trenches for four decades. The group has a Kickstarter to support Positive Force DC 40th Anniversary Gathering Five Days of Music, Protest, Service, Community and Education, June 19-23, 2025. Be on the lookout for a more extensive feature/interview with Andersen as the event draws closer.
Those listed here are just a small sampling of punks doing good by fighting back against fascism, Trump, and the MAGA movement. As the horrors we see daily in and on the news continue, we can hope many others will be inspired to step up, stand up, and fight back. We at Dying Scene stand in solidarity. Please let us know of others!
Oh, and as far as Sex Pistols’ Johnny Rotten simping for MAGA, well, in the words of the Dead Kennedys: Nazi Punks Fuck Off.
Feature Illustration by Screeching Bottlerocket The wildfires that have ravaged the Southern California area this month have been harrowing to humans and animals. The fires have taken lives and homes. Many people and organizations around the United States and from other parts of the world have stepped up to help out with recovery efforts for […]
The wildfires that have ravaged the Southern California area this month have been harrowing to humans and animals. The fires have taken lives and homes. Many people and organizations around the United States and from other parts of the world have stepped up to help out with recovery efforts for the displaced and those who have suffered greatly. This includes many in the music community, raising funds and awareness.
Though I was not able to be at the Empty Bottle on the evening this show was recorded, I did cover LJG and Catbite together at Riot Fest 2024. It was an incredible set. This is a fantastic way to help out some great organizations.
There are resources and fundraisers of all sizes. MusicCares is an organization. dedicated to assisting music professionals. The organization lists eligibility requirements for those music professionals affected by the wildfires in order to receive $1,500 in financial assistance and a $500 grocery card. Those include documentation of work in music for at least three years or six commercially released recordings or singles.
According to Billboard magazine “MusiCares (which has pledged $1 million with the Recording Academy in aid for music professionals affected) is encouraging musicians affected by the fires to get in touch at musicaresrelief@musicares.org or 1-800-687-4227 for possible access to emergency funds.”
Donations can also be made to MusiCares via its main site.
Liar’s Club, in Chicago, is doing a two-part fundraiser. The venue will host an evening show on Friday, January 24th. Local H; Viceroy; and Tuff Sudz will perform.
Per Liar’s Club instagram account:
“TRYING TO HELP ANY WAY WE CAN FROM CHICAGO. LIAR’S CLUB PRESENTS: WILDFIRE RELIEF FOR VICTIMS OF THE GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA, FEATURING LOCAL H, TUFF SUDZ, AND VICEROY! PROCEEDS WILL GO TO THE RED CROSS OF GREATER LOS ANGELES, MUSICARES, AND ANGEL CITY PIT BULLS. SPECIAL THANKS TO PABST BLUE RIBBON FOR DONATION MATCHING PROGRAM!“
The Friday night show sold out so fast that organizers added a second event, starting in the afternoon on Sunday, January 26. Bands and musicians performing include: The Handcuffs; John Langford (solo); Torch The Hive; Death and Memphis, and Ricky Liontones.
Pennywise jumped into action right away. The band designed a special t-shirt to raise funds. On his official Instagram account, Pennywise frontman Jim Lindberg announced “100% of proceeds go to wildfire victims relief. Go to Pennywisemerch.com to get this shirt and help those in need and support our fire response team.”
Dayton, Ohio’s Hawthorne Heights is showing love for friends, family, and fans on the west coast. The band, with friends, hosts “Because Our Heart Is In Los Angeles.” The January 23rd event took place at Garden Amp in Garden Grove, CA. Alll proceeds from the shows to go to Altadena Girls, MusiCares, and Altadena Rotary Club.
On Instagram, in response to a fan asking if a shirt or something else will be available for non-locals, the band noted that it is “working on this and other things for non locals. Stay tuned.”
These are just some of punks doing good this month. Even if not able to attend a show listed above, there are links to organizations needing donations. There are many organizations doing great work in response to the devastation, helping humans and animals, and working to rebuild the City of Angels.
A few of these organizations include The Pasadena Humane Society, which has been on the front lines to save animals displaced by the fires and working to reunite them with their families, if and when possible.
All of us at Dying Scene extend our love and hearts to all of those affected by the Wildfires in Los Angeles.
We also extend our gratitude to the first responders and volunteers, as well as the journalists bringing us the stories big and small and putting a human face to the devastation.
This year, Dying Scene is working to regularly spotlight those in the punk community doing good works for others. Whether it’s punk musicians and crews, fans, venues, or other related people and organizations, we want to make sure the good people are getting the proper shout-outs.
We also want to provide you, the DS followers, information as to how you can join in the efforts. There are tough times ahead, and while it may not always seem to be the case, there are, in fact, good people out there doing the right things. If you know of an organization or individual/group of individuals you feel should be celebrated for the good works they do in service of others please let us know. The best way is to drop a dm to me or Forrest.
Tyler
What a great read! Punk truly lives in the Age of Reptiles!
As a side note, discovered this article through Pat’s parents today at the bar, I played “Rose Tattoo” on the speakers in honor of their discovery of punk and quiet acceptance of tattoos through their son lol