As a Chicago-based punk writer, there’s an abundance of punk shows within arm’s reach at any given moment. Sometimes you don’t vibe with the show, sometimes you fucking love it, but at the end of the day, you never know how it’s gonna go! As for my advice? Well, a good rule of thumb is that when a band’s walk-on song is “The Day the Nazi Died” by Chumbawamba, you’re definitely about to have the time of your life.
This past Friday, Chicago’s beloved Southside venue Reggie’s erupted with punk-scented glory as Seattle’s finest The Drowns played with opener Shitizen and headliner The Casualties for their 2026 Detonate tour. I had the biggest smile on my face as I watched fans line up around the block, pumping themselves up for the upcoming performance by bouncing loose studs and spikes off of each other’s jackets to pass the time.
As Shitizen’s opening act concluded, their lead singer, Claudia, warmed up the crowd for a phenomenal set by The Drowns by handing out keychains & setting off a confetti cannon over the sweat-covered Docs of the concert-goers.
The Drowns, adoringly referred to as “Lightning in a Bottle”, consists of Rev Peters on the guitar, Andy Wylie on the bass, and Jake Margolis on the drums, while Peters & Wylie spit the charming vocals that fans know and love. With over 16,000 listeners on Spotify and 44,000 fans on Instagram, The Drowns set music venues all across the world ablaze with their undeniable gusto, punk pride, and killer good vibes. In light of the current state of the world, The Drowns blend delivering critical awareness of what’s happening in America with the electrifying music of Seattle punk rock.
As the show began with their song “Vengeance,” followed by hits “Wolves on the Throne” and “Ketamine & Cola,” Peters delivered a speech about the women of the world and how crucial they are to the success and future of this country. Something about this moved me a lot – the idea that The Drowns would pay such a beautiful homage to and message for the women in the room: the punk-rockers who endure catcalls and snide comments about their outfits, who are stared at from sidewalks away, and who withstood all of that just to be in that room Friday night. I say this as one of those women, a 21-year-old, scene-sick writer who was lucky enough to be a friend of Wylie’s. Undeniably, The Drowns put on an extraordinary show – playing their hearts out during some of my favorite songs like “Cue the Violins” and “Demons.” But what’s exceptional about this fearless trio is how wonderful it is to see punk rockers who truly love what they do, but most remarkably, who it impacts, and where they play it. The Drowns are a masterclass in what it really means to be woven into the quilt of this community, and how lighting up venues like Reggie’s last Friday sets something ablaze within fans both young and experienced. Undoubtedly, that moment, and that night, was something really remarkable for the audience goers of the Detonate tour.
As they closed their set with their #1 hit “Them Rats,” garnering over 639,000 listens on Spotify since its release, I got the privilege of listening to nearby crowd-goers gush about how brilliant a performance that was, and how excited they are to welcome The Drowns back to Chicago soon. Adoring fans shared cigarettes, laughs, and sweet conversations with the bands outside the venue after all three acts came to a close.
Chicagoans may love their deep dish, but Seattle left us more than satisfied that night. Thank you to The Drowns for having me, and thank you to fellow Dying Scene friend Andy Wylie for the opportunity. We love you guys!
You can find The Drowns on Instagram at @TheDrowns, check out their Spotify linked here, or learn more about them and their socials at their LinkTree link here.
The Drowns are heading back out on tour again with Agent Orange starting June 3rd! Go out and see them if you can and buy tickets at the link here.
Written by Waverly Cayo, you can find me here: @wavecayo, @scenesicknessradio, @bywavecayo
