BE IN A BAND OR DIE Does DAY 2 of MOSSWOOD MELTDOWN

 

Two years after the unceremonious fall of Burger Records, the Oakland-based punk festival formerly known as Burger Boogaloo returned to Mosswood Park under a new team as Mosswood Meltdown. 

Hosted by legendary filmmaker and trash king John Waters, this year’s installment featured headliners Kim Gordon and Bikini Kill, along with legacy cult favorites like Flipper and Pansy Division. The two-day event took place over 4th of July weekend, centering female and LGBTQ+ independence over patriotism. Flying over from LAX, we made it just in time to live it up for Day 2.

Following a kickass, Sunday kickoff set from The Vaxxines, Fresno band Fatty Cakes and the Puff Pastries won over festivalgoers with their sugary-yet-biting, girl group-inspired punk sound.

Over at the field stage, Spanish shredders Pódium put on a visceral show to remember, with singer África Mansaray leaping over the barrier to rile up and join the mosh pit.

Oakland local and writer Brontez Purnell and his band played selections from his Young Lovers catalog, with acerbically comedic interludes from Purnell.

San Jose’s The Fevers pleased the crowd with bubblegum pop goodness as they put their own spin on old classics like Simon Burke’s “Cry To Me.”

High-jumping, queer punk heroes Pansy Division brought out-and-proud energy to the amphitheater with their iconic sense of sarcasm and shredding know-how.

Ranging in age from 11 to 17 years old, LA breakout quartet and best friends The Linda Lindas captivated with their buoyant stage presence, palpable chemistry, and songs from their Go-Go’s inspired debut album, Growing Up. Swarms of young, beret-clad fans (and their dutiful parents–good on you for giving your baby punks an early start!) were particularly excited to witness their favorite band rally all who gazed upon them.

For the festival’s penultimate set, Seth Bogart, Shannon Shaw, and company reprised their roles as shitkicker, snot punk heroes Hunx and His Punx, playing old favorites as well as some new, unreleased music as the pit moshed into the sunset.

Closing out the weekend, riot grrrl icons Bikini Kill put on a powerhouse performance (and their only Bay show for the year) for an eager sea of diehard fans. Barricade-huggers headbanged and jumped for joy, many of whom had been waiting devotedly at the main stage all day. One young couple, for example, had spent the entire day front-and-center in hopes of handing frontwoman Kathleen Hanna an envelope of all the zines they’d ever made as a token of their gratitude and admiration. Performing classics like “Feels Blind” and their instantly recognizable anthem “Rebel Girl,” Hanna and the band were as much of a force as they were in their heyday–hell, perhaps even more so.

Check out the rest of the gallery for more Meltdown goodness. We hope to see you in the park again this October for Halloween Meltdown, featuring our favorites Amyl & The Sniffers, NIIS, and more!

Keep up with us on Instagram for more meltdowns

Words + Photos by SOPHIE PRETTYMAN-BEAUCHAMP

 
Live, Feature, EventsJames Duranbikini kill, brontez purnell, crowd shots, fatty cakes and the puff pastries, hunx and his punx, john waters, pansy divison, podium, the fevers, the linda lindas, mosswood meltdown, sophie prettyman beauchamp, james duran, be in a band or die, beinabandordie