It’s not just another year for Punk Rock Bowling, the annual celebration returning to the Downtown Las Vegas Events Center September 24-26 after missing 2020. A number of special performances are planned for the punk rock’s preeminent annual gathering, now in its 22nd year and 12th as a full-fledged, multiday music festival.
The festival often recycles many of the same bands—two of this year’s headliners, Descendents on Friday night and Devo on Sunday, have played multiple times—but it has also made a conscious effort to differentiate parts of the lineup in recent years. Here are five acts to catch that rarely, if ever, come through town.
The festival is sold out, but in keeping with punk’s DIY ethos, Punk Rock Bowling has set up a direct fan-to-fan ticket exchange at punkrockbowling.lyte.com.
The Menzingers (Friday, 6:25 p.m., Main Stage) The masters of the modern-day American punk sound—which takes as much influence from Bruce Springsteen as Joey Ramone—play the festival proper for the first time after appearing on multiple aftershow bills. Given the success of their past two records, 2017’s After the Party and 2019’s Hello Exile, the Scranton, Pennsylvania, four-piece appears to be on pace to headline PRB before long.
Decent Criminal (Saturday, 2:35 p.m., Monster Stage) Of the young bands debuting at the festival, this ’90s alternative-influenced band from Santa Rosa, California, stands out as the most promising. DC has big riffs, catchy choruses and just enough of an irreverent edge.
Youth of Today (Saturday, 8:35 p.m., Monster Stage) The NYC hardcore legends played the main stage in 2012 but have since reunited with a more classic lineup, including scene veterans Walter Schreifels on guitar and Sammy Siegler on drums. Vocalist Ray Cappo has become just as famous for his yoga teachings and often breaks out headstands and other advanced, body-bending techniques while onstage.
Circle Jerks (Saturday, 9:15 p.m., Main Stage) This is the reunion set—of vocalist Keith Morris’ post-Black Flag project—that the PRB community has demanded for a decade. Bands covering classics like “Live Fast Die Young” and “Wild in the Streets” have become an annual fest tradition, so it will be a welcome treat to hear the real thing.
Lunachicks (Sunday, 7:45 p.m., Main Stage) The riot grrrl luminaries will play their first show in 17 years in direct support of Devo closing out the fest. With subject matter ranging from murdering rapists with stilletos to, uh, engaging in graphic sex acts, there might not be a punk-ier band on the bill.
