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For many punk rockers on the east coast - the beginning of August marks one of our favorite times of year in Appalachia - The Savage Mountain Punk Festival. This year the dates fell on August 6-8th and was held at the all ages venue, Mezzos, in Cumberland, MD. The building that houses the Mezzos has 3 levels. The bottom level is where the bands play with a green room for the bands, a full bar, and a merch area. The middle level is a bar with a restaurant and a cigar lounge and the top level had tattoo artists this year. There are also local artists and vendors who set up all over the vicinity to sell their wares in between sets. 

Regrettably, I was not able to attend the first night. The line up included: Peep Show, M-60, Dead End Lane, The Cryptkeeper Five, Hayley and the Crushers, and Blitzkid. Word has it that the evening was spectacular. 

Early Friday afternoon, I packed my car cooler with Mountain Dew, water, and peanut butter sammies, (because I’m a classy lady like that) and made my way to Cumberland. When I rolled into town, I met up with some friends and we did an outdoor day activity. When we were finished, we headed back to town and cleaned up for the evening’s activities. I arrived early to the Mezzos where I started to interview some of the bands playing. I spent the better part of an hour in the cigar lounge with Paperback Tragedy; laughing and chatting amidst the cigar smoke around us. 

Friday kicked off with Little Devil Bvstvrds and they set the energy high for the evening. Following them were Paperback Tragedy, Mud City Manglers, The Take, The Downstrokes, Tick, and Titus Andronicus. As the night progressed - more and more people filled the space. Some familiar faces, some not. But to quote Paperback Tragedy’s song “We All Die”, “There’s no strangers here, just friends you haven’t met.” That was really the feeling of the entire evening. Laughter and joy radiated from everyone. I sat down with Little Devil Bvstvards after their set and they said, “You walk into Savage Mountain and it's like a family reunion.”I rolled into Maryland earlier on Saturday than the day before, because I got an invitation to the legendary Savage Mountain pool party. Although I already wrote about this event, it's a party that is privately hosted and funded by members of the board as a thank you to the punk community. Steve Jackson jumping into the pool after The Pietasters set signaled the end and we all packed up. 

Now, this is where I made the gravest error of the weekend. I did not get a hotel room for the weekend. Since I only lived an hour and 20 minutes away, I had been commuting daily. Everyone else headed back to their rooms to nap and shower. I decided to explore the town during this time and hit up a couple of thrift stores and nurseries. I napped in my car for about 30 minutes and then headed to the happy hour event at The Mad Hatter Lounge. Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Alice in Wonderland so OMG was this place amazing. 

Finally, it was time for the last night of the festival. Steelboy opened the evening of music wide open. My path has crossed with this band a few times, but I had never seen them live before now. Their set was everything that I was told it would be and the vibe was on point. I asked the band a bit later and asked them what Savage Mountain means to them. They responded, “You know when it’s cold and grey out, actively snowing, just finished clearing off the car? Then you settle in at home, fresh log on the fire, warm blanket over your shoulders, hot cup of cocoa in hand, that feeling of contentment? That’s SMPF.” We also enjoyed sets by Thunder Vest, The Power, Incendiary Device, Rebelmatic, The Effigies, and Agent Orange. 

For many - this has become our annual get together. It’s a place where we all can relax, enjoy the music, and fellowship with folks that we only get to see once a year. The space is nothing fancy and money isn’t wasted to provide an “experience.” But here is the thing - we aren’t fancy and the experience comes from the foundation that the Savage Mountain team has laid and what we have built together on top of it. the weekend delivered exactly what it promised. “Three days, no filler. Just good music. No frills.”

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Photo credit: Ethan Black of DIssonant Records Photography

Savage Mountain Pool Party

Private Event

8/8/26

I’ve heard about the legendary Savage Mountain Pool Party, but I have never been invited before until this year. That changed on August 8th, 2026 when I packed my cooler with Mountain Dew and water and headed to a private address to join some of the rest of the Savage Mountain attendees and… THE PIETASTERS!

After parking my car along the main road, I hopped on the golf cart shuttle that took me up the lane to the party. I walked around to the backyard and the entire scene opened up. It was like the beginning of a favorite summer movie. All of my friends were there clad in their bathing suits, the pool was full of people, and there in the thick of it was a gazebo stage with The Pietasters performing for everyone. The hosts went all out this year. There was a food vendor, a fully stocked bar with a bartender, tshirts, and port-a-potties. But how did it get to be such an iconic event within an already celebrated festival? Let’s rewind a bit.

The very first gathering happened in 2016 and was mostly out of necessity as the hosts waited for family, friends, and festival bands to show up at their house. Over the next few years, it got slightly bigger as more friends and bands would spend the weekend. Then when the original festival location, called Dante’s, closed after COVID, the event moved to a new venue called Mezzo’s. It came with positive changes as now the entire festival could be all ages moving forward. This is also when the Matinee show was dropped and officially replaced with the Pool Party. 

The first couple official years saw pizza delivery and BYOB with attendees around 60-80 people. In 2023, the addition of live music was added when Uzimon performed and a caterer was brought in. Soon - the party took on a life of its own and it has grown exponentially.

For the last 2 years, The Pietasters have been performing and DeDi’s have provided the food. This year saw the addition of bartenders and port-a-potties. 

Everyone had a great time that day and we are grateful to have a space for music and fellowship. While we were lucky enough to catch a set by The Pietasters, the real celebrity of the day was Chadwick. Until next year! 

For over the past month, Death Cab for Cutie have been on the road across North America promoting their new album, I Built You a Tower. Along the way, they were joined by Japanese Breakfast, Jay Som, and for this final stretch of shows, Nation of Language opened the show. I made my way south to San Diego to catch the show in the heart of Downtown at Petco Park's Gallagher Square, and didn't leave disappointed. 

Nation of Language hit the stage around 7. I was familiar with the name but not familiar with the music, and I wasn't quite sure what to expect. What the trio delivered were a number of dreamy 80s influenced synth-wave bops reminiscent of Talk Talk, The Human League, and New Order. Vocalist, Ian Richard Devaney's performance and stage presence elevated the dreamlike softness of their music to a resounding din. Nation of Language released their 4th full length, Dance Called Memory, last year, but the track that stuck out the most to me was the hauntingly mellow, "Weak in Your Light" from their 2023 release Strange Disciple. I look forward to hearing more.

Death Cab made their way to the stage at 8 once the lights went out and the projection wall along the back began to illuminate. They jumped right into the lead single from I Built You a Tower, "Riptides" -- an appropriate way to open a show happening just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the ocean. They followed it up with "Roman Candles" from their critically acclaimed 2022 release, Asphalt Meadows. It was the only track they played from the album, which was a surprise since it seemed like that album brought the band back into the limelight. However, their goal was clear: try to cater to fans old and new while promoting their new record. The bulk of the set was I Built You a Tower, covering about three quarters of the album. Some of the new songs really benefit from the live setting. "Stone Over Water" sounded more full and robust rather than the somewhat tired and thin offering from the studio recordings. The already pulsating "How Heavenly a State" gets a little extra oomph from bassist Nick Harmer's performance. The rhythm section on title track, "I Built You a Tower" gets thrown into the mix a little more that gives the song more propulsion. In my opinion, live is the best way to experience the already excellent album. 

They still broke out fan favorites and hits like "The New Year" and "The Sound of Settling" from Transatlanticism. During Ben's intimate solo performance of "I Will Follow You Into the Dark," he asked the audience to take over vocal duties on the penultimate chorus to which the crowd graciously accepted. They snuck in oldies from their first two LPs -- "Your Bruise" from their debut album, Something About Airplanes, and "Company Calls" from We Have the Facts... with a preamble noting that this was the largest San Diego show they've ever played and a shout out to local punk club The Casbah. 

Death Cab for Cutie have been at this for nearly 30 years and they are still performing with the same enthusiasm and drive that you'll find in 20-something up-and-comers looking to make a name for themselves. It's hard not to be captivated. The US tour is all but finished with just a show in San Francisco and a festival date in Seattle remaining. After that, the band will be globetrotting hitting up the UK and Europe, then heading to Japan before finishing off the tour in Australia. If you're in the markets, don't miss the show!

Amyl and The Sniffers @ The RBC Amphitheatre
Toronto, ON, CA
June 4, 2026

Amyl and The Sniffers Live Review – 2026 North American Tour

When you go for the opening band and get completely blown away by the headliner! That is exactly what happened to me on June 4, 2026, at the RBC Amphitheatre in Toronto, Canada.

As many fans may know, L7 is preparing for their farewell tour and is currently opening for Amyl and the Sniffers. Being a longtime fan of L7, I naturally bought a ticket to see them, and they absolutely did not disappoint. I managed to secure a front-row spot at the barrier to make sure I had the best view possible. Aside from hearing the name Amyl and the Sniffers in passing, I knew very little about them. Before the show started, I noticed a message displayed on the screens about mosh pit etiquette, which gave me a bit of uncertainty about what I was in for.

The moment Amy Taylor stepped onto the stage and addressed the crowd, the audience erupted. The energy was immediate and contagious. The mosh pit sprang to life almost instantly and didn't let up until the very last song.

I was completely captivated by their raw, old-school punk sound and the intensity they brought to the stage. Even more impressive was seeing how enthusiastically the younger generation responded to it. It instantly transported me back to my own teenage years.

As the set went on, I realized I actually knew two of their songs, which was a pleasant surprise. Even when I didn't know the material, it didn't matter. Their music is infectious, easy to get into, and Amy Taylor is simply mesmerizing to watch. Her stage presence, vocals, and nonstop energy make for an unforgettable performance.

What started as a night out to see one of my favorite bands turned into discovering a new one. Amyl and the Sniffers left me wanting more, and I can't wait for the chance to see them again.

There seems to be a growing wave of Australian bands making their way to North America, and I’m absolutely loving it!

If you haven’t discovered them yet, enjoy this sneak peek vide here 

Setlist:
1. Control
2. It's Mine
3. U Should Not Be Doing That
4. Motorbike Song
5. Balaclava Lover Boogie
6. Guided by Angels
7. Chewing Gum
8. Freaks to the Front
9. Do It Do It
10. Security
11. Bailing on Me
12. Tiny Bikini
13. Big Dreams
14. Facts
15. Gacked on Anger
16. Shake Ya
17. Me and The Girls
18. Starfire 500
19. Doing in Me Head
20. Knifey
21. Don't Need a Cunt (Like You to Love Me)
22. Some Mutts (Can't Be Muzzled)
23. Jerkin'
24. Hertz

Encore:
25. Got You
26. GFY

All photos by @front.row.fans

Poison the Well and Converge just rounded out their North American tour. Both bands are out promoting new albums. Poison the Well put out their first new studio album in 17 years this past March entitled Peace in Place. Meanwhile, Converge are out supporting not 1 but 2 new albums -- Love is Not Enough released this past February and Hum of Hurt is slated to be released in just a couple of weeks on June 5th. Joining the duo for this leg of the tour were The Barbarians of California who have been putting out a steady stream or new tracks recently and The Armed who have been pushing their 2025 album The Future is Here and Everything Needs to be Destroyed. Together these groups have put together one of the best metalcore/heavy music tours of the year.

I showed up not long after Barbarians of California took the stage. Their brand of a thrashy blend of hardcore and metal was a feast for the early attendees. Following was "The greatest band in the world" The Armed. I was familiar but had not delved deep into the band after all these years. I was blown away! The band's unpredictability and onslaught of hardcore music mixed with experimental elements was giving me a sensory overload. The stage presence was reminiscent of earlier Dillinger Escape Plan and Blood Brothers shows. The vocalist would constantly throw the mic out to the crowd for anyone that knew the lyrics. Even handing off the guitar at one point to a fan on the barricade. Needless to say, they showed why they are deemed "The greatest band in the world." 

Next up were heavy music legends, Converge. The band never ceases to amaze after decades of performing. I'm unsure how front man, Jacob Bannon, is still able to scream and growl the way he does over the years. The band ran through a number of tracks from their new album, Love is Not Enough, including opening the set with the title track and "Bad Faith" back-to-back before a taste of You Fail Me with "Eagles Become Vultures." Bannon introduced their new song "Doom in Bloom" from Hum of Hurt by mentioning the struggles he goes through from the loss of others and how his mind goes to a dark place. For the older fans in the crowd, the band played "Conduit" from Forever Came Crashing but of course the crowd went nuts for Jane Doe tracks "The Broken Vow" and when they ended the set with "Concubine."

Poison the Well closed out the night. The band walked out to the Geto Boys' "Still" before jumping into "Botchla" from their sophomore album Tear From the Red. The crowd erupted as Moreira switched from the soft crooning opening to the guttural screams. During "Thoroughbreds" from the bands new album Peace in Place, the fans made it apparent they weren't just there for the old stuff by singing along or moshing in one of the few pits scattered on the floor. Poison the Well are aware of the affinity of their older albums though and continued to run through tracks from their debut album The Opposite of December and You Come Before You while avoiding anything from  2009's The Tropic Rot entirely and only playing "Letter Thing" from Versions. The entire floor turned into a pit when they closed out the night with fan favorite "Nerdy." During the song's esteemed breakdown, a flurry of crowd surfers made their way to the front where Moreira had joined the fans.

The entire night was a powerhouse of heavy music. The audience has grown older, but there is still a spark of youthfulness when a couple of the best bands in their genre come together to remind the fans what it was like to be young. After 20 plus years, Converge and Poison the Well are still putting out music that overshadows their disciples and putting on some of the best hardcore performances you can see. Converge will be heading to Europe in June while Poison the Well are heading to Japan and then Australia. If you find either in your neck of the woods, be sure not to miss them.