The Last Gang
Any night of the week is a good night for a punk rock show, even a Monday. And I was fortunate enough to catch one this past Monday to close out the Memorial Day weekend. Southern California punk band The Last Gang just kicked off a their first headlining tour across the states. The third stop on this tour brought them to HQ Denver where they played an intense set of high energy punk songs. The Last Gang are Brenna Red(Guitar & Lead Vox) Ken Aquino(Guitar & Vox) Sean Viele(Bass & Vox) and Sam Mankinen(Drums). The set included a mixture of songs from both their 2018 debut album ‘Keep Them Counting’ and their 2021 release ‘Noise Noise Noise’. Both albums were released through Fat Wreck Chords.
While this was my first time seeing TLG live, I was highly impressed with the performance. Blending elements of roots reggae, melodic and grimy 3 chord punk rock, The Last Gang gave one hell of a show. Those in attendance definitely had a great time singing along and moving their feet. Be on the lookout when they come to a town near you. I for one look forward to seeing The Last Gang the next time they come through.
Egoista
I recently started getting into Egoista and I am quickly becoming a huge fan of this trio of punk rockers. The band is Marco Contreras(Guitar & Lead Vox), Sam Sternman(Drums) and Todd Daigle(Bass & Vox). This was my third time seeing them live and each time they have such a fun energetic vibe. Fresh off their trip to Las Vegas where they played the Punk Rock Saves Lives event ‘Punk Rock Hoedown’ at Hogs & Heifers Saloon, they hit the stage ready to have a good time. Egoista has a great catchy sound that any music fan will certainly like. You can hear that on their 2022 release ‘Having Fun Is A Gateway Drug’. It is 25 tracks of energetic punk rock tunes which are available to download through their website or you can even purchase a vinyl. But honestly, the best way is to see these guys is live and just grab a record in person.
State Drugs
State Drugs kicked off this fun filled night with their alt/indie/punk rock style. This was my introduction into what State Drugs brings to the table and let me just say, they bring a ton. This four piece consists of Chris Kuhn(Bass & Vox) Matt Sharkey(Guitar) Tom O’Leary(Guitar) AJ Rothermel(Drums). I found myself nodding my head and moving my feet to their rhythmic sounds throughout the whole set. I am now looking forward to doing a deep dive into their catalog of music, so I will be ready for the next time I catch them live. You can find State Drugs music on their Bandcamp page where they have a handful of releases. I have no doubt you too will become a fan.
Article & All Photos by Ethan Cook @ EMCookphotography
Photo Gallery
Sound Shots Media 