Punk Rock’s Not Dead: Saturday at Burger Boogaloo 2016

One summer day in Mosswood Park started with a visit from an astronaut on the drums on the Dirty Mouth stage at Burger Boogaloo. The Young Fresh Fellows were neither young nor fresh, but they delivered an entertaining set that established the tone for the rest of the festival. Behind his kit, Tad Hutchinson wore a NASA suit during the band’s grungy alternative performance. Things only got weirder from there.

At the Tassel Castle Stage, The Intelligence from Seattle gave a more mellow performance, but one that echoed the garage punk rock I grew up listening to. Similar to the sound of Thee Oh Sees and Ty Segall, The Intelligence catered towards the younger crowd. Back at the Dirty Mouth stage, The Angry Samoans performed my favorite set. Comprised of musicians that looked older than my dad; they produced a classic punk rock vibe. A mix between the Adolescents and AC/DC, the Angry Samoans got the crowd moving and the first mosh of the day began. Water bottles flew above the crowd as “Metal Mike” Saunders sang “STP not LSD.” Afterwards I explored the Burger Boogaloo Bazaar where Amoeba Records, Burger Records, Pretty Penny, and other local shops from Oakland had tents.

Next on the Dirty Mouth Stag, Jeff Conolly led Lyres in an energetic set that reflected his band’s success in the Boston punk scene. A British rock n roll vibe added to their unique sound. After Lyres, I camped out at the Tassel Castle stage for Thee Oh Sees‘ set. Worried I would never get to see Thee Oh Sees live after their hiatus / rumored split in 2013, I wanted to be front row to watch John Dwyer rock out. Thee Oh Sees lived up to my expectations and performed an amazing set that ended with the “The Dream.”

Their encore was cut short when a marching band followed by The Mummies rode in on top of an old ambulance dressed in white rags. The Mummies ended the night in the center of Randy Land, where the entrance to Burger Boogaloo was located. The crowd took up the entire park and went wild once the van pulled up to the stage. Saturday of Burger Boogaloo closed with a performance proving one thing for certain: punk rock’s not dead.