Our newest writer hit the mosh pit and found his Punk family!
I recently caught a Screeching Weasel show in Honolulu, Hawai‘i, a band I hadn’t actually listened to before that night. I originally went out to meet Grapefruit, a local group whose EP I’d reviewed previously, but what started as a casual meetup turned into one of the most chaotic nights I’ve experienced in the local punk scene.
The Venue
The show took place at Next Door in downtown Honolulu. From the outside it looked like a typical city bar, but inside it transforms into something closer to a warehouse venue. The space is filled with exposed pipes, worn brick walls, and murals layered across the room. Dim blue and orange lighting bounced off a disco ball above the crowd while a surprisingly large stage dominated the back of the room. It felt less like a bar hosting a show and more like a proper underground venue.
The Crowd
What stood out immediately was the age range. Many people in attendance were in their 30s or older, which made sense once I learned that Screeching Weasel have been around since 1986. These were clearly longtime fans of the band – battle jackets, patched vests, and boots that looked like they’d survived decades of mosh pits.
And they still went hard.
The pit opened early with a guy who had to be pushing fifty, moving like he’d spent his entire life doing this. I jumped in not long after and quickly learned how serious the energy was. At one point, I collided heads with someone so hard I had to step out for a minute. Within seconds, several people were checking on me and handing me ice before I jumped back into the pit. That kind of unspoken code – chaos with respect – is a core part of punk culture.
The Music
Three bands opened the show: The Noidz, Square Shapes, and El Sancho. While I couldn’t make out every lyric over the volume and movement, the message came through loud and clear in the energy. Phones came out, heads started banging, and bodies bounced across the floor as the crowd fed off the sound coming from the stage.
Punk rarely depends on perfect sound. What matters is the feeling, and there was plenty of that in the room.
The Night
By the time Screeching Weasel took the stage, the room erupted. What started as a loose circle pit turned into a full-blown storm of bodies crashing, shouting, and lifting each other up whenever someone hit the floor. Between songs, strangers laughed, hugged, and slapped each other on the back before diving right back into the chaos.
For a few hours, nothing outside the room mattered. Everyone was there for the same reason: to release energy and share the experience.
I walked out of the venue with a few bruises, some new friends, and a much deeper appreciation for both the band and the Honolulu punk scene. Safe to say I left that night a new Screeching Weasel fan!
Catch Screeching Weasel on tour across the US this Spring – and they’re also playing 2 dates in the UK and 1 in Italy this May! Full details HERE
Main Photo Credit / All Photos: LAWERENCE LINTON
All Videos: TAKING THE LEAD MEDIA
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