Pennywise Brings Their West Coast Tour to San Diego

Heather Vandemark
May 21
3 min read

Pennywise came to Soma San Diego on May 15th with support from Circle Jerks, H2O, and DFL! Pennywise became a band in 1988, the same year I graduated high school. Circle Jerks, H2O, DFL all started around the same time (meaning Gen X era), so I expected a mostly Gen X crowd. We pulled into the SOMA parking lot, parked the truck, and right in front of us was a group of teens and next to them a group of the dads. I sat there for a minute thinking it’s so cool these parents raised their kids on this music and they go to shows together. Forgetting that I also raised my daughter on this music and we’re here together. Punk rock is not dead, it's thriving through the generations!

DFL (Dead Fucking Last) kicked off the night celebrating the release of their latest album Fuck It, almost 30 years after their last studio album, The Tapeshow, released in 1996. With the two original members Tom Davis (vocals) and Monty Messex (Guitar and vocals) they played 17 songs covering all of their discography. H2O started in New York in 1994. They haven’t released a new album since Use Your Voice in 2015. They played an 11 song set.

Circle Jerks was up next. This was my first time seeing them and I was told Keith Morris ‘would talk our ears off’, I wasn’t sure if that was meant to be a good thing or bad thing, but I love story time in between songs. Keith did not disappoint, he introduced the band and when/how they got started. Awesome for me to finally see this iconic punk band. As a photographer we get a unique view being between the stage and the rail and the interaction. All of these bands have been around over 30 years and it just amazed me to see young adults, maybe early 20s on the rail in the Circle Jerks shirts. There were a few young kids, maybe 11-13 years old on the rail with a Gen X adult protecting them from the swaying crowd and surfers, not an easy thing, but awesome parents!

Pennywise started it off with “Homeless” and the surfers were flowing over. I’m always looking back to watch my back, but got distracted by youngins singing every word. It’s so awesome to see a band that started 35 years ago and these kids are on the rail, Punk is not dead! Lead vocalist Jim Lund doesn’t talk much in between songs, Fletcher Dragge cofounder and lead guitarist is the chatty one. I’ve heard him say this many times, but it always hits hard when he says (paraphrasing here) ‘the world is a dumpster fire, Fuck the left and the right, don’t them brain wash you either way, fuck them, and Fuck Authority!’ Their most popular song next to “Bro Hymn", nothing better than a 2000 people singing in unison “Fuck Authority” with middle fingers up in the air.

We were standing on the wall on the side, with a great view of the pit and the surfers. There was an album held above the crowd. I could understand they didn’t want it crushed but pretty annoying for everyone around. Fletcher asked what’s up with the album, why are you holding it and asked if they wanted him to keep it safe for them. They passed it up to him, then a few others started passing their merch up to the front, Fletcher set it side stage and gave it back after the show. There was a little chaos with security during the entire show. The bands told them a few times to chill out because they were pretty rough with the fans. I’m used to crowd surfers and I love the craziness when in a photo pit. It adds to the challenge and it’s fun to get photos of them coming over, but I got slammed into the stage, only because security pushed the guy unnecessarily. Punk rock shows encourage fans to come up on stage, crowdsurf up and stage dive, so hopefully they figure it out. The last song is “Bro Hymn” and everyone comes out from the side stage and fills the entire stage! Great way to close out the night with friends and family.