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Nine Lives is Coming to The Palladium
February 3rd, 2026 by Kevin Gomez
We’re barely into 2026 and Goldfinger is already having a stellar year. Just a few weeks ago the Los Angeles ska-punk band released the cleverly titled “Nine Lives,” their ninth studio album.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of their game-changing self-titled debut album. The band got their start as lead singer and guitarist John Feldmann was working at a shoe store in Santa Monica and handed the band’s demo tape to an A&R executive.
It’s crazy to think that the band’s first effort could launch some of the biggest anthems of the ’90s including “Here in Your Bedroom” and “Mable,” which would become radio hits on 106.7 FM KROQ in Los Angeles.
However, it was their follow-up album, “Hang-Ups,” that would launch them into superstardom, with a little help from a skateboarding legend.
Tony Hawk included Goldfinger’s song “Superman” in his Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater video game in 1999, becoming one of the biggest video game franchises of all time. Although the game would spawn a series of hit sequels each with legendary soundtracks, Hawk himself called “Superman” the “unquestionable theme to our video game soundtrack.”
Internationally, their cover of Nena’s “99 Red Balloons” set their trajectory into the stratosphere. The combination of alt rock, punk rock and that third wave ska undertone really hit a chord with their ever emerging fanbase.
Today the band’s only two founding members are Feldmann and the incredibly talented Charlie Paulson in guitar and occasional backing vocals. However, they’ve picked up some pretty recognizable faces to round out the band including MxPx bassist and lead singer Mike Herrera, Moon Valjean on guitar, and Nick Gross on drums.
Last summer the band released the first sneak peak of the album with the first single, “Freaking Out a Bit” featuring blink-182’s Mark Hoppus on vocals (the song was co-written by Hoppus and band mate Travis Barker).
On November 7th, the band released their second single, “Chasing Amy.” “Nine Lives” also features appearances from Ice Nine Kills’ Spencer Charnas, Pennywise’s Jim Lindberg, and El Jefe, formerly of NOFX.
To support the new album Goldfinger just announced a huge hometown show at the Palladium in Los Angeles on August 22nd.
They’ll be bringing along Orange County punk legends The Vandals, fresh off their 30th Christmas Formal in December.
The band is always up for a rowdy party. Also playing will be fellow ska-punk pioneers Suicide Machines. The boys from Detroit will be tearing things up in Europe before joining Goldfinger in August.
Joining the stacked lineup will be Southern California’s Pulley. The band just played a stellar set this past weekend with Guttermouth in Rancho Cucamonga. Kicking things off will be relative newcomers Sullvn, led by Robert “Sully” Sullivan. The California band is currently set to support Goldfinger on a string of upcoming shows.
Get your tickets for this one, it will be a skankin’ good time!
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SID 260203 | TRACI TURNER | EDITOR
